Cape Sounion Temple: A Complete Guide to Ancient Greece's Coastal Sanctuary & the Legend of King Aegeus at Athens' Southern Point Near Aegean Sea
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A trip to the tip of Attica, Cape Sounion, is certainly one of the must-do excursions if you are in Athens for more than two days, and even more so if you are staying in a beach hotel near Athens.
In this article I will tell you how to get there and what to see at Cape Sounion, as well as, for those who are interested, a brief history and myths of this place.
Cape Sounion: key takeaways from this article
The main highlight of this place is the ruins of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, whose columns have become a true symbol of Greece. And perhaps the most important thing to say straight away is that most visitors want to reach Cape Sounion at sunset — when the last rays of light illuminate the ancient columns, they take on extraordinary shades and the view becomes simply breathtaking.
1. How to get to Cape Sounion. The most convenient option is to take an organised excursion from Athens. It is not as expensive as you might think — from €28–39 for what is essentially a return bus transfer. Most excursions include time at the cape precisely at sunset. If you travel independently by bus, you will need to head back before sunset — otherwise you risk being stranded there for the night.
We drove to Sounion in a rental car. The journey from Athens took about an hour and a half. There is an important detail here: the sat-nav offers several route options. Be sure to choose the coastal road (E91), which offers wonderful sea views along the way. We accidentally took the shortest route through a village and regretted it — the road turned out to be unremarkable, passing mostly through agricultural land. On the way back we took the coastal route and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. We wrote a detailed article about renting a car in Athens, available at this link.
By the way, near the entrance to the museum area there is a large car park for both cars and coaches, as well as a café with fairly high prices.
If you do decide to travel independently but without a car, the KTEL ATTIKIS bus company runs services from Athens to the cape. Buses depart from Pedion Areos, pass through the centre of Athens and then follow the coast. The journey takes around one to one and a half hours. A ticket costs €6.90. The first bus departs at 7:05 (except Sundays) and the last bus back from Sounion leaves at 19:00.
2. Excursions to Cape Sounion: what to choose. Before our trip — when we were still deciding whether to go independently or with a tour — we researched the available options and put together our own classification of 4 types of excursions to this very popular destination.
- Classic excursions to Cape Sounion typically include a visit to the Temple of Poseidon with a compulsory sunset stop. This is the simplest option and allows you to focus entirely on Cape Sounion. Such tours last around 4–5 hours and are ideal if you want to spend the evening in the romantic atmosphere of the ancient ruins. Examples: a tour for €39 or a tour for €28.
- More packed itineraries combine Sounion with other interesting places. For example, some excursions include a stop at Lake Vouliagmeni — a unique thermal lake with healing waters where you can swim even in winter. The water there is always warm, around 24°C, and has therapeutic properties. Examples: a tour for €120 or this excellent tour for €88 (rated 4.9 out of 5, based on 101 reviews).
- Also popular is a route along the Athens Riviera with its scenic beaches and resort towns such as Glyfada, Voula and Varkiza. On such a trip you can see how wealthy Athenians live, admire luxury yachts and enjoy views over the Saronic Gulf.
- There are also combined tours that allow you to visit Lake Vouliagmeni, drive along the picturesque Riviera and then end the day at Cape Sounion at sunset — all in a single day. An example of such a tour costs €132. This option is ideal if your holiday time is limited and you want to see as much as possible. You will need to move at a brisk pace, but the variety of impressions will more than make up for it.
3. On evening sunset excursions. Evening excursions to Cape Sounion depart later in the day and are designed specifically to catch that magical moment when the sun sinks below the horizon, painting the marble columns in golden and rose tones. This is the most romantic option, and is particularly popular among couples.
Tourists are usually brought to the cape around half an hour before sunset. The sunset at Cape Sounion was genuinely one of the most beautiful we have ever seen. The sight alone is worth making the trip for — which is why it is better to set aside a dedicated visit to Sounion rather than combining it with too many other things, so you can be fully present and soak up the atmosphere of this magical place.
Worth knowing: one particularly striking sensation was the wind — simply extraordinary. You could almost lean into it and find your balance at an angle. It seems the effect is created by the cape jutting so far out into the sea. The wind was warm and pleasant.
4. Opening hours and entrance ticket prices. The archaeological site with the Temple of Poseidon is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until sunset. Entrance costs €8; in winter the site opens at 9:30. Closed on 1 January, 25 March, Easter, and 25–26 December. Children under 6 enter free of charge.
The museum grounds include not only the Temple of Poseidon but also the ruins of an ancient town. In the classical period of Greece, this was a significant settlement with a fortress, two temples and a port in a sheltered bay to the north.
