Sun, Sea, and Myth: Visiting Poseidon’s Temple in Sounion
- carryonsandcouture
- 3 minutes ago
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Sounion is a cape town all the way at the bottom tip of mainland Greece, a little bit over an hour drive from Athens. Not only does it have beautiful views and beaches, but it is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Poseidon's Temple.
The temple is a beautiful place to visit for fans of Greek mythology, archaeology nerds, or those seeking a beautiful mixture of sea and history. You can book day trips online if you do not have access to a car, but for this visit, my friends and I drove.
How to Get From Athens to Cape Sounion: Your Guide to Visiting the Temple of Poseidon
Getting to Sounion is something I definitely reccomend mapping out prior to the day of your journey. The way we went was by car, as our friends' family lives in Greece and they already had a vehicle. It was about a 60-minute drive for us, as there was little traffic and we didn't make any stops along the way.
The drive was beautiful, with many gorgeous spots to stop along the way from seaside towns to small villages. Having the car gives you a chance to not only enjoy the destination, but also the journey itself.
If you don't have a vehicle, or don't plan to rent one there are also many day trips you can book to the temple. Several travel sites have these available with a quick search. These bookings offer round-trip transportation to Poseidon's Temple and free time to roam the area. Some tours also include stops along the journey to grab a tasty bite, or explore somewhere you may not have found on your own way from the city of Athens.
Many would consider sunset to be the best time to visit Cape Sounion, as it offers astonishing views of the Temple of Poseidon glowing over the Aegean Sea. We went first thing in the morning, which offered daylight, lighter crowds, and the potential for time at the beach in the afternoon. No matter what you pick, the sights will truly blow you away.
Poseidon’s Temple in Sounion: A Must-See Greek Mythology Site
Upon arrival, there was some parking, but it wasn’t the easiest to pull in and out of, as the temple is at the top of a steep hill. Once parked, there is a gift shop and a lovely café overlooking the coast. Before our short but steep walk(?) to the temple, we stopped at the café and ordered fredo cappuccinos and a baklava to share. If this is your first time hearing of a fredo cappuccino, I urge you to try one when you visit Greece. It is a perfectly light and delightful iced coffee with the milk as foam on top of an espresso base. You can also customize the amount of sugar added to each order. While most tourist site cafés are overpriced and often lack quality, the food and drinks here were quite nice to enjoy while sitting back and relaxing before going up to the sunny ruins.
Once finished with our sweet treats, we made our way to the entrance gate, where we were charged 10 euros each for an adult-priced ticket to enter the site. It was a slightly steep walk up, but it didn’t take long to get to the base of the temple. Although it was quite sandy, in my opinion, it was also one of the most beautiful historical sites I have had the privilege to see in my lifetime. Perhaps this is because I found myself biased as a lover of Poseidon growing up, but the views of the old temple and the vast ocean were really ethereal.
The archaeological site comprises the main temple and some other remnants of the surrounding area, but most of the history is no longer there. There are many plaques in several languages that very clearly explain the history of where you are standing, making you truly appreciative of all that there is to take in around you. On the opposite side of the temple’s entrance is a steep trail down to even more beautiful views of the coastline and ocean. We visited in late spring, but if you come in the summer, I do recommend visiting closer to dawn or dusk to avoid the strong heat, otherwise the lack of shade might make for a less pleasant visit. There was also little seating, so if you or your party struggle with accessibility, it is something to keep in mind.
Day Trips from Athens: Sun, Sea, and Sounion Beaches
Because we went earlier in the day, the crowds were minimal, which allowed the peacefulness and stillness of the previously worshipped land to have quite an impact on me. I found myself in a near meditative state just staring at the temple, getting lost in it as I took in the grandness of its rich history.
Poseidon’s Temple is one of the smaller ancient ruins we visited, so it didn’t take all day to explore. If you have a car, consider driving through Sounion as the roads to and from it are beautiful. If you’re lucky enough to have nice weather on your visit, there is so much to do after you walk through the past: There are some gorgeous taverns by the sea offering vast menus of fresh seafood and other traditional bites. There are also many beach bars offering food, drinks, sunbeds, umbrellas, and entrance to beautiful beaches where you can spend the rest of your day relaxing.
No matter your interests, a day trip to Sounion will have something on offer for you. From the beauty of the area, to its rich history, and vast array of things to do along the sea, no one will regret their trip to the coast.
What to Wear for a Day Trip to Sounion and Poseidon’s Temple
For our trip to Sounion, I wore Teva sandals, knowing I would be doing a lot of walking. I wanted to feel secure in my footwear, but also wanted to be mindful of the dusty and sandy conditions so that I didn’t ruin any shoes I might have considered for comfort alone. Because it was warm, I wore oversized denim shorts and a large, tied-up white button-up over a one-piece I wore for the beach bars afterwards. I brought a Lululemon crossbody bag for my time at Poseidon’s Temple to keep all my important items together and easily accessible, as well as a tote bag I left in the car with my towel and sunscreen so I can enjoy the beach later on.
Shop the Perfect Look for Sounion From Athens:
Elevate these basics with a Lululemon Belt Bag or Align Tank Top, and share the spotlight on the beach with a Chloè large woody tote bag!
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