Planning a trip to Mount Olympus
In Litochoro (www.litohoro.gr), the tourist office (tel. 23520/83-100) faces the bus stop. Information on Olympus is available from the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing, 5 Milioni, 10673 Kolonaki, Athens (tel. 210/364-5904; www.sport.gov.gr), and from the Hellenic Mountaineering Club (EOS; tel. 210/323-4555 or 210/323-4555 in Athens, 231/278-288 in Thessaloniki, or 23520/81-944 in Litochoro; eos@olympus.gr). Olympus is best climbed from June 1 to October 1; before and after, snow falls and bad weather make this treacherous. The Spilios Agapitos refuge can be reached at tel. 23520/81-800. Rates are flexible but are usually no more than 20€. Make your reservation at the refuge well in advance of your arrival and be sure to check when you must arrive by to hold your place (usually 8pm).
Getting There
By Bus -- Four buses that stop at the Litochoro station (tel. 23520/81-271) run daily from Athens to Katerini. Seven buses a day make the trip from Athens to Larissa; from there you'll find frequent service to Litochoro. All buses leave Athens from the station at 260 Liossion (tel. 210/831-7059 or 210/831-7153). At least eight buses a day leave from Thessaloniki for Litochoro.
By Train -- Trains go daily from Athens to Larissa, and from Thessaloniki to Larissa. From Larissa, you can continue to Litochoro by bus. You can also take a train from Athens or Thessaloniki to the Litochoro station (tel. 23520/22-522) -- but the station is on the coast 9km (5 1/2 miles) from town, and you'll have to continue on by bus or taxi. Only devoted train lovers will want to come this way.
By Car -- Take the Litochoro exit on the Athens-Salonika Highway.
Fast Facts
The National Bank of Greece, on Plateia Kentriki, offers currency exchange and has an ATM. The clinic (tel. 23520/22-222), 5km (3 miles) outside Litochoro, is signposted; if you need medical care and it is not an emergency, try to get to Thessaloniki. The signposted police station (tel. 23520/81-110-1) and the telephone office (OTE) are just off the central square, Plateia Kentriki, on the road up Olympus to Priona. The post office is on Plateia Kentriki.