Cape Sounion - why it is worth visiting and what are the special features of this place
Cape Sounion is located 70 kilometers from Athens. This place is popular among tourists because the temple of Poseidon is located there. This place is shrouded in myths and historical facts dating from antiquity to the present day.
A half day trip to Cape Sounion is a great idea to spend half a day outside Athens. Tourists especially appreciate the beautiful scenery with the ruins of the ancient temple, which can be seen at sunset.
Cape Sounion and the remains of the temple of Poseidon on top of the cape are quite a popular attraction in the vicinity of Athens. People come here to admire the ruins of the ancient temple of Poseidon and the remains of an ancient settlement. The columns of the temple are one of the visiting cards of Greece.
In short, Cape Sounion is one of the most poetic, picturesque and glorified in songs, stories and poems, a small point on the map of Greece.
By the way, it was on this very spot that the tragic event that gave the Aegean Sea its present name took place.
Panoramic views of Cape Sunion Alt: Panoramic views of Cape Sunion
Day trips to Cape Sounion from Athens
In my view, excursions from Athens to Cape Sounion have clear advantages over making the trip independently by scheduled bus. First, organised tours offer comfort and convenience: you do not need to worry about routes, timetables or potential delays. An experienced guide not only accompanies the group but shares captivating stories about the ancient ruins, adding real depth to the experience.
Second, excursions typically include visits to the most significant monuments, such as the Temple of Poseidon, allowing you to take in the beauty and grandeur of history without any unnecessary hassle. And most importantly, in my view, is the sunset — which is built into the programme of most trips. If you go independently, you will most likely have to catch the bus back to Athens before the sun even begins to set on the horizon.
Vladyslav and I have visited Cape Sounion together, and as always, before the trip we looked through the available tour options. There are a great many excursions from Athens to Cape Sounion and it is a very popular destination, so I recommend booking well in advance. To make it easier to find the option that suits you best, here is a list of the tours I liked most:
- Trip to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon with an audio guide. Price: €28 (€14 for children aged 5–15), duration: 5 hours. This is essentially a return transfer, as there is no live guide on site — in my view, this is the ideal equivalent of travelling independently by public transport.
- Guided tour to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. Price: €66, duration: 5 hours. Compared to the previous option, this tour is more expensive, but the group is accompanied by a guide who will share a wealth of interesting facts — not only about Cape Sounion but also about the various sights encountered along the way. This operator also offers a private trip (€360 for one person, €190 per person for two, and slightly less per person for larger groups).
- Evening trip to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. Price: €29 (€14.50 for children aged 3–12), duration: 5.5 hours. This option includes guide services and, if desired, an audio guide app can be downloaded. A highlight exclusive to this particular trip is a visit to the ancient Thorikos Theatre.
- Private trip to the Temple of Poseidon and sunset at Cape Sounion. Price: €270 for a group of 1–3 people (the per-person price decreases for larger groups — for example, a group of 8 pays €400 in total), duration: 5 hours. The itinerary is, perhaps surprisingly, very similar to the previous options, but here you travel without other tourists and the guide’s full attention is yours. You can also stop along the way for photos at any spots that catch your interest.
How to get to Cape Sounion
Cape Sounion is located 70 km southeast of Athens. We went there by rented car. The roads in Greece are good. The problem is Athens traffic jams, because almost half of the population of modern Greece lives in Athens. But the traffic jams are surmountable, and outside the city the roads are quite deserted. In general, it took us an hour and a half to get to Sounion by car.
By car
The most convenient way to get from Athens to Cape Sounion is by car, because you will not be tied to public transportation, which runs quite rarely, and you can go back at any time.
You should keep in mind that the navigator shows several options for the way. From Athens there is a road along the sea (E91), you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
I unknowingly chose the shortest one, which is an uninteresting road through unimpressive villages and farmland. Be sure to choose the road along the seashore.
I went back along the coast.
Location of Cape Sunion on the map
May be useful: I told you more about renting a car in Greece in this article.
These are the views along the coast on the road along the seashore to Cape Sounion
By public transportation
But if you come without a car and you don’t rent one, a cab ride will be very expensive, so it’s worth paying attention to how to get to Sounion by public transportation.
There is a Ktel Attikis bus from Athens to Cape Sounion.
The buses to Sounion leave from a place in Athens called Pedion Areos (Mavrommateon & Alexandras avenue) and then pass through the center of Athens (Klafthmonos square, Syntagma, Syngrou metro station – FIX), Syngrou Avenue and Poseidonos Avenue before passing through places like Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Lagonisi, Saronida, Anavyssos and Legrena.
The bus route goes along the sea and the approximate travel time is an hour/half.
