Durrës Amphitheatre and Roman Ruins: Visitor Guide
Updated 2026-11-01 · 5 min read · Prices and schedules change — check locally.
How to Visit the Durrës Amphitheatre and Roman Ruins
- Travel to central Durrës from Tirana by regional bus, taxi, or rental car via the SH2 highway.
- Purchase an entry ticket at the amphitheatre entrance kiosk located on Rruga Kalase.
- Tour the arena, subterranean barrel-vaulted galleries, and the 6th-century mosaic chapel.
- Walk five minutes north along the boulevard to view the columns of the Byzantine Forum and the Roman Baths.
- Follow the preserved section of the Durrës city walls down to the 15th-century Venetian Tower.
What is the history of the Durrës Amphitheatre?
The amphitheatre was constructed in the early 2nd century AD during the reign of Roman Emperor Trajan and remained in active use for gladiatorial spectacles until the 4th century. Severe earthquakes in 345 and 518 AD damaged the structure, after which it was repurposed with Christian chapels and burial crypts.
Ancient Dyrrhachium was a major military and commercial port that served as the starting point of the Via Egnatia, the Roman road linking the Adriatic Sea to Byzantium. The amphitheatre reflected the wealth of the city, utilizing brick and stone construction on an elliptical footprint measuring roughly 132 metres by 113 metres. Gladiator fights ceased in the 5th century following imperial prohibitions across the Roman Empire.
After falling into disuse, the monument was built over by residential houses during the Ottoman period. It remained largely covered until systematic excavations began in 1966 under Albanian archaeologist Vangjel Toçi. Excavations uncovered roughly one-third of the site, revealing subterranean corridors, drainage tunnels, and early medieval tombs embedded in the arena structure.
How much are tickets for the Durrës Amphitheatre and ruins?
Standard entry to the Durrës Amphitheatre generally ranges between 300 ALL and 500 ALL (approximately 3 EUR to 5 EUR), though prices change over time. Independent ruins such as the Byzantine Forum and city walls are open to the street and free to view.
Tickets are purchased on-site at the main gate. Cash in Albanian lek is standard for entrance kiosks, although card payments are increasingly accepted at major cultural monuments across Albania. Reduced rates are commonly available for students, seniors, and school groups with valid identification.
Visitors should verify site availability locally, as maintenance projects occasionally restrict access to the underground galleries. A combined municipal ticket is sometimes offered that includes access to both the amphitheatre and the Durrës Archaeological Museum, depending on the status of ongoing renovation projects.
| Site Name | Approximate Fee (ALL) | Approximate Fee (EUR) | Access Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durrës Amphitheatre | 300 - 500 ALL | 3 - 5 EUR | Ticketed site (prices change) |
| Byzantine Forum (Macellum) | Free | Free | Open-air public access |
| Roman Baths | Free / Included with Forum | Free | Open-air viewing area |
| Venetian Tower & City Walls | Free / Small fee for tower | 0 - 200 ALL / 0 - 2 EUR | Public walk / Local tower access |
What other Roman ruins can you see in Durrës?
Beyond the amphitheatre, central Durrës preserves the Byzantine Forum, the Roman Baths, and defensive city walls dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods. All of these monuments are situated within a one-kilometre radius in the historic centre.
The Byzantine Forum, also referred to as the Macellum-Forum, was built between the 5th and 6th centuries AD during the reign of Emperor Anastasius I, an emperor born in Dyrrhachium. It features a circular marble colonnade surrounding a paved courtyard, demonstrating the transition from classical Roman urban design to early Byzantine architecture. Adjacent to the forum are the remains of Roman public baths, which preserve fragments of hypocaust underfloor heating systems and pools.
The city walls extend across several streets, connecting the Roman core with later medieval fortifications. The most visible section is the Venetian Tower at the harbour end of the wall, built over earlier Roman and Byzantine foundations. These fortifications were reinforced repeatedly to protect Dyrrhachium from naval raids and barbarian incursions throughout late antiquity.
What are the most significant architectural features inside the amphitheatre?
The most significant architectural features include the vaulted underground galleries, the seating tiers built into a natural hillside, and an early Christian chapel. The chapel contains well-preserved 6th-century wall mosaics created using coloured glass and stone tesserae.
The arena was constructed partly on flat ground and partly against the slope of a hill to reduce the need for elevated stone substructures on its western side. Visitors can walk through vaulted tunnels where gladiators and animals were held before events. These galleries contain intricate stone masonry, Roman brickwork, and drainage networks that kept the underground corridors dry.
The small chapel constructed inside one of the gallery bays dates from the 6th century and was expanded in the 10th century. Its southern wall features a rare mosaic panel depicting Saint Stephen, Archangel Gabriel, and Archangel Michael flanking donor figures. This mosaic is one of the few surviving examples of early Byzantine monumental art in western Albania.
How do you travel from Tirana to the Roman ruins in Durrës?
Regional buses run from Tirana's South and North Bus Terminal to Durrës throughout the day, taking approximately 45 minutes. From the Durrës bus station, the amphitheatre is a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride west into the historic centre.
Bus tickets from Tirana to Durrës typically cost around 150 ALL to 200 ALL per person (prices change), making public transport an economical and direct option. Buses depart at frequent intervals from early morning until evening. Taxis between the two cities generally charge 2,500 ALL to 3,500 ALL (25 EUR to 35 EUR) each way.
Travelers driving rental cars follow the SH2 dual-carriageway highway directly from Tirana to Durrës. Paid street parking and commercial parking lots are available near the port and along Rruga Taulantia, a short distance from the amphitheatre. The historic centre is best explored on foot due to narrow, one-way streets around the archaeological zone.