Mount Olympus Day Trip from Athens

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens is a long day north by train or road to the highest mountain in Greece, with a guided visit to the foothills, the village of Litochoro and ancient Dion before the return south. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.

The sections below cover the tours, the distance, the train, driving, timing, the sights, the stops on the way, overnight options, short walks, food, who it suits, what to bring, the months, inclusions and booking, with links into the day trips from Athens pages. The tour shown is checked on GetYourGuide.

What is a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens is one long day out to Olympus. Greek myth calls this mountain the home of the twelve gods. You travel about 420 km north to its eastern slopes. Then you return to Athens the same night.

Litochoro, the village at the foot of the mountain, lies in the Pieria area. Ancient Dion, the old holy city of the Macedonians, stands about 8 km to its north.

Every Mount Olympus day trip from Athens follows one of two plans. Guided tours join a train ride with a minibus and a local guide. Independent travellers drive the A1 motorway or ride the train alone.

Thessaloniki lies only about 90 km from Litochoro, so the trip from there is far shorter. See the Mount Olympus day trip from Thessaloniki for that route.

Which Mount Olympus day trips from Athens can you book?

Two group tours run a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens by train. Both come from the same local operator, Visit Olympus. A private two-day trip by car also exists for hikers who want a night on the mountain.

• GetYourGuide: From Athens: Mt. Olympus National Park Guided Day Tour, 13 hours, English or Greek guide
• Viator: Mount Olympus and Dion Day Trip from Athens by Train, about 13 hours, English guide
• Visit Olympus: a private version of the same train day trip, sold on its own website
• Athens Hoppers: a two-day private transfer with hotel pickup and an English-speaking driver

Both group tours follow one plan. You ride the morning train north on your own, then meet a guide and driver outside Katerini station. The stops are Dion, Platamonas castle, the national park and Litochoro.

The Viator group has a limit of 19 travellers. The GetYourGuide version offers private or small groups on the same Mount Olympus day trip from Athens.

The Athens Hoppers car takes about 5 hours to reach Prionia, where the walk up the mountain starts. Guests sleep in a mountain refuge or a Litochoro hotel.

How far is Mount Olympus from Athens?

By road, a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens covers about 416 km each way to Litochoro. That makes over 830 km in one day. By rail, Katerini sits on the 456.6 km line from Piraeus to Platy.

The train on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens passes Thebes and Larissa before Katerini. Litochoro lies 58 km north of Larissa, the last big city on the way. Katerini, the rail stop, lies north of Litochoro.

The road trip from Athens to Thessaloniki is about 499 km. So a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens covers over four-fifths of that distance, twice.

The railway is double track, with one track for each direction, and electrified. The line is built for 160 km/h, with a top speed of 200 km/h.

How does the train work on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens uses the Hellenic Train Intercity line north. You board at Athens Railway Station, also called Larissa Station. You leave the train at Katerini, below the mountain. The ride takes about 4 hours 20 minutes.

Hellenic Train cut the line to two Intercity trains each way during track works. That leaves one morning train north and one evening train back.

• Intercity 50 leaves Athens at 06:58 and reaches Katerini at 11:21
• Intercity 57 leaves Katerini at 17:37 and reaches Athens at 21:57
• Intercity 56 leaves Athens at 17:58 and reaches Katerini at 22:21
• Intercity 51 leaves Katerini at 06:43 and reaches Athens at 11:03

Tour listings quote other morning times, such as 07:49 and 07:58. The Viator listing gives a 06:58 start, which matches the rail timetable. For a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens, both listings ask you to arrive 30 minutes early.

Litochoro has its own station on the regional line between Larissa and Thessaloniki. If a strike halts the trains, the Viator tour runs by bus. Other routes feature among these scenic train rides in Greece.

Can you drive a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

Yes, you can drive a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens on the A1 motorway. The road runs north past Lamia and Larissa to Katerini. Each way to Litochoro takes about 4 hours 22 minutes behind the wheel.

The A1 is the second-longest motorway in Greece, at 557 km. It links Athens with Thessaloniki and the border with North Macedonia. North of Larissa, it crosses the Vale of Tempi through tunnels.

