Athens Sounion Day Trip: Visiting the Seaside Temple of Poseidon
If you headed to Athens in search of ancient ruins, love the sea, and happen to have a day to spare, then a day trip to Cape Sounion is the perfect way to spend a day! A short distance from Athens (around 70 km), Sounion is home to the breathtaking Temple of Poseidon and boasts an amazing view of the sea. Keep reading for info on how to get there, what to expect, and my suggested itinerary for a successful day trip!
Getting There
While you can book a trip to Cape Sounion through a tour company (around €45), I recommend saving yourself some money and taking the public KTEL busses which depart hourly instead. The 2 hour journey will cost you €7 (€14 for a round trip), and offers a stunning view of the coast along the way. I picked up the bus around 11:00AM near the Victoria station, but it makes several stops in Athens along the way.
The bus drops you off right at the foot of the Temple of Poseidon visitor’s center, where you can purchase a ticket to the site. The ticket lasts all day and costs €8.
The ticket to the site includes more than just the Temple itself, visitors also gain access to the ruins surrounding the area.
The Temple of Poseidon
Perched alongside the sea and on a cliffside, the ancient Athenians could not have picked a more picturesque -or strategic- site for a temple built to honor the sea god Poseidon.
Even today, well after the temple’s construction in 440 B.C., the temple sits majestically against the blue of the sky and the Aegean sea, offering incredible views of the sea and the Key, Kythnos, and the Peloponnese islands.
I spent a little over an hour wandering the ruins and taking in the views of the Aegean, while imagining what the site must have looked like back in ancient times.
If you are planning to stay for the day, I recommend taking snacks and water with you, as the site’s restaurant is quite pricey, or visiting the traditional Greek taverna by the beach and hotel below.
The Beach
Those hoping to catch sunset at Sounio can enjoy some sand and sun on the beach that lies just a 15 minute walk from the temple. After all, would a visit to the ancient god of the sea’s temple be complete without a dip in the water?
There is a hotel that rents out beach chairs there, or you can simply lay out a towel on the open part of the beach. I spent a few pleasant hours working on my tan before heading back up to the temple before sunset.
Sunset at Sounio
Despite the fact that Sounion is over an hour from Athens, many tour groups come to see the temple just for sunset, as the spot is known for a breathtaking sunset view. I recommend heading back to the site a little early to finds a good viewing vantage point or a great photo spot if you are hoping to take some nice shots.
Watching the sun dip beyond the horizon from such a unique and historical place was truly unforgettable. (I’m sure Poseidon would agree!)
Suggested Itinerary (1/2 Day Trip)
2-3:30: Arrive and explore the temple
3:30-6:30: Hit the beach
6:30-Sunset: Head back to the temple and enjoy the views!
Overall, I really enjoyed my day at Sounion and thought it was a great way to break up my stay in Athens. As a lover of all things history, I really appreciated the opportunity to witness a sunset at the incredible Temple of Poseidon and escape the heat of the city by spending some time at the beach!
NOTE: If you aren’t super into viewpoints and ancient temples, or only have a day or two in Athens, then perhaps this day trip isn’t for you. Though I enjoyed my day, my boyfriend was a bit less amazed and probably would have opted to stay in Athens if he could have somehow gone back in time.
Would a day trip to Sounio make it on yourAthens itinerary? Let me know in the comments!
For more great Greece tips, check out:
- 8 Great Tips For Visiting The Acropolis
- How I Spent 1 Month In Greece (Almost) For Free!
- My ATV (Miss) Adventures in Skopelos, Greece
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