Carved into the natural slope of a limestone hillside, the Great Theatre is one of ancient Pompeii’s three intact performance spaces. This beautifully preserved theater is among the most popular stops on walking tours through the excavated city, offering a unique glimpse into how Romans spent their leisure time thousands of years ago.
Visiting with a guide helpful for getting insights into the theater’s singular architecture and acoustics. Private or small-group guided tours of the entire archaeological site can depart from Naples, Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast, and tend to include pickup and drop-off.
The Great Theatre of Pompeii is one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in the world. You don’t need to be an archaeology buff to appreciate this Roman gem.
Comfortable shoes are recommended as Pompeii is partly traversed on ancient cobblestones paths.
Wear sunblock and a hat when visiting during summer, as there is little shade.
Families can use three “baby points” inside Pompeii to feed and change young children; there is a stroller-friendly route through the ruins.
The wheelchair-accessible “Pompeii for All” route winds its way from the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance for 2 miles (3.5 km) along the main streets and some of the most famous buildings in Pompeii.
The Great Theatre of Pompeii is part of the Pompeii Archaeological Park just south of Naples. The Circumvesuviana commuter train that runs along the foot of Mt. Vesuvius between Naples and Sorrento stops at Pompeii, but can often be crowded and slow. The best way to reach Pompeii is with a tour from Naples, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, or even Rome that includes direct transportation.
Pompeii is open every day but can be crowded and hot during the peak midday hours in summer. Visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid throngs of visitors and high temperatures between June and September, or join a tour in the cooler spring or fall months. In June and July, the Pompeii Theatrum Mundi classical theater festival holds evening performances inside the Great Theatre.
At its height, Pompeii was home to two other theaters in addition to the Great Theatre. The largest was the Amphitheatre, one of the oldest surviving Roman stadiums. Built in 70 BC, the structure could seat 20,000 spectators for games and sporting events, as well as religious and political ceremonies. The smallest was the Odeon, also known as the Small Theatre, the city’s only covered performance space. Here residents could enjoy mime entertainment, which was very popular in ancient Rome, and musical performances.