Litochoro has two motorway exits, numbered 70A and 71. A driven Mount Olympus day trip from Athens means almost 9 hours at the wheel in total.

Speed limits on Greek motorways are 120 to 130 km/h. The A1 is a toll road, paid in stages the whole way north. Nine toll stations stand between Athens and Litochoro.

• You pay at each toll station as you pass it
• Staffed lanes take cash and bank cards
• Greece has no vignette, a prepaid road sticker
• The first station is Afidnes and the last is Leptokarya
• The Attiki Odos ring road around Athens charges tolls too

How is the day timed on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens lasts about 13 hours from start to finish. The morning train leaves Athens at 7:58, and the ride north takes about 3.5 hours each way. The return train brings you back the same evening.

The day starts at the main railway station in Athens. Guests arrive 30 minutes before departure to find their train and seats. The train then runs north to the town of Katerini.

After the train, a minibus carries the group between the stops. Each drive lasts about 20 minutes. The plan gives two hours at Dion, 40 minutes in Litochoro and 20 minutes at Platamon Castle.

At the end, the guide drives the group back to Katerini for the train home. A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens ends at the station where it began. If the trains strike, the tour runs by bus instead.

What does the guided tour on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens include?

The guided Mount Olympus day trip from Athens includes return train tickets between Athens and Katerini. A guide and a minibus take you between the sights. A bottle of water comes with it. Entry tickets to Dion and Platamon Castle cost extra.

The tour company behind both listings is Visit Olympus. Guides speak English and Greek. One listing keeps each group to a maximum of 19 travellers. Infant seats are available.

• Train tickets from Athens to Katerini and back
• A guide who meets the group after the train
• An air-conditioned minibus between the sights
• A free bottle of water for each guest
• First-class train seats as an extra option

Meals are not part of the package. Free time in Litochoro allows lunch at a taverna, a small Greek restaurant. Each guest pays for their own meal. A private Mount Olympus day trip from Athens follows the same route for one group.

Which sights does a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens visit?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens visits three main places near the mountain. These are the ancient site of Dion and the village of Litochoro. The third is the national park at the Enipeas gorge. The tours add Platamon Castle on the coast.

• Dion: ruins where ancient Greeks worshipped the gods of Olympus, 8 km north of Litochoro (Dion tours).
• Litochoro: the village on the eastern slopes of Olympus, with time to walk and shop (Litochoro tours).
• Park entrance: the Enipeas gorge, where a short walk reaches the Bath of Zeus, a natural pool.
• Platamon Castle: a medieval fortress with views over the Aegean Sea.

Dion is the longest stop on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. Entry is not in the tour price. Read about ancient Dion tickets before you travel.

One listing calls the gorge walk an easy hike. The pool takes its name from Zeus, the king of the Greek gods.

What lies on the road from Athens to Mount Olympus?

The road for a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens is the A1 motorway, which runs north towards Thessaloniki. It passes Thermopylae, Lamia, Larissa, the Vale of Tempi and Platamonas castle before reaching Katerini. The A1 is 557 km long in total.

The A1 follows a north–south route used since ancient times. Toll stations stand along the way, and drivers pay at each one. Thermopylae lies about 200 km north of Athens. The motorway passes close to each stop below.

• Thermopylae: the Leonidas monument stands beside the old national road, about 15 km from Lamia.
• Lamia: a medieval castle sits on a wooded hill directly above the city centre.
• Larissa: the First Ancient Theatre, the largest in Thessaly, once seated 10,000 people (Larissa tours).
• Vale of Tempi: a 10 km gorge between Mount Olympus and Mount Ossa, cut by the Pineios river.
• Platamonas castle: a Crusader fortress on a hill above the sea, guarding the exit of Tempi.

In Tempi, a hanging footbridge crosses the river to the chapel of Agia Paraskevi. The chapel is built into the rock. The cliffs rise to about 500 metres.

On the guided Mount Olympus day trip from Athens, Platamon Castle is the one stop from this list. The plan gives it 20 minutes. Its walls reach 9.5 metres on one side.

Is one day enough for a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

One day is enough for a short taste of the mountain. A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens spends about seven of its 13 hours on the train. That leaves roughly six hours for Dion, Litochoro, the castle and the gorge.

