Last Updated on July 15, 2026
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain of Greece and offers one of the most rewarding hikes in Europe, but reaching its highest point Mytikas is not a casual walk. I climbed it as part of my European Peaks project, and this guide explains the best routes, difficulty, huts, season, gear, safety tips and practical mistakes to avoid before your own Mount Olympus hike. Read carefully. The hike is demanding but once you reach its peak, you’ll understand quickly why Zeus and his colleagues chose this mountain to rule from. In this article, I will give you all information you need to successfuly reach the peak and also a secret tip how to make most out of the trip to the Olympus Range. If you are looking for a mountain guide, I will give you recommendations too.
Mount Olympus Hike: Quick Answer
| Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| The quickest and best route for most hikers | Prionia – Spilios Agapitos Refuge – Skala – Mytikas |
| Most scenic and my recommended route | Prionia – Plateau of the Muses – Profitis Ilias – Mytikas |
| Recommended duration | 2 days |
| Best season | June to October |
| Main difficulty | The final exposed scramble to Mytikas |
| Guide needed? | Not always, but strongly recommended if you dislike exposure or lack scrambling experience |
Important information for Mount Olympus Hike
- Short description of the ascent: Demanding long hike, it’s recommended to do it in two days
- Essential equipment: Hiking gear for long and demanding hikes, helmets
- Best time to visit: June – October
- Fees or restrictions: No
- Camping allowed: Yes
- Nearest accommodation/food supply: huts Christos Kakkalos, Giosos Apostolides and Spillos Aqapitos
- Recommended accomodation before climb: Roboto Boutique Hotel in Litochoro
- Starting point: Prionia (see the map below) nearby village Litochoro
- Height of the peak: 2,918 m
- Hiking distance: 9.6 km (one way)
- Time to ascend to Mount Olympus: 7 hours up, 4 hours back
- Elevation climbed: 1,928 m up and 168 m down (one way)
- Water availability on the mountain: huts Christos Kakkalos, Giosos Apostolides and Spillos Aqapitos
- Recommended mountain guide: Certified mountain guide Babis
- Difficulty level: **** (6 stars maximum)
- Personal rating of the mountain: ***** (6 stars maximum)
- Beer on the peak: Olymposbeer Golden (dark lager) *** (6 stars maximum)
Best Routes to Mount Olympus
There are multiple options how to reach the highest point of Greece, Mount Olympus, also called Mytikas. I will describe the most popular route which is also the shortest as well as my favorite one which is a bit longer but it should be taken in my opinion because it includes wonderful views over the peak.
Route 1: Prionia to Mytikas via Spilios Agapitos
Your first option is to go straight from parking lot Prionia to Mount Olympus (Mytikas) via hut Spillos Aqapitos. This route is the shortest and can be made in one long day or in two days with a night spent at the Spillos Aqapitos hut.
Route 2: Prionia to Mytikas via Plateau of the Muses
Another alternative is to start again in Prionia and continue to Mount Olympus (Mytikas) via Christor Kakkalos hut and mountain Profitis Ilias. I strongly recommend this route because the view from the plateau around Christor Kakkalos hut over Mount Olympus is magnificient. In fact, it’s even better than from the top of the mountain. I recommend to stay overnight at the Christos Kakkalos hut and hike up the nearby mountain Profitis Ilias for an unforgettable sunrise during which you can marvel at the majestic mountain on one side and the Aegean sea on the other.
Both of the routes include a very steep part of the final summit where you will have to scramble. Helmets are strongly recommended as there are loose stones. If you don’t have enough experiences with steep terrains, a guide is necessary. You can book a certified guided trip to the top. Accommodation before your climb is recommended in the nearest old village Litochoro.
How Difficult Is Mount Olympus?
Mount Olympus is a demanding hike rather than a technical climb, but the final section to Mytikas should be taken seriously. The route is long and steep, with almost 2,000 meters of elevation gain from Prionia, and the last part involves exposed scrambling on loose rock where a helmet is strongly recommended. Fit hikers with mountain experience can usually manage it without a guide in good weather, but beginners or anyone uncomfortable with heights should consider hiring a certified mountain guide. I myself was very happy to have there helmets because other climbers caused some falling stones.
What Gear Do You Need?
For Mount Olympus, bring proper hiking shoes, warm layers, a rain jacket, enough water, snacks, sun protection and a headlamp if you start early or return late. The final section to Mytikas involves exposed scrambling on loose rock, so I strongly recommend wearing a helmet. I rented it in Litochoro and I was very happy for the decision. Do not underestimate the mountain in summer either: weather can change quickly, and the summit area feels much more serious than the lower forest trail from Prionia.
Map of the routes to Mount Olympus
Option 1: Straight from parking lot Prionia to Mount Olympus (Mytikas) via hut Spillos Aqapitos
Option 2: From Prionia to Mount Olympus (Mytikas) via Christor Kakkalos hut and mountain Profitis Ilias
My story of climbing Mount Olympus with personal tips
I climbed Mount Olympus within my project European Peaks during which I managed to climb the highest mountain of every European country in a year. I was using the Interrail service to travel around and I had the most interesting story on my way from Bulgaria to Greece so here my story starts.
