Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

Archaeological Site

Archaeological Site · Nafplio, Greece 37.5961°N 23.0792°E

Why you should go

Ninety seconds on Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

Time needed

A few hoursLonger for the whole site

Cost

TicketedTheatre, site and museum

Season

Open all yearShut on six holidays

Access

Partly step-freeSite and first museum room

Guide

Not neededGo on your own

Opening hours

What are the opening hours of the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus?

From 1 November to 28 February the site opens daily from 8am to 5pm. It closes at 7pm in April, 8pm from May to August, 7.30pm in early September, 7pm in late September, 6.30pm in early October and 6pm in late October. Last entry is 20 minutes before closing. On Good Friday the site opens from 12pm to 5pm, and on Holy Saturday from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

Ticket

Does one ticket cover the theatre and the museum at Epidaurus?

Yes. One ticket covers the theatre, the archaeological site and the museum of the Asklepieion. Entry is free on several dates a year, including the first and third Sundays from November to March.

From Nafplio

How do you get to Epidaurus from Nafplio?

The site is near Lygourio, about 30 minutes from Nafplio by car, with parking on site. KTEL Argolida has run a single weekday return bus; confirm the current timetable at the Nafplio bus station before relying on it.

The festival

When is the Epidaurus Festival held?

The Athens Epidaurus Festival stages performances in the ancient theatre in summer. Tickets are sold on aefestival.gr and tickets.aefestival.gr; check there for the programme and any bus from Athens.

Day with Mycenae

Can you visit Epidaurus and Mycenae in one day from Nafplio?

By car, yes: Mycenae is a similar drive from Nafplio. By bus, check the KTEL timetable first, because past schedules have not fitted both sites into one day.

Climb to the top row while someone speaks loudly from the stage, and you will still understand every word. Around the theatre lie the ruins of the sanctuary of Asklepios, once the leading place of healing in the Greek world.

What makes it special

Healing at the sanctuary treated body, soul and spirit, and the theatre served the spirit. Polykleitos designed it, and its tiers seated about thirteen thousand spectators.

Acoustic measurements taken here found that a dropped coin or tearing paper carries only about halfway up, and a struck match only to seats nearer the stage.

Most of the buildings below date from the fourth and third centuries BC, when thermal springs and a mild climate drew the sick from across the Greek and Roman world.

Across the sanctuary, look for the temple of Asklepios, which once held a gold and ivory statue of the god, and the Abaton, the stoa where the healing rituals took place. Near them are the round Tholos and the Katagogion, a guest-house of a hundred and sixty rooms for visitors and the sick.

The stadium hosted games for the god every four years.

Visiting

The theatre sits among pine trees, and its upper tiers give dizzying views back over the site. From there, come down and walk into the sanctuary.

One easy order is the theatre, then the ruins, then the museum, which shows statues, pottery and surgical tools, each with its own label. A few hours covers the theatre and the temple of Asklepios; the rest of the site needs longer, so leave time to wander.

Carry a good guidebook, and print notes and maps of the site before you come.

Tips

The ground is uneven and the old paving is worn smooth, so wear shoes with real grip rather than sandals.

Summer visits can be hot with little shade. The café on site is small and gets busy, and few restaurants are within walking distance, so bring a picnic.

If Mycenae is also on your list, note that from November to March it closes at 3.30pm, so go there first.

If you come for a performance, bring a cushion for the marble seats; the walk to the theatre entrance runs through olive groves.

Know before you goThe site is closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday, and 25 and 26 December. Good Friday and Holy Saturday have shorter hours.