Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon Half-Day Small-Group Tour from Athens
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Athens, Greece
+22
- 5 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit one of Greece’s most picturesque coastal viewpoints on a half-day small-group tour from Athens to Cape Sounion. Travel by minivan along south Attica’s scenic shoreline roads to reach the ancient Temple of Poseidon, built atop a towering sea cliff with fantastic views of the Aegean. Explore the ruins of this temple dedicated to the Greek god of the sea, and opt for an afternoon tour to catch a famously beautiful sunset.
- Explore the ancient Temple of Poseidon on a tour from Athens
- Round-trip transfers from your Athens hotel included
- Admire the views of the Aegean Sea and learn about ancient Greece
- A small group ensures a personalized experience
What's Included
- Local taxes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Tour escort/host
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fee - Temple of Poseidon€20.00 per person
- Costs of using the beach organized facilities, such as sunbeds, umbrellas etc
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pick up and drop off is included from hotels and apartments within the range of central Athens area. Central Athens includes areas within the boundaries of Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki, Omonoia and Acropolis. If you're staying outside these areas, we will assign a convenient centrally located meeting point near a Metro station Your location details are required during the booking process (hotel name or apartment full address) If your hotel/apartment is not accessible by the type of vehicles we use (e.g street narrowness, pedestrian area) we will appoint the closest available meeting point for picking you up. In case that your location details has not been provided 48 hours prior to departure we will assign a centrally located meeting point of our choice for picking you up. You will receive an email from us with the exact pick up location and time 24 hours prior departure. No changes can be made to the pickup plan once it has been allocated and finalized. Please notice that pick up commerce starts 40-50 minutes prior departure. Departure time is adjusted to the Sunset time of each period (Sunset tour option) We dont provide pickups from ports/airports besides the Private tour option We dont provide pickups from Piraeus area, besides the Private tour option
Itinerary
Your half-day Greek adventure begins with a convenient hotel or apartment pickup. Then, enjoy a pleasant drive along coastal roads, passing through Athens' picturesque suburbs, including Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza, offering stunning views of the Saronic Gulf.
Pause for postcard-worthy photos at Lake Vouliagmeni, a volcanic lake by the sea. Following a second scenic drive along the coast, relax at Sounio Beach with the opportunity to swim, unwind, and savor refreshments.
The journey culminates at the Temple of Poseidon, where your guide shares insights into the 5th-century BC temple. Opt for a sunset tour for an extra enchanting experience.
After getting your fill of ancient history, return to Athens, concluding the tour with a drop-off at your hotel or apartment.
Every step of the way, you experience seamless logistics, insider knowledge, and the convenience of expert guidance throughout your exploration of Athens' coastal gems.
Pause for postcard-worthy photos at Lake Vouliagmeni, a volcanic lake by the sea. Following a second scenic drive along the coast, relax at Sounio Beach with the opportunity to swim, unwind, and savor refreshments.
The journey culminates at the Temple of Poseidon, where your guide shares insights into the 5th-century BC temple. Opt for a sunset tour for an extra enchanting experience.
After getting your fill of ancient history, return to Athens, concluding the tour with a drop-off at your hotel or apartment.
Every step of the way, you experience seamless logistics, insider knowledge, and the convenience of expert guidance throughout your exploration of Athens' coastal gems.
Athens (Pass By)
Glyfada Beach (Pass By)
1
Lake Vouliagmeni
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Anavyssos
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Temple of Poseidon
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
Athens (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Bring your swimwear and beach towels in case you wish to swim during our beach stop (May to October)
- Departure time is adjusted to the sunset time of each period (Sunset tour option)
- We allow 19 travelers per Product. Since Viator allows only 15 persons per booking, If you are a group of more than 15 persons , you can book seperately but still be in one group on the same minibus. Just put this as a remark in your booking.
- Please note that the beach stop operates from early May to late October, depending on the weather and the specific date when the time changes between summer and winter time, and vice versa. You are welcome to use the public beach area and the public changing rooms, bathrooms, and showers at no cost. However, if you wish to use organized facilities such as sunbeds, umbrellas, etc., additional fees will apply, payable directly to the beach businesses that provide these services. Our agency is not affiliated with these businesses, and these costs are not included in our activity.
- The exact opening and closing dates of our beach stop vary each year, depending on several factors. If you're planning to visit in early May or late October and want to confirm if we're operating the beach stop, feel free to send us a message through the Viator messaging section.
