This location is #68 on our Best Travel Destinations In Greece & Greek Islands Map!
Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest peak, stands at 9,573 feet tall and spans roughly 12 miles in diameter at its base. Located in the region of Thessaly and Central Macedonia, it’s about 50 miles southwest of Thessaloniki. The mountain’s rugged terrain includes 52 peaks, with the highest, Mytikas, accessible via steep trails and rocky scrambles. Its base covers an area of approximately 190 square miles, with elevations ranging from near sea level to the summit. The massif features deep gorges, alpine meadows, and pine forests, with temperatures often dropping below freezing at higher altitudes, even in summer, and snowfall common in winter.
Mount Olympus is renowned as the mythical home of the Greek gods in ancient Greek religion, particularly Zeus, who was said to reside on its summit. It’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve due to its rich biodiversity, hosting over 1,700 plant species and wildlife like chamois, wild boars, and golden eagles. The mountain is a magnet for hikers and climbers, with the E4 trail being a popular route to the summit, offering stunning views of the Aegean Sea and surrounding valleys. Its cultural significance extends to modern times, symbolizing Greek heritage and inspiring countless works of art, literature, and folklore.
Historically, Mount Olympus has been a sacred site since antiquity, revered in Homeric epics like the Iliad and Odyssey as the divine abode. Ancient Greeks didn’t climb it for worship but viewed it as untouchable, reserved for deities. In the 20th century, it gained fame as a mountaineering destination, with the first recorded ascent of Mytikas in 1913 by Swiss climbers Daniel Baud-Bovy and Frédéric Boissonnas, alongside Greek hunter Christos Kakkalos. During World War II, the mountain served as a hideout for Greek resistance fighters. Today, it’s a national park, established in 1938, drawing thousands annually for its natural beauty and mythological legacy.