Dion takes two of those six hours. The rest goes on short minibus drives, the castle visit, the gorge walk and free time in Litochoro.

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens does not reach the high trails. Prionia, the highest point open to cars, sits 18 km by road from Litochoro. It stands at 1,100 metres, and the longer hiking paths start there.

Walkers who want hours on the mountain need more than one day. An overnight stay in Litochoro adds that time. For a first look, a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens covers ruins, village and gorge in one go.

How does a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens compare with one from Thessaloniki?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens covers far more ground than the same trip from Thessaloniki. A day trip from Thessaloniki covers only about 90 km to Litochoro. The northern start cuts travel from about eight hours to about two.

By car, a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens means about four and a half hours each way. From Thessaloniki, the drive to Litochoro takes about one hour. The train from Thessaloniki to Litochoro station runs in about one hour too.

The GetYourGuide train tour lists 13 hours. Its train leaves at 07:49 and reaches Katerini at about 11:58. The Viator day starts at 06:58 and ends around 22:10. Each rail leg lasts about four hours.

Starting in the north leaves more hours for the sights. From Athens, the GetYourGuide tour gives Dion about 2 hours and Litochoro about 40 minutes. Dion and Litochoro both lie about an hour from Thessaloniki. The Dion Archaeological Park day trip from Thessaloniki shows how short that northern route is.

When does an overnight stay beat a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

An overnight stay beats a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens for walks above the gorge. Litochoro sits at the foot of the mountain, 293 m above sea level. The town has hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, from budget rooms to luxury stays.

Prionia is the trailhead, the place where the main paths start. It sits at about 1,100 m, with a small restaurant and a car park. It lies 18 km from Litochoro along an asphalt road. The drive takes about 35 to 40 minutes on tight bends.

• An early taxi or drive to Prionia, since no buses run up there.
• A walk along the full gorge path from Litochoro to Prionia, about 5 to 5.5 hours.
• A summit attempt from Prionia, about seven hours up and four hours down.
• Dinner and an evening stroll in Litochoro, where hotels sit close to the centre.

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens leaves no room for any of these plans. Each of them needs at least one night in or near Litochoro, the main base for the mountain.

Mount Olympus tours from Katerini last about 4 hours, as one local operator lists. After a night nearby, that short format replaces the 13-hour Mount Olympus day trip from Athens.

Which short walks fit a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

Short, shaded walks in the Enipeas gorge fit a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. Each starts near the road above Litochoro. They last between 10 minutes and about two and a half hours on marked paths.

The road from Litochoro reaches the old monastery of Agios Dionysios after 18.4 km. Prionia lies 3.2 km further up, about seven minutes away by car. Without a tour, a taxi or car covers this road on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens.

• Old monastery car park to the Enipeas waterfall: about 15 minutes through shady forest.
• Roadside stop 500 m before the monastery: a downhill path of 10 to 15 minutes.
• Old monastery to the chapel of Agios Dionysios, set under a rock: about 20 minutes.
• Prionia down the E4 path, a European long-distance trail, to the old monastery: about 4 km, rated easy.

The Viator train tour includes a short hike through the Enipeas gorge. The GetYourGuide tour stops at the Bath of Zeus, which lies in the same gorge. Both stops sit inside Mount Olympus National Park. Expect wooden bridges and uneven ground along the river.

The old monastery opens from April to October. Those months suit this stop on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. Longer routes appear on the Mount Olympus hike page.

How does a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens fit with other trips?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens pairs with trips to Meteora, Delphi and Thessaloniki. Each lies north or northwest of the capital. Each needs its own long day, so plan them as separate outings on different dates.

• Meteora: about 350 km from Athens, three to four hours by car; see Meteora day trips from Athens.
• Delphi: about 180 km northwest of Athens, 2.5 hours by car; read the Delphi day trip from Athens.
• Thessaloniki: about 90 km north of Litochoro, one hour by road or rail.

Trains from Athens no longer reach Kalambaka, the town below Meteora. Since the storms Daniel and Elias, the line ends at Palaiofarsalos. A replacement bus covers the last stretch, about 90 km of closed track.

