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A night in a monastery: silence, simplicity and a different rhythm of life

For many centuries, monasteries were among the few places where a traveller could find a bed, a meal and a safe roof for the night. Pilgrims, merchants and strangers knocked on the gate, and the monks or nuns took them in. That tradition of hospitality is still alive. All over the world, religious communities open a guesthouse to visitors, and many historic abbeys have been turned into places to stay.

A monastery stay is not a normal hotel night. The day follows the rhythm of the community, the rooms are simple, and silence is often part of the deal. For many guests, that is exactly the point. This guide explains the different kinds of monastic stays, what daily life is like, and how to be a good guest.

Two very different experiences

Staying with a living community. Many active monasteries and convents run a guesthouse alongside their own daily life. In the Benedictine tradition, the Rule of Saint Benedict asks that guests be welcomed as Christ himself, and that spirit still shapes many abbeys today. You stay in a plain room, usually with a bed, a desk, a chair and sometimes a cross on the wall. Meals may be shared with other guests, or even taken with the community in silence while a text is read aloud. You are free to join the prayers in the church, or simply to walk, read and rest. Most guesthouses welcome people of any faith or none.

Staying in a former abbey. Other abbeys no longer house a religious community and have been converted into hotels or guesthouses. Here you get the cloisters, the vaulted refectory and the quiet gardens, but with the comfort and freedom of a hotel. There are no set prayer times, and the silence is a matter of atmosphere rather than rule.

Both are wonderful, but it is important to know which one you are booking.

The rhythm of a monastic day

In a Christian monastery, the day is built around the Liturgy of the Hours, a series of prayer services from early morning to night. The first office may start well before sunrise, and the last one, compline, closes the day. After compline many communities keep the great silence until the next morning. Meals come at fixed times, often straight after a prayer service, and they do not wait for latecomers. Guests are never obliged to attend the offices, but going to at least one, even just vespers in the evening, gives you a real feeling for the place.

Monastic stays in other faiths and places

Monastic hospitality is not only a Christian tradition. Some of the most memorable stays are found in Asia, Africa and beyond.

• Templestay in Korea. Many Buddhist temples in South Korea take part in the templestay programme, where visitors sleep at the temple, join the early morning chanting, try meditation and share a formal temple meal in which nothing is wasted.
• Shukubo in Japan. Temple lodgings are especially famous on Mount Koya, the sacred mountain of Shingon Buddhism. Guests sleep on futons in tatami rooms, eat shojin ryori, the vegetarian cuisine of Buddhist monks, and can attend the morning service.
• Himalayan monasteries. In parts of Nepal, northern India and Bhutan, some Buddhist monasteries host visitors, from simple guest rooms in a mountain monastery to meditation courses. Facilities can be very basic and nights at altitude are cold.
• Orthodox monasteries. In Greece, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, many Orthodox monasteries offer simple lodging to pilgrims. Rules can be strict. On Mount Athos in Greece, only men are admitted, and visitors need a special permit arranged in advance.
• Ethiopian monasteries. Ethiopia has an ancient monastic tradition, with monasteries on lake islands and remote mountain tops. Some, such as Debre Damo, admit only men. Overnight stays are usually informal and very simple, so arrange them locally.
• Retreat houses in Latin America. Across Latin America, Catholic religious orders run retreat houses and guesthouses, often in peaceful gardens on the edge of a town or high in the hills. In the Southern Hemisphere, remember that the seasons are reversed, so a mountain retreat in July can be cold.

How to be a good guest

A monastery is first of all someone's home and place of prayer. A little care goes a long way.

• Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees, especially in churches and temples. In some places women are asked to cover their hair, and in Buddhist temples you take off your shoes before entering.
• Respect the silence. Speak softly, switch your phone to silent and keep calls for outside the enclosure. Some areas may be completely silent at all times.
• Be on time for meals. Meal times are fixed and short. Eat what is served, and follow the lead of others at the table.
• Know when the gate closes. Many monasteries lock their doors in the evening. If you want to go out for dinner, ask first whether you can get back in.
• Stay out of the enclosure. Parts of the monastery are reserved for the community. Signs are not always obvious, so ask if you are unsure.
• Ask before taking photos, especially of monks, nuns and religious services.
• Understand donations. Some guesthouses charge a fixed rate, while others ask only for a donation. Give what is fair for your bed and meals, as the community relies on it.

Questions to ask before you book

• Is this an active religious community, or a former abbey run as a hotel?
• Are guests of any faith, or none, welcome?
• Are men and women both admitted, and can couples share a room?
• Are meals included, and are they eaten with the community, with other guests or alone?
• Is there a fixed price, or is a donation expected?
• What time does the gate close in the evening, and is there a curfew?
• Are there times or areas of silence we should know about?
• Is there a minimum or maximum length of stay, and can we join a guided retreat?
• Are the rooms heated, and do they have a private bathroom?

Getting the most from the experience

Do not fill your days with plans. The value of a monastic stay lies in slowing down: an early morning in a quiet church, a walk through the gardens, a book in a sunny cloister, an evening without a screen. Bring comfortable shoes, a warm layer and a notebook. Talk to the guest master or guest mistress if you want to know more about the community, and be open to a routine that may feel strange on the first day and surprisingly natural by the third.

Find an abbey or monastery in this collection

The abbeys, monasteries and temples on this page are grouped by continent, country and region. Each link takes you to the owner's own website, where you can read about the community or the building, check availability and book directly. Do you run a monastery guesthouse, a retreat house or a converted abbey that welcomes guests? Add your link for free with the button above.