Established: 1974
Size: 3,5 km²
Location: Attica, Sounio
Tel: +30 22920 23100, +30 22920 24444
Located about 50 km south-east of Athens, Cape Sounion also famous for its ancient temple of Poseidon overlooking the sea, is one of the most spectacularly beautiful parts of Greece and definitely you will fall in love with it. Here there are the most beautiful sunsets over the Saronic Gulf, as seen from the cape Sounion.
It is the smallest of the country’s ten national parks. Its core area is only half that required for a national park but an exception was made because it’s coastal, extraordinarily scenic, archaeologically unique of the fifth-century BC temple of Poseidon (built with local marble) and the neighbouring temple of Athena. Archaeologically it’s one of the most interesting and diverse parts of Greece. That part of Attica has been inhabited since palaeolithic times and holds an impressive record of successive cultures based on agriculture and mining.
In the Park there are relics of ancient silver mining, lead, zinc, iron, etc. In the cave “Kitsos” Park botanical species found fossils that no longer exist in the region or in the entire Greece. Additionally chicken bones found, confirming the existence of this species from ancient times.
In the Park there is rich vegetation covered by the Aleppo pine (pinus halepensis) forest and has proved that there are more than 100 kinds of minerals. The flora is generally common and there are some animals such as foxes and jackals. Its fossil record is actually more exciting than what currently lives there.
Getting there: Public transport from Athens city is available hourly between 06:00 and 18:00 (“KTEL” orange buses) and also private tour buses. A trip to the Mineralogical Museum in Lavrio to the north, is an additional option if you’re travelling by car.
Archaeological Area
Opening Hours
Everyday 9.30 until the sunset, Free entrance for University students from Greece and the E.U., 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri), 5 June (International Environment Day), 18 April (International Monuments Day), 18 May (International Museums Day), the last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days), Sundays in the period between 1 November and 31 March, National Holidays, The first Sunday of every month, except for July, August and September (when the first Sunday is holiday, then the second is the free admission day), 27 September, International Tourism Day.
Tel.: +30 229 2039363
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