By Anna Jessica 
Introduction
Feeling overwhelmed by notifications, traffic, and endless scrolling? You may have wondered: “Where do monks actually live?”
A home for monks—whether it’s called a monastery, vihara, or ashram—offers a sanctuary of peace, meditation, and simple living. In 2025, these homes aren’t just for monks. Travelers, spiritual seekers, and even city dwellers are discovering ways to experience a home for monks firsthand, from weekend retreats to modern “monk mode” at home. This guide will take you inside these homes, explain daily routines, show famous places you can visit, and reveal how anyone can live like a monk, even for a short time.
Key Takeaways
- A monk’s home has many names: monastery, vihara, ashram — but they all mean the same simple idea.
- Traditional monk numbers are dropping, yet more regular people than ever are visiting or copying the lifestyle.
- You can stay in a real monastery this year for free, on donation, or up to $1,500 a week.
- “Monk mode” at home is now a thing — and it actually works.
What Is a Home for Monks?
Picture this: you’re exhausted from notifications, traffic, and endless scrolling. You Google “peace” and suddenly stumble on photos of stone cloisters, misty mountains, and smiling people in robes. Your next thought? “Where do these monks live… and can I go there?”
That place has a simple name across religions: the home for monks. Christians call it a monastery or abbey. Buddhists call it a vihara or gompa. Hindus say ashram. Same heartbeat, different languages.
Different Names, Same Heart Around the World
Every tradition gave it its own word, but the idea never changed: a quiet, shared space to pray, work, eat, and sleep with almost zero distractions.
- Christian monks → monastery, abbey, priory, friary
- Buddhist monks → vihara (India), gompa (Tibet), zen dojo (Japan)
- Hindu & Jain monks → ashram or matha
- Taoist monks → temple or guan
- Sufi monks → tekke or khanqah
Some monks live completely alone (eremitic), others live together like a big mindful family (cenobitic). Most homes you’ll see today are the family style.
What It Actually Looks Like Inside
Walk through the gate, and the noise drops. Typical layout hasn’t changed much in 1,000 years:
- A church or meditation hall in the center
- Long dining room (refectory) where everyone eats in silence
- Dormitory or tiny private cells (6–12 m² — bed, desk, crucifix or Buddha statue, that’s it)
- Cloister garden for walking meditation
- Kitchen, bakery, vegetable patch, maybe a small brewery or cheese room (yes, monks invented some of the best beers and cheeses)
In 2025, many also have solar panels and composting toilets — old wisdom, new tools.
A Normal Day in the Home for Monks
Schedules vary, but here are three real examples:
- Benedictine Christian monastery 4:30 a.m. – Vigils (first prayer) 7:00 a.m. – Breakfast in silence Work: gardening, book-binding, brewing 12:00 p.m. – Main meal + spiritual reading Afternoon work, evening prayer, 8:00 p.m. lights out
- Theravada forest monastery (Thailand) 4:00 a.m. – Wake up, meditation 5:30 a.m. – Walk barefoot for alms food All day meditation + chores One meal before noon, then only tea
- Plum Village (Thich Nhat Hanh tradition, 2025 schedule) 5:00 a.m. – Wake-up bell 5:30 a.m. – Sitting + walking meditation 7:30 a.m. – Breakfast mindfully Working meditation (cooking, gardening) Evening Dharma talk, then noble silence until morning
7 Famous Homes for Monks You Can Actually Visit in 2025
- Mount Athos, Greece – 20 Orthodox monasteries, ~2,200 monks. Men only need a special permit.
- Shaolin Temple, China – birthplace of kung-fu + Zen. Tourists welcome, serious students can stay months.
- Plum Village, France & USA – happiest monks I’ve ever met. Open to everyone, donation-based.
- Taizé Community, France – 100 brothers host 100,000+ young people every year. Super cheap (€15–30/night).
- Kopan Monastery, Nepal – famous “Monk for a Month” course every November.
- New Camaldoli Hermitage, California – silent retreats on a cliff above the Pacific.
- Sravasti Abbey, Washington, USA – first Tibetan Buddhist nunnery in America, very welcoming.
Why Regular People Now Outnumber Monks
Here’s the surprising 2025 truth: in many monasteries, guests staying a week or a month are three times more than the actual monks.
- Lay retreats exploded after the pandemic
- “New monasticism” communities in cities now have waiting lists
- Order of the Mustard Seed added 65 new members in the last two years
People aren’t becoming monks — they just want a break that actually works.
How Much Does It Really Cost?
Big range, but cheaper than you think:
- Donation only (Plum Village, Taizé, many forest monasteries)
- €30–€90/night suggested (most European Christian abbeys)
- $300–$1,500/week for luxury silence retreats with private cottages and gourmet vegetarian food
Work-exchange is the secret hack: wash dishes or weed the garden and stay almost free (platforms like Workaway or WWOOF list hundreds of monasteries).
The Real Challenges Monasteries Face Today
It’s not all peaceful bells and incense.
- Europe and North America lost 30–50% of monks since 2000 → many beautiful buildings are half-empty or closing
- The average age of a monk in the West is now over 60
- Some survive only because tourists and retreat guests pay to stay
- Younger monks struggle with smartphones and dating apps the same like everyone else
Yet in parts of Asia and new lay communities, numbers are growing again.
How to Stay in a Monastery Yourself (10 Real Tips)
- Start small — 2–3 nights is perfect first time
- Book 3–6 months ahead for popular places
- Bring earplugs (snoring monks are real)
- Expect to help with chores — it’s part of the deal
- Turn your phone off completely — most places have no Wi-Fi anyway
- Pack modest clothes that cover shoulders and knees
- Learn five words of the local language — thank you goes far
- Eat whatever is served, no special requests
- Keep noble silence after 9 p.m. — everyone will love you
- Write a thank-you card before you leave — they keep them for years
Bringing “Monk Mode” Back to Normal Life
You don’t need to move into a monastery forever. Thousands of people now do short “monk mode” stints at home:
- Wake at 5 a.m. for seven days
- No phone until noon
- One meal before 2 p.m.
- Evening digital sunset at 8 p.m.
Try it once, and you’ll be shocked at how calm you feel.
Conclusion
A home for monks is more than a building—it’s a lifestyle of calm, focus, and simplicity. You don’t have to become a monk to benefit. Whether visiting a monastery, joining a retreat, or trying “monk mode” at home, even a brief experience can transform your daily life.
In 2025, people worldwide are embracing the home for monks in new ways, blending ancient wisdom with modern living. Start small: wake early, meditate with intention, or plan a stay at one of the famous monasteries. Experiencing a home for monks—even briefly—can be the reset your mind, body, and soul truly need.