Cape Sounion: Day Trips and Tours from Athens

Cape Sounion makes a popular day trip from Athens thanks to the famous Temple of Poseidon which is perched up on the headland. The ruins are legendary, and so are the sunsets!

Featuring in Homer’s Odyssey, sacred Cape Sounion overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is surrounded by myths and legends. A Cape Sounion day trip from Athens is the best way to explore this famous promontory.

Check out our guide below to learn everything you need to know about Cape Sounion, one of the most exciting day trips from Athens.

How to get to Cape Sounion from Athens

Located on the southern tip of the Attic Peninsula, Cape Sounion lies about 75 kilometers from Athens.

• By car: The journey to Cape Sounion takes 1.5 hours by car. Drive inland along the A6 highway, or avoid the road tolls by taking the longer coastal Athinon Souniou route.
• By bus:  The KTEL Attikis public bus runs between Athens and Sounion several times a day, departing from the station in Pedion Areos. The journey takes around 2 hours.
• Guided tour: The easiest way to travel is on a day tour to Cape Sounion from Athens. All the transport hassles are taken care of, and most excursions will pick you up at your Athens hotel, for a half- or ful-day experience.

Cape Sounion ticket prices

Entrance tickets to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon are as follows:

• Standard: €10
• Concessions: €5

EU visitors up to 25, all children up to 5 years and visitors with disabilities can enter for free.

There are a few free admission days throughout the year, including 6^th March, 18^th April, 18^th May, and 29^th October. Free entry is also available on the last weekend of September, and every first Sunday between 1^st November and 31^st March.

Opening hours of Cape Sounion

You can access the Temple of Poseidon and the surrounding archaeological area from 9.30 AM to sunset all year round. Last entry is 20 minutes before dusk.

The site is closed on some public holidays.

Typical itinerary of day tours to Cape Sounion from Athens

Athens day trips to Cape Sounion usually begin with a morning departure from your hotel in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle. You’ll be driven along scenic coastal roads with stunning views over the Saronic Gulf and its islands. Keep an eye out for picturesque coves and beaches like Glyfada and Vouliagmeni on the way.

Once at Cape Sounion, you will have free time to explore the archaeological site, including the Temple of Poseidon. Evening tours remain there long enough to take in the sunset.

After your visit, you will be returned to your hotel in Athens.

Best Cape Sounion tours from Athens

Guided tour to Cape Sounion from Athens

These are the most popular day tours to Cape Sounion, with options for half- or full-day excursions.  The longer tours offer sightseeing in Athens, before heading down to Cape Sounion to admire the temple and sunset. Lunch at traditional restaurants is available at an additional cost on full day trips.

Our pick: Discover Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon

• Includes: Roundtrip transportation, guide
• Price: From €19.50
• Duration: 5.5 hours

Private Cape Sounion day tour from Athens

For the ultimate grand day out, opt for a private Cape Sounion day tour, with luxury transportation and a personal guide. There is some flexibility with the schedule, and longer tours take in famous Athens sights like the Acropolis and Parthenon.

Our pick: Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon Private Trip

• Includes: Roundtrip transportation, guide, optional meal
• Price: From €39 per traveler, depending on group size
• Duration: 3.5 hours

Private sunset tour to Cape Sounion from Athens

These tours are full of romance, with an exclusive vehicle transporting you to the clifftops of Sounion at sunset. Some excursions include a seaside dinner at a Greek taverna.

Our pick: Private Cape Sounion Sunset Tour

• Includes: Roundtrip private transportation, driver/guide, dinner
• Price: From €89 to €180 per traveler in groups of up to 8
• Duration: 5 hours

2-day tour to Cape Sounion plus Athens and Delphi

Combine sights in Athens and Cape Sounion with a day trip to Delphi where you will explore the ancient ruins and Temple of Apollo. You return to your Athens accommodation overnight.

Our pick: Cape Sounion and Delphi Tour

• Includes: Roundtrip transportation, English-speaking guide, entry tickets
• Price: From €192 per traveler
• Duration: 2 days

2-day tour to Cape Sounion plus Athens, Mycenae and Epidaurus

Day one is all about Athens and Cape Sounion, while day two whisks you off to other popular Greek destinations. In Athens, you will get to explore the Acropolis, n Mycenae, you’ll visit the Tomb of Agamemnon, while at Epidaurus it’s the ancient amphitheater that awaits. These tours also stop at the Corinth Canal.

Our pick: Cape Sounion, Athens, Mycenae and Epidaurus Tour

• Includes: Roundtrip transportation, English-speaking guide, entry tickets
• Price: From €198 per traveler
• Duration: 2 days

Transfer to Cape Sounion from Athens without a guide

Group and private transfers to Cape Sounion are a great option for independent travelers. If you opt for a 2-way transfer, you will have around 90 minutes of free time at the archaeological site.

Our pick: Discover Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon

• Includes: Roundtrip transportation
• Price: From €19.50
• Duration: 5.5 hours

Prices of Cape Sounion tours from Athens

The transfer-only option between Athens and Cape Sounion is €20 per person or €120 for a private ride.

Prices for small-group day tours to Cape Sounion from Athens start at €30 for 4 hours, and €80 for a full day.

For private Cape Sounion day trips, which operate in groups, expect to pay about €300 for a half-day for 8 people, and €700 for a full-day experience.

For sunset tours, expect to pay €35 for a group Cape Sounion excursion. Private experiences range from €55 - €270 depending on the size of your party, and whether dinner is included.

2-day tours are priced from about €190 per person. Hotels are not included, but archaeological site entrances and lunch often are.

What to see and do in Cape Sounion

Temple of Poseidon

The famous Temple of Poseidon will be the highlight of your Cape Sounion day trip. Poseidon is the Greek God of the sea and was a revered figure in Ancient Greece. The temple is one of the best-preserved structures from the Golden Age of Athens, with stunning examples of Doric architecture from the Archaic period.

The ruins sit dramatically up on the cliff edge, with unrivaled views out to sea. This is a popular spot for sunset-seekers, where watching the sun sink slowly into the ocean is one of life’s “moments”. English poet Lord Byron was a fan – you can still see his graffiti on one of the stones!

Temple of Athena

Sitting on a small hill just northeast of the Temple of Poseidon, this ancient ruin was built in 470 BC. Some of its columns were removed and transported to Athens for constructing the Ancient Agora, but you can still see the ground-level foundations.

The Fortress

The cape was fortified during the Peloponnese War in 412 BC, to control and protect trade ships sailing into Athens. The Temple of Poseidon sits in the southeastern corner of the fortress, with the wall remains extending along the coast. Excavations have unearthed streets, residences, and water cisterns.

Best time to visit Cape Sounion

The best time of year for a Cape Sounion day trip from Athens is between April and October when the weather is warm. It gets busy during July and August, so visit outside these months to avoid the crowds.

Choose a full-day or evening tour if you want to see the sunset from the Temple of Poseidon.

Travel tips

• Book your Cape Sounion day trip tickets online so you can search for the best deals. Places fill up fast, so do this well in advance.
• Take sun protection as there isn’t much shade around the archaeological site.
• Wear comfortable footwear for exploring the peninsula, which is rocky in places.
• Bring some water to keep hydrated while out in the summer heat.
• Remember to pack spare camera batteries – you’ll be taking lots of photos!