Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Mt Olympus Summit (Greece), Greece. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
- Region
- Greece
- Biome
- Greek alpine (1,100–2,918 m)
- Best season
- June – October
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Climbing
- Mountaineering
Key takeaways
- Biome: Greek alpine (1,100–2,918 m)
- Best season: June – October
- Difficulty: moderate
- Top activity: backpacking
Photos of Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)
Topic summary
The 2,918 m summit of the Greek gods via Refuge A and the Skala route.
Key takeaways
- Difficulty: moderate
- Best season: June – October
Intended uses
backpacking
Climate suitability
Greek alpine (1,100–2,918 m)
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Base Weight CalculatorEvery ounce is carried — total your kit and find your base weight.
- Pack Volume SizerSize the pack for your trip length and season.
- Water Purification MatrixTreat water from streams and lakes on trail.
- Layering CalculatorCold-season miles: layer for climbs and camp.
Plan with verified data
Mt Olympus Summit (Greece) trip tools
How to get there
The usual starting point is Litochoro, in Olympus's eastern foothills, about 100 km from Thessaloniki. The massif itself lies about 80 km southwest of Thessaloniki, between the regional units of Larissa and Pieria.
- Litochoro
Town in the eastern foothills and the usual starting point for trips onto Mount Olympus.
- Thessaloniki
Regional travel reference point about 100 km from Litochoro; onward travel to the foothills is needed before beginning a mountain outing.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Popular pursuits at Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Climbing
Rock and alpine lines with approach beta.
- Mountaineering
Glacier and high-route objectives with real consequence.
Animals around Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)
Maps, GPS & compass for this trip
Carry a waterproof paper map and a compass you can steer by, and treat the GPS as the backup — not the other way round. Buying links go to Amazon; Wild10 earns a commission at no cost to you.
Waterproof topo maps
- Waterproof topographic map — Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)Amazon search for waterproof, tear-resistant topo maps covering this area.
- National Geographic Trails IllustratedThe waterproof Trails Illustrated series — check for a sheet covering this area.
- Waterproof map case & compass lanyardKeep a paper map readable in rain, spray and a swamped boat.
Fishing at Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)
Planning to fish Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)? Fishing licences, open seasons and catch limits in Greece are set by the local wildlife authority and change every year — check the official source before you cast a line.
Do I need a fishing licence at Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)?
- A Greece fishing licence is normally required for anyone over the local youth age.
- Read the current Greece fishing regulations for special waters, barbless-hook or catch-and-release rules.
- Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.
We don't have a verified licensing link on file for Greece yet — contact the park or land manager listed on this page for current hunting and fishing rules.
Hunting near Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)
Thinking about hunting Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)? Hunting seasons, tags and draws in Greece are set by the wildlife authority each year. Confirm the rules for your species and unit before you go.
Is hunting allowed at Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)?
- Confirm the land around Mt Olympus Summit (Greece) is open to hunting and which management unit it falls in.
What do I need to hunt in Greece?
- A Greece hunting licence — most jurisdictions also require hunter education certification.
- Species tags or draw results for big game such as deer, elk, moose or bear where they occur.
- Knowledge of firearm and bow transport rules, which differ by land type and border crossing.
We don't have a verified licensing link on file for Greece yet — contact the park or land manager listed on this page for current hunting and fishing rules.
The summit and the wider massif
Mount Olympus is an extensive mountain massif near the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia. Its highest summit, Mytikas, reaches 2,917.727 metres and is the highest point in Greece. The name means “nose,” but the summit is only one part of a landscape with 52 peaks and deep gorges. That scale matters when planning: a visit to Olympus and an attempt on Mytikas are not interchangeable objectives. Choose whether the trip is about walking in the massif or reaching its highest point before sorting out access and equipment. The mountain has hiking, mountaineering and climbing routes, so a route's destination alone does not establish whether it suits a particular group's experience.
Planning an Olympus outing
Litochoro, in the eastern foothills, is the usual starting point for Olympus. Organized mountain refuges support trips into the massif, but a summit plan still needs a clearly identified route, realistic timing and arrangements for any overnight stay. Confirm refuge availability and current mountain conditions before setting out rather than assuming that facilities will be available when needed. With a summit approaching 3,000 metres and a landscape cut by deep gorges, allow for changing weather and carry layers, navigation tools, food and sufficient water. Match the objective to the least experienced member of the party. If conditions or progress no longer fit the plan, turn back rather than treating the highest point as a requirement.
Natural and cultural significance
Olympus is both a protected mountain landscape and the home of the gods in Greek mythology. It became Greece's first national park in 1938 and is also a World Biosphere Reserve, with exceptional biodiversity and rich flora. Those qualities give a trip meaning beyond the summit itself: the massif's vegetation, gorges and many peaks are part of the destination, not simply ground to cross on the way to Mytikas. Keep disturbance low, avoid picking plants and carry out all rubbish. Olympus is a popular hiking destination, so considerate behavior around other walkers and mountain refuges matters as well. Confirm current access requirements and conservation rules with the managing agency before finalizing plans for the mountain.