Bus schedule from Athens to Cape Sounion:
Athens to Sounion | Sounion – Athens |
07:05 (Except Sunday) | 08:00 |
08:05 | 10:00 (Except Sunday) |
10:05 | 11:00 |
11:30 | 13:00 |
13:05 | 14:00 |
14:05 | 16:00 |
15:30 | 17:00 |
19:00 |
Ticket price from Athens – 6,90 Euro
What sights are typically included in excursions to Cape Sounion: the Temple of Poseidon, Lake Vouliagmeni and the Athens Riviera
Cape Sounion, with its magnificent scenery and deep history, has always drawn tourists eager to discover the beauty of Greece. However, for a truly rich experience steeped in Greek history, the trip to the cape can be combined with visits to other equally fascinating sites, such as Lake Vouliagmeni and the Athens Riviera. This is not a significant logistical or financial burden, as there are plenty of tours to Cape Sounion that include these places in their programme. Here are some of the best options that Vladyslav and I enjoyed:
- Private tour to Cape Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon and the Athens Riviera. Price: €260 (for a group of 1–4 people), duration: 4–5 hours. The tour offers an immersion in the rich history, myths, culture and scenic natural landscapes of Greece.
- Half-day trip from Athens to the Temple of Poseidon and Cape Sounion. Price: €315 (for a group of 1–3 people). The programme includes a visit to Lake Vouliagmeni as well as photo stops at viewpoints and other spots of interest to the group.
- Small group tour to the Temple of Poseidon and the Athens Riviera. Price: €69 per person. We classified this more as a group tour than a private one, though the maximum group size is 6 people — making it an ideal balance between privacy and value for money.
- Evening sunset trip to Cape Sounion with a stop at Lake Vouliagmeni. Explore Lake Vouliagmeni, Attica’s hidden natural treasure. Admire the columns of the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, standing proudly atop a hill overlooking the endless blue of the Aegean Sea. Price: €250 for a group of up to three people.
Opening hours of the Temple of Poseidon and the archaeological area around it
Cape Sounion itself is not fenced off and can be accessed at any time of day or night. However, access to the archaeological part is limited in time:
The Temple of Poseidon and the archaeological part around it is open every day from 9 am until sunset. If you arrive early in the morning – the entrance will be closed and you will have to wait until the opening.
Closed: January 1, March 25, Easter, December 25 and 26.
Entrance is free
Poseidon Temple schedule
What to see at Cape Sounion
Arriving at the cape, I was at the edge of the Greek world – only the sea is farther away. And this cape looks like the edge of the world: steep cliffs, sea waves crashing against the rocks, seagulls soaring over the waves. Cold, cloudy and windy weather added to the severity.
Now there is a museum area on Cape Sunion, which can be accessed for 8 euros, in winter from 9-30 to sunset, and in summer from 9-00 to sunset. It is believed that the best way to admire the noble columns of the temple of Poseidon is at sunset, when the last rays of the sun paint them in extraordinary colors.
Near the museum area there is a parking lot for buses and cars and a large cafe with very high prices.
Café near the museum area at Cape Sounion
In classical Hellenic times, Sounion was the site of a substantial settlement, a fortress, and two temples. In the northern part of the cape, in a secluded bay, there was a port.
The temple of Athena of Sounion was located on a low hill 400 meters northeast of the temple of Poseidon. It is believed that the temple of Athena was dismantled in Roman times, around the 2nd century AD, and moved to the Athenian agora. Only the bases of the columns and the remains of the altar have survived. Nearby are the poorly visible remains of an even older temple. It is believed that it was dedicated to Artemis.
From city constructions remained mainly foundations. You can see how the streets of the ancient settlement were laid out. Once there was a large garrison here, and life was boiling. But during our stay only the wind and a cheerful flock of partridges walked between the foundations.
There were remnants of the fortress wall. The wall was only on the land side, as the cape was perfectly protected by steep banks on the sea side.
The urban ruins of Cape Sunion, or rather what’s left of them
The rocks, from one of which the unfortunate Aegeus threw himself, rise straight out of the sea waves.
On the northern side of the cape, well protected from the sea waves, the remains of the port facilities are visible. The remains of the docks have been preserved.
Barely visible ruins of port facilities and remains of docks
On the highest point of the cape stand the columns of the temple of Poseidon. Seventeen columns have been preserved. Made of local Agrilesian marble, they, unlike the columns of the Athenian acropolis, are light gray in color, but against the sky seem bright white. They look beautiful.
