What Drew Us To The Temple Of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, Greece?

Discover the majestic Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Greece. Learn about its rich history, breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, and why this ancient monument topped our list of must-visit sites. Get tips on how to explore the area, including the best ways to travel, nearby attractions, and family-friendly accommodations.

While many visitors to Greece head straight to Athens, our family’s first destination was the breathtaking Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

Sure, we may have landed at the airport in Greece’s capital, but after renting a van, we hightailed it out of town directly to Cape Sounion to explore the Temple of Poseidon, the Athenian tribute to the God of the Sea.

Here’s why.

Don’t get me wrong, Athens is awesome. We would return to the city that night for two days in the city and again a few months later on a one-day port-of-call during our Greek Islands cruise with Celestyal Cruises.

But at the top of our list of places to visit in Greece wasn’t Meteora, the Parthenon, or even the beautiful island of Santorini. The focus of our Greece travels was the Temple of Poseidon, a picturesque monument overlooking the Aegean Sea, about an hour from Athens. This dreamy destination is often ranked among the most beautiful of the ancient temples in Greece.

Why Did We Visit The Temple Of Poseidon?

Last year, our boys, Cohen and Dylan, could not get enough of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series. They would inhale the novels and endlessly listen to the audiobooks on our long family road trips.

The series follows a boy as he navigates a modern world where the ancient Greek Gods are real, and their offspring, or demi-gods, rarely know who their godly parents really are. It’s a fascinating and fun series that’s a blast for pre-teens but perhaps a bit raw for younger children.

One of the most important characters in the series is Poseidon, and our boys became a little obsessed with the legend of the God of the Seas.

Beyond the storybooks, the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion is one of the most beautifully situated temples in Greece.

Cape Sounion was a vital port for the transport of food supplies, and the city in which the Temple of Poseidon once stood was a powerful fortification designed to protect the country’s transports. The cliffside location has jaw-droppingly beautiful views overlooking the Aegean Sea, especially at sunset.

The History Of The Temple Of Poseidon

Built at the same time as the Parthenon, Athens’ most famous building, the temple of Poseidon was more than just a Golden Age site of worship. It housed a 20-foot-tall bronze statue of the sea god located high above the sea that acted as a beacon to weary sailors.

The Temple of Poseidon was built between 444 and 440 BCE and was part of the Sacred Triangle that included the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina and the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens. The current ruins were actually built on top of another temple that was roughly the same size. The older temple was actually destroyed during the Persian invasion led by Xerxes I. The same invasion led to the downfall of Leonidas, and 300 Spartan soldiers are memorialized in the movie 300.

The invasion was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Salamis, and an entire captured enemy trireme was placed at Cape Sounion in honor of Poseidon.

Among the many stories in Greek mythology that mention the Temple of Poseidon, one of the most famous is the story of Aegeus, the King of Athens. It was said that he came to Cape Sounion to wait for his son Theseus, the Greek hero who had left to kill the famed Minotaur on the island of Crete.

In the stories from this Greek mythology site, Aegeus had asked Theseus to hang a white sail on his ship on his safe return. But the drunken hero forgot to fly the flag.

When Aegeus saw the ship approaching without the white sail, he was overcome with grief, believing that his son had perished and threw himself from the cliff to his death.

Visiting Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon

We drove directly from Athens Airport to Cape Sounion, a journey of about an hour and twenty minutes, giving us ample time to explore the Sounion Archaeological Site.

As we passed the town of Sounio, it was hard not to marvel at the sparkling clear water of the Aegean Sea surrounding the Cape. The water here is so clear that it has become one of Greece’s most popular snorkeling destinations.

The Temple of Poseidon is open from 9:00 AM to sunset in the summer and from 9:30 AM to sunset in the winter. Tickets are about €10 (€5 for children and seniors).

We entered through the ticket office, which is housed in the same building as a small gift shop and a restaurant (which has stunning views if you’re looking for a great meal location), and got to explore the temple grounds.

