A visitor’s guide to the Roman amphitheater of Durrës: when it was built, how it was found, the Byzantine chapel inside, what is nearby and how to get there from our camp.
Durrës was founded by Greek settlers in the seventh century BC and later became the Roman city of Dyrrachium, where the Via Egnatia, the road to Constantinople, began. The amphitheater is the biggest reminder of that Roman city, and it is the largest amphitheater in the Balkans.
01A short history
The amphitheater was built in the early second century AD, in the time of Emperor Hadrian, and held roughly fifteen to twenty thousand spectators, which tells you how large the city was. Later it was built over and forgotten. It came to light in 1966, when people were digging on the hillside to build houses.
Inside the galleries there is a small Byzantine chapel with wall mosaics, one of the details most visitors do not expect.
02What to see
Walk the oval of stone seating, then go down into the vaulted galleries under the stands. From the upper rows you see the whole city and the sea beyond it. The place is not large, so an hour is enough, unless you stay to sit on the stones.
Opening hours and the ticket change from season to season, so check at the gate.
03What is nearby
The amphitheater is in the old town, so you can walk to the Venetian Tower, the Byzantine Forum and the Roman baths, and the Archaeological Museum in an afternoon. Our things to do in Durrës lists the rest, and the map on our home page shows every sight with the drive time from the camp.
04Getting there from the camp
From Wonderful Camping it is about nineteen minutes by car. Parking in the old town is tight, so go early in the morning, when the light on the stones is also at its best. Combine it with a swim, since the beach is seven minutes from the camp.
Staying a few nights? Message us with your dates.
Photo credits: Karelj (CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons); Andrew Milligan sumo (CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.jpg)).