The temple of Poseidon on the top of Cape Sounion has a long history. The first temple on this place was built in the 8th century BC. The new monumental temple was built in the early 5th century BC, but was destroyed in 480 BC, during the Persian invasion. The Greeks defeated the Persians and by 440 BC rebuilt a new temple, the columns of which have survived to this day. This temple was active at least until the 1st century AD.
It was apparently not destroyed. Simply the Greeks adopted Christianity, the pagan sanctuary was abandoned and gradually eroded by time.
Nevertheless, to this day, the lonely temple on a high promontory presents a majestic picture. And Cape Sounion is certainly worth a visit.
Lonely Temple of Poseidon
Temple of Poseidon
Not much time passed, and the citizens of Athens decided to erect two temples on Cape Sounion, dedicated to Poseidon and Athena. Alas, there is almost nothing left of the second temple, but the temple of Poseidon still pleases the admirers of antiquity with its amazing photogenicity against the background of the sunset sky.
Construction of the temple in honor of the Greek deity began around the 5th century BC, but was not completed. Already in 480 B.C. it was destroyed almost to the ground by the Persians. All that survived from the sanctuary to our days belongs to 444 BC, when a new temple was erected on the ruins of the old.
Today you can see the remains of the frieze, which depicts scenes of battles of centaurs, gigantomachy, as well as a picture of the battle of Theseus with the Minotaur; nine columns; the remains of the architrave.
In those days, when tourists could be counted on the fingers of a hand, these travelers were not afraid to leave their autographs on the sights. For example, the temple of Poseidon was lucky enough to get the signature of Lord Byron himself, which can still be seen today.
Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
Sunset at Cape Sounion
It is the dream of many Helladophiles and fans of the great Odyssey to see the sunset on this legendary promontory. By the way, it is not so difficult to do it – the entrance to the cape is open at any time of the day.
The only thing to keep in mind is the working hours of the buses. If you look at the fantastic sunset, you can spend no less fantastic night surrounded by temple ruins.
Interesting fact: According to legend, at sunset at the temple of Poseidon you should make your deepest wish – then it will definitely come true.
Usually tourists are brought to the cape half an hour before sunset. There is an opportunity to shoot the temple in the rays of the setting sun, and then in the evening twilight.
The Temple of Poseidon in the setting sun
And yes, the sunset at Cape Sunion was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever witnessed in my life. Even just for that alone, it’s worth the trip.
Another strong impression was the wind literally knocking you off your feet. You could lie on the air currents, finding your balance in an inclined position. Apparently such an effect is given by the cape, strongly extended into the sea. The wind was warm, pleasant. Go! You will remember it!
This is what the sunset looks like at Cape Sounion and it is very Impressive
History and Myths of Cape Sunion
For those who are interested, I will tell you a little about the history and myths of Cape Sounion.
This high promontory, the southernmost point of Attica, has always had strategic importance. Since ancient times there was a fortress here, controlling the passage to Athens from the sea.
For the inhabitants of Attica this place was sacred, because on the cape, as well as on the Athenian acropolis, neighboring temples of Poseidon and Athena. From the temple of Athena only the foundation remains, and the surviving columns of the temple of Poseidon harmonize amazingly with the place.
In the days of antiquity, the temple of Poseidon on a high promontory was a kind of lighthouse. Upon seeing it, the Athenian sailors were glad that they had practically reached home. In the port of Sounion it was possible to rest and repair the ship before arriving at the Athenian port of Piraeus.
Cape Sounion was well known in ancient Hellas. Homer mentioned it in the Odyssey. The father of history Herodotus, tragedians Sophocles and Euripides, comedian Aristophanes, historians Strabo and Pausanias told about Sunion and the temple of Poseidon.
Among the famous people of the new time on the ruins of the temple marked Lord Byron, scratched on the stone his name. Byron generally liked to leave his autograph in places where he was, not considering it something reprehensible.
Now the promontory has lost its strategic importance. There is no significant settlement or port there. Now it is a tourist site, which is visited by many tourists.
This is what Cape Sunion looked like in ancient times
Cape Sounion and the Aegean Sea
There is a beautiful and sad legend associated with Sounion.
Long ago, a thousand years before Christ, King Aegeus ruled in Athens. His son Theseus traveled to Crete to fight the monstrous Minotaur, a half-man half-bull who devoured young men and women. These young men were sent to Crete as tribute by the Athenians.
Theseus promised his father that if he died, there would be a black sail over the returning ship. If he defeated the Minotaur, he would hoist a white sail.
Theseus is known to have won. But the storm carried away the white sail, and had to return under the black one.
Aegeus, who was waiting for his son’s return from Crete on the southernmost point of Attica, Cape Sounion, saw the ship under a black sail. He could not bear the grief and threw himself off the cliff into the sea, which has been called the Aegean ever since.