Greece Route: Mount Olympus to Athens and Meteora
Explore Greece's most iconic attractions across 1,297.7 km, from Athens' ancient Acropolis and Agora to the monasteries of Meteora perched on dramatic rock formations. The route connects legendary historical sites including Delphi's Oracle sanctuary, the mythological Mount Olympus, and Greece's renowned island destinations.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Mount Olympus
- End
- Meteora
- Stops
- 8
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Mount Olympus — Greece's highest peak at 2,918 meters, legendary home of the twelve Olympian gods in ancient mythology and a challenging hiking destination.
- Vikos Gorge — One of Europe's deepest canyons with nearly vertical cliffs rising 1,000 meters, offering dramatic hiking trails through pristine wilderness in northwestern Greece.
- Athens
- Acropolis — Ancient citadel perched atop a rocky outcrop, crowned by the Parthenon temple and overlooking 3 million inhabitants of Athens.
- Acropolis Museum — Modern museum at the base of the Acropolis displaying ancient Athenian artifacts, sculptures, and historical artworks from the archaeological site.
- Ancient Agora — Historic heart of ancient public life where Athenians engaged in commerce and politics, now featuring vibrant flea markets and colorful streets.
- Kolonaki — Upscale modern neighborhood in Athens featuring boutique shops, art galleries, and contemporary dining establishments.
- Meteora — UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring ancient monasteries perched atop massive natural rock pillars in the Plain of Thessaly, established in the 9th century.
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Avoid visiting Athens in summer when it's unbearably hot and crowded with tourists. Consider visiting during shoulder seasons instead.
- Transport
- Reach Meteora by train or bus from Athens or Thessaloniki to Kalambaka, or drive to see the Greek countryside.
- Tip
- At Meteora, visit the Great Meteoron Monastery which has a museum about monks' life, and the Holy Trinity Monastery for spectacular views.
- Transport
- Reach Mount Olympus by road from Thessaloniki (about 100 km away). The town of Litochoro serves as the starting point for mountain trails.
- Tip
- The most popular Mount Olympus hiking route starts at Prionia parking area and leads to Spilios Agapitos refuge at 2,100 meters.
- Transport
- Reach Skiathos by plane or ferry from ports like Volos, Agios Konstantinos, Evia, and other Sporades islands.
- Transport
- Corfu has its own airport with direct flights from most European cities. Alternatively, fly to Saranda in Albania and take a ferry.
- Transport
- Reach Kefalonia via the Kefalonia International Airport near Argostoli, or take ferries from Patras to Sami or from Killini to Poros.
- Tip
- Visit Navagio Beach (shipwreck beach) on Zakynthos for mesmerizing water colors that photos cannot capture.
- Tip
- Explore Melissani Cave on Kefalonia with its underground lake that glitters with ethereal bluish light from sunrays.
- Avoid
- Do not hike Vikos Gorge alone as it's easy to get lost; hiking trips are frequently scheduled by clubs in the area.
- Transport
- Reach Vikos Gorge from Ioannina (takes 7 hours drive from Athens to Ioannina). First Zagori settlements are 16 km from Ioannina.
Video on this route
GREECE Travel Guide 🇬🇷 BEST Attractions of Greece