Photo by Jill Stowe

If there is one ancient site outside Athens you absolutely should not miss during your Athens sojourn, it’s the Temple of Poseidon (admission: €4; +30-22920-39363) at Cape Sounion.

You could make the approximately 90-minute drive on a bus as part of a €34 tour, but we recommend the less expensive and just as efficient public bus (+30-210-821-3203). If you travel by public bus, you won’t be restricted by a tour schedule. As an added benefit, you’ll have the option of stopping off in Vougliamenis, Voula, or Varkiza for a swim or drink by the beach. Alternatively, you can opt to climb down the hill in Cape Sounion and swim there, hiking back up to the café by the Temple of Poseidon to drink a coffee or fruit juice afterwards.

The bus to Cape Sounion departs from Mavromateon and Ioulianou Streets—you can also catch it at Klafthmonos Square or on Filellinon Street—in Athens every 60 minutes every day of the week, from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Buses return to Athens every 30 minutes, starting at 5:40 a.m. weekdays and 7:30 a.m. on Sundays and holidays, the last bus leaving Cape Sounion at 6 p.m. The fare is €4.90 each way.

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