We will be in Athens next month and are considering a day trip to Sounion. Have you been there and, if so, by what means did you get there? Wondering if we should rent a car, take a bus or take a tour.
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
4081 posts
During one of our stays in Athens, we rented a car for the day because we also wanted to visit the Kaisariani Monastery, which I highly recommend, it’s 20 minutes from the city center and roughly on the way to Cape Sounion. After visiting the monastery, we drove along the coast to Cape Sounion.
A bit further, about a 15-minute drive from Cape Sounion you can visit the port of Lavrio, a good place for a drink or lunch.
We didn't stay for the sunset at the Temple of Poseidon because sunsets doesn't really wow us.
I returned the car the next morning.
Kaisariani Monastery:
https://www.hh.gr/en/destinations/kaisariani-monastery/
From the monastery, you can walk through the surrounding parks, there is a stunning view of Athens.
Lavrio:
https://theathenianriviera.com/things-to-do-and-see-in-lavrio/
There are plenty of seafood tavernas in Lavrio.
There are also organized bus tours available, as well as the public KTEL bus.
Posted by
Washington, DC
243 posts
My friend and I hired a private driver when we were in Athens in April 2026 to take us out there. He picked us up at our hotel at 2 pm. He was great - we stopped a couple of times out there for some great views and then we had plenty of time at Temple of Poseidon and were there as the sun was starting to go down. On the way back to Athens we also stopped a few times, including for a really good seafood dinner. I think he dropped us off at our hotel sometime a little after 8 pm (somethlng like that, but I can't exactly remember).
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3815 posts
From what friends report, the problem with many tours is that they're timed for passengers to see the sunset. Thus, a Ton of busses arrive at the same time and crowds of tourists swarm the ruins... rather diluting the experience (and making pix-taking harder). In September the sea is divine for swimming, and there's a beach below the Sounion point... you might consider a dip & picnic.
Posted by
DSM
35 posts
According to this website http://ktelattikis.gr/en/sounion there is now a bus from Athens to Sounion and back for the sunset, leaving at 4:30 pm from Athens and coming back at 9 pm from Sounion.
There is a nice description on what to do, and how, at https://www.athensguide.com/sounion/
I plan to do this trip in about three weeks, and I am thinking of taking the public bus.