Olympus National Park

Olympus National Park protects Mount Olympus (Όλυμπος), the highest mountain in Greece, on the border between Thessaly and Central Macedonia. Its highest peak, Mytikas, reaches 2,918 m. In Greek mythology it was the home of the twelve Olympian gods. Olympus was the first national park in Greece. It is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both nature and culture.

Deep gorges, beech and black pine forests and a bare alpine zone shape the mountain, with summits such as Mytikas, Skolio and Skala. Its flora includes plants found nowhere else, and chamois live on the higher slopes. The Enipeas Gorge leads from Litochoro past waterfalls and pools to the trailhead at Prionia. From there the main path climbs to the Spilios Agapitos Refuge. The Christos Kakkalos Refuge stands on the Plateau of the Muses below the Throne of Zeus. Show more

At the foot of the mountain lies Ancient Dion, the sacred city of the Macedonians, with sanctuaries and a museum. Litochoro, the main base for climbers, lies near the beaches of the Pierian coast. Summit routes are serious mountain hikes and are usually free of snow only from early summer to autumn.