Aegeon Beach Hotel
68th klm Athinon-Souniou, Sounion, Greece, 19500
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#14 of 25
expert-rated hotels in Athens- Recommended for:
- Couples, Families with teenagers, Families with younger children, Honeymooners, Mature travellers, Chilling out, Great views / scenery, Romance
Best for Escapists - Expert review of Aegeon Beach Hotel
Retro resort right below Sounion’s sublime Temple of Poseidon.
Like many Athenians, I make regular pilgrimages to Cape Sounion to watch the sun set into the sea behind the Temple of Poseidon. (Lord Byron naughtily carved his name in one of the marble columns of this beautifully preserved temple.) But I was only recently tipped off about this low-rise, low-key hotel right on a sandy cove below the temple. Although it’s been around since the 1960s, the Aegeon has been overshadowed by bigger, brasher resorts vying to cash in on their proximity to Sounion. But none of these newcomers enjoy such a privileged waterfront location.
Location:
More of a beach holiday than a city break. It may be 68 kilometres (and a scenic coastal drive) from the city centre, but it’s just 200 metres below the Temple of Poseidon (an exhilarating 10-minute walk). Do wake up early and visit the temple before the coach parties arrive. It’s a ten-minute drive to the excellent fish tavernas at Lavrion and about 40 minutes to the airport - handy for hassle-free stopovers in Athens.
Bedrooms:
All 45 rooms have a sea view and private balcony. Apart from a few questionable ornaments, plain bedrooms let the seaside setting do the talking. The décor may be a bit dated, but tiled floors, squishy sofas, and simple wooden beds with floral bedspreads are just right for padding about barefoot. The only downside is the small marble-clad bathrooms, which are awkwardly laid out. Family suites with interconnected rooms have bigger, better bathrooms. Three standard rooms also have partial temple views – worth asking about when booking.
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Public areas:
Like the reddish brown exterior designed to blend in with the landscape, public spaces are understated. The atmosphere is laidback and unstuffy. There’s free wi-fi everywhere.
Eating and drinking:
The food is unexceptional, but the Veranda restaurant is delicious at dusk. It’s one of those hushed settings where the food is secondary: I could sit here night after night and watch the sunset, with the temple silhouetted against the pinkish mauve sky. There’s a reasonably priced beach bar for all-day refreshments.
Leisure facilities:
The best thing about the hotel is the sandy beach with clear, shallow water. You’ll have the beach to yourself midweek, but it’s a scrum at weekends when Athenians descend en masse; annoyingly, hotel guests don’t have priority seating. There’s a decent gym– though a run uphill to the temple followed by a cooling dip in the sea is much more memorable. There are lots of family-oriented facilities, from a cute playroom to ping pong and pool tables.
Service:
Eager to please and always ready to go the extra mile. There’s a 24-hour concierge service.
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Who stays there:
Couples with young children, Athenian weekenders, history buffs, and beach bunnies.
Price advice:
Aegeon is much cheaper than the flashier resorts nearby, which don’t have the advantage of being right on the beach. A taxi to the airport is 70 euros and about 75 euros to central Athens, so if you plan to go anywhere it’s cheaper to hire a car.
Pros:
Dazzling sunsets
Steps from the sandy beach
Cons:
Popular for weddings - beware of late-night parties
Underwhelming food
The beach is overrun with locals at weekends
More information on Aegeon Beach Hotel:
- Type:
- Bed & Breakfast
- Address:
- 68th klm Athinon-Souniou, Sounion, Greece, 19500
- Free tags / Keywords:
- beachfront, Great views, Family friendly
- Amenities:
- Business Centre, Fitness Centre, High-Speed Internet, Parking, Restaurant, Room Service
- Neighbourhood:
- Sounion
