Best Day Trips from Athens: Cape Sounion, Delphi and Hydra

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After Sofia, I’m in Athens for a few days this month. It isn’t long, but I’d like at least one day out of the city. These are the three I keep coming back to in my research: Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, Delphi in the mountains, and the island of Hydra. I haven’t done any of them yet, so this is a pre-trip guide: how to do each one yourself, when a tour makes more sense, and the official hours and ticket prices.

For the basics, such as airport transport, the Acropolis and where I’m staying, see my Athens on a Budget pre-trip guide.

1. Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon

Sounion is the closest of the three: a temple on a cliff at the tip of Attica, looking out over the sea.

The bus: suspended for now

This is the important bit. KTEL Attikis’s coastal bus to Sounion, which normally leaves from Aigyptou Square at Pedion tou Areos, has been suspended since 4 October 2026 “until further notice”. When I last checked, on 1 November 2026, it still hadn’t restarted and no return date had been given. So for now, I wouldn’t plan a Sounion trip around the bus. Things can change, so check KTEL Attikis’s Greek-language page, which carries the notice, or phone them before you go.

The site

• Tickets: €20 full price.
• Winter hours: 09:30 until sunset, with last entry 20 minutes before sunset.
• Free entry: on the first and third Sundays of each month from 1 November to 31 March.

All of this comes from the Ministry of Culture’s site.

Or take a tour

With the bus off, a tour is the realistic option without a car, and many are timed for sunset. You can compare Cape Sounion tours.

2. Delphi

Delphi is the big day out: the ancient sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. It’s a long day, but it’s doable by bus.

By bus

KTEL Fokidas runs buses from Athens to Delphi. They leave from the Liosion bus station (Terminal B) at Liosion 260, not the main Kifissos terminal, so make sure you go to the right one. The official KTEL Fokidas timetable lists departures from Athens at 08:30, 10:30, 15:00 (not Saturdays) and 18:00. Return buses run from Delphi in the afternoon; check the return times on the same timetable before you go.

Journey time is roughly two and a half hours each way. KTEL buses run from the Liosion terminal, so check the current fare and times with KTEL Fokidas before you travel, and buy your return as soon as you arrive if you can. For a day trip, aim for the 08:30 bus.

The site

• Tickets: €20 full price.
• Winter hours (1 November to 31 March): 08:30 to 15:30, with last admission at 15:10. That’s short, so get the early bus.
• Free entry: on the first and third Sundays from November to March.
• Partial closures: the Ministry of Culture notes that some areas are currently closed, including the Kastalia spring, the Stadium and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, for rockfall prevention work.

Or take a tour

With winter hours that short, a tour that handles the transport takes the stress out of the day. You can compare Delphi day trips from Athens.

3. Hydra

Hydra is the one I’m most curious about: an island with no cars, about two hours by fast boat from Piraeus.

By ferry

Fast boats to Hydra leave from Piraeus. Hellenic Seaways runs them, and Magic Sea Ferries and Alpha Lines are also listed on the route. On one Hellenic Seaways route in the 2026 timetable on Ferries.gr, the 10:00 from Piraeus reaches Hydra at 12:00 via Poros. A return leaves Hydra at 15:15 and gets back to Piraeus at 17:15. That gives you about three hours on the island.

The same listing shows an adult fare to Hydra of €28.50 one way. Hellenic Seaways also advertises a 20% return discount on the route. Those times are from the current timetable. Winter sailings are fewer, and fast boats can be cancelled in bad weather, so check https://www.ferries.gr for your date before you go. If you’re making a day of it, look at the return sailings first and work backwards, because the last boat back sets how long you get on the island.

Or take a tour

Organised island trips from Athens often combine Hydra with other Saronic islands. You can compare Hydra trips, but doing it yourself by ferry is straightforward.

Independent or tour: a quick comparison

Trip	On your own	Journey time	Tour worth it?
Cape Sounion	KTEL coastal bus suspended since 4 Oct 2026	About 2h each way when running	Yes, while the bus is off
Delphi	KTEL Fokidas bus from Liosion; check fares with KTEL	About 2h30 each way	Helpful, given the short winter hours
Hydra	Fast boat from Piraeus, from €28.50 adult one way	About 2h via Poros	Optional; easy to do yourself

Planning tips for a winter day trip

• Check the free Sundays. Both Sounion and Delphi are free on the first and third Sundays from November to March. If one falls in your trip, that saves €20 a site. Expect bigger crowds, though.
• Mind the daylight. Delphi’s site shuts at 15:30 in winter, with last admission at 15:10. Take the 08:30 bus and go straight to the site before the museum or lunch.
• Know your terminal. Delphi buses use Liosion (Terminal B), not Kifissos. Hydra boats go from Piraeus, which is a big port, so allow time to find the right gate.
• Have a backup for the boat. If high winds cancel the fast boats, Sounion by tour or a museum day in Athens makes a good plan B.
• Free cancellation. I like flexible bookings, which I explain in my where I stay post. The same thinking applies to tours, so check the cancellation terms before you book.

Which one would I pick?

• Sounion: the shortest trip, but with the bus suspended, it’s tour or nothing unless you have a car.
• Delphi: the most impressive on paper, and doable by bus, but winter hours are short.
• Hydra: the easiest to do independently, and a complete change of pace from the city.

I’m undecided, and Sounion is only an option, not something I’ve confirmed. Whatever I do, I’ll update this post afterwards with what it cost and how it went.

Before you go

• Data: an eSIM makes ferry and bus apps much easier. Airalo has Greece and Europe-wide plans.
• Travel light. On a day trip you’ll carry everything all day. See Carry-On Only.
• Other tours: if none of these three suit you, you can browse more day trips from Athens.
• Getting around Athens: to reach Liosion or Piraeus, see my getting-around guide.

Prices and times were correct at the time of writing (November 2026) and can change.