Musala is the highest peak in the Balkans, reaching 2,925 metres in Bulgaria.
The summit is in the Rila mountain range, southwest of Sofia, and lies within Rila National Park. Musala’s height makes it higher than Mount Olympus in Greece, whose highest summit, Mytikas, reaches 2,918 metres. The difference is small, which is why the two mountains are sometimes confused in general discussions of Balkan geography.
The name Musala is commonly explained as deriving from an Arabic expression meaning “near God,” reflecting historical Ottoman-era naming. The mountain has also been known by other names in different periods, including Stalin Peak during part of the twentieth century.
Musala’s summit area has an alpine climate, with snow that can remain late into the year. A meteorological station operates near the summit, and the mountain is accessible from the Borovets resort by routes crossing the Rila highlands.