Temple of Poseidon & Cape Sounion
Book day trips to see one of the most picturesque coastal views of Greece at Cape Sounion, and the famous Temple of Poseidon that looms over it.
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Admire a memorable sunset at Cape Sounion in Greece.
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See the incredible Temple of Poseidon, built during the Golden Age of Athens.
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Travel through the spectacular Athens Riviera in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus.
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With an English-speaking driver and escort by your side, learn a great deal about the area.
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Enjoy commentary in 6 different languages on your audio guide, or an expert guided tour, or entry to the Temple of Poseidon.
More details
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Admire a memorable sunset at Cape Sounion in Greece.
-
See the incredible Temple of Poseidon, built during the Golden Age of Athens.
-
Travel through the spectacular Athens Riviera in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus.
-
With an English-speaking driver and escort by your side, learn a great deal about the area.
-
Enjoy commentary in 6 different languages on your audio guide, or an expert guided tour, or entry to the Temple of Poseidon.
-
Discover Athens at your own pace with a 2-day unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour, providing the flexibility to customize your itinerary.
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Get access to pre-recorded commentary available in 16 languages as you traverse the city's 35 stops including the Temple of Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium.
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Marvel at the breathtaking sunset over the Aegean Sea as the ancient Temple of Poseidon is bathed in a golden glow, perched majestically on the rugged cliffs of Cape Sounion.
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Discover the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a 5th-century BC masterpiece renowned for its striking Doric columns and captivating mythological significance, set atop dramatic coastal cliffs.
More details
-
Discover Athens at your own pace with a 2-day unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour, providing the flexibility to customize your itinerary.
-
Get access to pre-recorded commentary available in 16 languages as you traverse the city's 35 stops including the Temple of Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium.
-
Marvel at the breathtaking sunset over the Aegean Sea as the ancient Temple of Poseidon is bathed in a golden glow, perched majestically on the rugged cliffs of Cape Sounion.
-
Discover the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a 5th-century BC masterpiece renowned for its striking Doric columns and captivating mythological significance, set atop dramatic coastal cliffs.
-
Step into the past with access to the majestic Acropolis and Parthenon, marvel at the ancient structures and soak in panoramic views of Athens.
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Enhance your exploration with a multilingual audio guide, and learn about the rich history in your preferred language.
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Experience the magic of a picturesque sunset from Cape Sounion on a comfortable bus drive through the scenic Athens Riviera, with an English-speaking driver.
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Witness the majestic Temple of Poseidon perched on a cliff above the Aegean Sea and learn about its history from your English-speaking driver/escort.
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Fun fact: The image of the temple on UNESCO's logo is a representation of the Parthenon, built in honor of the Greek goddess Athena.
More details
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Step into the past with access to the majestic Acropolis and Parthenon, marvel at the ancient structures and soak in panoramic views of Athens.
-
Enhance your exploration with a multilingual audio guide, and learn about the rich history in your preferred language.
-
Experience the magic of a picturesque sunset from Cape Sounion on a comfortable bus drive through the scenic Athens Riviera, with an English-speaking driver.
-
Witness the majestic Temple of Poseidon perched on a cliff above the Aegean Sea and learn about its history from your English-speaking driver/escort.
-
Fun fact: The image of the temple on UNESCO's logo is a representation of the Parthenon, built in honor of the Greek goddess Athena.
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Discover the best of ancient and modern Greece on this full-day guided tour from the Acropolis to Omonia Square.
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Avoid all winding ticket queues at various attractions.
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Take Instagram-worthy photos and renowned historical sites such as the Panathinaiko Stadium.
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Drive past the Athens trilogy, National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, and much more.
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Enjoy an informative tour of UNESCO-listed Acropolis & the New Acropolis museum.
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Travel back in time with a trip to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.
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Wrap up your exciting day as you catch breath-taking panoramic views of the sea from the hilltop.
More details
-
Discover the best of ancient and modern Greece on this full-day guided tour from the Acropolis to Omonia Square.
-
Avoid all winding ticket queues at various attractions.
-
Take Instagram-worthy photos and renowned historical sites such as the Panathinaiko Stadium.
-
Drive past the Athens trilogy, National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, and much more.
-
Enjoy an informative tour of UNESCO-listed Acropolis & the New Acropolis museum.
-
Travel back in time with a trip to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.
-
Wrap up your exciting day as you catch breath-taking panoramic views of the sea from the hilltop.
14% off
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Enjoy this half-day tour of one of the monuments from the Golden Age of Athens with an expert English-speaking tour guide.
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Board an air-conditioned luxury bus and make your way to Cape Sounion.
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Enjoy the drive on the coastal suburbs of Athens Rivera and watch the scenery change to the idyllic countryside.
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Stand at the edge of the cliff at Cape Sounion and take in the breathtaking sight of the Mediterranean Sea.
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Visit the Temple of Poseidon, a marvelous Doric temple overlooking the sea on the edge of Cape Sounion.
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Transport yourself to the ancient past while observing graffiti left behind by Lord Byron, a Romantic poet.
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Upgrade your tickets to include entry to the Temple of Poseidon enjoy the beautiful colors of the setting sun over the sea.
More details
-
Enjoy this half-day tour of one of the monuments from the Golden Age of Athens with an expert English-speaking tour guide.
-
Board an air-conditioned luxury bus and make your way to Cape Sounion.
-
Enjoy the drive on the coastal suburbs of Athens Rivera and watch the scenery change to the idyllic countryside.
-
Stand at the edge of the cliff at Cape Sounion and take in the breathtaking sight of the Mediterranean Sea.
