The route to the top of Greece, the easy walks below it, and every guided hike and day trip
compared honestly, so you know what is a hike, what is a scramble and which tour really goes up.
Enipeas gorge path: storm damage since September 2023 means broken bridges and river crossings between Litochoro and Prionia. Ask in Litochoro or at Refuge A before you walk it. Refuge A route notesChecked 29 September 2026
Hike or scramble, statedWe say which tours reach the summit and which stay low
Real guest ratingsLive GetYourGuide figures, low review counts included
Refund terms statedFull refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead
Secure checkoutBook on GetYourGuide, instant confirmation
Tours & guided hikes
Choose your Olympus day
In the centre, the day trip most visitors book: a waterfall walk on the lower slopes and ancient
Dion. On the left, the summit in one long day with a mountain guide. On the right, the classic two-day route with a
night at Refuge A.
A 4x4 drive takes you high up to a mountain hut, then a guide leads you over Skolio and up the final scramble to Mytikas, roped in. For fit hikers who have only one day.
What's included
English-speaking mountain guide from Trekking Hellas
4x4 transfer from Kalyvia to the mountain hut and back
A forest walk to a waterfall pool on the lower slopes, ancient Dion and lunch in Litochoro, with an archaeologist host. The mountain's foothills in one easy day, not a summit hike.
What's included
Pickup and drop-off in central Thessaloniki
Air-conditioned coach and an English-speaking archaeologist-historian host
Short walk to the Agia Kori waterfall, with a swim if you like
Entry to the Dion archaeological site is paid on the day
Hike from Prionia to Refuge A on day one, then set off before sunrise for Skala and the roped scramble to Mytikas. The standard way up, at a calmer pace; only 3 reviews so far.
The first row is the do-it-yourself baseline: you drive to Prionia, sleep at Refuge A and go up on
your own. Every tour below either adds a guide for the summit or keeps you low on the mountain for an easier day.
Only the one-day and two-day summit trips go above the tree line. The day trips from
Thessaloniki, Katerini and Athens stay on the lower slopes. Entry to ancient Dion is paid on the day.
What the tours don't tell you
Most Olympus tours stay low. The summit is a two-day trip.
"Mount Olympus tour" usually means a day in the foothills: a forest walk to a waterfall near
Litochoro, ancient Dion and lunch, back in Thessaloniki by evening. It is a lovely day and it never goes
above about 1,100 m. That is fine, as long as you know it when you book.
The top is a different trip. From Prionia a steep, well-marked path climbs about 1,000 m to Refuge A, and from
there to Skala at about 2,870 m. The last stretch to Mytikas is a short, exposed scramble where you use
your hands, with a big drop beside it. Most people take two days; only a guided 4x4 start makes one day
comfortable.
1938
the year Olympus became Greece's first national park. In
July 2026 the wider Olympus area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, for nature and culture.
Prionia 1,100 mRefuge A 2,100 mSkala 2,870 mMytikas 2,918 m
Refuge A, Spilios Agapitos, at about 2,100 m: where most summit hikers spend the night.
01
Hike or scramble?
A hike to Refuge A, Skala and Skolio. Only the final section to Mytikas is a scramble.
02
One day or two?
Two days is the standard. One day means 11 to 12 hours on foot, or a guided 4x4 start.
03
Need a guide?
Not for the hike. For the scramble, yes if you have never used your hands on exposed rock.
04
Permit needed?
No entry permit for hikers at the moment. Book the refuge bed ahead in summer.
The classic route
Prionia to Mytikas in four steps
The E4 path from Prionia is the way most people go up. Official figures: 11.5 km and about 1,830 m
of ascent one way, about 7 hours of walking, split over two days.
01
Drive to Prionia
18 km of paved, winding road from Litochoro to the trailhead at about 1,100 m, with a spring, toilets and a café.