- Consumption of food and beverages is prohibited inside the vehicles besides water. Designated stops during the tour will provide opportunities to eat and drink
- Participants are expected to carry no more than a backpack. If you have luggage that requires trunk space, please inform us in advance of the activity date so we can arrange the appropriate vehicle and pickup location
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Question (1)
Q:How can I let you know where to pick me up?
A:We offer pick ups from most hotels. Let us know where you are staying in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.
Jul 2019
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 3,637 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Took an excursion when my partner was working and felt safe. Was an amazing trip and picked me straight up from my hotel. Well organized and times the sunset to perfection!
Make sure the AC is working in the van, otherwise not a pleasant drive on a hot day. If you plan on swimming wear your bathing suit because there is only one spot to change. Possibly the lake stop might be a better swim option than the beach, if that was available as an option. The Temple and the sunset were amazing, beautiful. The guide does not tour the temple with you. Huge crowd of people in a relatively small location all trying to get photos of the sunset. Almost a 2hr return drive due to traffic. It may be a more enjoyable adventure in a rented car or private tour.
The ride from Athens was very long. The beach club was super loud and we couldn't get anyone to take our order. We decided to sit on the hill next to the Temple instead of paying the additional entrance fee. The sunset was nice, but not sure it was worth the drive.
It was a great tour. The guide was very informative. The driver was very well trained on all of the curvy roads. We got to see all the beaches and we were able to take a swim in the Aegean Sea. There were several short stops along the way. I only wish the guests would have been more courteous and listened to the guide instead of making new friends and talking all the time. The sunset was beautiful but having to pay 20 euros to get in the gate was alot when all you do is stand there and look at it. You can't go into the building.
Overall a good experience but felt the hours stop at the beach was unnecessary. Time to visit the lake properly (swimming there) would have made a much better use of the time.
Return can be much longer due to traffic. Stick to the guide as they may make interesting points but they won't wait for you to be there.
What read about the trip sadly is not as isealic and romantic as it presents.
The drive was ok along th ecoast, but nothing more special than any other coastal road, a very busy road.
The lake was very disappointing, not the lake itself. What they fail to mention is that you stand in a very busy car park, which is right next to the very busy road and look at the lake through a wrought iron railing fence. It felt that we wwere the 'plebd' looking through the fence with envy at the elite swimming in the lake.
The beach stop.....far too busy, no character, lots of other groups stop there. Felt like a production line...not a quante taverna on a quiet lovely beach....again with the busy road running about 5 metres behind you.
Eventually the temple, we knew we had to pay the 20 euros each to anter the temple grounds, but was not expecting the crowds, very similar to the Acroppolis in Athens, but you sort of expect that. I felt the 20euros per person was alot of money so we decided to watch the sunset from opposite the site. It was beautiful, I won't deny it.
I just feel this trip on paper sounds beautiful, romantic, relaxing but actually does not deliever.
That said the tour guide Maria and her driver were excellent company.
I think if she was to accompany you inside the temple and give a bit of a tour and chat then we would have certainly considered the 20 euros.
A lovely drive down the coast.
Beautiful scenery at Poseidon's Temple after hearing the mythology behind Poseidon from our well informed Spanish guide.
The places visited are wonderful and the activities (including swiming in a beach) very enjoyable. But I cannot believe that the staff that organizes these excursions don't know how tricky the traffic in Athens can be.
The pick-up time was delayed from 3pm to 3:35pm... to be delayed again until nearly 4pm when most of the attendants were waiting in the suggested picking point generously bathed by Athen's September sun.
Considering that the available picking points were few, is it that difficult to recommend somewhere where you don't bake for half an hour before the actual pick-up?
Fun trip and just as advertised. The beach and ocean on the way down was great, but with 1 hr had to choose between swimming or food. The other stops were very short: I would've rather walked for good pictures than listened to the guide.
I had a very good time with this tour, and highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The sights were absolutely phenomenal, and the climb was not too bad to make. There were plenty of spots and angles to take as many photos as you want, to reflect as many view points as possible.
This was a fabulous tour and the sunset was magnificent. It was extremely HOT but still not a sight I would have missed. We got some beautiful photos.
Terrible. Tour operator changed the pickup time (from 9am to 8:40am) and location (a different hotel) without notifying us. We stood outside our hotel and the driver never came. At 9;05an I received an email advising that we didn’t show up. Then the tour operator refused a refund without explanation. Viator was not helpful and we are still fighting for a refund. Viator does not protect travellers and I would never recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are genuinely sorry that this situation caused you frustration and that you were unable to join the tour.
