Mount Olympus

Olympus is a national park and mountain in Central Macedonia, Greece, rising between Thessaly and Macedonia to 2917 meters (9570 feet) with several peaks and deep gorges cutting through its limestone massif. Steep slopes and rugged rock faces alternate with forested valleys, while the highest point is called Mytikas.

The first documented ascent happened in 1913 when Swiss climbers Frederic Boissonas and Daniel Baud-Bovy reached the highest summit. Before that, people considered the massif inaccessible for centuries and worshipped it only from a distance.

Greek visitors and pilgrims still climb toward the summit to connect with the ancient belief that Zeus and the other gods lived here. Local festivals and traditions honor the massif as a sacred place, with many Greeks regarding it as a national symbol.

Several mountain refuges along marked trails offer shelter and orientation, with the town of Litochoro serving as the main starting point for ascents. Weather conditions can change quickly, so bring warm clothing and enough water even in summer.

Since 1938, this has been Greece's first national park and was later recognized as a protected area for nature and birdlife. The zone shelters over 1700 plant species, some of which grow nowhere else in the world.

Location: Pieria Prefecture

Location: Central Macedonia

Location: Elassona Municipality

Inception: 1938

Elevation above the sea: 2,917.727 m

Height: 2,917.727 m

GPS coordinates: 40.08333,22.35000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:34