20 to 30 minutes
02
Hike to Refuge A
6 km and 1,000 m up through beech and pine forest on a well-marked path. Dinner and a bunk at the refuge.
About 3 hours
03
Up to Skala at dawn
Above the trees on a zigzag path to Skala, about 2,870 m. Skolio is a short walk from here with no scrambling.
About 2 hours
04
Scramble to Mytikas
The Kakoskala section: red-marked rock, hands needed, a helmet strongly advised. Back the same way.
The main paths with official times, where to sleep, how to reach Litochoro and what to pack.
Prionia to Refuge A: 6 km, 1,000 m up, about 3 hours. A steep forest hike on the E4, well marked.
Refuge A to Skala and Mytikas: 3 km, about 820 m up, about 3 hours. A hike to Skala, then the Kakoskala scramble.
Via the Louki gully: a steeper scramble from Zonaria to Mytikas, polished rock and stonefall from people above; a helmet is needed.
Gortsia to the Plateau of the Muses: about 12 km and 1,700 m up via Petrostrouga, about 6 hours; the quieter northern approach.
Enipeas gorge, Litochoro to Prionia: about 11 to 12 km; storm damage since 2023, with broken bridges and river crossings.
Spilios Agapitos (Refuge A): about 2,100 m, 110 beds, open from mid-May to late October. Book through mountolympus.gr.
Christos Kakkalos: 2,648 m on the edge of the Plateau of the Muses, only 17 places, from late May to early November.
Giosos Apostolidis: 2,697 m on the plateau, run by the Thessaloniki mountaineering club, early June to October.
Petrostrouga: about 1,950 m on the Gortsia route, a halfway stop to the plateau.
Beds fill up in July and August: book well ahead, and tell the refuge your plans for the next day.
Litochoro: the base town, about 90 km from Thessaloniki and just over 400 km from Athens.
By train: regional trains from Thessaloniki stop at Litochoro station on the coast, about 6 km from town; intercity trains stop at Katerini.
By car: from Litochoro, 18 km of paved mountain road to Prionia, where there is parking, including overnight.
By tour: day trips leave from Thessaloniki, Katerini and, by train, from Athens; guided summit trips start in Litochoro.
Hiking boots with good grip: the upper path is loose scree and the summit rock is polished.
A warm layer, windproof jacket, hat and gloves, even in August.
Water for the day: fill up at Prionia and at Refuge A.
A helmet for the final scramble; Refuge A rents them.
Sun cream and sunglasses: above the trees there is no shade.
1913First recorded ascent2 August 1913: Boissonnas and Baud-Bovy, guided by the Litochoro hunter Christos Kakkalos.
1938First national parkOlympus was the first national park in Greece.
1981Biosphere ReserveUNESCO recognised the mountain's forests and wildlife.
2023Storm DanielFloods damaged the Enipeas gorge path; bridges are still down in places.
2026World HeritageIn July 2026 the wider Olympus area joined the UNESCO World Heritage list.
1,900+Plant speciesSome 1,900 kinds of plants, 27 of them found nowhere else on earth.
Where it is
Litochoro and Prionia
Prionia trailhead, Mount Olympus
End of the paved road from Litochoro (602 00), about 18 km, at about 1,100 m
Litochoro sits at the foot of the mountain between Thessaloniki and Larissa, a few kilometres from the Aegean.
The road climbs from the town to Prionia, the start of the E4 path to Refuge A. Gortsia, the start of the northern
route, is on the same road. Ancient Dion lies at the northern foot of the mountain, near Katerini.
4.6★★★★★ 1,265 reviews · Dion & Mount Olympus Day Trip GetYourGuide figure
★★★★★
A great experience with our guide Tasos, who helped us to safely reach the summit of Mytikas. We had hardly any technical climbing experience and he ensured we felt safe and comfortable the whole time.
★★★★★
This is a really nice day trip. Mount Olympus is beautiful. The hike is pretty and the springs you can swim in are very cold but very refreshing. Ancient Dion has so much to see and is gorgeous.
