The historic gateway to Greece’s highest peak, the road linking Litochoro to Prionia winds into the wooded Enipeas gorge at the foot of the legendary Mount Olympus, home of the gods in Greek mythology.
The route
From Litochoro, at around 300 m elevation, the road climbs for 18 km to Prionia, at 1,100 m, gaining 800 m at a moderate average of about 4.4%. The route first follows the Enipeas river before rising through dense beech and black pine forest, offering welcome shade over much of the way.
How to approach the ride
The steady, never-extreme gradient rewards a sustained rhythm over the distance more than raw power in short bursts. The road, narrow in places, stays generally quiet outside the summer tourist peaks tied to the nearby hiking trails toward the summit.
When to go
April to October: the road stays rideable for much of the year given Prionia’s moderate elevation, but afternoon thunderstorms, common in summer over the massif, make an early start worthwhile.
Good to know
Prionia has a taverna, a water fountain, and a parking area — the last stop before the trails leading to the mountain refuges and, for well-prepared hikers, the summit of Mytikas. Litochoro, the starting town, is a lively village at the foot of the massif, with plenty of cafés for refueling.
