Cape Sounion Half Day Tour

Breath-taking sceneries and a trip down history lane

It’s finally time for a break from the city and that’s where our Sounion half day tour comes to play! Leave the capital’s urban confinements behind you today and join us on a pleasant drive along the coast of the Saronic Gulf on board an air-conditioned bus for this unforgettable Cape Sounion half day tour, taking us to where the horizon meets the Aegean Sea.

Duration
4 Hours
Location
Sounio, Athens, Greece

Adults
44.00 €
Children
24.50 €

Advantages

Include entrance fees!
Professional licensed tour guide
Skip the long lines
Hotel pick up
Pass by Athens riviera
Visit temple of Poseidon

Price: 44.00 €

Language	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Suturday	Sunday
English

Let’s head out on the Athens Riviera and ride along the palm fringed seaside road passing through the most upscale southern suburbs of Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, and Glyfada, where locals and visitors alike prefer to shop for the latest fashion, dine at the most eclectic restaurants and enjoy the vibrant night-life.

Settlements and beach resorts will peter out as we approach our scenic destination, the famous Cape Sounion, where Poseidon, god of the sea, had been worshipped since ancient times. It is said that the unfortunate King Aegeus drowned himself at that spot, mistakenly believing that the approaching ship with the black sails foretold his son’s defeat in the arms of the Minotaur, thus naming the Aegean Sea after him.

The cape, located about 70 kilometers (43 mi) southeast of Athens, was famously mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey when the helmsman of the Spartan ship of King Menelaus, upon its return from Troy shouted “Holy Sounion, Cape of Athens” before he perished at his station and the fleet was scattered by the god of the sea, one of the most powerful Olympians.

There, we will discover one of the most photographed monuments of Greece from the Golden Age of Athens, the Temple of Poseidon. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea, at a height of 60 meters (200 ft), the temple was revamped by the Athenian statesman, Pericles, around 444 BC and has been a location of great importance all throughout Greek history. If these Doric columns could speak they would spin volumes about the time the Athenians defeated Xerxes in the naval Battle of Salamis and placed an entire captured enemy trireme (warship with three banks of oars) there as a trophy dedicated to Poseidon. But as they can’t, your professional English speaking guide will fill you in on all the interesting details of the culture and history of the “Sacred Cape”, as Athenians called it.

The great trident bearing Olympian will of course keep a steady watch on us as we explore the grounds of this celebrated archeological site, just as he has done since the beginning of time.

Cape Sounion is mentioned in works of the Romantic Movement, and you will find that the famous poet Lord Byron has even carved his name on one of the columns during a visit, overtaken by the sheer magnificence of the site.

The half-day excursion to Cape Sounion is a wonderful opportunity to breath in some fresh sea air, take in majestic sceneries and enjoy a trip down history and mythology lane before returning to your hotel and still be on time for your dinner plans.

Highlights

Guided visit of the Temple of Poseidon
Panoramic views of the Aegean sea and its islands
Passing by some of the most high-end and exclusive suburbs of Athens
Passing by the Hellinikon Complex
A relaxing ride with splendid views of palm beaches away from the city center

Inclusions

Pick up and Drop off Service from centrally located hotel in Athens
Transport by luxury air-conditioned bus with free wifi connection
Services of Professional licensed guide
Entrance fees to the Temple of Poseidon
All Taxes

Not included

Gratuities (optional)
Other personal expenses

Good to know

Departure time at 15.00 and return time at about 19.00

Tips by a local

Get your cameras or camera phones ready for an amazing view off of the cape overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Let’s also not leave our accommodations without sunscreen as it is better to be safe than sorry when you are vacationing in or visiting our warm and sunny country.