The Temple of Poseidon needs about an hour or two to explore in depth. The temple itself is not that large, but the area includes the cliffsides facing Cape Sounion as well as those facing out to sea. On the lower areas, we wandered the rugged cliffs dotted by flowering shrubs and small trees.

It was incredibly beautiful.

As the sun began to dip lower on the horizon, Cohen, probably the biggest Poseidon fan in our family, bounded up the rocks toward the temple. The sun shone through the Doric columns along the edges of the rectangular ruins.

The temple holds a distinguished place on the clifftop with sweeping views over the surrounding landscape. Along with the temple itself, there were a series of short trails past flowering olive trees for us to walk through, each trail giving us a new angle from which to enjoy the scenic views.

The Temple of Poseidon isn’t the only structure within Cape Sounion, though. There are a number of ruins that date as far back as 500 BCE. It’s a sign of just how large and important this settlement once was. This was once a sanctuary catering to sailors embarking on dangerous journeys and a fortress designed to protect the spoils of ancient Greece.

As we wandered near the temple, it was easy to see where the fortress walls once stood. They must have been spectacular in their age. Along with the walls, there were once stores, houses, and markets that populated this beautiful clifftop.

As the sun sank low on the horizon, Christina, her parents (who had joined us on our mainland Greece road trip), and the boys continued to explore the Temple of Poseidon while I retreated back down Cape Sounion to get some photographs of the whole park with the temple and sunset in the background.

Before we knew it, the sun had dropped below the horizon, and it was time for us to make the one-hour drive back to the Greek capital. We had two full days to explore Athens before making our way to Mycenae, Epidarius, and Nafplio the next day.

Top Things to Do in Cape Sounion

We didn’t have a full-day trip to Cape Sounion on our trip to the Temple of Poseidon. We were limited by the time our flight from London to Athens arrived in the city. But if you’re lucky enough to have more time to explore the region, there are plenty of things to do in Cape Sounion to make a full day out here worthwhile.

The whole place has an incredible island vibe to it, mostly thanks to the crystal clear waters and the wrapping peninsula surrounded on three sides by the beautiful Aegean Sea. It’s among the most family-friendly destinations in Greece.

The highlight of Cape Sounion, of course, is the Temple of Poseidon. But there are plenty of attractions nearby that make this an excellent destination all on its own.

Sounio beach  

After the Temple of Poseidon, the next most magical place to visit in Cape Sounion is Sounio Beach. Basking in Mediterranean beauty, this idyllic beach is a perfect place to relax for a few hours. There are umbrella and sunbed rentals, showers, and a beach bar for those who don’t want to stray too far from their little piece of sand.

Sounio Beach is perfect for families. Its soft sandy shore and clear water match some of the best beaches in Greece. Only here do you have the majesty of the Temple of Poseidon rising up above you. It’s no surprise that this has been a popular getaway for more than 2,500 years.

Ancient Settlement

With its distance from Athens, the Temple of Poseidon needed a community of support. And because of this, a large settlement grew around the port and the waters of Cape Sounio. On the hills nearby (and part of the entrance ticket), you’ll find excavations of a main street along with the layout of houses, shops, and markets.

Incuse Chaos Crater

Located in the National Park of Sounio, Incuse Chaos is a heart-shaped crater formed by the collapse of a subterranean cave. The entire sinkhole is about 180 feet deep and more than 390 feet in diameter. It’s quite an impressive sight.

Best Time To Visit Cape Sounio

Most guidebooks are going to tell you to visit Cape Sounio and the Temple of Poseidon in the morning in order to avoid crowds. But the sunsets here are worth the extra stress of the crowds. If the time of year is an option for you, you can have your cake and eat it, too. We visited in April, and there were, at most, ten other people at the archaeological site.

The Temple of Poseidon gets very busy during the summer, and traffic to and from the site can be awful. So, give yourself extra time to prepare to avoid stress.

