Greek mythology is having quite the summer. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey brought Homer’s ancient epic to the big screen (and IMAX theaters, if you really want to watch it right), and now one of the most legendary places in Greek mythology has earned a major new distinction of its own.
Mount Olympus, the mountain ancient Greeks believed was home to Zeus and the other Olympian gods, has officially been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The “Wider Area of Mount Olympus” was one of 25 new properties added to the World Heritage List in 2026, and it’s the only new addition classified as both a cultural and natural site.
For travelers, the designation puts a spotlight on a place where mythology isn’t confined to museums and archaeological ruins. You can actually hike through the landscape that inspired some of the world’s most enduring stories, including to a peak known as the “Throne of Zeus.”
Nolan filmed The Odyssey over 91 days across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland and the United States, using brand-new IMAX technology. Locations included the port city of Essaouira and Aït Benhaddou, known for its earthen clay fortresses, in Morocco; Sicily’s Favignana and Castello di Santa Caterina; and Nestor’s Cave in Greece for the Cyclops sequence. Despite its legendary connection to Homer’s epic, Mount Olympus was not among the movie’s filming locations.
Why Is Mount Olympus So Significant?
A waterfall tumbles into a turquoise pool at the Bath of Zeus on Mount Olympus, where Greek mythology and dramatic natural scenery intertwine.
(Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock)Rising above northern Greece, Mount Olympus is the tallest mountain in the country, with its highest peak, Mytikas, reaching about 9,570 feet.
But its place in history has much more to do with mythology than elevation.
Ancient Greeks imagined Olympus as the home of their 12 principal gods, including Zeus (god of the sky and thunder and king of the gods), Hera, Athena, Apollo and more. Ancient Greek poets Homer and Hesiod helped cement the mountain’s mythological importance through their writings, and stories about Olympus eventually spread throughout the Greek and Roman worlds.
That mythology remains embedded in the landscape today. Stefani (which means crown in Greek), one of Olympus’ highest and most dramatic peaks, is known as the “Throne of Zeus.” The Plateau of the Muses, meanwhile, takes its name from the nine goddesses associated with the arts and sciences.
The UNESCO designation recognizes that cultural significance, but there’s another side to Olympus’ story: This is also one of Greece’s most important natural landscapes.
Did you know Mount Olympus is Home to More than 1,700 Plant Species?
Mount Olympus packs an impressive amount of biodiversity into its slopes.
More than 1,700 plant species grow here, including the Jankaea heldreichii, a delicate purple flowering plant that grows on shady, damp rock faces and is sometimes described as a “living fossil” because it dates back to the Ice Age.
Depending on when you visit, the scenery changes dramatically. Spring brings wildflowers to the mountain, while summer fills its alpine meadows with flowering herbs like oregano and thyme. Come fall, the forests turn shades of gold and crimson, before snow and evergreens dominate the landscape in winter.
Mount Olympus is also home to 30 species of mammals and 100 species of birds, with birdwatchers spotting golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and hawks soaring above the mountain’s peak. Its forests include beech, pine, fir and Bosnian pine, while wild goats inhabit the mountain’s rugged alpine areas.
The mountain’s unusual biodiversity is partly thanks to geography. Its proximity to the Aegean Sea and dramatic elevation changes create distinct microclimates as you climb.
The UNESCO title also isn’t Mount Olympus’ first major conservation distinction. Greece designated Olympus its first national park in 1938, and the mountain has long been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
You Can Hike Mount Olympus Without Climbing to the Summit
You don’t need to be an expert mountaineer to explore Olympus.
Litochoro, a mountain town at the foot of Olympus, serves as a popular base for hiking trips. From here, travelers can tackle everything from relatively approachable day hikes to multi-day journeys into the alpine zone.
One popular route follows part of the E4 trail from Litochoro to Prionia through Enipeas Gorge. The roughly five-hour hike crosses the gorge seven times via wooden bridges and passes springs, pools, waterfalls and the historic Monastery of St. Dionysus.
For travelers who want to climb higher, another route begins at Gortsia and winds through forest before emerging onto the Plateau of the Muses. Two mountain refuges sit high on the plateau, giving hikers the option to spend the night surrounded by Olympus’ alpine scenery.
Experienced hikers can continue toward Mytikas, the highest point in Greece, though the final approach is considerably more challenging and involves scrambling. Visit Greece recommends June through October as the most accessible period for climbing; winter ascents require specialized experience and equipment.
For a seamless ascent, book a guided trip with an outfitter like Olympus Experience, which offers one and two-day climbs.
There’s Plenty to See at the Bottom of the Mountain, Too
The archaeological site of Dion sits at the foot of Mount Olympus, where ancient Macedonians once gathered to worship Zeus and the Olympian gods.
(Lev Levin / Shutterstock)Mount Olympus also works for travelers who would rather admire the peaks than climb them.
At the mountain’s foothills is Dion, an ancient Macedonian sacred city where the Olympian gods were worshipped.In fact, historians say Alexander the Great was a frequent visitor to Dion, where he worshipped Zeus before setting off on his legendary military campaigns.
Archaeologists have uncovered tombs, theaters, baths, stadiums, and other remnants of the city, which was inhabited for more than 1,000 years. The archaeological park is also home to a museum with ancient artifacts.
That makes it possible to build an Olympus itinerary that combines hiking with ancient history, or simply spend time exploring villages and archaeological sites while keeping the mountain in close view.
For mere mortals seeking adventure, canyoneering offers another way to experience Mount Olympus. Many routes through Orlias Gorge begin near Dion at the tiny chapel of Agios Konstantinos, followed by a short forest hike into the gorge. From there, the adventure can include descending roughly 10 waterfalls, including some nearly 92 feet high, plunging into natural pools and slipping down rock-hewn water slides. One of the more thrilling stretches includes a nearly vertical 30-foot drop and a 52-foot natural slide.
Mount Olympus Joins 24 Other New UNESCO Sites
The dramatic white chalk cliffs and natural arches of Étretat are part of France’s Normandy coastline, where the D-Day landing beaches were among the sites newly added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2026.
(Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock)Mount Olympus wasn’t alone in receiving UNESCO recognition this year.
A total of 25 properties were newly inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2026, spanning cultural landmarks and natural wonders around the globe.
With these new inscriptions, the UNESCO World Heritage List is now made up of 1,273 sites across 173 countries. It took a 12-year wait for Mount Olympus to be included on the heritage list.
Other new inductees range from the archaeological remains of Sarnath in India, beaches of D-Day landings along Normandy’s coastline, fortified Mount Amel castles in Lebanon, and Aqaba Marine Reserve, where heat-resistant coral near Jordan has adapted over the last 10,000 years to marine heatwaves.
But none come with a mythology as recognizable as Olympus.
And with The Odyssey putting Homer’s world back into the pop-culture spotlight, travelers inspired to plan their own Greek adventure now have one more reason to look beyond the islands.
