Cape Sounion Sunset Tour from Athens: Temple of Poseidon

Watch the sunset from a clifftop temple where ancient Greeks once stood

A 5-hour tour from Athens drives through the Athenian Riviera to Cape Sounion, where you explore the Temple of Poseidon perched on a cliff 70 meters above the sea and watch the sunset over the legendary horizon. The tour includes multilingual audio commentary, an air-conditioned bus, an English-speaking driver and escort, and pickup from three central locations. You can add entry to the Temple of Poseidon at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lake Vouliagmenipassing by
2. Cape Sounionpassing by
3. Temple of Poseidon1h 30m

Explore Cape Sounion and sunset

• Depart from Athens center
• Drive along Athenian Riviera beaches
• Pass southern Attica coastline with audio guide
• Stop for photos at Lake Vouliagmeni
• Arrive at Cape Sounion promontory
• Visit Temple of Poseidon cliffside
• Watch sunset over the sea
• Return to Athens center

The experience

The tour leaves central Athens and heads south along the coast for about an hour and fifteen minutes, passing through the sandy beaches and seaside villages of the Athenian Riviera. As you drive, the audio guide (available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian), tells the history of each place you pass. A stop at Lake Vouliagmeni gives you a chance to photograph the water and the surrounding landscape before the bus continues toward Cape Sounion.

Cape Sounion itself sits on a promontory where the ancient Greeks built the Temple of Poseidon, the sea god. The temple stands 70 meters above the water, and the site was sacred ground in antiquity: Homer sang about it in the Odyssey. According to Greek mythology, this is where King Aegeus threw himself from the cliff after mistaking his son Theseus's black sails for a signal of defeat. You walk the grounds and stand on the same cliff where that legend took place, then watch the famous sunset over the water and the horizon beyond.

The return journey to Athens takes another hour and fifteen minutes. The bus is air-conditioned throughout, and the driver and an escort speak English to answer questions along the way. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome on board.

What’s included

• Multilingual audio commentary in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian.
• air-conditioned bus.
• English-speaking driver and escort.
• pickup and drop-off from three central locations in Athens.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour only, entry ticket not included14:00 and 15:00Sunset Tour and Audioguide: the Temple of Poseidon admission ticket is not part of this option. It covers transportation with an escort and an audioguide.

Includes the entry ticket for the Temple of Poseidon14:00Entry ticket: this option covers the Temple of Poseidon entry ticket, transportation, a bus escort, and an audioguide.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:00 and 15:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 50

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 20

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Open Top Bus hellas M.E.P.E.

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to reach Cape Sounion without renting a car or arranging transport. The fixed schedule gets you to the Temple of Poseidon in time for sunset, and the audio guide lets you learn the history as you travel instead of reading it beforehand.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 14 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does it take to drive from Athens to Cape Sounion?

The drive from central Athens to Cape Sounion takes about an hour and fifteen minutes, passing through the Athenian Riviera beaches and villages along the way.

What languages does the audio guide offer?

The audio guide is available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian, so you can follow the history of each place as the bus travels.

Is entry to the Temple of Poseidon included in the tour price?

Temple entry is optional. You can book the tour alone or add the Temple of Poseidon entry ticket at checkout.

Where does the bus pick up passengers in Athens?

Pickup is available from three central locations in Athens, with drop-off at the same spots at the end of the tour.

What makes the Temple of Poseidon site historically significant?

The Temple of Poseidon sits on a sacred promontory that the ancient Greeks dedicated to the sea god Poseidon and the goddess Athena. Homer mentioned the site in the Odyssey, and Greek mythology places King Aegeus's death at this cliff.