Athens and Cape Sounion Full Day Tour by Mini-Van

Athens and Cape Sounion Full Day Tour by Mini-Van

Two half-day tours in one, which visitors can visit the most important sites of central Athens & enjoy a scenic, resting seaside drive along the Athenian Riviera to explore the Temple of Poseidon.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Acropolis, via Dionysiou Areopagitou str., Athens 105 58 Greece

Acropolis. The natural and most important plateau of the 5th Century B.C. with a height of 150m over the sea level surrounded by an impenetrable wall that offered the best protection against any invader. The visit to the Acropolis is 60-90 minutes and it's the first big stop of this tour. During this visit you'll see the the main entrance of Acropolis, Propylea with the Temple of Wingless Nike standing in pride next of it. On the top of the Acropolis you'll see the Temple of Erechtheion with a porch that is supported by Statues of Maiden Women Karyatids and the Pentelic marble Temple of Athena Parthenos, Parthenon. On your way down to your meeting location and by the slope of Acropolis you'll explore the ruined Amphitheater of Dionysos, god of entertainment and wine and the almost intact Herodion, the music school that was found by the 2nd century popular Sophist Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife Regilla which is being used for musical or theatrical performances by the most popular artists.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Temple of Olympian Zeus, Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas Leoforos Amalias, Athens 105 57 Greece

Temple of Olympian Zeus. The biggest Temple of mainland Europe and the oldest offering to the dedication of the king of the Pagan Gods. The Arch of Hadrian is located in front of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, dividing the city into two parts.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Panathenaic Stadium, Vassileos Konstantinou Avenue Vassileos Konstantinou Avenue, 999-20, Athens 999-20 Greece

Panathenaic Stadium or Kalimarmaro which granted the second title by its construction material. This is a reconstruction of the old 2nd century A.D. Stadium of Herodes Atticus. This marvellous stadium can fit 60.000 spectators and was used for the first Marathon Race and Modern Olympics in 1896.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Hellenic Parliament, Parliament Mansion, Athens GR-10021 Greece

Parliament of Greece to watch the change of the National Guard, learn about the Greek Revolution of 1821, the guards' uniforms and see the Tomb and Statue of the Unknown Soldier. The duration of the change of the National Guard is 10 minutes every other day except every Sunday that the Guards perform a parade at 10:20 for 40 minutes.

Departing from the Parliament the tour drives you in front of the Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul, the National Bank of Greece, Old Parliament of Athens (national museum of Athens) and in front of the Trilogy of Athens. The Trilogy of Athens consists of the Academy of Science, University of Athens (Kapodistriako) and National Library.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounio, Sounio 195 00 Greece

The Half Day Tour of Cape Sounion begins with a beautiful seaside drive along the Coast of Poseidon on the Aegean Sea which surrounds Attica Region from South-West to South-East. On this side you see Island Salamis where the Naval Battle of Salamis between the Greeks and the Persians took place that brought the Golden Age of Athens to the victorious Athenians. The seaside drive continues to Marina of Zea which was on the main grain supply of Athens in Antiquity (Zea bread) and one the most expensive yacht marina nowadays. The first stop is short over the upper class residential area of Piraeus, Kastela with its castle looking apartments to enjoy the coastal view of Athens and the beautiful leisure port of Microlimano (small port) located underneath. A great spot for pictures.

The drive continues along the coast line and past main venues of Olympic venues of 2004 Olympics. The beach volley ball stadium and the Tae Kwon Do stadiums hide an old marina with decommissioned ships from 1956 and the fastest ancient warship of the Mediterranean with 3 rows of oars, Trieres.

Driving past the old airport and several marinas we reach the most expensive and luxurious area of the coast knows as Vouliagmeni or (the sunken). An area popular for its healing waters of Lake Vouliagmeni, several beaches and and resorts around its Peninsula. This is the finish line of the coast of Poseidon.

Going past the main heavily occupied area of Athens and entering the coast of Apolo it seems that the sea water becomes vividly blue. On this side people relax and enjoy the scenery while driving past several small but still graphically beautiful areas where a great number of the city’s population enjoys somehow countryside vacations even though this place is still located in the capital city.

After reaching the first high stop in Cape Sounion visitors have about 45’ to 60’ to explore the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon. This archaeological site consists of the ruined walls surrounding the landscape, the Propylaea or main entrance, the foundations of the old town that was located inside the walls and the two loading bays that operated as a shipyard.

The tour ends with a beautiful seaside drive back to your hotel or cruise ship terminal from the same route, which is still magnificent during the day or the night. At this point, you have the option for lunch stop or dinner stop in a nice seaside local restaurant.

Duration: 1 hour