Delphi lies west of the motorway, reached via Livadeia and the mountain village of Arachova. Arachova sits about 10 minutes before the site. Pairing Delphi with a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens means two early starts from the capital.

Meteora sits 230 km southwest of Thessaloniki, far less than the 350 km from Athens. A base in the north brings both the monasteries and Olympus closer. Seen that way, a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens suits travellers who stay only in the capital.

What do you eat on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

Meals are not part of a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens, so food is your own plan. The tour gives one bottle of water. You buy breakfast on the train, eat lunch in Litochoro and carry snacks for the gaps.

On a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens, breakfast happens on the train. The dining car sells sandwiches, toasts, croissants, salads, coffee and soft drinks, all made in Greece. On ETR trains, A Class seats come with free drinks, water and snacks.

The tour stops for 40 minutes of free time in Litochoro. Tavernas sit on the central square, beside Saint Nicholas church, and serve local mountain dishes. Small local wineries make Xinomavro and Roditis wines.

• Hortopita: a pie filled with wild greens
• Batzina: a pie of courgette and cheese
• Kontosouvli: pork roasted on a spit
• Olympus cheeses: feta, soft anthotyro and aged kaseri
• Mountain tea: tsai tou vounou, a local herbal drink
• Spoon sweets: fruit preserves such as sour cherry or fig

A packed lunch saves time on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. The tour lets guests bring their own snacks or picnic. Food from home is accepted on Greek trains too, so a picnic of souvlaki and fruit works well.

Who suits a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens suits reasonably fit travellers. They also need patience for long stretches of sitting. The day lasts 13 hours. About seven of those hours pass on the train, with walking on uneven ground in between.

The walk into the Enipeas gorge is short and easy, and leads to the Bath of Zeus pool. Dion and the castle mean more time on foot over rough paths. A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens includes short climbs but no long hike.

Families with children can join a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. The operator calls the trip a day for the whole family. Young children need snacks and games for the long train legs.

Older travellers and people with limited mobility face the hardest test. Long train hours alternate with short walks at each stop. GetYourGuide also lists a private option for a single group.

• Group size: up to 19 travellers on the Viator version
• Languages: a live guide in English and Greek
• Babies: infant seats available on the Viator version
• Animals: service animals welcome on the tour
• Access: not wheelchair accessible, as the listing states
• Pace: a long day with short, timed stops

What do you wear and bring on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

Dress in layers for a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. The air cools as the van climbs, and the gorge feels colder than the coast. Wear closed walking shoes with good grip, and carry a light rain jacket.

Mountain weather changes fast, whatever the season. The temperature drops by about half a degree Celsius for every 100 metres you climb. A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens can start in city heat and reach cool river air by afternoon.

Leave jeans at home and pick quick-drying trousers or shorts. Paths at Dion and the castle are uneven, so sandals with smooth soles are a poor choice. A fleece or light jumper covers the cool gorge air.

• Passport or ID card, which the tour requires
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the open ruins at Dion
• A second water bottle, as the tour gives only one
• Cash or a card for the Dion entrance fee, which is not included
• A charged phone with the train ticket and tour voucher

Pack light for a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. A small backpack carries the layers and water between van stops. Athens station has paid lockers for bigger bags, so suitcases need not join the trip.

Which months suit a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

The park’s walking season runs from late spring to mid-October. That window suits a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens. Late spring and early autumn bring mild air and thinner crowds than the heat of high summer.

• Late spring: green slopes, strong streams and snow on the high peaks
• June: snow retreats, with cool mornings and warm afternoons
• July and August: peak season, warm and busy at weekends
• September: cooler air, stable weather and more rain and mist
• October: crisp air, autumn leaves and the end of the walking season

Snow covers the slopes above 2,000 metres from September to late spring. Patches can linger into June. A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens stays low, at the gorge and Litochoro. Low-level walks remain open in winter.

Winter adds risk higher up, with snow, high winds and avalanches. Rain and hail can hit the mountain from August. In the cold months, a Meteora day trip from Thessaloniki offers another day out in northern Greece.

Listings for a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens have shown different morning train times over the seasons. Departures include 6:58, 7:49 and 7:58. During a train strike, the operator runs the tour by bus.

