6 Best Day Trips to Cape Sounion from Athens

Where the land ends and the Aegean Sea begins, there's a monument dedicated to the Greek god of the sea, the Temple of Poseidon. It's at the southeastern tip of Attica, on Cape Sounion, and anyone who's into Greek mythology, crystal-clear beaches, and the best things to do in Athens should add this destination to their list of places to visit in the Greek capital.

In this post, you'll find the best excursions and tours to visit Cape Sounion from Athens with prices, duration, tips, pros, and cons so you can choose the option that suits you best. Let's get started.

This is one of the best day trips from Athens thanks to its versatility, personalized service, luxury transportation, and the views and monuments you'll see.

Although the schedules and destinations can be tailored to your requirements, this private tour usually begins with pick-up at your hotel and a direct trip to the Acropolis, where you will visit the Parthenon, the Theatre of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Athena Nike, and other notable temples in the "high city."

Take your time to explore these fortifications; it is worth understanding the connection that the Athenians had with the gods, their political and economic system, as told through archaeological sites. After a couple of hours in the surrounding area, continue the tour to the New Acropolis Museum, where the contrasts of history are evident among more than 4,000 artifacts classified by UNESCO experts.

Next, you will visit the University, the Academy, and the Athenian Library. The Greek White House, the Parliament building, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the magnificent Kallimarmaro Stadium, the Temple of Poseidon, and many other monuments.

Interesting details

• Price: From $259.
• Duration: 8-9 hours.
• Schedule: morning.
• What the tour may include: Round-trip transportation in a luxury car to selected hotels, villas, residences, and other accommodations in Athens. You can even arrange to be picked up directly from the airport. Wi-Fi service in the car. Bottled water. English-speaking driver and guide available all day. Lunch.
• Means of transportation: luxury car, usually a Mercedes or similar.

As the red twilight fades into the landscape, a magical atmosphere is created, perfect for visiting one of the most important sites in Greek mythology, Cape Sounion. You begin the tour with a relaxing drive through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs, such as Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza, as you travel along the Saronic Gulf.

You pass by the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, where you can witness spectacular views of the Saronic Gulf. According to mythology, this was the point where Poseidon scattered the Greek army when it tried to return to Attica. The Odyssey records the details of the myth.

Next, you head to a tavern at Cape Sounion with an impressive natural canopy in the background to admire the sunset over the Aegean Sea as you prepare to enjoy Greek culinary delights. On your way back to your hotel, you stop to try a typical dessert like the locals.

Details of interest

• Price: From $155. The price varies depending on the number of participants and the date of the tour.
• Duration: 5 hours.
• Schedule: Afternoon.
• What the tour may include: Professional guide service. Dinner at an exclusive restaurant in Cape Sounion. Round-trip transportation to your hotel.
• Transportation: minibus or luxury car.

This is perhaps the most exciting tour on this list, as you travel in your off-road vehicle along the coast with the Aegean Sea in the background, stopping at tourist sites and suburbs that are not accessible on other types of excursions.

The adventure begins with an introductory talk in Athens. Then you'll ride your buggy through Kavouri, Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, and Faliro, the cosmopolitan suburbs of the area where trendy restaurants and cafes are located. Next, you'll arrive at the ancient hot springs caves located in Lake Vouliagmeni.

The myths surrounding the water in this lake claim that it has healing powers. You will have the opportunity to swim before continuing on to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon.

The next stop is for lunch between Varkiza, Lagonisi, Saronida, and Anavyssos, suburbs where any Greek food tour could take place.

Details of interest

• Price: Starting at €199.
• Duration: 8 hours.
• Schedule: morning.
• What the tour may include: Professional guide service in Spanish. Lunch with Greek souvlaki. Appetizers. Bottled water and carbonated drinks.
• Transportation: buggy or SUV.

This tour begins with pick-up at your accommodation to enjoy the best views of the Athens Riviera between picturesque villages and pristine beaches.

The tour includes the cliffs of Lake Vouliagmeni, where springs feed beautiful natural pools. Then we continue to one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, the Temple of Poseidon.

