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Archaeological site · Náuplia, Peloponeso
Teatro e Santuário de Epidauro (Epidavros)
Sanctuary of Asclepius, god of medicine, with Greece's best-preserved 4th-century BC theatre, famed for its acoustics and seating about 13,000 people, where an ancient drama festival usually takes place in summer.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Teatro e Santuário de Epidauro (Epidavros)
In Antiquity, Epidaurus was the largest healing center in the Greek world. The sanctuary of Asclepius, son of Apollo and god of medicine, received patients who slept in the abaton hoping the god would appear in a dream with a cure. Around it grew temples, baths, a stadium, a 160-room guesthouse and the theatre, because drama was part of the treatment. The site has been a World Heritage Site since 1988.
The theatre, attributed to Polykleitos the Younger and built around 340–300 BC, is what everyone comes to see. It has 55 rows of stone seats in two tiers, for about 13,000 spectators, and a 20-meter circular orchestra. The acoustics are the reason for its fame: a struck match or a coin dropped in the center of the orchestra can be heard in the top row, and guides demonstrate this constantly. Since 1955, on summer nights, the theatre hosts productions of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival.
The rest of the sanctuary is a few minutes' walk away: the foundations of the Temple of Asclepius, the round Tholos with an underground labyrinth, the abaton, the stadium and the small museum with sculptures, inscriptions recording cures and surgical instruments. Do not confuse it with the village of Palaia Epidavros on the coast, which has another smaller theatre by the sea.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the theatre, the sanctuary and the museum.
Best time
Right at opening or in the last two hours before closing, when the tour buses have left. On performance nights, from June to August, the site closes earlier to the general public; check the festival schedule if you want to attend a performance.
How to get there
It is about 30 km east of Náuplia via the Ligourio road: 35–40 minutes by car. The KTEL buses from Náuplia to Epidaurus stop at the site's entrance, with few departures per day; check return times. Tours from Athens and Náuplia include the theatre.
Tip
Go up to the top row and ask someone to speak quietly in the center of the orchestra: it's the classic test. To see a tragedy at the festival, buy tickets in advance and bring a cushion and warm clothing, because the stone cools after sunset. The plays are in Greek, with English surtitles at many performances.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Teatro e Santuário de Epidauro (Epidavros)
Why is the theatre of Epidauro so famous?
Because of its acoustics and its state of preservation. Built around 340–300 BC, it retains the 55 rows of stone almost intact, and a sound produced at the centre of the orchestra reaches clearly to the last row, over 20 metres up.
Are there still plays at Epidauro?
Yes. Since 1955 the theatre has hosted ancient tragedies and comedies on summer nights as part of the Festival of Atenas and Epidauro, generally on Fridays and Saturdays from June to August. Check the programme and buy tickets in advance.
How to get from Náuplia to Epidauro without a car?
KTEL Argolidas buses depart from Náuplia station and stop at the entrance to the site, with few departures per day. Check the return schedule before getting off. Taxis and excursions are the alternative.
Are Epidauro and Palaia Epidavros the same place?
No. The sanctuary with the large theatre is inland, near Ligourio. Palaia Epidavros is a fishing village on the coast, about 15 km away, with a smaller theatre and a harbour.