Athens, tour to Cape Sounion worth it?

[Napi's Mom]

Was advised on another chatroom that the tour to Cape Sounion from Athens was very long with little at the end of it but the Temple. Several Members of our group have already stated a preferance for the full day in Athens instead, to see museums etc. We'd like your input as to the Pros & Cons of each, from folks who have been there. (Most of our group haven't!) "To Cape or Not to Cape???"Ah yes that's the question! :D

[Ed and Jim]

We enjoyed both the drive (not that long) and the temple.

[Guest]

Although alot has changed since we lived outside of athens for 3 years 20 years ago, I don't know if I'd spend the one day I has there driving all the way out to Sounion. there is so much to see inside Athens that you'd be missing alot of stuff just to see one thing.

We think of a cruise as a short nap of the area we're at. If you want to really sleep in go back on your own without a cruise and enjoy the whole country. After the three years, there's still more we want to see and do there.

Most of our days going to sounion included stops at the wonderful beaches inbetween and having lunch at wonderful tavernas. It took the whole day doing that and the secret is we never rushed to get from one place to the other and that's what you would be doing if you tried to do both with a taxi or excursion.

[NAS-KARR]

It isn't any better or any worse than hanging out in the city all day. It's between 30 and 40 mimles out of Athens with a very nice drive along the coast. The temple sits high atop a cape so to speak with a beautiful veiw and a open air restaurant right there on the grounds.

 

We did all the highlights of Athens:(Plaka,Acropolis,changing of the guard,outdoor lunch,Olympic Stadium & a visit to a Greek bakery & for goodies)& Sounion & NEVER rushed one site &still were back on board in plenty of time to have a few before dinner.

 

This is the prime reason DW and I prefer to sight-see ALONE and not be governed by what others want to see and do or how long or short they want to stay somewhere.

 

To each his own.....it's your call

 

Have a super cruise e CIAO,

[LynneM44]

in advance, we had hired a driver for the day from SPIROTOURS.com...they have a wonderful day tour of Athens, a few sites along the way to Sounion, lunch along the way and finally Sounion. We enjoyed seeing the perspective of busy, populated Athens and then the beautiful ride to Sounion. It was lovely seeing the Aegean sea there. Check out Spirotours website and see what else they offer along the way. Their fee for the day was extremely reasonable - we had 2 couples so the 230 eu fee was halved. We loved the place our driver (Tzagos - he is fabulous) took us to for lunch. Our driver was so delightful - we didn't want to end the day. We even hired him to take us to the airport the next day.

[NAS-KARR]

CORRECTION.....STRIKE THE UNHAPPY FACE FROM MY TEXT PLEASE !

[jfb128]

We just returned from the Istanbul to Venice cruise and did the Cape Sounion tour because we had been to Athens three times previously and had seen many of the sights. If this is your first trip to Athens I would postpone doing the Cape Sounion tour and see the sights in Athens first. The trip out to the Cape took almost 95 minutes due to a bus-car crash along the way. The Temple of Poseidon is great and the scenery along the way is also interesting but with so much to see in Athens this is a place for a later tour and not for your first experience in Athens.

[brian_uk]

We took a taxi to Cape Sounion and left at 10.00 and took the Coast Road, spent 30 minutes at The Temple and were back by 2 pm. Definitely only a half day tour at most. We even stopped for coffee en route for 45 minutes.

 

Do not cut it too fine on the way back as the traffic around the Port is horrendous.

 

Brian

[parasailss]

Went to Cape Sounion last October on Brilliance of the Seas. Should have taken another tour. Too much travel and time spent at this site. Could have easily been eliminated.

[drwong]

We've done both - if this is your first visit to Athens, you should do the city tour. But if you've already seen the birthplace of democracy, or if you want a nice and relaxing drive (instead of jumping on and off a bus for a photo stop every 15 minutes) head on down to the Cape. The scenery is breathtaking, especially at sundown as the sun descends as a flaming red orb into the cooling waters of the Mediterranean. Also, at dusk, the Temple lights up and there's a nice view of the temple from the patio of the adjacent cafe where you can catch a cup of hot cocoa. Of course, this means you might not make it back on board in time for a 7 pm sailing, but hey, what's life without a little excitement! :)

[glenneagle]

We loved the cape drive the most. We went straight from the ship along the coast with Paul Greektaxi to the cape, Then went to Athens. Its a busy city and we were frankly dissapointed. there is time to do both, Enjoy.

[JonconOH]

We just returned from the Athens cruise, and enjoyed the trip to Cape Sounion, even if it was of one temple. We had 3 days in Athens and used Athens Taxi Service. Our driver Frank showed us a lot of Athens, the next day Delphi and then a half day to Cape Souion prior to our sailing. The 'cape' was less crowded. We knew that we would be exhausted after 2 full days of sightseeing, and enjoyed a relaxing drive to Sounion before boarding the Regatta.