Cape Sounion Temple of Poseidon tour from Athens with entry

Stand at the Temple of Poseidon's edge and frame the sea on your own terms

An afternoon tour from Athens to Cape Sounion, 45 miles south, where you visit the Temple of Poseidon—a clifftop ruin overlooking the Aegean—with entry ticket, hotel pickup and a professional English-speaking guide included. The tour runs four hours and returns to Athens by early evening, making it a half-day option that doesn't cut into a full itinerary.

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon trip to Cape Sounion

• Travel along Athinean Riviera
• Pass by Lake Vouliagmeni
• Visit Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion

The Experience

The Temple of Poseidon sits on a promontory at Cape Sounion, and the tour picks you up from your hotel in Athens, drives through the Athenian Riviera along the coast, and stops at Lake Vouliagmeni before reaching the temple ruins. The entrance ticket is included, so you walk straight to the site without queuing separately. A professional guide travels with the group and explains what you're standing in front of—the 5th-century marble columns, the view across the water, the history of the place—but the time there is yours to spend as you want: taking photographs, sitting on the rocks, or just standing still.

The afternoon timing means you're not racing to catch a sunset; the bus returns to Athens around 7pm (6:30pm in winter), so this fits into a day where you've already done something else in the morning. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the route hugs the coast, so the drive itself is part of what you see. Children aged 5 to 18 need a passport or ID to get the discounted entrance price; without it, they pay the full adult rate at the gate. Hotel pickup is available from selected hotels only—if yours isn't on the list, public transport options run nearby.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Athens hotels.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance ticket to the Temple of Poseidon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CHAT Tours

Is this one for you?The afternoon pace and early return to Athens suit a half-day plan—you're not committing to a full day away, and the drive along the coast is part of the experience, not a chore to endure.

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Top questions

How far is Cape Sounion from Athens, and how long does the drive take?

Cape Sounion is 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Athens. The tour is four hours total, which includes the drive, the stop at Lake Vouliagmeni, and your time at the Temple of Poseidon.

What exactly is the Temple of Poseidon, and what will I see when I get there?

The Temple of Poseidon is a 5th-century marble ruin perched on a clifftop at Cape Sounion, overlooking the Aegean Sea. You'll see the standing columns, the stone foundations, and the view across the water—it's the kind of place people photograph, and the guide will explain what you're looking at.

Is the entrance ticket to the temple included in the tour price?

Yes, the entrance ticket to the Temple of Poseidon is included. You don't need to buy it separately or wait in a separate queue.

What's included in the pickup, and will my hotel be on the route?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but only from selected hotels in Athens. If your accommodation isn't on the list, public transport options are available nearby. Pickup from the airport, Piraeus port, Airbnb or private apartments is not available.

Is this a sunset tour, or will I miss the evening light at the temple?

This is not a sunset tour. The bus returns to Athens around 7pm (6:30pm in winter), so you'll have daylight at the temple but won't stay for sunset.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English on most days. French-language tours run only on Mondays and Fridays.