Mount Olympus in northeastern Greece has been known as the home of Zeus and the major Greek gods since before the time of Homer. The semi-legendary author of the Odyssey and Iliad, who may have lived anywhere between 800 and 1200 BC, included this dramatic mountain in his stories of the gods and as the source of Zeus’s lightning bolts.
It is not surprising that magical stories grew up around Mount Olympus. It rises almost directly from the Aegean Sea to a height of 2917 meters (that is, 9570 feet or almost two miles), making it the highest mountain in Greece and the second highest mountain in the Balkans. Its lower slopes are broken by narrow thickly forested gorges punctuated by waterfalls and caves where lesser gods and other spirits were said to have lived. Its peaks, and there are 52 separate peaks, are covered in snow for 8 months out of the year, often hiding in clouds the rest of the time.
Ancient history of Mount Olympus
Although the history of Mount Olympus is rich in myth, there is very little archaeological evidence of early occupation or worship on the mountain. That is not to say that it is not there at all. Greece is so rich in heritage that perhaps few archaeologists have ventured to excavate this difficult terrain. Occasional finds of Iron Age artifacts suggest that there may be more to discover in the future.
It can be found closer to the ancient Macedonian city of Dion, near the foot of the mountain. Finds in the Archaeological Park and Museum of Ancient Dion suggest that Alexander the Great and his followers made offerings to the gods here before going into battle.
Modern history of the mountain
The highest and most difficult peak of the mountain, considered its summit in the middle of a forest of false peaks, is known as Mytikas. It was first reached in August 1913 by a group of Swiss climbers, Frederic Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy, led by a Greek wild goat hunter, Christos Kakkalos. Since then, approximately 10,000 people a year visit to climb or scale the mountain, although very few attempt its highest peaks, Mytikas and Stefani (the home of Zeus himself).
But perhaps, a religious ascetic may have climbed the mountain first. The Chapel of the Prophet Elijah, on Prophitis Elias, one of the many peaks of Mount Olympus, was built at an altitude of 2,800 meters in the 16th century. The Chapel, believed to have been built on earlier ancient ruins, by Saint Dionysus, is said to be the tallest chapel in the entire Orthodox world.
In 1938, 92 square miles covering the mountain and the surrounding area, it became the first Greek National Park. This was in recognition of the extraordinary biodiversity of the area. There are an estimated 1,700 species of plants, 25 percent of all plant species found in Greece, as well as 32 species of mammals and 108 species of birds on the mountain. In 1981, UNESCO classified the region as the Olympus Biosphere Reserve. It is also included in an EU list of the most important bird areas in the European Community and is currently on a tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Where is it and how to get there
Mount Olympus is located on the border of the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. The easiest access to the mountain and its trails is from the tourist town of Litochoro, at the base of the mountain. It is about 260 miles north of Athens or 57 miles southwest of Thessaloniki.
- How to get there by car: If you choose to go by car, it makes more sense to do it as a side trip from Thessaloniki because it is a nearly six hour drive from Athens on the E75 and E65, part of which is a toll road and some of the which are challenging. From Thessaloniki, the journey will take just over three hours on the A1, the E75 toll road and the EO 13. Some parts of this route can also be difficult, but it is shorter and less strenuous.
- Getting there by train: Train travel from Athens involves taking a train from Athens’ main train station to Larissa and then to Litochoro, followed by a five-mile taxi ride to town. The first stage of the trip lasts approximately 5 hours. The trip from Larissa to Litochoro only takes 35 minutes, but the train only leaves every three hours, so you have to coordinate the two stages of this trip carefully or plan to sit in the train stations for a long time. If you are traveling by train from Thessaloniki. there is a direct train that takes about an hour and ten minutes, followed by the taxi ride described above, and costs between £ 17 and £ 21. Trainose is the only rail operator in Greece for intercity, suburban and international rail services. There is information on their website about schedules and ticket booking, but the website requires membership and is confusing to use.
- Getting there by bus: The bus ride from the main bus terminal in Thessaloniki takes approximately two hours and ten minutes, including a 51-minute wait between buses at Katerini. It costs around £ 9. From Athens there is a seven and a half to eight and a half hour bus journey, which includes a 51 minute remnant at Katerini.
The bottom line
Long distance bus and train travel in Greece is not well organized for tourists and non-Greek speakers. Very little information on station times and locations is available online and booking online is practically impossible. Your best option with public or private transportation from Athens is to work with an organized tour company or to consult with one of the many local travel agents at the airport or around Syntagma Square. The journey from Thessaloniki is much easier and is recommended.
Hiking or climbing on Mount Olympus
If you are an experienced mountaineer, hiking to the summits of Mount Olympus is not difficult, but many visitors get smaller by underestimating the challenges and trying to hike the mountain unprepared and without a map. There are mountain rescues and mountain deaths almost every year.
There are several easy hikes to the trails and to some of the more picturesque gorges. You can also drive to the National Park parking areas at the beginning of several trails. A full hike to the Mount Olympus massif takes two to three days and involves spending the night in one of the trail’s shelters, as well as stamina, good balance, and a head for the heights. The trails range in difficulty from III to VIII in international mountaineering standards.
The safest information about trekking on Mount Olympus is available from the Greek Mountaineering Club (EOS) of Litochoros, also known as the Hellenic Alpine Club of Lithochoros. Their website is in Greek, unfortunately, but their office is below the main parking lot in the village and they distribute maps and brochures with information on Mt Olympus trails and hikes. There is also basic information about them here.
An easier way for those with no mountaineering experience to tackle Mount Olympus, is to go or at least consult a guide. Olympus Paths, based in the nearby town of Pieria, offers a variety of guided walks for individuals and groups of varying abilities, including family groups. They also offer information on proper preparation, equipment, and clothing.
Where to stay
Litochoro is the most convenient place to stay and is well organized for hikers, hikers, and climbers. The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels lists a variety of hotels there and in nearby cities. As with many Greek websites, it takes a little time to get information in English. When you get to the site in English, forget about using the search box. Instead, click directly on the interactive map and then zoom in on it. As the map increases in size, symbols of hotels appear near Litochoros, as well as in the coastal resorts of Neoi Poroi and Leptokaria.
Clicking on those produces hotel websites. If you prefer to camp in the National Park, Camping Hellas has a site near the base of the mountain. Wild camping is illegal in Greece and although it is sometimes tolerated in certain areas, it is not allowed in the National Park or in the high mountains.