I was lucky with the weather in the Bulgaria and it looked promising also for the rest of my Balkans trip so I was looking forward to climbing the highest mountain of Greece. However, before I start talking about the actual summit I would like to introduce the amazing travel with Bulgarian railways which I used on the way to Greece. Over +30° C, no air condition, broken window opening system, no water to buy.
Visiting Greece and Mont Olympus by train from Bulgaria
Luckily, the miracle happened at the border with Greece. For some unknown reason we had to leave the train and wait for another one operated by Greek railways. To make our waiting less boring we passed the border with a bus overtaking the longest queue I have ever seen. How lucky we are to live in the Schengen Area.
After a quick security check we reached probably the most remote village in the whole of Greece with stray dogs and still no shop to buy water or food. This will be our stop for another hour. Both we and the dogs are hungry and thirsty. Unfortunately the dogs don’t know we have no water and no food so they are begging and begging. This is not the best occasion for people who are scared of dogs. I rather sit aside hoping that the train comes soon.
After half an hour, two strangers come and offer to me and my friend a beer. Miracles do happen! We quickly became friends with these two Interrail travellers, American Wyatt and French Joyce. We talk about our experiences on the road and about our misery in the Bulgarian trains.
Short sightseeing in Thessaloniki before our climb to Mount Olympus
The train arrives soon. Compared to Bulgarian trains another extreme is waiting. It is freezing cold in the train because of too strong air conditioning. I put on extra clothes and with newly ordered beers we continue towards Thessaloniki. Wyatt becomes more and more interested in my expedition and soon decides to join us for the Greek adventure. Rikki and I have nothing against it.
The weather forecast was good for the following days so we didn’t wait and decided to directly go to conquer Mount Olympus. We hired a car and left to the village Litochoro. I wasn’t driving so I was googling a bit and I found by accident the Olymposbeer brewery which was on the way. What a coincidence!
When we reached the “brewery” we found out it is just an office with only one employee who couldn’t speak any English. We could at least practice our mime though and obviously, it is good! After 15 minutes of awkward conversation we each received a bottle of beer. Now we are ready for the climb!
Climbing Mount Olympus in sandals?
The hike starts at a small parking lot above the Litochoro village called Prionia. I was happy we are on the way but after a few steps Rikki and I were shocked. Wyatt is wearing sandals. “Seriously, Wyatt?” we asked. “You will actually need to climb during the last part of the summit.” “Calm down,” he replied. “I climbed in these amazing shoes a 10 000 feet mountain. No worry.” We didn’t have any idea what his mountain could look like but he looked persuasive so we trusted him and decided to continue.
The journey is long and steep. It’s late afternoon and we meet dozens of tourists on the way down. Nobody is hiking up. It doesn’t take long time before we reach the first hut on the way. We get some liquid energy and continue. The tree line is approaching and we start to have a view over the sea. So rewarding. It also becomes colder. Wyatt’s feet are cold so he puts on socks and we start to hike faster to reach our destination. Four hours after the start of the hike we reach the plateau below the peak of Mount Olympus.
Don’t miss the epic view over Mount Olympus during sunrise
Wow. What a beautiful mountain. I didn’t make much research in advance about what Mount Olympus looks like and this was the right choice. It is probably the most beautiful mountain of all EU Peaks. For a better atmosphere, the setting sun created an amazing light. We nearly felt that Zeus will show up. It was a perfect time to reach our destination Refuge Christos Kakkalos.
Dmitrij, the responsible at this cabin, was very hospitable. We got amazing local food and talked with him and other guests until the late evening. We didn’t omit the local tsipouro either. Yamas!
The best view over Mount Olympus is from Profitis Ilias
We woke up early in the morning but this time not to climb to the top of Mount Olympus. Instead we decided to reach another mountain Profitis Ilias nearby to have a view over the majestic mountain of gods. In addition to this view we could also watch the waking sun above the sea. It was definitely a good decision. This was magnificent scenery.
We enjoyed the amazing scenery for some time but we knew we were still expecting a tough climb so we got back to the Christos Kakkalos hut, we rented helmets and we finally started to hike up to Mount Olympus’ highest point Mytikas
Steep final summit to Mytikas
First we traversed to the beginning of the climbing trail and after a few hundred meters the real adventure starts. For the last time we ask Wyatt if he thinks it is a good idea to climb up in his sandals. However, he confirmed again that we have nothing to worry about. Well, let’s go up.
We slowly scramble up with Rikki when we suddenly hear the singing: “Wyatt, why did you do this, this, this? Wyatt, you are such an idiot, idiot, idiot. Come on man, you will survive this, this, this.” It’s clear. Wyatt has a problem. “Are you okay? Do you have problems with your sandals?” we ask. “No. The sandals are okay but I forgot to say I’m afraid of heights.” We didn’t know what to say. Seriously? “What now? Do you want to come back?” “No. It will be even worse. I have to climb up.” Wyatt stopped looking down and didn’t give up. He took a deep breath ten times and continued upward. The climb was not long and after a few minutes we all reached the top of Mount Olympus. Rikki and I enjoyed the view and Wyatt made a triumphant selfie with his sandal.
