Litochoro: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Litochoro sits at the mouth of the gorge that cuts into the east face of Olympus, and the river that runs through the town comes straight off the mountain. This route starts on the square, visits the park centre, and follows the gorge up past the ruined monastery to the end of the road. On foot it is a full day on the E4 path; by car the road reaches Prionia in about 25 minutes. Carry water and start early in summer.

A short history of Litochoro

Litochoro is a town at the foot of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, which in mythology was the home of the gods. In the last centuries of Ottoman rule it was home to sailors and merchants, and it took part in uprisings against the Ottomans in the 19th century. In 1912 it was annexed to Greece. On 2 August 1913 a Litochoro man, Christos Kakkalos, together with two Swiss, the photographer Fred Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy, climbed to the highest summit, Mytikas, at 2,918 metres, the first recorded ascent. In 1938 Olympus was declared Greece's first national park, and since then the town has been the main starting point for climbers.

The ten best sights in Litochoro

1
Church of Agios Nikolaos
The big church on the main square; the town meets on the steps in the evening
2
Nautical Museum
Why a mountain town has a sea museum; a short visit near the square
3
Monastery of Agios Dionysios (new)
The working monastery on the road up, 3 km from town; modest dress
4
Old Monastery of Agios Dionysios
Restored ruins deep in the gorge, on the path and the road to Prionia
5
Archaeological Park of Dion
Sanctuaries among springs and reeds, 8 km north; go early or late for the light
6
Archaeological Museum of Dion
In the village, a few minutes from the site; buy the combined ticket
7
Platamonas Castle
Crusader walls over the sea, 14 km south, visible from the highway
8
Ancient Leivithra
A small site in the foothills tied to the myth of Orpheus
9
Olympus National Park Information Centre
Maps, weather and refuge advice before you go up
10
Enipeas Gorge path
The E4 path follows the river up from town; even the first hour is worth it

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A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Litochoro:

Free walking tours in Litochoro

Up the Enipeas gorge

Church of Agios Nikolaos · Saint Nicholas is the protector of sailors, and this mountain town chose him for its main church because so many of its men went to sea. The church's feast on 6 December is still one of the town's big days.
Nautical Museum · For generations the men of Litochoro went to sea, many of them as captains and officers on Greek merchant ships around the world. The museum's anchors and ship models explain why a town under Olympus thinks of itself as a sea town.
Olympus National Park Information Centre · Olympus was declared Greece's first national park in 1938, to protect its forests and the high meadows of the gods' mountain. Ask here about the state of the paths and which refuges are open.
Enipeas Gorge path · The path is part of the E4, the European long-distance trail that runs from Spain to Cyprus. In this stretch it crosses the Enipeas on wooden bridges again and again, with green pools under the plane trees.
Old Monastery of Agios Dionysios · Saint Dionysios founded the monastery in the 16th century. In 1943 German troops blew it up, saying it sheltered partisans, and the monks moved to the new monastery lower down; the old buildings have been partly restored since.
Prionia · The name comes from the saws of the sawmill that once worked here, cutting the mountain's timber. Today it is the last point reachable by car and the start of the main path to the summit.

To the throne of Zeus

Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, and it rises almost straight out of the sea. The classic ascent drives to Prionia, climbs to Refuge A for the night and goes for the summit at dawn. This is a two-day mountain trip, not a stroll: it needs boots, warm layers and a weather check, and the final ridge is for people with a head for heights. Those who are not climbing can do the forest stops in half a day.

Monastery of Agios Dionysios (new) · After the old monastery was destroyed in 1943, the community rebuilt here, on a gentler site close to the town. The monks keep the relics and the traditions of the original house up the gorge.
Gortsia · Gortsia is a trailhead in black-pine forest on the road to Prionia, where shorter paths leave for the eastern ridges. It is a good place to see the change from Mediterranean scrub to mountain forest in a few hundred metres of height.
Prionia · From the car park at 1,100 m the path to Refuge A climbs about 1,000 metres through beech and pine. Fill your bottles at Prionia before setting off, and allow about three hours.
Refuge A 'Spilios Agapitos' · The refuge opened in 1930 and is named after Spilios Agapitos, a president of the Hellenic Alpine Club. At about 2,100 m it sits at the edge of the tree line, and most summit attempts start from its door before sunrise.
Mytikas · Nobody is known to have stood on Mytikas until 2 August 1913, when two Swiss, Frédéric Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy, reached it with Christos Kakkalos, a hunter from Litochoro. Kakkalos went on to guide on the mountain for decades.
Olympus National Park Information Centre · Back in town, the centre is the place to report your return if you registered a long route. In 1981 UNESCO named Olympus a biosphere reserve, recognising a flora with many plants found nowhere else.

