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🇬🇷 Episode 10 — Cape Sounion at sunset: the Temple of Poseidon
27 October – 6 November 2023
Cape Sounion, Greece
Episode 10 of 10
In this article
Columns stand against the sea, the light fades and everyone searches for an angle. During our Athens stay, we drove to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon towards the end of the day.
After central monuments and city walks, we wanted to see the sea again.
A temple above the sea
The temple dates from classical Greece. Its Doric columns connect it with other monuments on the journey, but the setting changes everything: here the sea takes centre stage. Explore different perspectives from the permitted paths.
The Temple of Poseidon is immediately recognisable at the tip of the cape, its columns backed by the sea. This setting changes the visit and explains why we wanted to come at this hour.
The surviving temple belongs to classical Greece and was dedicated to Poseidon, the god associated with the sea. Its position in southern Attica also made it a landmark for sailors.
Take time to walk around the temple too. Perspectives change with your position and the light gradually evolves.
Coming towards the end of the day
We chose Cape Sounion for sunset, and we were certainly not alone. Everyone searched for a viewpoint and composition around the temple.
We watched the colours change, then photographed the columns in the last light.
The last photographs before closing
During our visit, closing time came shortly after sunset.
The guard gave us a few moments to finish our pictures as the last visitors left, allowing photographs with fewer people.
Useful detail: that was a circumstance of our own visit. Do not plan around receiving extra time after closing. Arrive early enough to explore, choose viewpoints and follow exit instructions.
Practical information: access, hours and tickets
Distance: the site is at kilometre 68 of the Athens–Sounion road. This is a proper excursion, not a quick stop between city monuments.
By car: this was our choice. Journey time depends on your starting point in Athens and traffic.
By bus: check timetables and the return after sunset with the operator.
Tickets: check official ticketing for the conditions of your visit.
Opening hours: check that day’s hours on the official website. When we visited, closing followed sunset.
Returning to Athens
We drove back after dark and encountered no particular traffic problems on our journey.
Plan the outward journey, visit and return as a full outing rather than a quick stop between central monuments.
Our thoughts on Cape Sounion
We enjoyed the excursion for the temple’s setting and evening light.
It complemented Athens well: after ruins woven into the city, we discovered a monument where the sea takes the leading role.
We are glad we kept this stop for our final days in Greece.
To plan other visits during your stay in the capital, see our article on Athens, from the Acropolis to Lycabettus and our Greece trip budget.
Map: mainland Greece
Find our sightseeing stops, accommodation and restaurants. Suggested places we did not visit are marked separately on the map.
Episodes from our trip to Greece
- Full itinerary — Greece in 11 days: Santorini, Meteora, Delphi and Athens
- 🇬🇷 Episode 1 — Oia and Ammoudi: our first steps in Santorini
- 🇬🇷 Episode 2 — Imerovigli and Skaros: our favourite views in Santorini
- 🇬🇷 Episode 3 — Pyrgos, Emporio and Megalochori: Santorini’s villages
- 🇬🇷 Episode 4 — Southern Santorini: Zoodochos Pigi, Perissa and Red Beach
- 🇬🇷 Episode 5 — Santorini boat trip: volcano, hot springs and Thirassia
- 🇬🇷 Episode 6 — Santorini sunsets: our viewpoints and favourite restaurants
- 🇬🇷 Episode 7 — Meteora in two days: monasteries, viewpoints and a walk
- 🇬🇷 Episode 8 — Visiting Delphi: Apollo’s sanctuary, museum and Athena Pronaia
- 🇬🇷 Episode 9 — Athens: our visits from the Acropolis to Lycabettus
- 🇬🇷 Episode 10 — Cape Sounion at sunset: the Temple of Poseidon
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