# Day Trip to Sounion from Athens: the Coast, Lake Vouliagmeni and the Temple of Poseidon

A half-day from Athens along the coast road: a swim in Lake Vouliagmeni, a beach at the foot of the cape, the Temple of Poseidon at sunset and dinner in the bay.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/cape-sounion/itineraries/vouliagmeni-coast-and-temple-of-poseidon · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 14:30 · Salida: 1 h by car (along the coast: Faliro, Glyfada and Vouliagmeni)
- 15:00 · Swimming in Lake Vouliagmeni, on the way to Sounion (A swim in water between 21 and 29 °C · book loungers the day before)
  - 45 min by car, 45 km
- 17:30 · The coast road from Athens to Sounion (Varkiza, Lagonisi and Saronida with the sea on your right)
  - 5 min by car, 3 km
- 18:30 · Sounion beach, at the foot of the temple (A swim at the foot of the cape)
  - 5 min by car, 2 km
- 19:15 · Temple of Poseidon and Sounion sanctuary (€20 · last entry 20 min before sunset)
  - Carry on on foot
- 20:00 · Sunset over the Saronic Gulf from the cape (The sun behind the Saronic islands)
  - 5 min by car, 2 km
- 20:45 · Aegeon Taverna and The Veranda (A terrace on the shore, with the temple above) · Aegeon Taverna and The Veranda, €€€
- 22:00 · Vuelta (Return via Lavrio and the Attiki Odos; in Athens around 23:00)

The classic Athens afternoon: head for the coast after lunch, swim on the way and reach Cape Sounion to watch the sun set behind the Temple of Poseidon. It is about 70 km and a little over an hour by car from the centre, along the road that hugs the Saronic Gulf.

## The afternoon, hour by hour

14:30 · Leave Athens. Towards Faliro and Poseidonos Avenue, via Glyfada and Vouliagmeni.

15:00 · Lake Vouliagmeni. A brackish lake at the foot of a rock, between 21 and 29 °C, with a platform and sun loungers. A good two hours of swimming. Loungers are booked on its website, never on the same day.

17:30 · The coast. Continue past Varkiza, Lagonisi and Saronida with the sea on your right; stop at any viewpoint.

18:30 · Sounion beach. The bay at the foot of the cape: a quick swim with the temple above.

19:15 · Temple of Poseidon. Park next to the entrance, pay the €20 and climb up. The Doric temple of the mid-fifth century BC, Byron's signature on a column and, on the hill opposite, the foundations of the Temple of Athena. Last entry is 20 minutes before sunset.

20:00 · Sunset. The sun sinks behind the islands. Stay until they invite you to leave.

20:45 · Dinner in the bay. At the Aegeon Taverna, on the shore, or on The Veranda terrace of the same hotel.

22:00 · Return. At night, go up via Lavrio and Keratea to the Attiki Odos motorway: faster than the coast.

## And in winter?

The site opens all year, but closes with the sun, which in December sets around 17:10. Leave Athens at 13:00, go straight to the cape and leave the lake for another day.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
About 65 minutes from central Athens along the coast. Parking next to the site, which fills up at sunset in summer.

### Without a car
KTEL bus from Aigyptou Square, next to the Pedion tou Areos: about two hours along the coast, with a stop in Sounion bay. It does not stop at the lake. Check the last bus back.

## Consejos

### Arrive with time to spare
Last entry is 20 minutes before sunset.

### Jacket
It is windy at the cape and cools down when the sun goes.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take to get from Athens to Sounion?
About 65 minutes by car and about two hours by KTEL bus.

### How much is admission?
€20; reduced, €10.

### Can you do it without a car?
Yes, on the KTEL bus, without the lake stop.

### What if I arrive late?
If you arrive after last entry, watch the sunset from the bay: the temple can be seen above.