How long does a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens last, and what is included?

A guided Mount Olympus day trip from Athens lasts about 13 hours on both the GetYourGuide and Viator listings. The time splits between the long train ride and four stops near the mountain, linked by short minibus rides. Entry tickets and meals cost extra.

Viator splits the time on the ground into four stops of about one hour each. These are Dion, Platamonas castle, the Enipeas waterfall and Litochoro.

The GetYourGuide listing adds two small extras to the train seats, guide and minibus: taxes and service fees, and a skip-the-ticket-line service at the sites.

Entry to Dion is not part of the GetYourGuide fee. Viator leaves out the tickets for both Dion and Platamonas castle, and it also excludes tips.

How much walking does a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens involve?

A Mount Olympus day trip from Athens involves light walking only. The main walk is a short, easy path in the Enipeas gorge near Litochoro. The rest is strolling around the ruins of Dion, the castle grounds and the village.

The path to the Bath of Zeus starts near the Myloi taverna on the edge of Litochoro. It runs about 870 metres one way, with a climb of about 60 metres. The walk takes about 15 minutes each way.

Viator calls this part of the Mount Olympus day trip from Athens an easy hike. Another copy of the listing rates the tour as suitable for all fitness levels. The tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Can a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens end in Thessaloniki?

Yes. The operator behind both listed tours lets guests finish a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens in Thessaloniki. Guests tell the team before the tour date, and the last leg runs north from Katerini instead.

Hellenic Train runs direct trains from Katerini to Thessaloniki. The ride takes about 48 to 54 minutes over roughly 40 km of track. KTEL, the regional coach company, also links the two towns in about 50 minutes.

A one-way plan saves the long ride back south. From Thessaloniki, the direct train to Athens takes about 5 hours and 9 minutes on a later day.

Ending a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens in Thessaloniki works well with a city stay there. The page on when to visit Thessaloniki helps with picking dates.

How do you book and cancel a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

You book a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens online through GetYourGuide or Viator. Both listings give a full refund for cancellations made at least 24 hours before the start. Later cancellations on Viator get no refund.

On GetYourGuide, search for tour 397584. On Viator, the product code is 303910P4. The operator’s own site sets a longer window of 48 hours for free cancellation.

Viator sends confirmation at the time of booking and offers a reserve-now, pay-later option. The steps for a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens run in this order:

• Choose a date and a shared or private option
• Keep the voucher on a phone or print it
• Meet at Athens Railway Station at least 30 minutes before departure
• Cancel on the same site to get the refund

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a passport on a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens?

Yes. The GetYourGuide listing says guests must bring an ID card or passport to take part. Visitors from outside the European Union bring a passport. Citizens of EU countries can use a national identity card instead. Keep the document handy at Athens Railway Station, where the day starts.

Can you upgrade to first class on the train?

Yes. The operator issues second-class seats as standard on the Athens to Katerini train. A first-class upgrade is sold as an add-on before checkout on its own website. Add it to the basket when booking a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens there.

How large are the groups, and which languages are used?

Viator caps the shared Mount Olympus day trip from Athens at 19 travellers. GetYourGuide offers private or small-group versions. Guides lead the tour in English and Greek, according to GetYourGuide. Viator lists the tour in English only. Group discounts appear on the Viator page.

Can babies and young children join the tour?

Yes. Viator accepts guests aged 0 to 99 and offers infant seats. Service animals are allowed on the tour as well. A baby or toddler faces a long day, with around eight hours of train travel. Families reach the start easily, as Viator notes it lies near public transport.

Does the waterfall at the Bath of Zeus flow all year?

Not always. The waterfalls in the Enipeas gorge can run low or dry at the end of summer. This includes the small fall at the Bath of Zeus. A sign at the nearby dam pool bans bathing, since it feeds the town’s water supply.

Can you do a Mount Olympus day trip from Athens without a tour?

Yes, but the bus route is slow. A coach from Athens to Litochoro needs a change in Thessaloniki. Train travellers get off at Katerini, where a local bus reaches Litochoro in about 30 minutes. Only a short time remains at the mountain on an independent day.