The invention belongs to the field of medicinal synthesis, and particularly relates to a method for preparing hydroxytyrosol, which comprises the following steps of: (1) protecting free hydroxyl groups at 3 and 4 positions, on 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde with benzyl, namely, reacting the 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde with benzyl bromide to prepare 3,4-dibenzyloxybenzaldehyde; (2) reacting N-methylaniline acetonitrile with the 3,4-dibenzyloxybenzaldehyde to prepare 3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)-2-(methylphenylamino) acrylonitrile, and hydrolyzing the 3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)-2-(methylphenylamino) acrylonitrile under acidic condition to prepare a 3,4-dibenzylosyphenylacetic acid; (3) reducing a carboxyl group of the 3,4-dibenzylosyphenylacetic acid with lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride to prepare 3,4-dibenzyloxyphenethyl alcohol; and (4) catalyzing the 3,4-dibenzyloxyphenethyl alcohol with a catalyst palladium/carbon to prepare the hydroxytyrosol. The reagents used in the method are easily obtainable and low in cost, reaction conditions are mild, and the final overall yield of the whole reaction reaches 50 to 60 percent.