The Temple of Poseidon and Cape Sounion

There’s no denying that Athens has dozens of sights, and you’d probably need a whole month to see everything in the Greek capital and its surroundings. For me, the imposing Temple of Poseidon, which rises on Cape Sounion on the shores of the Aegean, was one of the most interesting places I got to see on my last visit to Athens. Maybe it was the distance from the noise of the big city, or the incredible view over the beautiful bay at the foot of the hill where it stands, but this place made a huge impression on me. Sounion isn’t actually in Athens itself, but rather on its outskirts – about 45 minutes to an hour’s drive from the centre.

The main reason the area is such a draw for tourists is the remains of the Temple of Poseidon and its links with Greek mythology and history. Even so, Sounion has plenty of other interesting things to see and do, as long as you have enough time to spend there, of course.

Getting there

Cape Sounion, or simply Sounion, as the locals call it, is a 45-minute drive from the centre of Athens. There are a few other ways to get there too.

• The easiest and cheapest way to get from Athens to Sounion is by public transport. You can catch a bus from the Pedion Areos stop in the centre.
• The second option, if you can’t hire a car, is a taxi or Uber, but that will work out a bit more expensive. A taxi costs roughly 50 euros each way, but it does give you the freedom not to watch the clock while you’re there.
• Personally, I always prefer to get around by car. Firstly, it’s more convenient, and secondly, you decide for yourself when to set off and when to head back. Greek roads are well maintained and driving is generally much easier and more pleasant than in Bulgaria. On the other hand, bear in mind that the traffic in Athens is horrendous, and although Sounion is 45 minutes from the centre, it can take you an hour just to get out of the city. If you’re in the capital for several days and plan to visit other sights outside the city, a car will give you huge freedom and flexibility, but if you’re only there for a few days and will spend most of your time sightseeing in the city itself, I wouldn’t recommend hiring one. Parking spaces in the centre are hard to find, too.
• The last option is to visit Sounion on an organised tour. Some last 8 hours and let you see more places along the Athens Riviera, while others leave in the late afternoon and last 3–4 hours. An organised tour costs between 30 and 100 euros, depending on which one you choose. Another advantage is that, as well as transport, you’ll have a guide to tell you more about the places you see along the way. You can sign up for an organised tour HERE .

About the Temple of Poseidon

The Temple of Poseidon stands on the imposing coastal cliff of Cape Sounion, with a gorgeous view out over the Aegean. It’s thought to have been built around 444 BC, at the same time as the Parthenon on the Acropolis. When you visit Sounion, you’ll spot the similarities between the two buildings for yourself.

Sounion was once a small port town, and its location helped it grow into a trading hub, with hundreds of merchants arriving on the ships every day. Only the sun-bleached ruins of its fortified walls and old houses remain as a reminder of Sounion’s glorious past.

In the past, the Temple of Poseidon was a very important landmark for sailors and merchants travelling to Greece by sea. According to local legend, sailors used to say they knew they were nearly home when they spotted the temple’s marble columns in the distance, gleaming in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Sounion in ancient Greek mythology

The ancient town of Sounion played a very important role in Greek history. As well as being a strategically placed trading port, it was home to the Temple of Poseidon, where hundreds of worshippers of the mighty ancient Greek god came every day.

Sounion’s place in ancient Greek mythology is just as impressive. According to one myth, King Aegeus, who once ruled Athens, met his death right here. That’s why the sea is named after him – the Aegean.

Legend has it that the Athenians were defeated in battle by the people of Crete, and from then on every year they had to send 7 young men and 7 young women as a blood tribute. The young people were sacrificed to Asterion the Minotaur (a mythical monster, half man, half bull). King Aegeus’s son, Theseus, decided to go with them to kill the Minotaur. He promised his father that if he managed to defeat the monster, on the way home he would swap the ship’s black sails (a sign of the Athenians’ grief) for white ones. Theseus did indeed manage to kill the Minotaur and save the young people, but he fell in love with Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, and won her heart – and in all the excitement he forgot his promise to his father and left the ship’s sails black. With a heavy heart, King Aegeus had gone to wait for his son on Cape Sounion, scanning the horizon from high on the cliffs to see whether the ship would return with black sails or white. When the king saw the black sails, he couldn’t bear the grief and threw himself from the cliffs. When Theseus and the other young people stepped off the ship, he couldn’t see his father among those waiting at the harbour. When he learned of the terrible tragedy, Theseus named the sea after his father – the Aegean.