Acropolis and Ancient Theater
Acropolis and Ancient Theater
Acropolis and Ancient Theater
3.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
73 within 5 kms
Attractions
17 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
3.5
184 reviews
Excellent
57
Very good
56
Average
42
Poor
19
Terrible
10
Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK6,889 contributions
June 2022
Visited with low expectations, and even these weren’t met. I had read about it, looked at photographs, and thought maybe not worth the visit. But it’s Sparta, a name famous in history, surely worth a look? No, not really. No entry fee and no one there. Followed the signs. What was about looked restored or supported by concrete. Surely the reputed large theatre would be good? No. Undergoing restoration not a lot has been done. Or looks to being done given the abandoned machinery and pipes on the monument. Not worth the short diversion we took. Thankfully we visited many wonderful locations prior to this, Delphi, Messene, Mystras………….
Written 5 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana B
Iasi, Romania1,818 contributions
Sept 2021
This is a very interesting archaeological site. The ruins are scattered in an olive grove. There are ruins of the acropolis, ancient thatre, ancient buildings, a cathedral, etc. A very nice place to feel the touch of ancient history. Free entrance. I highly recommend it!
Written 5 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
meadow1357
55 contributions
July 2022
I was told I'd be underwhelmed, but my wife and I loved this ancient site. It doesn't have the immediate impact of sites like the Parthenon, but to see the ancient theatre, in a state of gradual excavation, made us appreciate how many ancient treasure are still hidden from sight all around Greece. We look forward to returning years from now to see more of it uncovered.
Written 11 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andrew h
Leicester, England, United Kingdom63 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Well worth going to see, everything is so well laid out and full of interesting history boards at important parts of the trail. I really loved stepping back into history and geting a chance to see how everything was back then. If your only in Sparti for the day please add this to your list of things to see. You will not regret it.
Written 17 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonymerlin111
Manchester, UK338 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
The remains of the ancient Spartan acropolis and amphitheatre are free to walk around and are signposted reasonably well from the town - the entrance is up a road that runs alongside the sports stadium. We spent about 45mins here on a Sunday so it was very quiet - only us and 2 other parties there. In some ways it is a shame that these ruins seem a little less cared for than others in Greece, but conversely the “taken back by nature” impression of the site does make the atmosphere more haunting as you walk around (the only real noise being birds twittering in the trees) and try to imagine the now lost greatness of Ancient Sparta. The size of the amphitheatre (now covered almost completely in grass) is spectacular. The information signs at each site are very helpful but I do expect that a guide would really bring this place back to life more. Well worth a visit if you love ancient history.
Written 17 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Odysseus27
Oslo, Norway190 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
Considering the fact that the ancient spartans didn't leave much for us to discover about them, i think this is amazing. I almost went back in time!
Now, there are no information about the ruins at the site, and no signs or arrows on where to go, but if you just follow the road you will see the most important stuff. I suppose this is for those who is particularly interested in Sparta and the ancient spartans (like me), and maybe it would be a bit "boring" for the average tourist. Nevertheless, i think the orange, plastic fences ruined the experience a bit, and I wish that the spartans of today could have done a bit more to make this a really interesting place to visit. Great view from the top though.
It's an important site, and i definitely recommend you go there if you are in Sparta.
Now, there are no information about the ruins at the site, and no signs or arrows on where to go, but if you just follow the road you will see the most important stuff. I suppose this is for those who is particularly interested in Sparta and the ancient spartans (like me), and maybe it would be a bit "boring" for the average tourist. Nevertheless, i think the orange, plastic fences ruined the experience a bit, and I wish that the spartans of today could have done a bit more to make this a really interesting place to visit. Great view from the top though.
It's an important site, and i definitely recommend you go there if you are in Sparta.
Written 7 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
barryCheshire
Cheshire56 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
Completely open site that you can just wander around. Perhaps a few information boards would help to explain what you are seeing but delightful to walk around
Written 18 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bmanolas
Dubai, United Arab Emirates8 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
The place is breathtaking, thinking that you walk and sit in the same place as figures like Leonidas, Pafsanias and Nikias.
This is the place of heroes that defended the west, and ensured the development of the western civilization.
Note: Keep in mind that most of what you will see is roman restorations.
What is astonishing is the level of abandonment from the Greek authorities.
There should be organization here similar to the Colosseum, the Athens Parthenon, or the pyramids.
In the contrary, it appears that the state has no respect for the heritage they have, or the people who visit.
At 11 AM, not a single guard, not a single guide, not a single person in sight.
And of course they keep the bathrooms locked for when and if they show up.
Such an amazing location which should be one of the centres of the world is treated like a 3rd grade vilage walkabout.
This is the place of heroes that defended the west, and ensured the development of the western civilization.
Note: Keep in mind that most of what you will see is roman restorations.
What is astonishing is the level of abandonment from the Greek authorities.
There should be organization here similar to the Colosseum, the Athens Parthenon, or the pyramids.
In the contrary, it appears that the state has no respect for the heritage they have, or the people who visit.
At 11 AM, not a single guard, not a single guide, not a single person in sight.
And of course they keep the bathrooms locked for when and if they show up.
Such an amazing location which should be one of the centres of the world is treated like a 3rd grade vilage walkabout.
Written 22 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chardychef
Sydney, Australia121 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
See review of Wales Kath on directions.. they are spot on! We love ruins and didn’t want to miss these ones. The old theatre is in disrepair but they are working on restoring the site. You only need an hour to see it all and entry is free.
Written 9 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew B
Arlington, VA14 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Went there in May 2015. Overall really cool and I liked it but a couple issues. There are a few signs to follow, but not enough to keep you from wondering if you're actually going the right way. After the last sign, you have to walk 200-250m walk through an olive grove before arriving at the site. But anyway, it was really neat because you have free reign through these ancient ruins, and you're all by yourself so you can kind of soak in the sights and go back in time a little bit. On the other hand, being all alone made me a little wary because we had heard that some of the ancient sites in Sparta could be shady but our visit was without problems...we were the only ones there.
The main problem was how poorly maintained the site was. It was all high grass so there's naturally some concerns there....there were bees all over the place and of course, I stepped next to a snake trying to walk to the top of the Acropolis which scared the **** out of me and instantly made my wife refuse to go a step further. The site could also benefit from informational displays so you have a better idea what you're looking at. It's obvious what the theatre is but not totally sure what the ruins at the top of the Acropolis are. I really wish the site was better maintained...it would have made it more enjoyable. Otherwise, just be wary of the high grass...and the snakes. :-\
The main problem was how poorly maintained the site was. It was all high grass so there's naturally some concerns there....there were bees all over the place and of course, I stepped next to a snake trying to walk to the top of the Acropolis which scared the **** out of me and instantly made my wife refuse to go a step further. The site could also benefit from informational displays so you have a better idea what you're looking at. It's obvious what the theatre is but not totally sure what the ruins at the top of the Acropolis are. I really wish the site was better maintained...it would have made it more enjoyable. Otherwise, just be wary of the high grass...and the snakes. :-\
Written 1 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing