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Top ways to experience Durres Amphitheatre

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Durres Day Tour
2
Historical Tours
from
£85.98
per adult (price varies by group size)
Durres & Wine Tasting Tour
8
Food & Drink
from
£120.37
per adult (price varies by group size)
Durres - Day Tour by ADRIATIK TOURS LLC
4
Historical Tours
from
£55.03
per adult
Durres - Sightseeing tour
City Tours
from
£35.25
per adult
Explore the ancient city of Durres in a Day-tour from Tirana
Historical Tours
from
£66.14
per adult (price varies by group size)
10 Day Tour: The Best Of ALBANIA
1
Historical Tours
from
£1,455.06
per adult
Tirana and Durres tour from Ohrid
Historical Tours
from
£158.74
per adult (price varies by group size)
RELIGIOUS TOURS - PACKAGE TOUR (7 nights) by ADRIATIK TOURS LLC
Bus Tours
from
£1,519.65
per adult

LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Food Tour Durrës: the appetizing side of Albania!
Food & Drink
from
£44.71
per adult

The area

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Best nearby

We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.

Restaurants

234 within 3 miles

Spaghetteria Luli

162

0.2 mi£ • Italian • Mediterranean • European

Restorant Mema House

304

0.2 mi££ - £££ • Mediterranean • European • Albanian

Westwood Meathouse

605

0.3 mi££ - £££ • Italian • American • Steakhouse

Sema

220

0.1 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Mediterranean • Vegetarian Friendly

Gusto di Mare & Sushi Time

495

0.4 mi££ - £££ • Seafood • Mediterranean • Sushi

Masha Boulevard

34

0.3 mi££ - £££ • Irish • Bar • Cafe

Restorant Piazza

342

0.2 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Seafood • International

Uma Food & Drinks

161

0.4 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean

Fly Restaurant

98

0.2 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean

Pastarella

63

0.2 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Cafe • Seafood

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Attractions

27 within 6 miles

Fatih Mosque

71

473 ftReligious Sites

Town Square - Sheshi Liria - Plac

4

0.1 miParks

Xhamia E Madhe E Durrësit

1

364 ftReligious Sites

0.1 miObservation Decks & Towers

Durres Castle

90

0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Ortodox Church Of Saint Pavel And Saint Ast Durres

5

0.2 miChurches & Cathedrals

Byzantine Forum (Macellum)

94

0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Rodon-Denkmal (Rodon monument)

2

0.2 miMonuments & Statues

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See what travellers are saying

Lock_jennifer
Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom181 contributions
Quick visit
There is no car park and so parking can be a challenge (we were there in oct and managed to squeeze into a small spot). Entry is 300lek (groups of over 12 200lek each). Takes 20mins to wander around, there is one information sign as you enter. No facilities. Looked like they were trying to reconstruct part of it but is in need of maintenance.
Visited October 2023
Travelled as a couple
Written 21 October 2023
mel7155
Singapore, Singapore1,344 contributions
Another amphitheater in one of many countless cities left by the Ronan’s .
Entrance fee of €3 to see the internal basements and some old chapel was rather decent. The artefacts are intact since very little work has been done by it . You will however get bored after 15 minutes as very little inside .
Visited April 2024
Travelled solo
Written 30 April 2024
Bianca
Fakenham, United Kingdom8 contributions
Bit sad
Gorgeous monument in itself. Ugly fences partially around it. Unkept, no information for tourists. Bit of cleaning up, maintenance and some information boards along the way in the amphitheatre itself would bring it up to it's former glory.
Visited May 2024
Travelled as a couple
Written 23 May 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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3.5

728 reviews

Excellent

179

Very good

242

Average

232

Poor

61

Terrible

14

WITY TRAVELS

166 contributions

Roman Amphitheater

Feb 2021

The Amphitheater is of Roman origin and was constructed under the reign of Emperor Trajan. He launched many building programs besides this amphitheater, such as the Baths of Trajan, Trajan's Forum and Trajan's Bridge.

This is the largest amphitheater ever built in the Balkans and once held over 15,000 people. 1/3 of this site was excavated in the 1960s and the rest in the 1980s. It was destroyed twice by earthquakes.

You would think there would be room around this amphitheater to keep it safe and protected but that is not the case. There are many houses around it at not too far a distance. It is said that these building efforts have really hurt the long term preservation of the site. In 2013 it was named on of the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe.

Inside, there is grass and dirt in the middle with ancient areas in the perimeter. There is a chapel with a well and an open window to the center. There are several galleries which are cave-like areas where animals and other items were held which mostly are empty or have dirt and weeds in them now. A couple areas are fenced off as the steps down are destroyed and it would be too dangerous to allow people to enter.

