Mount Olympus in Greece is known from Greek mythology, representing the residents of twelve Greek gods—the peak Stefani is even considered the throne of Zeus.

Mount Olympus is, however, much more than that. The landscape and surroundings put this elevation quickly on the list of the most iconic peaks in the world. Are you adventurous enough to conquer the Greek mountain of gods?

Read this guide to ensure you have the best climbing Mount Olympus experience.

Getting to Mount Olympus

There are several options for getting to Litochoro, the base camp for all hikers who aim to ascent Mount Olympus. You will be departing, most likely either from Athens or Thessaloniki.

If you are really on a budget, you can try hitchhiking. From my experience, hitchhiking from Litochoro to Athens worked very well, taking around 8 hours.

Many truck drivers are taking the route from Thessaloniki to Athens. The advantage of taking a bus from Thessaloniki is that it drops you right in the city, so you don’t need to take a taxi.

If your budget allows you to rent a car, this will be the most convenient solution to move around Greece. Additionally, you are much more flexible, allowing you to make stops around the route whenever possible. You can get an eSIM for Greece and use Google Maps to plan your trip.

The hike to Mount Olympus can be very exhausting, especially if you aren’t an experienced hiker. Make sure to be well prepared and rested. After the descent of Mt. Olympus, many travelers decide to relax on one of the Greek islands, such as Mykonos, Santorini, or Zakynthos. If you prefer to explore less touristy islands, I suggest visiting Hydra Island in Greece.

Arriving in Litochoro – Base camp (Mt. Olympus)

Litochoro is a small city on the bottom of Mt. Olympus in Greece. It is recommended to arrive one day in advance to prepare for the hike and get supplies such as water, food, and good sleep to start early the following day.

Where to stay around Mount Olympus

Regarding accommodation, there are not many options, particularly if you book last minute while on a budget. We stayed at an Airbnb in the middle of the town for about 25 EUR for two guests.

Hostel from 14 EUR / night: Summit Zero

Mid-range from 40 EUR / night: Olympus View / Hotel Mirto / Villa Pantheon

Luxury from 59 EUR / night: Mythic Valley / Litochoro Apartments / Bayiri Petit Pension

If you can plan your trip, I suggest booking your accommodation as soon as possible as the options are limited.

What you need to climb Mount Olympus

Here’s your Mount Olympus checklist:

• Food (make sure you take enough snacks such as nuts and protein bars to keep your energy up)
• Water Bottle (the only option to get food and water is in the refuge camps, there are no refill stations)
• Hiking Shoes
• Hiking Sticks (recommended)
• Warm Clothes
• First Aid Kit (there are many sharp rocks on Mt. Olympus, and you can easily cut yourself)
• Sleeping bag
• Map (sold at any local shop with souvenirs)
• Helmet (recommended – rent it at one of the refuge camps)
• Toiletries
• Sun protection[/alert]

I highly suggest that you are well-rested and bring food and water; good hiking shoes should also be considered.

Hiking sticks are not necessary, but it feels good to have some support when climbing Mount Olympus. Any suitable piece of wood you can find is also sufficient.

Let the climb to Mt. Olympus begin.

Don’t forget to bring warm clothes with you; mid-summer it gets pretty cold above 2000 meters.

Equipped with a map, food, water, and warm clothes, we started the hike the following morning at 8 AM. You should know that no public transportation can bring you to the beginning of the trail; you can take a taxi for 25 EUR or hitchhike (my preferred method).

Depending on your chosen track, you must get to Gortsia or Prionia, 9 km and 12 km from Litochoro.

To get to the beginning of the trail, we hitchhike. Most people start climbing up to Mount Olympus around 9 AM. Beginning at 8 AM gives you a better chance to catch a ride and start your hike to Mt. Olympus as soon as possible.

If you also plan to hitchhike, write a sign and get to the road to Gortsia. Coming from the roundabout at the Litochoro police station, you need to turn left, cross the bridge and walk around 300 meters and turn left again. You should be on the right way that leads to Prionia and Gortsia.

What trail to take?

Trail 2, starting from Gortsia, is much less popular; therefore, you will not meet many tourists, the nature is also more vivid, the landscape changes and a good part leads you only through the woods.

