Sunset guided visit of the Agrigento Valley of the Temples

Agrigento is located in the south of Sicily, approximately 130 km from Palermo, 170 km from Catania, and 270 km from Messina. From Palermo, the most direct route by car follows the SS189 towards Agrigento, a journey of approximately 2 hours. Direct buses operated by Cuffaro and other companies connect Palermo and Agrigento in around 2 hours. There is also a direct train line from Palermo Centrale to Agrigento Centrale, though services are infrequent and the journey takes approximately 2 hours. From Catania, the fastest road route follows the SS640 via Caltanissetta, taking approximately 2.5 hours by car; bus services are available but may involve a change. From Messina, the drive follows the A18 and A19 motorways before joining the SS189, taking approximately 3–3.5 hours. The Valley of the Temples lies approximately 3 km from Agrigento city centre. Our sunset tour departs from Agrigento with an authorised guide and all entrance tickets included.

This guided sunset tour covers five of the main monuments of the Valley of the Temples: the Temple of Juno (Hera Lacinia), positioned on the eastern ridge with sweeping views; the Temple of Heracles (Hercules), the oldest in the valley, dating to the late 6th century BC; the Temple of Concordia, the best-preserved in the world after the Parthenon; the Temple of Zeus (Olympian Zeus), which would have been the largest Doric temple ever built had it been completed; and the area of the Chthonic Deities (Porta V). Our guide contextualises each site within Agrigento's history as one of the greatest Greek cities of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Yes — entrance tickets to the Valley of the Temples archaeological park are included in the price of this tour. The archaeological park covers a vast area along the ancient city walls of Akragas (modern Agrigento), and entrance fees for individual visitors can vary by season and time of day. On our guided sunset tour, all tickets are pre-arranged and included, so there is no need to queue at the ticket office or manage separate payments on the day. The tour also includes a licensed archaeological guide whose knowledge brings the ruins to life with narrative, historical context, and detail that would be difficult to access independently.

Visiting the Valley of the Temples at sunset offers a combination of practical and aesthetic advantages that midday visits cannot replicate. In practical terms, afternoon light is softer and cooler than the intense Sicilian midday sun, making the walk between temples significantly more comfortable — particularly in summer, when temperatures can exceed 35°C. Aesthetically, the warm golden and amber light of the setting sun on the honey-coloured limestone of the temples is extraordinary, producing photography and visual impressions that are simply impossible in harsh midday glare. The reduced afternoon visitor numbers also mean more space around each monument. The Temple of Concordia facing west is one of the most photographed sunset scenes in all of Sicily.

The temples of Agrigento were built by the ancient Greeks between approximately 510 BC and 430 BC, during the period when Akragas was one of the most powerful and wealthy cities in the Greek world. At its height in the 5th century BC, Akragas had a population estimated at between 200,000 and 800,000 — making it one of the largest cities in the ancient Mediterranean. The temples were built in the Doric order, using local limestone that has turned a distinctive honey-gold colour over the centuries. The city was founded by Greek colonists from Rhodes and Crete around 580 BC, and the temple-building programme reflects the extraordinary civic wealth and religious ambition of its ruling classes.

Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the tour departure. For cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time, as well as in case of no-shows, the full amount will be charged.