-
Visit the Temple of Poseidon, a marvelous Doric temple overlooking the sea on the edge of Cape Sounion.
-
Transport yourself to the ancient past while observing graffiti left behind by Lord Byron, a Romantic poet.
-
Upgrade your tickets to include entry to the Temple of Poseidon enjoy the beautiful colors of the setting sun over the sea.
10% off
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Explore the majestic Temple of Poseidon perched at the tip of Cape Sounion.
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Accompany an expert guide to learn more about the monument.
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Enjoy pick-up and drop-off services in a luxurious air-conditioned vehicle.
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Bask in unparalleled panoramic views of Sounion from the southeastern peak.
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Soak in the jaw-droppingly brilliant sunset over the Aegean Sea.
More details
-
Explore the majestic Temple of Poseidon perched at the tip of Cape Sounion.
-
Accompany an expert guide to learn more about the monument.
-
Enjoy pick-up and drop-off services in a luxurious air-conditioned vehicle.
-
Bask in unparalleled panoramic views of Sounion from the southeastern peak.
-
Soak in the jaw-droppingly brilliant sunset over the Aegean Sea.
Pro tips to help you make a pick
We cannot recommend the sunset tours enough for it is a one-of-a-kind experience. Imagine the ruins of a 2500-year-old temple atop a cliff, overlooking the sea where the sun dips into, coloring the sky in pretty hues of golden yellow, pink, red, and blue! Though words can paint a picture, they cannot justify the incredible sunset that awaits you.
Like any other Greek temple, the Temple of Poseidon and Cape Sounion are rich with interesting legends and myths. Opt for guided tours to learn more about them from expert guides/archeologists and enjoy a culturally immersive experience.
Wear comfortable shoes as it is a bit of a climb to the temple on uneven terrain. Bring your hats, scarves, sunscreen, shades, and water bottles. Carry your ID card (especially if you have opted for reduced-price tickets) and a camera to capture the beautiful temple, sea, and sunset!
Venture beyond the temple to the various trails down the cliff. It is rather calming and serene to spend quiet moments of reflection in front of the mighty sea here. Head to the town of Lavrio or Sounio and nearby beaches, where you can sunbathe or swim and also find tavernas serving amazing seafood and alcohol.
Though buses are available from Athens to the Temple of Poseidon, we recommend guided tours with transfers or car rentals/taxis. The last bus back to Athens is quite early and you might miss the sunset, which is a bummer. Also, if you choose to drive, the scenic coastal road along the Athens Riviera has many hidden beaches and spots that deserve exploration.
Top things to do in Athens
About Temple of Poseidon
A sacred bastion overlooking the Aegean Sea since 440 BC, the Temple of Poseidon is excellently preserved. Visit this cliff temple to delve into the fascinating mythical, cultural, and even military history of ancient Greeks while enjoying awe-inspiring sunset views.
King Aegeus, father of Theseus is believed to have plunged to his death from the cliff here. After killing the minotaur, Thesaus' ship returned with black sails, which implied he was killed, (which was not the case). A heartbroken King couldn’t take it and jumped from the cliff to his death. The Athenians named the Aegean Sea after this mighty King and loving father.
The Temple was built to honor Poseidon, the god of the sea. In fact, inside the temple stood a 20-foot bronze statue of Poseidon, surviving in parts and preserved in the Archeological Museum of Athens. Being a seafaring nation, Athens had incredible faith in Poseidon and built the temple right near the sea and appeased him with offerings to keep them safe while at sea.
In 1884, German archeologist Wilhelm Dorpfeld discovered that the current temple stood on top of an archaic temple of similar dimensions. It is believed that this archaic temple was razed to the ground by Persians in 480 BC while still under construction. In 479 BC, when the Greeks defeated the Persians, they placed the captured Persian warships at Sounion, as a trophy for Poseidon.
Homer’s masterpiece, 'The Odyssey', mentions that Menelaus of Sparta on returning from Troy, stopped at the temple to bury his helmsman. Herodotus’ and Homer’s accounts affirm that the temple’s site was holy ground. The poet Lord Byron’s signature is engraved on one of the columns and he immortalized the temple in his poem, 'The Isles of Greece', with the lines “Sunium’s marbled steep”.
Pericles rebuilt the Temple of Poseidon around 440 BC with 34 columns, of which only 16 stand today. It is believed that the architect Iktinos (unconfirmed), is the same person who designed the Temple of Hephaestus and the Parthenon. Athenians were quite attached to this Temple, as it was the first and last sight of home for seagoing mariners.
Why visit Temple of Poseidon?
Plan your visit
Main entrance
There is just one main entrance to the Temple of Poseidon. Entry is ticketed.
- Due to longer days, the Temple of Poseidon is open until 6:30pm or 7pm on some summer days.
- The site is closed on New Year's, 25th March, 7th May, Easter Sunday, 25th, and 26th December.
- The site is open from 12pm to 5pm on Good Friday and between 9:30am and 3:30pm on Holy Saturday.
- You can step inside the temple for free on 6th March, 18th April, 18th May, European Heritage days, usually on the last weekend of September, and on 28th October.
You can find a museum shop inside the archeological site that houses the Temple of Poseidon.
Cafe Naos functions within the archeological site and serves good food at affordable rates.
There are a few toilets near the entrance to the Temple of Poseidon.
Free parking lots with limited spaces are available just out of the entrance to the Temple of Poseidon.
Though much of the archeological site is wheelchair accessible, the terrain is uneven and rocky in places, so movement can be limited. More efforts are taken to make the site more accessible.
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