The Temple of Poseidon in Sounion is Where You Should Spend Your Sunset Viewing Outside Athens

The Temple of Poseidon in Sounion is where you should spend your sunset viewing outside Athens. It takes an hour to get there by bus from the Greek capital, but it’s all worth the hassle.

Homer, the well-known Greek writer, was the first one to record Sounion in “The Odyssey” as the “sacred cape of the Athenians.”

Herodotus, Aristophanes, Sophocles, and Thucydides all mentioned the Temple of Poseidon in their stories and poetries.

Nowadays, what remains of the once-revered temple are Doric columns that weathered time, wars, and natural disasters.

On the lower part of the hill, visitors can also find a temple dedicated to Athena.

But due to time constraints and distance, I wasn’t able to visit it.

The temple’s location on the edge of the Sounion peninsula is one perfect place to worship the god of the Sea.

With its breathtaking views of the coast of Attica, spending an afternoon here to watch the sunset is truly magical.

Tour buses and solo travelers mostly go here for the golden hour.

Visiting a historical place and watching a breathtaking sunset – what could be better than these?

How to get to the Temple of Poseidon by bus from Athens

Whether you’re taking a bus or a private car on tour, the Greek coastline gives you the urge to dip into its azure waters. But, of course, you can only do this if you are driving or on a private tour. Taking public transport, however, limits your experience by not being able to stop wherever you want. On the other hand, I can assure you that taking the bus from Athens to Cape Sounion can still be a rewarding experience. Just choose to take the window seat, on the right side. 😉

Related Post: See Ancient Athens from Philopappou Hill

From Athens, get off at Omonia metro station. From there, you can walk to the bus station (Mavromateon), passing through the National Archaeological Museum. Right after that, you’ll find the bus station. If you are unsure where the bus stops, find the ticket booth and ask where the waiting area/shed is. Look for small signage for “Sounion.” The return trip costs around 12.50 euros and you can pay when getting on the bus. Get off at the last stop. Make sure to ask the driver or the conductor what time is the last bus going back to Athens.

Hostel / Hotel in Athens

If you want to stay in the heart of ancient Athens with a fantastic view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon from your room window, then, A for Athens Hotel in Monastiraki is your best bet. You can book it via Booking.com, Expedia, and Booking.com. The hotel also has a rooftop bar and restaurant with a breathtaking view of the ancient sites nearby. Remember that Monastiraki area is where you can walk to all the ancient sights you want to see in Athens. 

If you’re a budget traveler, there are a couple of hostels in this area, too. Try City Circus Athens Hostel and Bedbox – both are nice hostels to stay in. You can book either of them via HostelWorld and Booking.com.