Temple of Poseidon & Cape Sounion
Book day trips to see one of the most picturesque coastal views of Greece at Cape Sounion, and the famous Temple of Poseidon that looms over it.
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Visitor's guide
Must-see highlights & key info
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Unlock ancient Athens with access to the Acropolis, Parthenon, and more—then chase the sunset at Cape Sounion for one perfectly themed Greek adventure.
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Roam the Acropolis, stand before the Parthenon, sit where ancient dramas played in the Theatre of Dionysus, and learn its history via your audio guide.
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Cruise the coastal road to Cape Sounion and hear dramatic legends of Poseidon and King Aegeus as you approach the cliffside temple with a multilingual audio guide.
More details
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Unlock ancient Athens with access to the Acropolis, Parthenon, and more—then chase the sunset at Cape Sounion for one perfectly themed Greek adventure.
-
Roam the Acropolis, stand before the Parthenon, sit where ancient dramas played in the Theatre of Dionysus, and learn its history via your audio guide.
-
Cruise the coastal road to Cape Sounion and hear dramatic legends of Poseidon and King Aegeus as you approach the cliffside temple with a multilingual audio guide.
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See Athens’ ancient wonders and the Aegean coast in one seamless day—includes entry, expert guides, lunch, and sunset views at Cape Sounion.
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Walk through history at the Acropolis with your expert guide as you admire the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike, then explore marble statues and relics up close at the museum.
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At Cape Sounion, your guide will reveal the myths behind the Temple of Poseidon, famed for its striking Doric columns and clifftop views over the Aegean.
More details
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See Athens’ ancient wonders and the Aegean coast in one seamless day—includes entry, expert guides, lunch, and sunset views at Cape Sounion.
-
Walk through history at the Acropolis with your expert guide as you admire the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike, then explore marble statues and relics up close at the museum.
-
At Cape Sounion, your guide will reveal the myths behind the Temple of Poseidon, famed for its striking Doric columns and clifftop views over the Aegean.
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On a 5-hour tour, drive along the stunning Athens Riviera and get ready for your archaeologist guide to bring ancient Greek myths to life right where they happened.
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Stand at the edge of Cape Sounion where the Temple of Poseidon towers 70 meters above the Aegean sea, and catch the sun dipping into the horizon behind marble columns.
More details
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On a 5-hour tour, drive along the stunning Athens Riviera and get ready for your archaeologist guide to bring ancient Greek myths to life right where they happened.
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Stand at the edge of Cape Sounion where the Temple of Poseidon towers 70 meters above the Aegean sea, and catch the sun dipping into the horizon behind marble columns.
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Enjoy seamless sightseeing and great value in one combo with a 2-day HOHO pass, then unwind on a guided sunset trip to Poseidon’s temple.
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Explore Athens freely with a 2-day hop-on hop-off bus pass, complete with 35 stops, multilingual audio, free WiFi, a city map, and open-top views of ancient and modern marvels.
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Take a scenic drive along the Athens Riviera to Cape Sounion, where your guide brings mythology to life as the sun sets behind the Temple of Poseidon.
More details
-
Enjoy seamless sightseeing and great value in one combo with a 2-day HOHO pass, then unwind on a guided sunset trip to Poseidon’s temple.
-
Explore Athens freely with a 2-day hop-on hop-off bus pass, complete with 35 stops, multilingual audio, free WiFi, a city map, and open-top views of ancient and modern marvels.
-
Take a scenic drive along the Athens Riviera to Cape Sounion, where your guide brings mythology to life as the sun sets behind the Temple of Poseidon.
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Explore the majestic Temple of Poseidon perched at the tip of Cape Sounion.
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Accompany an expert guide to learn more about the monument.
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Bask in unparalleled panoramic views of Sounion from the southeastern peak.
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Soak in the jaw-droppingly brilliant sunset over the Aegean Sea.
More details
-
Explore the majestic Temple of Poseidon perched at the tip of Cape Sounion.
-
Accompany an expert guide to learn more about the monument.
-
Bask in unparalleled panoramic views of Sounion from the southeastern peak.
-
Soak in the jaw-droppingly brilliant sunset over the Aegean Sea.
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About Temple of Poseidon
A sacred bastion overlooking the Aegean Sea since 440 BC, the Temple of Poseidon is excellently preserved. Visit this cliff temple to delve into the fascinating mythical, cultural, and even military history of ancient Greeks while enjoying awe-inspiring sunset views.
King Aegeus, father of Theseus is believed to have plunged to his death from the cliff here. After killing the minotaur, Thesaus' ship returned with black sails, which implied he was killed, (which was not the case). A heartbroken King couldn’t take it and jumped from the cliff to his death. The Athenians named the Aegean Sea after this mighty King and loving father.
The Temple was built to honor Poseidon, the god of the sea. In fact, inside the temple stood a 20-foot bronze statue of Poseidon, surviving in parts and preserved in the Archeological Museum of Athens. Being a seafaring nation, Athens had incredible faith in Poseidon and built the temple right near the sea and appeased him with offerings to keep them safe while at sea.
In 1884, German archeologist Wilhelm Dorpfeld discovered that the current temple stood on top of an archaic temple of similar dimensions. It is believed that this archaic temple was razed to the ground by Persians in 480 BC while still under construction. In 479 BC, when the Greeks defeated the Persians, they placed the captured Persian warships at Sounion, as a trophy for Poseidon.
Homer’s masterpiece, 'The Odyssey', mentions that Menelaus of Sparta on returning from Troy, stopped at the temple to bury his helmsman. Herodotus’ and Homer’s accounts affirm that the temple’s site was holy ground. The poet Lord Byron’s signature is engraved on one of the columns and he immortalized the temple in his poem, 'The Isles of Greece', with the lines “Sunium’s marbled steep”.
Pericles rebuilt the Temple of Poseidon around 440 BC with 34 columns, of which only 16 stand today. It is believed that the architect Iktinos (unconfirmed), is the same person who designed the Temple of Hephaestus and the Parthenon. Athenians were quite attached to this Temple, as it was the first and last sight of home for seagoing mariners.
Why visit Temple of Poseidon?
Plan your visit
Main entrance
There is just one main entrance to the Temple of Poseidon. Entry is ticketed.
- Due to longer days, the Temple of Poseidon is open until 6:30pm or 7pm on some summer days.
- The site is closed on New Year's, 25th March, 7th May, Easter Sunday, 25th, and 26th December.
- The site is open from 12pm to 5pm on Good Friday and between 9:30am and 3:30pm on Holy Saturday.
- You can step inside the temple for free on 6th March, 18th April, 18th May, European Heritage days, usually on the last weekend of September, and on 28th October.
You can find a museum shop inside the archeological site that houses the Temple of Poseidon.
Cafe Naos functions within the archeological site and serves good food at affordable rates.
There are a few toilets near the entrance to the Temple of Poseidon.
Free parking lots with limited spaces are available just out of the entrance to the Temple of Poseidon.
Though much of the archeological site is wheelchair accessible, the terrain is uneven and rocky in places, so movement can be limited. More efforts are taken to make the site more accessible.
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