questions on wineries to visit in Nemea and best time to visit Mycenae

The Mycenae deserves much more time than Ancient Nemea so figure that into your plans. We spent a whole day there and also make sure you visit Epidavros, also place it ahead of Nemea. With four nifhts in Napflio you have time to visit all three. We went to Mycenae in the morning, a pretty drive through olive groves, in late September and it wasn’t too crowded.

I, of course, realize that Mycenae is more significant historically than Nemea but I have sons who ran varsity track and cross country in high school so I thought they would be interested in it. We can, as you note, see Mycenae a different day if it is too much to do.

I was surprised though that you spent the whole day at Mycenae. I was thinking more like a couple hours. Rick Steves talks about combining it with Epidavros in one day so I didn't think it had that much there.

Beth

Beth when you hesitate because Nemea may close at 3, we don't get it, unless you tell us when you will be starting from ?? ATH airport??? Delphi? 10 AM? 2pm? when u want helpful advice, please give us the prelim data. We're experienced but we don't claim to be mind-readers, LOL. If u leave Athens area by 2, plenty of time for Ancient Nemea Stadium. As for vineyards, I'll leave the research to you: http://www.ecotourism-greece.com/tourism/activity/wine_tours_greece/korinthia-peloponnese and http://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/europe/peloponnese-travel-guide-17683/2/

As for Mycenae, better in late afternoon than mid-day, tour busses will be gone. And as for time spent there.. I am a major history buff, shelves of books, several grad courses in Bronze era ... but I can do Mycenae in 90 minutes. Do some homework, have a good map along & flashlights to go down the cistern steps u will be fine.

If u decide to make a day-long "ruin-a-thon" from Nafplio, my record is this: 8 AM off for MYCENAE (do museum first, beat the crowds, then the ruins, then the "treasury" tomb), then back on road toward Nafplio ... optional 20 minute stop at TIRYNS, right by the road -- good place to eat a picnic. By 11-12 am, head EAST across the "thumb" to Ancient Epidaurus... halfway there, on Left side of road, great photo op is ARKADIKO, The Oldest known Bridge in the WORLD still in use, from BRonze Age -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkadiko_Bridge. At EPIDAURUS, give ruins a quickie look (not very well signaged), skip the museum (most of best stuff is in Athens museum), spend your time at the AWESOME Theatre. Read up, beforehand. Late in Afternoon, enroute back to Nafplio, use map & keep eyes on Road for ASINE ... another ruin, but the point here is beach(es). Behind ruin, an unknown sandy beach (no facilities), in front of ruin, darling pebbly beach (bring water shoes), ONE cute taverna w. sunchairs, NO crowd. Swim, sunbathe, and have dinner ... end to perfect day! I"ve done this twice. Optional ending, skip ASINE and either go up back road to PALAMIDI (closes at 7), then and/or go to ARVINITIA (Nafplio's Town beach) for a dip before dinner.

Janet,
We are coming from Athens airport after flying from Naxos. Our flight gets in at 12:30 pm and then we are renting a car. But my brother in law, who is joining us (myself, husband, and four young adult children) in Naxos and continuing with us to Nafplio has a favorite restaurant near the airport he thinks we would all enjoy (He has been to Athens many times but not to Naxos or Nafplio which is how we convinced him to join us.) So we plan on going there for lunch. We also wanted to stop at the Cornith canal which I know won't take long. My brother in law also recommended climbing Acrocornith for the views. I saw some pictures of the site and the views and was very impressed.

So you can see getting to Nemea before 3 on our way to Napflio does not seem too promising.

We are hardly students of ancient Greece, although I have tried to read up in advance of our trip. Your suggested times are much closer to what I had thought.

Thank you for the bridge link and the suggestion for beach and dinner. My group likes out of the way places without crowds so I am sure that is a good possibility.

I have looked at the links on wineries already. I was hoping someone would have already visited and could give inside scoop. But we may just have to wing it and then share with others what we learned.

Beth

Thanks beth for the fill-in ... if you'd said upfront when you'd be leaving Athens of course we'd not try to shoe-horn Nemea into Day One. However, DO find out on arrival in Greece what the Nemea hours are ... if they're on Summer hours (til 5 or 6) it can be done. And if you have these 4 "young adults" -- judging from my experience they WILL be late sleepers unless you are a real whip-cracker -- so for a "ruins day" you might consider 2 cars with Car One taking in a site early, then meeting up with Sleepyhead Car Two. Not possible in the past, but cell phones are SO helpful!!

Janet,

Yes, it will be interesting to see how quickly everyone gets moving. I frankly am not counting on 8 am arrival times for anything. I have found accommodations in center of town so I can get up and walk if no one else wants to move. That way I will be happy!

I did find a winery that looks promising for visiting from your second link--Palivou Estates. I had looked for it previously as the name had come up in my searches but had only found what must have been an old web site that wasn't very informative. Anyway, it is close to Ancient Nemea and offers both tours and wine tasting. I have emailed them for more information.

Beth

I usually visit Mycenae one day and return to Nafplio to relax. When I leave Nafplio I visit Epidaurus on my back to Athens. Nafplio is a great place to relax, eat, shop, swim and relax at the beach.