Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and is in the Mount Olympus National Park in Macedonia, with Litochoro being the best base.
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and is made all the more dramatic because the mountain range of which it is a part rises sharply from a flat plain and juts straight up into the sky. It is less than 20km (12.5 miles) from the top of Mount Olympus to the shore of the Aegean Sea.
Mount Olympus National Park
Through the plain that stands between Mount Olympus and the sea runs the main Athens-Thessaloníki highway, giving any motorist the chance to stop off and admire the mountains even if they have no wish to set foot on them. As you gaze at the peaks you are looking across the Mount Olympus National Park, home to deer, boar, badgers and the European wild cat, as well as birds of prey and some 1700 different plant species. There are oak and beech forests, and stretches of Macedonian fir, as well as a centuries-old rare yew tree wood near the Monastery of Dionysius.
The Olympus Mountain Range
The entire mountain range is only 20km (12.5 miles) from end to end and is known as the Olympus range, with the highest point being referred to as either Mount Olympus or Mount Mýtikas. This rises to a height of 2917m (9570ft) and was not scaled by man until 1913. The Greek Gods, of course, got there first.
It was here that the Battle of the Titans took place, when the twelve Greek Gods led by Zeus defeated the Titans who represented the wild natural forces, tamed by Zeus and the Gods who introduced some kind of civilisation to the world.
Church in a cave on the slopes of Mount Olympus
Climbing Mount Olympus
Anyone who is reasonably fit and does some advance planning can get to the home of the Gods, though the 6-hour trek means that at least one night must be spent on the mountain, either camping out or by booking into one of the two mountain refuges. On no account should the trek be attempted by anyone inexperienced, unless you take a local guide with you.
Climbing Mount Olympus
Litóchoro
The base for approaching the mountain and the surrounding park is the busy village of Litóchoro, with several hotels and restaurants and a good place for an overnight stop if exploring the region. Here you can equip yourself with maps, guides and indeed any equipment you may have forgotten to bring with you.
Where is Mount Olympus?
(c) Google Maps
Our Pick of the Guides to Greece
Other Macedonia Pages
Macedonia and Thrace are the regions in Greece where travelers will find Thessaloniki, Mount Athos monasteries, Halkidiki and sites like Dion and Pella.
The capital of Macedonia and Greece’s second city, Thessaloníki has a lovely situation by the water, a wealth of history, many good museums, and good food.
The archaeological site of Vergina in Macedonia is famous for the royal tombs which were the burial place of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.
Philippi is an ancient archaeological site near Kavala in East Macedonia and Thrace and is famous for being the place where the apostle St Paul was imprisoned.
Pella in Macedonia is famous for its mosaics and was also the birthplace of both King Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great.
Visiting Mount Athos in Greece requires a permit, but you can see the monasteries on a boat trip around the peninsula, known as the Monks' Republic.
Mount Athos boat trips are very popular with visitors to Halkidiki in Greece, as they are the only way most people get to see these spectacular monasteries.
The city of Kavala in eastern Macedonia is the area's major seaport and the base for ferries to the islands of the North East Aegean, including Thasos.
Kastoria is a lakeside town in West Macedonia which prospered with the fur trade and today has some handsome mansions, museums and many Byzantine churches.
Halkidiki is a three-pronged peninsula near Thessaloniki in Macedonia which comprises Mount Athos and the holiday resorts on Kassandra and Sithonia.
Dion is a rather wonderful archaeological site in Macedonia, not far from Thessaloniki, with an archaeological museum nearby in the town of Dion.
Scenic Drives in Northern Greece, Ioannina, Meteora, Kastoria, Prespa Lakes
The Prespa Lakes in northwest Greece is one of the most beautiful parts of Greece with abundant wildlife and also many ancient churches.
The Bradt Guide to Northern Greece is a detailed guide to Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Thrace, The Pelion, The Sporades and the rest of Northern Greece.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
- Click on the HTML link code below.
- Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,
your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
-
Thirty years after the first plans were announced, a new subway system is changing not just how residents get around town but how they experience their city, too.
Read More
-
Step beyond the well-trodden paths of Athens’ iconic landmarks and explore a different side of the Greek capital by visiting three lesser-known industrial museums.
Read More
-
Busy schedules don’t always allow for extended getaways, but Mount Parnassos and its enchanting landscapes are perfect for a refreshing day trip.
Read More
-
A 24-hour nationwide strike is set to disrupt transportation in Athens and travel across Greece on Wednesday, November 20, as public transport and ferry employees join a general strike organized by Gr…
Read More
-
A New Cultural Jewel in Plaka
Read More
-
Visitors to Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) on the island of Zakynthos will be required to purchase tickets for entrance once it reopens to the public, according to a new draft law proposed by the Gre…
Read More
-
With the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in full swing, we take a look at the city’s newest cafes, bars, and restaurants, along with some exciting culinary developments in the city.
Read More
-
A band of motorcycle-riding musicians is sending a powerful, melodic message from Greece's remote mountain villages that are at risk of being left deserted.
Read More
-
Beginning November 1, Lines 2 and 3 of the Athens Metro will extend their Friday and Saturday night service until 2 o’clock in the morning.
Read More
-
Greece Travel Secrets outlines the history of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, from its origins through Roman times and the Ottoman period through to today.
Read More