According to legend Cape Sounion is the spot where Aegeas, King of Athens, believing that his only son Prince Theseas was dead leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea.
The wind-swept Cape Sounio was an obvious choice for a sanctuary of Poseidon, where the sailors might offer a last sacrifice to appease the mighty God of the Sea before leaving the comparative safety of the Saronic Gulf for the perils of the open Aegean Sea. The archaic temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 B.C. and a new one was built in its place in 440 B.C. by Pericles. The contrast between the 12 white remaining Doric columns and the deep blue of the sea is still as dazzling as in the days of Lord Byron who carved his name on the marble.
Byron spent several months in Athens in 1810 and 1811 and there are two documented visits by him to Sounion. Byron mentions the Cape in his poem Don Juan:
Place me on Sunium’s marbled steep,
Where nothing, save the waves and I,
May hear our mutual murmurs sweep…
The site is the most popular half day excursion from Athens, not only for its great archaeological interest but for the scenic drive along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf as well.
Passing on the way though some of Athens’s most expensive and beautiful suburbs and resorts (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Lagonisi) areas that offer you a variety of choices either for a coffee brake or for lunch on the waterfront.
Duration approximately 4 hours
All our private tours are flexible. It is always up to you to change the itinerary according to your wishes.
Admission fees and lunch are not included in the price of the tour.
Sites’ Opening Hours
| Temple of Poseidon | Open daily from 9:00am until sunset. |
* Last entry 15 min before closing.
Entrance Fees to the Sites
| Adults | 10 euros |
Reduced admission (50%)
| Original passport or copy necessary |
| Between 6-25 years old, from countries outside the E.U. |
| Senior citizens of the E.U. aged over 65 |
| Everybody from Nov. 1st to March 31st |
Free admission for visitors
| Original passport or copy necessary |
| Up to 25 years old from countries of the E.U |
| Children up to 5 years old from countries outside the E.U |
| Highschool & University students over 25 years old from countries of the E.U. (a certificate from the educational institution certifying tuition and its duration is necessary) |
Days of free admission for all to archaeological sites & public Museums
| March 6 (In Memory of Melina Mercouri) |
| April 18 (International Monuments Day) |
| May 18 (International Museums Day) |
| The last weekend of September (European Heritage Days) |
| Oct. 28 (National Holiday) |
| First Sunday of every month, from Nov. 1st to March 31st |
Holidays
| 1 January | Closed |
| 6 January | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| Shrove Monday | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| 25 March | Closed |
| Greek Orhodox Good Friday | 12:00 – 15:00 |
| Greek Orhodox Good Saturday | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| Greek Orhodox Easter Sunday | Closed |
| Greek Orhodox Easter Monday | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| May 1 | Closed |
| Holy Spirit Day | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| 5 August | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| 28 October | 08:30 – 15:00 |
| 25 December | Closed |
| 26 December | Closed |
