The Olympic Games were held in Olympia every four years for almost a thousand years before being disbanded in the fourth century. However, the history of Olympia goes back much farther, as for centuries it was the most celebrated shrine in ancient Greece. Pilgrims traveled there to worship Zeus and his wife Hera in the temples of the city’s Altis (sanctuary of the gods).
As one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites, the ancient city still attracts travelers from across the globe. Although visiting with a guide is ideal, independent travelers can get by using an audio guide or virtual reality glasses. Gourmands might opt for a tour that pairs a stop at Ancient Olympia with a honey and olive oil tasting at a nearby farm. For an in-depth jaunt into antiquity, go for a multi-day tour that takes in magnificent sites like Olympia, Epidaurus, and Mycenae.
See the site with a guide to fully appreciate the history and architecture of Ancient Olympia. A family-friendly guide can make the experience more engaging for kids.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia includes a scale model of the ruins, pediment carvings from the Temple of Zeus, and a statue of the messenger god Hermes by Praxiteles, whose work also adorned the Acropolis.
The archaeological park is partially accessible to wheelchairs; the museum is fully accessible.
West of Athens in the foothills of Mount Kronos, Olympia is best reached by car—the trip from the capital city takes around four hours via the A7. The site is often visited as part of full-day or multi-day tours of classical Greece, or shore excursions from the nearby port of Katakolon.
Ancient Olympia is usually open daily, except for major holidays. The temperature can soar at midday, and there’s very little shade—so tour the ruins in the early morning or late afternoon, and duck into the museum during the hottest hours.
Excavations at Olympia began in 1829, and today the complex is scattered with fragments of ancient paving, statuaries, temples, and civic buildings. Only one column remains of the Temple of Zeus, but that’s enough to grasp the sheer size of the original building. The Temple of Hera is better preserved, and it’s there that the Olympic flame is lit before it journeys across the world.