Trail 1 is the main route up to Olympus; in Prionia, you can refill your water bottles and start the hike. This trail is entirely used during the peak season and is full of hikers. (quite crowded)

We decided to take Trail 2 up the mountain and Trail 1 on the way back.

Luckily the people who gave us a ride to Gortsia were local firemen with years of experience on the mountain. Since our goal for the day was to reach refuge camp B (Apostolides), we built a group and hiked up together.

The trail leads you through the woods to the first refuge, D (Petrostrouga); this is a small refuge where you can have some food and tea, rest a little, and continue the hike.

The landscape is changing, and we are out of the woods; the soil is changing into rocks, and we are on our way to the Plateau of Muses.

Upon arrival at Plateau of Muses, you can see two refuge camps, C – Christos Kakkalos, a small cozy refuge, and B – Apostolides, the highest shelter on the mountain with a standard room to socialize and ice-cold showers if you are brave enough.

If you plan to hike with your dog, consider that dogs are not allowed to enter. Some guests pitched a tent and slept with the dog outside.

Find out the contact information of other refugee camps here.

The location of refuge Apostolides is an excellent spot to start ascending Mount Olympus, which consists of several peaks. Right next to the Apostolides refuge, you can see the breathtaking Stefani, followed by Mytikas, Skala, and Skolio.

Ascending Mt. Olympus

• First, be aware of the weather conditions, and don’t underestimate the hike’s difficulty.
• Always ask the refugee camp about the conditions and their advice on ascending Mt. Olympus on the day of your visit.
• If there is rain in night, climbing up to the highest peak, Mytikas might be very dangerous and not recommended, according to the local fireman.
• Depending on your route, wearing a helmet in some parts is a good choice. You can borrow these in the refugee camps.

If you start from refuge Apostolides, you can take a shortcut up to Mytikas that goes steep up to the summit, it is shorter, but as an inexperienced hiker, I would not do it alone.

The other option is to take a loop hike, as seen on the map, and reach the peak of Skala first and then hike further up to Mytikas. Ensure you don’t underestimate your capabilities and experience; there are a few spots where you need to use your hands to climb up the mountain, so be aware.

Descending Mt. Olympus

Depending on your route and capabilities, you can descend the same day as you reach the peak or stay one more night at one of the refugee camps and descent the third day (recommended).

The descent of Mt. Olympus will take you at the same time as the ascent, and it can be even more exhausting for many hikers.

Having hiking sticks with you will certainly ease the pain in your knees.

How much time do I need to climb Mount Olympus?

As for inexperienced hikers, trail 2 to the refuge camp, Apostolides took us 7:30 hours with a 1-hour break. From here, you need another 3 hours to Mytikas.

Trail 1 is supposed to be faster, approximately 4 to 5 hours to the refuge camp Apostolides or around 7 to 8 hours to Mytikas.

Experienced hikers can make it to the summit in around 5 hours.

Consider that the hike between Litochoro to Prionia (beginning of the trail) takes around 4 to 5 hours if you don’t have any transportation. We spent two days on the mountain; we needed three days upon arrival.

To make it up to the peak of Skala and down in one day is quite a challenge, and it would be a pity not to spend more time in that breathtaking environment.

I would, however, recommend at least two nights at Mt. Olympus to allow time to connect with nature.

Cost of climbing Mt. Olympus

• In all of the refugee camps, you can buy warm meals for about 7 – 8 EUR (bowl of spaghetti bolognese)
• 1 EUR for a chocolate bar and 2 EUR for beverages
• Accommodation is about 12 EUR for a bed in a shared room in one of the refuges, or you can pitch a tent for free.
• Additionally, you may have extra costs connected with the arrival and accommodation in Litochoro.

All you need to know for a fun hike on Mount Olympus

You don’t need any special climbing gear to climb Mt. Olympus. Solid hiking shoes are recommended (running shoes are not that great), take enough water, food (sandwich or snacks), warm clothes (it’s around 0-10 degrees on the top), and a map is a must.

Also, take a small first aid kit; you will never know what you can use it for; I cut myself on razor-sharp stones and got bitten by some insects, which resulted in a swollen ankle.

Climbing Mount Olympus is one of the best activities you can do on the mainland of Greece; breathtaking landscape and a great way to connect with nature.

Anyone who loves the outdoors and is comfortable hiking for a long time can reach the peak and enjoy the views from Zeus, his throne.