Mycenae & Nemea Wine Tour from Athens: Private Day Trip

Gold, Wine & Ancient Ruins: A Day Through Greece's Bronze Age Kingdom

You're picked up from your Athens hotel and driven to Mycenae, where you tour the Lion's Gate, Royal Tombs, and Treasury of Atreus with a knowledgeable driver. After the Mycenaean Museum, you head to Nemea to walk through an ancient stadium tunnel and taste wines at a local winery, then eat lunch overlooking Ancient Corinth's temple before returning to Athens. The whole day is private, includes transport and lunch, and you skip the logistics of getting there yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Corinth Canal30m
2. Mycenae1h

Mycenae, Nemea, Wine Tasting and Lunch

• Pickup from Athens accommodation
• Visit Isthmus Canal and Information Centre
• Explore Mycenaean Archaeological Museum
• Tour Mycenae archaeological site
• See the Treasury of Atreus tomb
• Visit Nemea Temple of Zeus and ancient baths
• Explore ancient stadium at Nemea
• Wine tour and tasting at Palivou winery
• Enjoy village style lunch overlooking Corinth
• Return to Athens accommodation

The experience

What draws you to stand inside a 3,300-year-old tomb? Maybe it's the weight of the stone, or the fact that King Agamemnon's burial chamber still has its original corbelled roof intact. Something that's survived longer than most empires. The Mycenae private day trip from Athens puts you there, starting with hotel pickup and a drive south through the Isthmus Canal, that 19th-century engineering marvel that splits the Peloponnese from the mainland. Your driver (someone who actually knows the history, not just the route) walks you through the Mycenaean Archaeological Museum first, where gold burial masks and bronze weapons sit behind glass, then takes you to the site itself. The Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls made of boulders so massive the ancients said only Cyclopes could move them, the Royal Tombs, and the Treasury of Atreus (Agamemnon's tomb) unfold in front of you over a couple of hours. It's not rushed.

After Mycenae, the landscape shifts. You're heading into Nemea, the wine region that locals call the Napa Valley of Greece: soft hills, endless vineyards, and a completely different kind of ancient. Here you'll walk through the Temple of Zeus, where three original columns have stood since the 4th century BC, and then down into the ancient stadium's underground tunnel, the Apodyterium, where athletes prepared for games 2,400 years ago. The tunnel is narrow, stone-walled, and the names of ancient competitors are still carved into the walls. You walk through it the same way they did. Then comes the wine tasting at one of the region's known estates (Palivou, Lafazanis, Gaia, or another depending on the day), where you taste Agiorgitiko, the local red that's been grown here for centuries. It's not a rushed tasting. You sit, you taste, you talk to people who've been making wine in this valley for generations.

Lunch happens on the way back, on a terrace overlooking the ruins of Ancient Corinth and the Temple of Apollo. It's included, village-style, and the view alone makes the meal feel like something you earned. The whole day runs long enough to feel complete (you're not checking your watch), but structured enough that you're back in Athens by evening. Hotel pickup and drop-off are part of it, so you don't navigate traffic or figure out parking. The vehicle has WiFi and water, and if you want skip-the-line tickets at Mycenae, you can request that when you book.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or apartment pickup and drop-off in Athens, private first-class vehicle transport with WiFi and bottled water, a professional driver with deep knowledge of Greek history, entry to the Mycenaean Archaeological Museum and Mycenae archaeological site, access to Nemea's Temple of Zeus, ancient stadium and underground tunnel, a wine tasting at a local Nemea winery, and an authentic village-style lunch on a terrace overlooking Ancient Corinth's archaeological site and Temple of Apollo. Skip-the-line tickets are available on request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 40

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Ancient Greece Tours & Transfers

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Mycenae's Bronze Age ruins and Nemea's wine region in one day without arranging your own transport, tickets, or navigation: the private vehicle and included lunch mean you focus on the sites instead of logistics.

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Top questions

How long is the Mycenae and Nemea wine tour from Athens?

The full day trip typically runs from morning pickup to evening return, with several hours at Mycenae, time at the Nemea archaeological sites and winery, and lunch included. Exact duration depends on your hotel location and traffic.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Yes. You eat an authentic village-style lunch on a terrace overlooking Ancient Corinth and the Temple of Apollo. It's included as part of the day.

Can I skip the wine tasting if I don't drink?

The itinerary includes a visit to a Nemea winery, but you can discuss preferences when booking. The region's wineries also offer non-alcoholic tastings and tours.

What's included in the private tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, private vehicle transport, professional driver with historical knowledge, WiFi and bottled water in the vehicle, lunch at Ancient Corinth, and access to Mycenae and Nemea sites. Skip-the-line tickets are available on request.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, with accessible vehicles and accessible areas at the main sites. Inform the operator at booking if you need specific accommodations.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available on request if you mention it when booking.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You move at your own pace through the sites, and the itinerary includes time to rest and eat.

What's the difference between Mycenae and Nemea on this tour?

Mycenae is a Bronze Age citadel (around 1250 BC) with royal tombs and massive defensive walls. Nemea is a later sanctuary (4th century BC) centered on the Temple of Zeus, with an ancient stadium and athletic facilities. Both are archaeological sites, but from different periods and with different purposes.

Can I request skip-the-line tickets?

Yes, skip-the-line ticket service is available on request. Mention it when you book so the operator can arrange it in advance.

What do I need to bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat, and water (though bottled water is provided in the vehicle). Wear layers since you'll be outdoors for several hours.