Mount Olympus, National park and mountain in Central Macedonia, Greece
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 recorded ascent of Mytikas was made on 2 August 1913 by the Greek guide Christos Kakkalos together with Frédéric Boissonas and Daniel Baud-Bovy. Kakkalos, a hunter from Litochoro, led the two Swiss up the final section. The massif had long been treated as the seat of the gods rather than ground to be walked.
The name Olympos is of unknown origin; one theory reads it as ou lyma plus pous, "pure foot", while Robert S. P. Beekes treats it as pre-Greek, perhaps simply "mountain". Hesiod's earth as a footstool for heaven underlies the mountain's role as home of the gods, and the peak Stefani is also called Thronos Dios, the Throne of Zeus.
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.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,180 contributors worldwide.
