Mount Olympus: The Mountain of Gods, Myth and Nature

There are many places in Greece that are not only beautiful but also have a presence of their own.

Mount Olympus is one of them.

I had expected the beauty. This is, after all, Greece's highest mountain, a vast, dramatic landscape of forests, deep gorges, limestone cliffs and cloud-covered peaks rising high above the Aegean.

What I hadn't quite expected was its atmosphere.

There is something about Olympus that feels different. Perhaps it is the combination of its extraordinary landscape and thousands of years of mythology. Perhaps it is the way the weather moves so quickly across its peaks, changing the mountain from bright and open to mysterious and mist-covered in a matter of minutes.

And once you know its story, it is very easy to understand why the ancient Greeks believed the gods lived here.

The mountain of the gods

At 2,918 metres, Mytikas is the highest peak of Mount Olympus and the highest point in Greece. The mountain rises remarkably steeply from the surrounding landscape, with its highest peaks not far from the Aegean Sea.

For the ancient Greeks, those peaks were far more than a geographical landmark. Olympus was believed to be the dwelling place of the Twelve Olympian Gods, with Zeus at their sovereign. The gods were imagined to have their palaces somewhere among the highest peaks, hidden from the mortal world by clouds and mist.

And standing beneath Olympus, it is not difficult to see how such a belief could have taken hold.

The peaks can disappear completely into clouds. The weather can change suddenly. Deep gorges cut through the mountain, while forests give way to stark alpine landscapes as you climb higher.

There is a certain drama to it all. It feels like a landscape that belongs in a story.

A mountain of extraordinary biodiversity

But Olympus is not only remarkable because of its roots in mythology. It is remarkable because of what actually lives there.

More than 1,700 species of plants have been recorded on Olympus, representing around a quarter of Greece's flora. Some are found only in Greece, while others are endemic specifically to Mount Olympus.

The reason for such extraordinary variety is partly the mountain's geography.

Within a relatively small area, the landscape changes dramatically with altitude. Mediterranean vegetation grows at the lower levels, followed by forests of beech, oak and black pine, before the landscape eventually becomes alpine.

The mountain's closeness to the sea also contributes to a particularly unusual microclimate, with sudden changes in weather, mist, storms and strong winds.

It means that Olympus can feel like several different worlds layered on top of one another.

Mediterranean Greece at its foot.

Dense woodland further up.

And then, above the tree line, a wild alpine world of rock, grass and sky.

Forests, wildlife and wild places

The mountain is home to an impressive range of wildlife too.

More than 30 species of mammals have been recorded in the wider Mount Olympus area, including the Balkan chamois, roe deer, wild boar, fox, red squirrel and wildcat. Birdlife is equally impressive, with more than 100 species recorded, including golden eagles and other birds of prey

And then there are the reptiles and amphibians. The latest figures from Greece's environmental authority record 24 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians on Olympus. Among them are Greek tortoises, snakes, lizards and the nose-horned viper, as well as frogs, toads and the Macedonian crested newt.

It isn't a landscape preserved simply because it is beautiful. It is a living ecosystem.

In fact, Olympus became Greece's first National Park in 1938, recognised for the exceptional ecological importance of its flora, fauna and landscape. It was later designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981.

And its natural and cultural importance continues to be recognised today. In 2026, Mount Olympus was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site, recognising both its extraordinary biodiversity and its enduring importance in Greek mythology and culture.

The throne of Zeus

One of the most recognisable peaks of Olympus is Stefani, rising to around 2,909 metres.

Today its dramatic shape is known as the Throne of Zeus. It is easy to see why.

Stefani has a striking, almost theatrical appearance, its steep rocky sides rising above the surrounding peaks. The ancient Greeks imagined Zeus's throne somewhere among these mountains, overlooking the divine kingdom below.

And then there is Mytikas, the highest summit.

Reaching it is not simply a matter of walking to the top of a mountain. The final section from Skala to Mytikas involves challenging alpine terrain, which is one reason Olympus attracts experienced climbers and mountaineers from around the world.

But you don't have to climb to the summit to experience Olympus. The mountain begins long before the peaks.

Litochoro and the gateway to Olympus

At the foot of the mountain sits Litochoro, a beautiful town often described as the gateway to Olympus.

From here, paths lead into the mountain, including routes through the spectacular Enipeas Gorge.

The Enipeas River runs through the gorge, carving its way through the mountain and creating a landscape of crystal clear rushing water, waterfalls, bridges and woodland.

It is another reminder that Olympus is not simply about the great peaks above it is also about everything in between: the forests, the streams, the wildflower, the snuffling wildlife, the changing light, the sound of the gushing waterfalls.

Where mythology meets history

The mythology of Olympus didn't exist in isolation.

At the foot of the mountain lies Dion, the ancient sacred city of the Macedonians.

Dion was an important religious centre dedicated to the gods, and archaeological excavations have uncovered temples, public baths, theatres and more.

The relationship between the mountain and the people living beneath it goes back thousands of years.

People didn't simply look at Olympus and tell stories about the gods, they built their lives, their rituals and their places of worship around it.

A mountain between sea and sky

Another remarkable thing about Olympus is its relationship with the sea.

The mountain rises so dramatically from the surrounding landscape that you can experience an extraordinary contrast between the Aegean coast and the alpine peaks.

Sea and mountain. Warm Mediterranean vegetation and high-altitude rock. Olive trees and snow.

There is something about Olympus

I've thought a lot about what makes Olympus feel so special.

The fact that people thousands of years ago stood beneath these same peaks and looked upwards, imagining Zeus and the other gods somewhere among the clouds.

And now, thousands of years later, we are still looking up. Still fascinated. Perhaps that is the true magic of Mount Olympus.

It is both completely real and somehow wonderfully magical.