About 80 kilometers southwest of Thessaloniki, Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. It features in Homer's Iliad as the home of the gods, who were known as the Olympians.
This mighty massif covers an area of some 20 kilometers across and climbs steeply towards the summit, reaching its highest point in Mítikas at 2,917 meters.
Though the highest ridges are difficult to climb, the most northerly peak (2,787 meters) offers easier access. The best starting point for an ascent of Olympus is the town of Litóhoro in the mountain's eastern foothills.
