On the southernmost tip of Attica and the greek mainland at around 440 B.C the greeks built this temple in the honor of the sea god Poseidon. To build the temple at this exact spot and right at the exit from Athens and Attica can be seen as a very strategic move because it was probably the last thing you saw when you went off to sea and the first thing you would lay your eyes upon when you returned and it reminded you that now you are home in the civilization’s nest again.
Sounio is just under 10 km west of Lavrio and to get here you take the same way as to Lavrio. Either the shorter and faster highway/country road which will lead you through Lavrio and then it is just 10-15 minutes more driving until you arrive at Sounio. Or you can choose the coastal road we previously recommended for Lavrio. If you take the coastal road, you will see the temple and the hill it is built on well before you arrive and it is a magnificent sight as the waves of Aegean sea embark at the foot of the hill while the sun is reflected in the white marble. Just add the blue colors of the ocean and you have a hot candidate for a watercolor painting.
To enter the temple area you have to pay a small entrance-fee. A bit below the temple is a restaurant with a large outdoor terrace and from here you get a nice view out over the sea and up towards the temple. This part is completely free to stay around on.
After you have visited the temple and if you have the time, it may be a good idea to explore the surrounding area. Go out for a hike on the rocky landscape. Nature here is very beautiful and the chance to run on a small, deserted beach is good. But be sure to have proper shoes as the rugged cliffs can feel sharp on your feet.
You might wonder how to get here if you dont have a car? Well, there are namely several guided bus tours which go to Sounio. With a simpel search on the internet, e.g.- Sounio+tours – you will surely find something. Then there is of course the possibility that the bus doesn’t stop at hot spots along the coastal way. Your camera will certainly not forgive you. But in Greece they are eager to that visitors are happy and satisfied, and if you ask the busdriver kindly he or she will surely stop at suitable locations. But we recommend you to rent a car so you can go and take stops as you want. For example, you can after visiting the temple take a trip to Lavrio to eat and stroll around. If your taste for the ancient remains, you can also go on to visit Greece’s oldest amphitheater just outside Lavrio. Learn more how to find the way to the theater under the chapter “Lavrio”.
