Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
They occupy the same valley, about an hour from Athens on the way into the Peloponnese.
The wine
Nemea grows Agiorgitiko, the red grape that makes most of the serious Greek reds you will meet, in a range of styles from light and fresh to dense and oaked. The altitude varies a great deal across the appellation, and so does the wine: the higher vineyards make something quite different from the valley floor.
Dozens of wineries take visitors, many of them small and family-run, and the region is set up for it in a way most Greek wine areas are not. Tasting is the normal reason people come.
Do not drive and taste. The roads are rural and the region is best done with a driver or a tour.
The sanctuary and the games
The ancient site sits in the middle of the valley:
- The Temple of Zeus, with several columns re-erected in a long restoration project that continued into this century, standing in an open field.
- The stadium, a few minutes away, with its vaulted entrance tunnel still intact and ancient graffiti scratched on the tunnel walls by athletes waiting to go out.
- A museum covering the site and the games.
The Nemean Games were revived in the modern era as an amateur event: ordinary people run barefoot in tunics in the ancient stadium every four years, which is an unusually likeable piece of archaeology.
Getting there and how long
Nemea is about an hour from Athens, just off the road into the Peloponnese past the Corinth Canal. It pairs with Nafplio or Epidaurus as a base.
A half day for the site, a full day if you are tasting.
Last checked August 2026. Winery visits usually need booking; site hours change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What wine does Nemea produce?
Red wine from the Agiorgitiko grape, in styles ranging from light and fresh to dense and oaked, across an appellation with a wide altitude range.
Can you visit wineries in Nemea?
Yes. Dozens take visitors, many small and family-run, and most prefer booking. Use a driver or a tour rather than driving between tastings.
What is the ancient site at Nemea?
The sanctuary of Zeus, with re-erected temple columns, and the stadium a short distance away, which still has its vaulted entrance tunnel and ancient athletes’ graffiti.
What are the modern Nemean Games?
A revived amateur event held every four years in the ancient stadium, where ordinary participants run barefoot in tunics.
How far is Nemea from Athens?
About an hour, just off the main road into the Peloponnese beyond the Corinth Canal.
Next
Read Nafplio, Epidaurus, or the Corinth Canal.