Climbing to Mytikas (2,917 m), the highest summit of Mount Olympus, you’re rewarded with a 360° panorama. In fact, most people find their gaze drawn eastward toward the bright blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the wide Thermaic Gulf. From the summit’s edge you can literally see the Aegean stretching out below you – the sparkling turquoise waves and long Pierian coastline grab your attentionirst. (As one guide put it, the “most amazing view” from Olympus is of the Aegean Sea .) The coast, dotted with sandy beaches and the mouths of mountain streams, is a vivid splash of color against the gray rock, so it naturally becomes your first focal point when you look out from the peak.
The “City of Gods” Below: Litochoro and the Pierian Coast
Even as your eye skims the sea, other landmarks stand out. Down on the eastern slopes lies Litochoro, the charming mountain town at Olympus’s foot. On a clear day you can pick out the white houses and green forests of Litochoro far below, its patchwork of fields and villages fanning out toward the shore. (No surprise it’s nicknamed the “City of Gods”, since it perches right under the mountain home of Zeus.) Beyond Litochoro, the coastal plain of Pieria stretches out, with olive groves and sandy beaches meeting the sea. In sunlight the whole strip of land gleams, making a sharp contrast against the deep blue water. From the top, you can even trace the roads winding down through pine forests toward those seaside towns.
Neighboring Peaks: Zeus’s Throne and the Summit Crown
From Mt. Olympus’s summit plateau, jagged peaks rise around you. The towering cliff on the left is Stefani, the legendary “Throne of Zeus”. Turning your head from east to west, you’ll see Olympus’s other summits jutting into the sky. Closest by is Stefani (2,902 m), the sharp cliff known as the Throne of Zeus. Its sheer limestone wall looms almost within arm’s reach – you really feel like an Olympian king surveying the land below. Guides often advise new climbers: “the first thing you should do is look for Zeus. on Stefani Peak”. To the south the ridge curves through Skala (2,882 m) and up to Skolio (2,911 m), while on the north side the plateau of the Muses lies below. In short, your first glance might fix on the sea, but almost as instantly you’re surrounded by these dramatic peaks. (See the photo above: steep cliffs and tents on the plateau. From there, Stefani towers over the scene.)
Deep Canyons Carving the Mountain
Dropping your eyes back down, you notice the mountain’s wild geography. Olympus is laced with deep gorges and ravines. For example, the Enipeas River Gorge cuts right through the eastern side of the massif by Litochoro. From up top you can trace Enipeas winding down into the plain. In fact, as one source notes, “Mount Olympus has 52 peaks and deep gorges”. On the south side lies the Ziliana Gorge, 13 km long, which separates Olympus from the lower slopes. From Mytikas you can often glimpse the shadows of these canyons – the dark forested valleys and rushing waterfalls far below. These sheer cliffs and ravines make the mountain look carved by giants, adding to the sense of scale when you first look out.
A Sea of Clouds and Otherworldly Sights
One of the most magical sights is not on land but in the sky. On many mornings you’ll find a cloud inversion: the valleys are filled with low fog, and the highest peaks emerge like islands in a “sea of clouds.” This happens especially at dawn or after humid nights. As you stand above it, you look down onto a billowing white blanket of clouds, as if the mountain were floating in mist. Early climbers of Olympus even remarked that the summit seems “never touched by storms” below, because the mountain rises above the weather. Seeing those clouds rolling beneath you is a truly breathtaking first impression – sunshine on your face with only clouds between you and the faraway coast. (The image above captures that feeling: rocky slopes above with a soft sea of fog filling the valley.)
Olympus National Park: Lush Nature Everywhere
Finally, all around those first sights sprawls a rich mosaic of nature. Mount Olympus is a protected National Park and UNESCO biosphere, famed for “exceptional biodiversity and rich flora”. From the summit you see different vegetation zones stretched out – pine and beech forests on the lower slopes, giving way to alpine meadows and wildflowers near treeline. In summer you might even spot chamois, eagles, or rare plants clinging to the rocks. Knowing this, you understand why the ancients saw Olympus as divine: the very air above is alive with nature’s beauty. Every panoramic glance – whether it lands first on the endless blue sea, the stark gray peaks, or the cloud-filled valleys – is framed by the wilderness of the Olympus National Park.
In short, standing on Olympus feels like standing between heaven and earth. Your first look east sees the glittering Aegean and the town of Litochoro; then you turn to drink in the legendary heights of Stefani and friends; then the forests and ravines; and finally the clouds rolling below. It’s a moment where myth and scenery meet – and where your eyes truly get to drink in the whole of Greece at once.