Well deserved relax at the beach
We enjoy the Olymposbeer peak beer and sunbath in an already warm sun for about an hour. The view over the sea is however very tempting so we decide to return to Litochoro and later to the nearest beach. I would like to write that the chilled typical Greek ouzo which we ordered on the beach was the best reward for the two-day effort in the mountains. Unfortunately, I have to write that I have never drunk anything more disgusting. Anise is just not my cup of tea, so I bought instead the wheat Greek beer Alpha. With that, the view from the sea to the mountain where we sunbathed only a few hours ago was much more pleasant.
I think I will have to come back sometimes, especially after the local people told us their experiences with freeride skiing in the winter.
My personal tips for the mountain Mount Olympus:
- If you are on a holiday in Greece, do not omit visiting the mountain Mount Olympus. This is one of the most beautiful mountains in Europe.
- I recommend spend night before your climb in nice village Litochoro and start hiking later in the afternoon, spend night at the refuge Christos Kakkalos and climb the peak early in the morning. You will avoid the crowds.
- If you don’t have experience with steep climbs, don’t end up like Wyatt and I recommend a certified guide.
- Before the actual summit don’t miss the view from Profitis Ilias.
- Please, don’t bring sandals 🙂
Is Mount Olympus hard to climb? Yes. Mount Olympus is a demanding hike, especially if you continue to Mytikas, the highest summit. The approach from Prionia is long and steep, and the final part requires exposed scrambling on loose rock. In my experience, the mountain is absolutely worth the effort, but it should not be treated as an easy tourist walk.
Can beginners hike Mount Olympus? Fit beginners can hike parts of Mount Olympus, especially the route from Prionia to the refuges, but I would not recommend Mytikas as a first serious mountain summit without help. The final scramble is steep and exposed, and a helmet is strongly recommended because of loose stones. If you do not have experience with steep terrain or heights, go with a certified mountain guide.
How long does it take to climb Mount Olympus? From Prionia, the climb to Mount Olympus takes around 7 hours up and about 4 hours back down, depending on your route, fitness, weather and breaks. I recommend doing it in two days rather than rushing it in one. Staying overnight at a mountain hut also gives you the chance to enjoy sunrise over the Olympus range.
Do you need a guide for Mount Olympus? You do not always need a guide for Mount Olympus if you are an experienced hiker comfortable with exposed scrambling. But if you are unsure about route finding, heights, loose rock or the final climb to Mytikas, a guide is a very good idea. Based on my climb, the last summit section is the part where experience matters most.
What is the best route to Mount Olympus? The most popular route starts at Prionia and goes via Spilios Agapitos refuge toward Skala and Mytikas. My favorite route goes from Prionia to the Plateau of the Muses, with an overnight stay near Christos Kakkalos refuge and a sunrise detour to Profitis Ilias. It is a little longer, but the views of Mount Olympus from there were one of the highlights of my trip.
When is the best time to hike Mount Olympus? The best time to hike Mount Olympus is usually from June to October. During this period, the main hiking routes are more accessible and the huts are typically the most useful for planning a two-day climb. Always check the current weather before starting, because conditions can change quickly in the mountains.
Can you climb Mount Olympus in one day? Yes, strong and experienced hikers can climb Mount Olympus in one long day from Prionia, but I do not think it is the best way to experience the mountain. The route is long, steep and demanding, and rushing makes the final scramble more stressful. A two-day climb with a night at a refuge is safer, more enjoyable and gives you amazing chances for sunset and sunrise views over majestic Mount Olympus.
Where should you stay before climbing Mount Olympus? The best base before climbing Mount Olympus is Litochoro, the nearest village below the mountain. From there, you can continue to Prionia, where the hike starts. On the mountain, the main refuge options include Spilios Agapitos, Christos Kakkalos and Giosos Apostolides. I stayed near the Plateau of the Muses and really enjoyed that option because of the views and access to Profitis Ilias.
Is Mytikas dangerous? Mytikas can be dangerous if you underestimate it. The final section is not just hiking; it involves exposed scrambling where loose rocks, fear of heights and bad weather can become serious problems. During my climb, one person in our group struggled with exposure near the top, which was a good reminder that proper shoes, a helmet and honest self-assessment matter here.
What is the difference between Mount Olympus in Greece and Cyprus? Mount Olympus in Greece is the highest mountain in Greece, with Mytikas reaching 2,918 meters. It is a real mountain hike with a demanding final scramble. Mount Olympus in Cyprus is a different mountain in the Troodos range, much lower and much easier to visit. If you are searching for the famous mountain of Greek mythology and the highest point of Greece, you want Mount Olympus in Greece.
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