★★★★★
We booked this hike to go with our son, who is 7 years old. It was a good introduction to the mountain for him as the hikes were short and very easy so he could enjoy the experience.
★★★★★
Amazing experience, very memorable, thank you so much to Stavros. It was a challenging experience, but very rewarding.
★★★★★
Cece was a brilliant guide and extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The hike was more of a stroll, but was perfect for expectations. Swimming in the natural pool was glorious and refreshing, just watch out for the slippery rocks in the water.
★★★★★
This was a most excellent way to climb Mt. Olympus without taking 2 or 3 complete days of my 8 days in Greece. Our guide was perfect. He escorted us safely and enthusiastically.
★★★★★
I wanted to see Olympus and I did. In fact this day outing has convinced me to one day hike Olympus to the summit. I was most surprised by Dion.
★★★★★
The experience exceeded our expectations by far. We were pleasantly surprised that something that looked challenging was actually pretty manageable. A great first canyoning experience.
★★★★★
Christina is an exceptional guide, with impressive knowledge and a genuine love for the mountains. Her family has been connected with Mount Olympus for generations, including the first climbers who reached the highest peak.
For the evening
The whole mountain, at sunset
From the summit you never see Olympus itself. For the view of the whole massif turning pink, the
coast below it is the place, with a castle and a stone village on the way.
Olympus Sunset Tour with Platamon Castle
★ 4.7 · 5 reviews · GetYourGuide
Staying on the coast below the mountain? This late-afternoon tour visits the Crusader castle of Platamon, ancient Leibethra and the stone village of Palaios Panteleimonas, with the whole Olympus massif turning pink at sunset. Castle and museum entries are paid on the day.
Mount Olympus is two mountains in one: a green world of forests, gorges and waterfalls that anyone
can enjoy in a day, and a bare limestone summit ring that asks for two days, a good head for heights and a bit of
scrambling. Here is how to choose between them, and how to do either well.
The easy mountain
Below about 1,100 m, Olympus is a mountain of beech and black pine, clear streams and pools the colour of
glass. The day trips from Thessaloniki live here: a forest walk to a waterfall near Litochoro, where you can swim
if you like the water very cold, then ancient Dion, the sanctuary of Zeus at the foot of the mountain, and lunch
in town. Reviewers call the walk "more of a stroll", which is exactly the point. If you have one day and no
hiking kit, this is the right trip, and it still gives you the view of the peaks.
Above the trees, the path to Skala crosses open alpine ground.
The summit, honestly
Most summit hikers drive to Prionia, walk about three hours up the E4 path to Refuge A and sleep there. The
next morning they set off at first light for Skala, about 2,870 m, on a steep zigzag path above the trees. Up to
here it is a hike: tiring, but you never need your hands. The last part, the Kakoskala route to Mytikas at
2,918 m, is different: a short, exposed scramble on red-marked rock with a long drop beside it. In dry weather,
with care and a helmet, fit hikers manage it every summer day. If you have never scrambled, go with a licensed
guide, who will rope you in, or stop at Skala or Skolio, which give nearly the same view.
The honest small print: a "Mount Olympus tour" from Thessaloniki or Athens does not go up
the mountain; it goes to its foot. Only the guided summit trips, one day with a 4x4 start or two days with a
night at Refuge A, reach the top. Every tour on this page refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead, which
matters on a mountain where the weather decides.
One day or two
Official figures put Prionia to Mytikas at 11.5 km and about 1,830 m of ascent, around seven hours one way. A
strong, experienced hiker can go up and down in one long day of 11 to 12 hours, but it leaves little margin for
weather or tired legs. The one-day guided summit solves it differently: a 4x4 drive to a high mountain hut cuts
the ascent, and the guide carries the rope. Everyone else should book two days and enjoy the sunrise from
the refuge.
The first three hours from Prionia climb through shady forest.