Winter here can be a bit raw. Cape Sounio is very exposed to the elements. Wind and rain can make things downright freezing.

Family-Friendly Hotels Near Cape Sounion

Because of its idyllic sunset location, many people opt to overnight in Cape Sounion rather than drive back to Athens in the dark. If you’re thinking of doing the same, here are a couple of excellent hotels near the Temple of Poseidon.

Aegon Beach Hotel

Located right on the seashore at Cape Sounio, the Aegon Beach Hotel has a beautiful view of the Aegean Sea and the Temple of Poseidon. It boasts wood, copper, and marble decor that makes for an elegant atmosphere.

The hotel has WiFie, a restaurant with an a la carte menu, and a taverna, and there are two beach bars nearby located right on the sea.

You can check their rates and availability here.

Cape Sounio Grecotel Resort

Located right in Sounio, just a short walk from Cape Sounio Beach, the Cape Sounio Grecotel Boutique Resort has everything families may want to extend their stay in the area. There’s an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and garden, along with a terrace, bar, and a private beach.

There’s also an indoor pool, sauna, and a kids club!

The on-site restaurant has an eclectic menu that includes vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free options. If you love to stay active, there are even hiking and cycling options.

You can find their current rates and availability here.

How To Get To Cape Sounion From Athens

By Public Transport

You can reach Cape Sounion from Athens via the KTEL bus service, which operates suburban routes across Greece. KTEL buses to Cape Sounion depart from Pedion Areos, a large park in the city center.

The bus journey to Sounion takes approximately two hours. However, if you’re aiming to catch the sunset, relying on public transport can be a bit risky since buses from Athens to Sounion run infrequently.

Tickets can be purchased directly from the bus driver, but keep in mind that only cash payments are accepted. You can check the schedules here.

By Car

If you prefer to explore at your own pace, renting a car is the best choice. Driving along the Athenian Riviera, it takes about an hour and 20 minutes to reach Cape Sounion from Athens. This option allows you to fully enjoy the scenic coastal route, with the added benefit of stopping at pristine beaches and other beautiful spots along the way.

Join a Tour

For a stress-free experience, the simplest way to reach Cape Sounion from Athens is by joining a guided tour. Most tours are scheduled in the afternoon, ensuring visitors arrive in Cape Sounion just in time for the sunset. We’ve carefully selected the best Cape Sounion tours for you:\

Half-Day from Athens

Visit one of Greece’s most picturesque coastal viewpoints on a half-day small-group tour from Athens to Cape Sounion. Travel by minivan along South Attica’s scenic shoreline roads to reach the ancient Temple of Poseidon, built atop a towering sea cliff with fantastic views of the Aegean.

Explore the ruins of this temple dedicated to the Greek god of the sea, and opt for an afternoon tour to catch a famously beautiful sunset. Explore the ancient Temple of Poseidon on a tour from Athens. Round-trip transfers from your Athens hotel are included.

You can book this tour here.

Lake Vouliagmeni Spa and Temple of Poseidon

This tour helps you to tick off an ancient Greek temple and a beautiful lake with thermal water on the same trip. Instead of waiting at bus stops, make your hours go further by securing stress-free private transportation to take you between sites.

First stop at Lake Vouliagmeni, which is known for its warm thermal water. Then, later, visit Cape Sounion, where you can see the magnificent Temple of Poseidon. See Lake Vouliagmeni and the Temple of Poseidon on the same day. Avoid crowded sightseeing buses with this private tour. Have a chance to rest and relax in healing thermal waters.

You can find out more about this tour here.

Summary of Our Visit To The Temple Of Poseidon at Cape Sounion

Visiting the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion was a highlight of our trip to Greece. Whether you’re a fan of Greek mythology or just in search of stunning views, this ancient site offers a memorable experience for all ages.

If you’re interested in planning your own family trip to Greece, consider checking out our Greece Family Travel Blog or heading over to our Instagram channel for some family travel inspiration.

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