4.5 to 6 h. tour (Private tour)
(Transportation + optional guidance + temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion + optional dinner by the seaside or swim)
For those of you that have been to Athens city center before, or who would prefer an alternative tour away from the big crowds and with not much walking involved, this is one of your best options. It is also a tour that includes one of the most picturesque routes along the sea in Greece.
The tour with the professional English speaking driver and the private vehicle will start from the port of Piraeus. Officially Piraeus is considered to be a different city, but you can say it is one of the suburbs of Athens. Along the way you will keep seeing and hearing explanations about the different parts of Piraeus and Athens, such as the Kastela and Mikrolimano ports. Since Athens hosted the Olympic Games in 2004 and most of the Olympic settlements were located on the southern suburbs of it, you will cross an Olympic Venue and continue south towards Cape Sounion. Your English speaking driver or licensed tour guide will give you information about the districts you will be driving through and will help you narrate yourselves as you will be heading southeast.
On your way to Cape Sounion, you will pass through some of the most beautiful suburbs of Athens, on the south east coast and right next to the sea, like Faliro, Voula and Vouliagmeni which among other things, is famous for its underground lake.
Then you will enter the windy road, by the Saronic Gulf and you will enjoy one of the most beautiful coastal drives of Greece, passing several villages and areas that are mainly consisted by summer homes of the Athenians, with exceptional architecture.
Before your arrival to Cape Sounion, you will have the view of the remaining standing columns of the temple of Poseidon, from quite a distance. This was why in the past, sailors used to call the port next to it "Cavo Colones", meaning the port with the columns, which was also helping them find their way towards Attica. You can ask your driver to make a short stop for photos with the nice background of the temple of Poseidon.
As soon as you arrive in Cape Sounion, you will be given the chance to enjoy walking all the way to the top where the temple of Poseidon is and take pictures of the magnificent view all around you. When the atmosphere is very clear, you can see a lot of the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea from a distance. The temple of Poseidon was built in 444 BC to calm down Poseidon, after Athena was honored so much, by having the Parthenon built in honor of her. Since Athens was a great naval power in the ancient times, and their ships were exporting goods all over the known world, but also had many enemies, it was smart of them to use Cape Sounion as an alternative port. Moreover, very close to Cape Sounion, existed the mines of silver and lead of Lavrion. From the port of Sounion was that most of the lead was being exported. That was why Poseidon, the god of the sea and sailors, should be honored and always stand by their side on these long journeys through the sea, providing them with favorable winds and calm waters.
The cafeteria on top of the cape, is also where you will be able to enjoy the marvelous view from, along with a coffee or snack.
Many famous and non famous people have been inspired by the view, the sunset and the atmosphere of this area and on the base of the temple, remain many of their names inscriptions, such as the one of Lord Byron. Don’t try to leave your autograph there! It was before the site was guarded, that that had happened, and today such an action is against the law.
On the way back to Piraeus, if time allows it, you can extend your tour's duration and you can stop at one of the many seaside tavernas to enjoy lunch or dinner, or you can stop at one of the beaches for a swim.
