Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, rising to Mytikas at 2,918 metres on the border of Pieria and Larissa in Central Macedonia. In ancient Greek myth it was the home of the twelve Olympian gods, and today it is protected as Greece's first national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The range climbs from Mediterranean coastal vegetation through beech and black pine forests to bare alpine ridges, with deep gorges and rich flora and fauna. Most climbers start from the town of Litochoro on the Aegean side and drive to the Prionia trailhead at about 1,100 metres. From there the E4 path leads in roughly two to three hours to Spilios Agapitos refuge (Refuge A) at around 2,100 metres, where most hikers stay overnight before the summit push. The final ascent to Mytikas involves a rocky scramble, and the ridge route past Skolio and Skala requires a head for heights. Easier day options include the Enipeas Gorge path from Litochoro to Prionia, which follows a river through lush forest and passes the Agios Dionysios monastery. Walking times for the full summit trip are typically two days, with eight to ten hours of hiking on summit day. Weather can change quickly, snow lies on high routes into early summer, and thunderstorms are common in the afternoon, so an early start is standard. Crowds peak in July and August, especially on weekends at the refuges. Photography is best from the ridges at sunrise, when the surrounding Thermaic Gulf is visible below the cloud line.