When to go and what to expect
The summit season runs from June to September; the high zone holds snow for about nine months a year. Start
early, because clouds and storms can build in the afternoon, and pack a warm layer even in August: on a late-September
morning in 2026 it was 2 °C on top. There is no entry permit or park ticket for hikers at the moment,
but refuge beds fill up in summer, so book those first. Since July 2026 the wider Olympus area has been a UNESCO
World Heritage site, and new visitor rules may follow, so check before you go.
The gorges below the peaks are the mountain's other half.
Straight answers to what hikers ask most about Mount Olympus.
Can a beginner hike Mount Olympus?
Yes, up to a point. A fit beginner can hike from Prionia to Refuge A and on to Skala at about 2,870 m, a steep but well-marked path with no scrambling. The last stretch to Mytikas is an exposed scramble: if you have never used your hands on rock, go with a licensed guide or stop at Skala. More in how hard is Mount Olympus.
How long does it take to walk up Mount Olympus?
From Prionia it is about 3 hours to Refuge A (6 km, 1,000 m up), then about 3 hours to Mytikas via Skala. The official one-way figure is 11.5 km, 1,830 m of ascent and about 7 hours. Every route in how to climb Mount Olympus.
Can you hike Mount Olympus in one day?
Strong, experienced hikers can, in one long day of roughly 11 to 12 hours from Prionia and back. Most people take two days and sleep at Refuge A. A one-day guided summit shortens it with a 4x4 drive to a high mountain hut.
Do you need ropes to climb Mount Olympus?
Not for the hike to Refuge A, Skala or Skolio. On the final scramble to Mytikas many people go without, but guided groups use a helmet, a harness and a rope, and a helmet is strongly recommended for everyone because of loose stones.
How difficult is it to climb Mount Olympus?
The hike is long and steep but not technical. The difficulty is the last 200 m or so: the Kakoskala route from Skala to Mytikas is a short, exposed scramble with a big drop beside it. In dry summer weather and with care, or with a guide, it is manageable for fit hikers without a fear of heights.
Can you drive up to Mount Olympus?
Only part of the way. A paved, winding road runs about 18 km from Litochoro to Prionia at about 1,100 m, the highest point you can reach by car. Above that you walk. There is no cable car and no road to the summit.
How much does it cost to climb Mount Olympus?
There is no park entry ticket or summit permit for hikers at the moment. What you pay for is transport to Prionia, a refuge bed and meals if you stay overnight, and a guide if you want one. Rules may change after the 2026 UNESCO listing, so check before you go.
How cold is it at the top of Mount Olympus?
Even in summer the summit can be close to freezing early in the morning and windy at any hour, with daytime highs rarely warm. On 29 September 2026 it was 2 °C on top. Pack a warm layer, a windproof jacket and gloves. Month by month in the best time to go.
Where is the best place to see Mount Olympus?
From Litochoro, right below the peaks; from ancient Dion at the northern foot; from Platamon Castle above the sea; and, on clear days, from the Thessaloniki waterfront across the gulf.
Is Mount Olympus in Greece worth visiting?
Yes, even if you never go near the summit. The forests, gorges and waterfalls around Litochoro, ancient Dion and the mountain views make an easy, rewarding day, and in July 2026 the wider Olympus area became a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the day trip guide.
Is there anything on top of Mount Olympus?
Just rock, a summit book to sign and a small metal Greek flag. There is no hut on Mytikas; the nearest refuges are on the Plateau of the Muses, below the summit.
Is the Acropolis on Mount Olympus?
No. The Acropolis is in Athens, just over 400 km south of Litochoro by road. Mount Olympus is in northern Greece, between Thessaloniki and Larissa, and it was the home of the gods only in myth.
Ready to book
Pick your day, then enjoy the mountain.
Instant confirmation on GetYourGuide, with a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Summit in a day
★ 4.99 hours30 reviews