This monument was built on the southernmost cliff of the Aegean Sea, at the top of the ancient Greek Sacred Cape, better known today as Cape Sounion. Afterwards, we descend to Sounion Beach where you can dive into the crystal clear sea if your visit takes place between May and October.

Add this trip to your list of things to do in Athens in summer—the views are amazing, just take a look at this video. At the end of the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: From $90.
• Duration: 5 hours.
• Schedule: morning and afternoon.
• What the tour may include: Bottled water. Round-trip transportation from your hotel.
• Means of transportation: bus.

The ancient monuments of Athens offer spectacular views of the city to all visitors, and at the southern tip of Athens you will find Cape Sounion, the enclave from where the Greek god of the sea protected the central port of Athens. It is a strategic point from which the sea passage to the Aegean Sea and Piraeus was controlled, as well as the Lavrion peninsula, which included the rich silver mines thanks to which Athens emerged as a leading power in the 5th century BC.

Your panoramic excursion from Athens to Cape Sounion allows you to discover the Temple of Poseidon and more. After a short drive along the coastal road, you will stop at Glyfada and Lake Vouliagmeni, where the Athenian suburbs meet the sea. You can enjoy a drink in a café or restaurant by the beach, where your guide will be waiting for you.

Upon arrival at Cape Sounion, you will visit the Temple of Poseidon while listening to the expert guide. A photo stop at Sounion Beach is also included. There will be time to explore this beautiful place before returning to Athens.

Details of interest

• Price: From €54.
• Duration: 4-5 hours.
• Schedule: morning.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service. Round-trip transportation from your accommodation.
• Means of transportation: minivan.

Discover the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion on the southern tip of Attica. During this guided bus tour from Athens, you will hear commentary about Greek mythology, historical facts, and the cults dedicated to the ancient god of the sea with the audio guide in your language. The panoramic views are spectacular, and on this type of tour, you usually wait for the sunset before returning to your accommodation.

After being picked up at your hotel, you will board the bus and receive an audio guide so you can learn interesting facts about this region of Athens. The first stop on the tour takes you to Lake Vouliagmeni, an ancient hot spring cave with 14 tunnels inside. The water in this lake is believed to have therapeutic powers, and you can splash around in it before arriving at the next stop at Cape Sounion.

This cliff is an iconic location that tells us about Poseidon's position as protector of Attica. According to Greek mythology, it was here that Aegeus took his own life when he thought he had lost his son Theseus. This myth gave rise to the name of the sea that you will be flanking from the bus. Once you reach the southern tip, you will find the Temple of Poseidon.

The temple is the ideal place to worship this Greek god. It is located 60 meters above sea level. It is hexastyle and was originally designed with 36 columns 6.1 meters high, although only 16 remain standing today. In the midst of the majesty of the place, you will contemplate the sunset, a memorable sight that will leave you speechless. After taking your photographs and enjoying the moment, you will be returned to your accommodation.

Details of interest

• Price: From €35.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Schedule: morning.
• What the tour may include: Small groups. Audio guide in Spanish. Round-trip transportation from your accommodation to Cape Sounion.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned bus.

• The beaches and natural pools along the Athens Riviera are only available as beach resorts between May and October. You can always take a cruise around the Saronic Gulf coast and enjoy spectacular Greek scenery, but if you want to dive into the Aegean Sea, book your Athens in Summer tour or excursion.
• In addition to bringing your swimsuit when you go to Cape Sounion, pack a beach umbrella and a jacket in your bag, especially if you plan to stay for sunset.
• Excursions and tours usually include an expert guide throughout the tour, however, entrance fees are not usually included, so be sure to check this with your operator.

• The language. In Athens, tourist assistance in Spanish is scarce. Ideally, you should book a guided tour in advance to make the most of your visit.
• Although you can travel independently from Athens to Cape Sounion, you should bear in mind that there are no guided tours in Spanish available at the site. In fact, all the information on the website is in Greek or English.
• The comfort offered by private excursions and tours is always superior to that of public transportation.
• The recommendations, comments, and history provided by local guides are useful and enriching.