Route options
- Olympus hiking from Litochoro
Use the usual foothill starting town to plan a hiking outing in the massif. Choose a specific mountain route and confirm its access and conditions before departure; starting at Litochoro does not by itself define an itinerary.
- Mytikas summit objective
Plan an ascent of Olympus's highest peak, at 2,917.727 metres. The massif has hiking, mountaineering and climbing routes as well as organized refuges; confirm the exact summit approach and its requirements before committing.
Sample itineraries
- Litochoro Base and Olympus Introduction · 2 days
Use Litochoro, the usual starting point in the eastern foothills, as a base. Spend the first day checking mountain conditions and selecting a suitable hike. Reserve the second for exploring the massif on a route matched to the group's experience; this is not a summit schedule.
- Flexible Mytikas Summit Plan · 3 days
Begin in Litochoro with route planning and refuge arrangements. Keep the remaining days flexible for a mountain outing targeting Mytikas only if conditions, route requirements and fitness align. Organized refuges exist, but confirm availability and realistic stage lengths before treating this as a workable summit itinerary.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Spring; verify conditions before choosing dates
Plan around conditions on the upper mountain, not just in Litochoro. Check whether the intended route requires equipment or skills beyond ordinary hiking, and keep a lower-level alternative.
Summer
Summer; verify conditions before choosing dates
Do not assume a summer visit makes every summit route suitable for hikers. Account for sun exposure, drinking water and changing mountain weather, and confirm refuge arrangements before leaving the foothills.
Fall
Fall; verify conditions before choosing dates
Check the forecast, available daylight and refuge availability when setting daily stages. Leave room to shorten the outing rather than committing to Mytikas regardless of conditions.
Winter
Winter; verify conditions before choosing dates
Establish whether snow, ice or severe weather affect the proposed route before committing. If winter mountain skills or equipment are needed, choose an outing within the group's capabilities rather than relying on a general hiking plan.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Spring; verify conditions before choosing dates | Plan around conditions on the upper mountain, not just in Litochoro. Check whether the intended route requires equipment or skills beyond ordinary hiking, and keep a lower-level alternative. |
| Summer | Summer; verify conditions before choosing dates | Do not assume a summer visit makes every summit route suitable for hikers. Account for sun exposure, drinking water and changing mountain weather, and confirm refuge arrangements before leaving the foothills. |
| Fall | Fall; verify conditions before choosing dates | Check the forecast, available daylight and refuge availability when setting daily stages. Leave room to shorten the outing rather than committing to Mytikas regardless of conditions. |
| Winter | Winter; verify conditions before choosing dates | Establish whether snow, ice or severe weather affect the proposed route before committing. If winter mountain skills or equipment are needed, choose an outing within the group's capabilities rather than relying on a general hiking plan. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current access rules and any permit requirements with the managing agency for Mount Olympus National Park.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Olympus has deep gorges and numerous peaks. Choose a route deliberately and avoid improvising shortcuts through unfamiliar terrain.
- Mytikas rises to about 2,918 metres. Plan for sustained mountain effort and allow enough energy and time for the descent.
- The massif offers hiking, mountaineering and climbing routes. Do not assume that every route to a summit is an ordinary walk.
- Mountain weather can change the demands of an outing. Carry protective layers and turn back when conditions exceed the group's equipment or experience.
- The presence of organized refuges is not a guarantee of an available bed or supplies. Confirm arrangements and carry essentials independently.
What to pack for Mt Olympus Summit (Greece)
- Detailed map and route description for the chosen outing
- Offline navigation and backup power
- Confirmed refuge details if staying on the mountain
- Headlamp
- Footwear suited to the selected mountain route
- Insulating layer
- Windproof and waterproof outer layers
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Drinking water with a verified replenishment plan
- Food and an emergency reserve
- First-aid kit and emergency shelter
- Technical equipment appropriate to the route and current conditions
Mt Olympus Summit (Greece) FAQ
- Which summit is the highest on Mount Olympus?
- Mytikas is the highest of Olympus's 52 peaks and the highest peak in Greece. Its elevation is approximately 2,918 metres.
- Where does an Olympus trip usually start?
- Litochoro, in the eastern foothills, is the usual starting point. Use it to organize the mountain portion of the trip and confirm the intended route.
- Is Mount Olympus a single peak?
- No. Olympus is an extensive massif with 52 peaks and deep gorges, on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia near the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea.
- Are there places to stay on the mountain?
- Organized mountain refuges are available. Confirm their availability, services and booking arrangements directly before building an itinerary around an overnight stay.
- Can the summit be treated as a straightforward hike?
- Do not assume so. Olympus has hiking, mountaineering and climbing routes. Obtain route-specific information for Mytikas and match the route to current conditions, equipment and the group's experience.
- Why does conservation matter here?
- Olympus has exceptional biodiversity and rich flora. It became Greece's first national park in 1938 and is also a World Biosphere Reserve. Avoid damaging vegetation, leave plants undisturbed and pack out waste.