Dion and the foot of the mountain

The ancient Macedonians worshipped the Olympian gods at Dion, on the plain at the mountain's foot, and their kings gathered the army here before great campaigns. South along the coast, castles and hill villages guard the narrow strip between Olympus and the sea. This drive goes north to Dion, then south past Litochoro to Platamonas and down to the beach. A relaxed day, with the museum best in the midday heat.

Archaeological Park of Dion · Alexander the Great held a festival and sacrifices to Zeus here before leaving for Asia in 334 BC. Springs still flood the sanctuary of Isis, where copies of the statues stand in the water.
Archaeological Museum of Dion · In 1992 excavators found the remains of a hydraulis, a water-powered pipe organ of the 1st century BC, one of the oldest organs ever found. It is on display upstairs.
Ancient Leivithra · Pausanias tells that Orpheus was buried at Leivithra, and that an oracle warned the city would be destroyed if the sun ever saw his bones. When a shepherd broke the tomb open, the river Sys flooded the town and swept it away.
Platamonas Castle · Crusader lords from Lombardy built it soon after the Fourth Crusade of 1204, to guard the coastal road into Thessaly. In April 1941 New Zealand troops held the ridge below it for a day and a half against the German advance.
Palaios Panteleimonas · Its people moved down to the coast in the 20th century to be near the roads and the sea, and the old village was nearly abandoned. Its stone houses have since been restored, and it has become a weekend destination with a view of Olympus and the sea.
Plaka Litochorou · From this beach the summit of Mytikas is less than 20 km away as the crow flies, so the land climbs almost 3,000 metres in that distance — one of the steepest rises from sea to summit in Europe.

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Getting to Litochoro and getting around

Litochoro bus station · Buses to Katerini and Thessaloniki; taxis to Prionia wait nearby
Litochoro railway station · On the coastal plain 5 km below town; few trains stop, so check before relying on it
Katerini railway station · The reliable main-line stop, 18 km north, with trains from Athens and Thessaloniki

Cheap eats in Litochoro

Litochoro feeds walkers, so it is good at quick, filling food: grilled meat in pita, cheese and spinach pies, and strong coffee early in the morning. The cooking of Pieria is northern Greek, with more meat, peppers and pies than island food. Most quick places line Agios Nikolaos street, the road up from the coast. Buy lunch here before the mountain; at Prionia there is only one taverna.

Artos Efessou bakery · A slice of pie about €2-3
Papy's grill · Souvlaki and gyros in pita, about €3-4
Tasos · Grill on the road into town, about €3-8
Zymi & Elia · Pizza and pies by the slice, about €2-5
Olympion café-patisserie · Coffee and a pastry, about €3-5
Coffee Island · Takeaway coffee for an early start, about €1.5-3

Museums in Litochoro

Archaeological Museum of Dion · Statues, mosaics and the ancient water organ
Archaeological Park of Dion · Allow two hours; little shade
Nautical Museum · The sailors of Litochoro
Platamonas Castle · Walls, keep and sea views; an hour
Olympus National Park Information Centre · Exhibition on the mountain's plants and animals

Nature and day trips near Litochoro

Enipeas Gorge path · Pools and bridges; town to Prionia about 5 hours
Prionia · Waterfall and beech forest at the road's end
Refuge A 'Spilios Agapitos' · Bunks and hot meals at 2,100 m; book ahead
Gortsia · Shorter forest walks for a half day
Mytikas · The summit; only with experience and good weather

Things to do in Litochoro with kids

Archaeological Park of Dion · Frogs and turtles in the flooded sanctuaries keep children busy
Platamonas Castle · A real castle with walls to walk
Plaka Litochorou · Beach afternoon after a mountain morning
Prionia · Short walk to a waterfall

Where to eat in Litochoro

Erato · On the main square by the church
Pantheon · Taverna with a view of the mountain
Olympos · Classic grills and baked dishes
Mezedekia · Small plates to share after a long walk
Gastrodromio · More ambitious cooking with local produce
Oi Myloi · Old mills at the mouth of the gorge, on the E4

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Frequently asked questions about Litochoro

What is there to see in Litochoro?

The top sights in Litochoro are Church of Agios Nikolaos, Nautical Museum and Monastery of Agios Dionysios (new). The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Litochoro?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Litochoro without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Litochoro?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Litochoro, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Up the Enipeas gorge.

How do you get to Litochoro and get around?

The main ways are Litochoro bus station, Litochoro railway station and Katerini railway station. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Litochoro, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Litochoro that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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