Olympos National Park

Mount Olympus National Park is the protected area covering the Olympus massif in northern Greece, established as a national park in 1938. It contains Greece’s highest summit, Mytikas, which reaches 2,918 metres above sea level.

The park is known for its high alpine peaks, steep ridges and deep gorges, with many marked trails and several staffed and unstaffed refuges used by hikers and climbers. Routes range from forested lower slopes to exposed summit ridges; popular approaches start from the town of Litochoro and the trailhead at Prionia.

The area supports a diversity of mountain flora and fauna and is a long-established destination for mountaineering and nature study in Greece. Scientific and conservation interest focuses on alpine ecosystems, endemic plant species and historical cultural associations with the mountain.

Geographically the park sits on the Olympus massif at the boundary between the coastal Aegean side and the hinterland of northern Greece, with the town of Litochoro at the foot of the mountain on the eastern side. Access is typically via regional roads from Thessaloniki and Larissa, with Litochoro the main gateway for most hikes.

• Climbing season: Best climbing season is typically late June to September when snow is least likely on the high ridges; mountain huts and marked routes are busiest then.
• Protection status: The park was designated as a national park in 1938 and protects alpine habitats around Greece's highest peaks.

What to See #

• Mytikas: The highest summit of the massif, reaching 2,918 metres above sea level, and the standard target for climbers aiming for Greece's highest point.
• Enipeas Gorge: A steep, wooded river gorge on the mountain's northern slopes that contains marked hiking routes and mountain refuges; many day hikes start from the Prionia and Litochoro side and follow paths through this valley.