Written 24 February 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

R K L

Seattle, WA3,777 contributions

Impressive for its location, size and age...

Oct 2019

We found a few attractions of interest in Durres, like the Grand Mosque, Archaeological Musuem, Promenade and Venetian Castle. But particularly impressive for its location, size and age was the Durres Amphitheatre. Having visited amphitheatres and colisuem around the world including that of Rome, we appreciated that what we were touring in Durres was on a different scale. However, the importance which Rome must have attached to Durres and the port was evident from the size of this arena. It dates from the early 2nd century A.D. and is purportedly the largest in the Balkans with a capacity of about a third of Rome's Colosseum. It was fun to be able to explore on our own, wandering the cells and tunnels beneath the stands and taking in some of the surprising surviving mosaics. Apparently, Albania continues to consider further excavation and restoration which would be fantastic.

Written 15 June 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lock_jennifer

Buckinghamshire, UK181 contributions

Quick visit

Oct 2023 • Couples

There is no car park and so parking can be a challenge (we were there in oct and managed to squeeze into a small spot).
Entry is 300lek (groups of over 12 200lek each). Takes 20mins to wander around, there is one information sign as you enter. No facilities.
Looked like they were trying to reconstruct part of it but is in need of maintenance.

Written 21 October 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Naija M

Algiers, Algeria1,051 contributions

Could do with some attention

Jan 2023 • Solo

This amphitheatre is easy to find as it’s in the centre of Durres and reasonably well signposted. The entry fee was 300 Lek for an adult. I enjoyed a little wonder around. You can pretty much go anywhere. For
me the highlight was the mosaic. Apart from one sign at the entrance I don’t recall seeing any other information signs telling you about the site. I just got the feeling that the place is poorly funded and that the maintenance and care of the site is rather limited.

Written 4 January 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jim H

Europe3,944 contributions

Ancient Roman Ruins

Jan 2021

The remains of a 20,000-seat, 2nd-century CE Roman amphitheater built by Emperor Trajan. It's worth the 300 LEK admission. This byzantine era amphitheatre has been partially excavated. Guests are allowed to self- guide themselves around the ruins. Imagine yourself watching gladiators two thousand years ago!!!

Written 1 February 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mel7155

Singapore, Singapore1,344 contributions

Another amphitheater in one of many countless cities left by the Ronan’s .

Apr 2024 • Solo

Entrance fee of €3 to see the internal basements and some old chapel was rather decent. The artefacts are intact since very little work has been done by it . You will however get bored after 15 minutes as very little inside .

Written 30 April 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Balkans and Beyond

Glasgow, UK40 contributions

Beautiful bit of history

Jul 2019

We took the bus from Tirana to Durres and spent the day there. The amphitheatre is beautiful and peaceful and reasonably well preserved. Most info signs are in Albanian but you can get an idea of the timeline. Definitely worth a visit while in Durres.

Written 18 June 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

R H

Lesbos, Greece403 contributions

Worth dropping by for an hour.

Aug 2021

So yeah it is worth a visit I think but the city makes nothing of this. It is just there. It is nice to ponder the site as to what it once was but apart from a description at the entrance there is nothing else to bring the place to life which is a shame. Not a patch on what you will see in Greece and Turkey which is a bit sad. Durres doesn't have much going for it so not making the most of what they do have seems a bit odd.

Written 6 August 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bianca

Fakenham, UK8 contributions

Bit sad

May 2024 • Couples

Gorgeous monument in itself. Ugly fences partially around it. Unkept, no information for tourists. Bit of cleaning up, maintenance and some information boards along the way in the amphitheatre itself would bring it up to it's former glory.

Written 23 May 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

655ERMES

Durres, Albania208 contributions

Great place to visit (only when the tour guide is there)

Aug 2014 • Family

Durrës Amphitheatre was the largest in the Balcans and it has a lot of history especially those involving gladiator fights and fights against wild beasts. However you might miss most of the information if you do not have a history book with you or the tour guide is not there. (Beware: Mondays is the day OFF) Therefore my suggestion to you is to visit it during weekdays Tuesday to Sunday during office hours so that you can have a guide with you to explain more.They have done renovations and installed lighting so that it will be easier to walk through the galleries. Besides the view from the top and the mosaics at the Bysantine Chapel you do not see and understand much by just walking through the galleries. Entry fee for locals is 300 Lek and foreigners 5 Euro. Sometimes in the evenings they run classic music and chamber music. Some beauty contests have been held here as well.

Written 11 September 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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