Ancient Greek myths and drama: Private day trip from Athens

Experience one of the ancient world's greatest architectural achievements, a theatre whose acoustics have defied explanation for more than two millennia.

What to see

• The theatre itself, built in the 4th century BCE and capable of seating up to 14,000 spectators, with acoustics so precise that a coin dropped on the stage floor can be heard from the highest row
• The UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, awarded in 1988 for the theatre's extraordinary representation of ancient Greek life
• The wider Asclepieion sanctuary, dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine, where musical performances were believed to have healing properties for the sick

What to do

• Test the legendary acoustics yourself, stand at the stage and listen as sounds carry effortlessly to the top tier
• Visit the site museum to explore finds from the sanctuary and learn about the ancient healing rituals performed here
• In summer, check whether the annual Epidaurus Festival is hosting classical performances during your visit

Take note

• Opening time are seasonal, please check here before the visit: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=14301

Explore the ancient sanctuary where myth, athletics, and history converge on one of the Peloponnese's most important archaeological sites.

What to see

• The Temple of Zeus, built to honour the god in whose name the Nemean Games were held (a precurser to the Olympic Games)
• The ancient stadium, where athletes competed in events that drew participants from across the Greek world, entered through a tunnel whose stone walls still bear ancient graffiti
• The Archaeological Museum of Nemea, housing finds from the site including coins, ceramics, and sculptures

What to do

• Walk the tunnel through which ancient athletes entered the stadium, treading the same stone path used more than 2,000 years ago
• Follow the myth of Heracles and the Nemean Lion, the hero who slew the fearsome beast that had terrorised these very valleys, an act celebrated ever after at these games

Take note

• Opening time are seasonal, please check here before the visit: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/eh155.jsp?obj_id=3399

Taste some of the Peloponnese's finest wines at a family-run estate rooted in the organic cultivation of Nemea's celebrated Agiorgitiko grape.

What to see

• Guided cellar tour explaining the full winemaking journey, from vineyard to oak barrel ageing and the estate's remarkable amphora-aged wines
• Tasting session in the dedicated tasting room, where you'll sample award-winning Monolithos PDO Nemea wines alongside local cheeses, olives, and Greek delicacies
• Vineyard views across the Nemean plain, where the unique microclimate and clay soils have been producing exceptional wine since antiquity

What to do

• Sample the estate's signature wines, including vintages aged in clay amphorae for 20 or more years
• Purchase bottles to take home, including labels unavailable outside the region

Take note

• Reserve in advance, especially during peak season: bairaktariswines.gr