However, we would respectfully like to clarify that the departure time was not changed. As explained in the tour description, since we provide pickup services from multiple locations across Athens, individual pickups may begin up to 50 minutes before the tour’s official departure time. Naturally, it would not be possible to collect every guest from different locations at exactly 9:00 AM.
In your case, our standard procedure was followed, and written instructions confirming both your designated pickup point and the exact pickup time of 8:40 AM were sent approximately 24 hours before departure. Unfortunately, it appears that these instructions were overlooked, resulting in you waiting at a different location and time.
Our driver was present at the confirmed pickup point and waited for you, but regrettably, you did not arrive. For this reason, the booking was recorded as a no-show and the refund request could not be approved. We sincerely regret that you missed the experience, but the pickup arrangements were communicated in advance and the service operated as scheduled.
It was a good trip as we got to spend some time near the beach and walked around the Poseidon. Got to watch the sunset.
Loved this little trip. My guide was very informative. They picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel.
Great day out you will enjoy it like we do.
Friendly tour guide Julie and good driver pick up and drop off was a bonus.
You will have opportunity to swim and/or have a meal at a beach bar. You will have to pay admission to the temple site in addition to the tour
What a fantastic day! Greece is beautiful, but this trip made the experience even more special. Great organization, wonderful company, beautiful views, and plenty of unforgettable memories. Definitely one of the highlights of our vacation!
We had a good time with at the stops, and had a good amount of time at each stop. If you have motion sickness, make sure you bring something for that.
The view of the sunset was absolutely amazing and our tour guide was very informative and friendly. We stopped on the way for over an hour at the beach where we just sat. We felt this time would have been better spent at the Temple of Poseidon. It was too early to eat at the beach and as the time at the Temple was rushed we didn’t have time for dinner. The tour advertised we would be picked up at our hotel or apartment and this did not occur. We didn’t arrive home until 10pm and when contacted the company they said it was only an 8 minute walk to our apartment but for us in our 70’s at 10pm at night this was not an option. They did not seem in the least bit concerned or even apologetic about our situation.
Definitely the best time to go as the sunset was unbelievable.
This was a great tour, well worth getting out of Athens the explore the coast side and beautiful vistas. The Temple of Poseidon was a marvel to see and the short swim and lunch at the beach side was the highlight. Our guide Elili and driver Manos were wonderful. 10/10 highly recommend.
I would not recommend this tour. It’s pricey and the tour guide doesn’t even enter the temple with you to explain or take photos. We were dropped off at a Smokey beach with an over priced restaurant for over an hour, which was an issue with my daughter’s asthma. It’s better to take an Uber straight to the temple. We also had to walk very far up a hill to reach the temple entrance and pay our own entry fee. It was a waste of money.
Well organized trip with amazing sights worth seeing; relaxing half day experience and knowledgeable guide
This is a lovely evening activity. After having lunch and touring around Athens city, it was a relaxing way to end the day. There were a few stop points along the journey—- two that were a few minutes, a longer one in the town before the Temple of Zeus to enjoy a quick dinner or beach break, and ample time at the Temple of Zeus to explore and stay for sunset. Our guide, Julia, was phenomenal. I enjoy hearing and learning from the guides of historical and architectural sites in Greece because they have degrees in History, Architecture (and other things). Their knowledge makes the experience so wonderful. Would recommend the Sunset tour.
Guides are absolutely fantastic with so much local and historical knowledge. The stops along the way are well timed however the ride back could be draining for those who don’t travel well. Otherwise, good experience should do it.
Great experience! Our tour guide was very informative and enthusiastic. Awesome way to spend the day.
This is a great tour to see the sunset in a spectacular setting along with so many more sights to see and a relaxing beach stop! Vivian, our guide, was the highlight, knowing in-depth Greek history and mythology! We really enjoyed Poseidon's Temple and whole seaside trip!
Lovely time, I am happy I joined the tour. Thank you for everything. ,..............................
The tour was very nice and guide very knowledgeable. It had both activity and down time so not tiring. Very picturesque scenery and very nice sunset. Entrances to the temple of Poseidon is not included.
Great guided tour with plenty of free time and historical details! Guide was knowledgeable and small group was a bonus!
From $41.97
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