Litohoro
Litohoro is a modern town at the foot of Mount Olympus with a population of 7000. The sea is only five kilometers away, so the town is blessed with cool mountain air and sea breezes. Visitors can stroll along the narrow lanes with traditional Macedonian houses and their old wooden gates and saddle - back roofs, built by local craftsmen from wood and stone.

Local tradition is alive and well in Litohoro and many customs are still kept to this day, such as the burning of cedars during the Apokries carnival period and also the Sichna custom during Epiphany (6 January). On that day a procession is held with "sichna", i.e. standards hung on long staffs and decorated with silver crosses and multicolored flags. Each "sichna" represents one of the churches of the area. With its advantageous location and excellent tourist infrastructure, Litohoro is the perfect starting place to tour the broader region.

Dion
Dion has a population of 1554 and is a major attraction for both foreign and Greek tourists. Each year thousands visit the archaeological site and museum and admire the findings from the holy city of the Macedonians. The ancient theatre of Dion comes alive every summer with plays and concerts held during the Olympus festival.

Petra
A small village of 120 inhabitants at the foot of the mountain. Build in the north - western area of Mount Olympus, it has a lovely view of the Pieria plain. The village used to be called Lokovi but its name was changed due to its proximity to the archaeological site of Petra, which was used by the ancients coming from Pieria as the gateway to the rest of Greece. Its position and altitude (580m) make the village an ideal base for excursions starting or ending at Xerolaki. After a long hike, it is the perfect place for a good meal.

Traditional villages

Paleos Panteleimonas
Archeological clues have led us to believe that Paleos Panteleimonas, built on the slopes of Kato (Lower) Olympus at an altitude of 700 meters, was founded towards the end of the 14th century. Today, it is a picturesque, renovated traditional village with a breathtaking view of the Thermaikos Gulf, the coast of south Pieria and the Venetian castle of Platamonas. The buildings in the village have kept the same architectural style, a detail which one notices at the first glance and distinguishes the village from others. At the flagstone - paved square at the center of the village, with its perennial plane trees, there is an old church dedicated to Saint Panteleimonas, the old school and many traditional tavernas.

On the way to the village one can enjoy a lush forest of chestnut, beech and strawberry trees as well as the abundant flora and fauna of Kato Olympus. It is an ideal area for nature hikes, paragliding, mountain biking and 4X4 driving. Here you can enjoy the hospitality of traditional guesthouses and sample at the tavernas local dishes, tasty mezedes, local wine, and traditional tsipouro made from the berries of the strawberry tree that grows on Mount Olympus. Paleos (old) Panteleimonas is only 6 kilometers away from the village and beach of Neos (New) Panteleimonas, where one can also find accommodation, food, entertainment and tourist information on the area. In summertime, cultural events are held at the Platamonas Castle during the Olympus Festival. Paleos Panteleimonas is easily accessed via the E75 national motorway and the national railway.

Palei Pori
A traditional village on the south- eastern foothills of Olympus, at an altitude of 600 meters. The 17th - 18th century brick houses and Byzantine church of Agios Georgios in the flagstone - paved square are characteristics features of the village. Above it is a beautiful forest which you can explore and discover the flora and fauna of Kato Olympus. Also worth visiting are the two magnificent little churches of Aghii Apostoli (Holy Apostles) and Zoodochos Pigi (Spring of Life).

Palea Skotina
The traditional village build on the slopes of Kato Olympus boasts the 14 century church of Agios Athanassios with the magnificent fretted iconostasis and the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the central square. The latter is a three-aisled, timber - roofed post - Byzantine basilica built in 1862, apparently on the site of a much older church.