A trip to Arles? Don’t miss the Arènes d’Arles, the Roman amphitheater that has overlooked the city center for nearly two thousand years. We were struck by the grandeur of this monument, one of the best-preserved of its kind. In this article, check out our photos and all our tips for making the most of your visit to the Arles Amphitheater.
In this article, check out our helpful tips—complete with photos —to help you plan your visit and have a great time!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why Visit the Arles Amphitheater
Is the Arles Amphitheater worth the trip? Our opinion:
Yes, the Arles Amphitheater is definitely worth a visit. We were impressed by the size of this 1st-century amphitheater, one of the largest surviving Roman ruins in France. There, you’ll discover a monument that is still very much alive, used today for performances and bullfighting events.
It’s one of the best attractions in Arles.
Why is the Arles Amphitheater famous?
The Arles Amphitheater is known for its excellent state of preservation and its eventful history. Built at the end of the 1st century on the orders of Emperor Domitian, they were directly inspired by the Colosseum in Rome, which had just been completed at the time. We find it remarkable that such a building—which was transformed into a fortress and then into a fortified village during the Middle Ages—regained its role as a venue for performances in the 19th century.
The monument is also famous for having been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, along with the other Roman and Romanesque monuments in Arles. It still hosts bullfights, Camargue races, concerts, and festivals today, making it a place that is both steeped in heritage and full of life.
Our favorite moments
- Walking through the vaulted corridors, a veritable labyrinth of stone,
- The moment you emerge at the bottom, in the arena, on the very sand where the Roman games once took place,
- The climb up to the medieval tower and its panoramic view of Arles,
- A walk aroundthe exterior of the building to admire its arcades,
WHERE TO STAY IN Arles
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Downtown Arles, close to all the attractions
Hôtel du Forum – check photos and availability
Le Cloître Hotel – Check photos and availability
Trinquenaille, on the other side of the bridge
Mireille Hotel – check photos and availability
Directions: Arles Amphitheater, Arles
Where is the Arles Amphitheater located?
- In downtown Arles,
- At the Arènes roundabout,
- Right next to the Ancient Theater and the Place du Forum.
How to get there?
The Arles Amphitheater is located in downtown Arles, making it easily accessible on foot from most accommodations in the old town. We recommend walking there if your accommodations are in the city center, simply to enjoy the charm of Arles’s narrow streets along the way. If you’re coming by car, the monument is easily accessible thanks to the nearby Arènes parking lot.
Parking
The Arènes parking lot is located right next to the monument. This is the most convenient option if you’re visiting Arles by car, since it saves you the trouble of looking for a parking spot in the narrow streets of the city center.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Remember to take outcomprehensive insurance (some roads are winding and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
We recommend visiting the Arles Amphitheater early in the morning or in the late afternoon. The light is softer there at this time of day, and the limestone takes on a beautiful golden hue. During the peak of summer, the site can get crowded, so it’s best to visit during the first few hours after opening to enjoy the bleachers and walkways in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour to visit the Arles Amphitheater. The grounds are sloped, and there are many steps along the route, particularly on the way to the upper bleachers or the tower. Access is therefore difficult for people with limited mobility.
Visiting with children
Children generally enjoy visiting the Arles Amphitheater, with its corridors to explore and bleachers to climb. However, keep a close eye on the little ones, as the sloping terrain and numerous steps require caution.
Advice on how to visit
There is no set route for visitors at the Arles Amphitheater. We recommend starting with the hallways and galleries on the ground floor, then gradually making your way up to the bleachers and on to the tower, ending with the most beautiful panoramic view of the monument.
Schedules and rates
The Arles Amphitheater is open during the following hours:
- Price: 11€
- November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
- March and October: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
- April and September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
- May through August: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Latest news on the official website here.
Guided tours
Guided tours are available at the Arles Amphitheater, allowing visitors to explore the monument in greater depth and gain a better understanding of its Roman and medieval history.
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Diving through the aisles and onto the sand of the arena
Once we passed through the entrance, the hallways were the first thing that caught our attention. We then made our way down to the level of the arena itself, where the Roman games were once held.
The vaulted corridors, an ancient labyrinth
We were surprised by the extent of the network of vaulted passageways that runs through the Arles Amphitheater. This system, inherited from Roman engineers and directly inspired by the Colosseum in Rome, once made it possible to evacuate thousands of spectators quickly and safely.
You’ll alternate between dark, austere passages, where every step echoes, and light-filled openings that look out onto the bleachers. This is one of the things we liked best about our tour: the interplay of contrasts between the dim light of the galleries and the brightness of the arena speaks volumes about the craftsmanship of the builders of that era. Take the time to stop at a few intersections; the network of vertical and horizontal traffic flows is worth examining in detail.
Standing on the sand, in the heart of the arena
Emerging at the bottom, right into the arena, remains one of the highlights of the tour. This elliptical space, 136 meters long, is surrounded by bleachers that rise on all sides. It’s hard not to imagine the gladiatorial combats and public games that took place there at the end of the 1st century, watched by several thousand spectators seated according to their social rank.
From this low vantage point, you’ll truly appreciate the monument’s scale: the podium wall that once separated the arena from the stands, the two-story arcades, and the now-vanished attic that once crowned the structure.
The bleachers and seats in the bullring
In the stands, between the grandstands and the bullpen
The stands at the Arles Arena rise in tiers over several dozen rows and can now accommodate several thousand spectators during bullfights, Camargue races, and concerts. As we walked from one section to another, we enjoyed observing how the seats are arranged: the grandstands, the first tier, the second tier, and the sections known as the “toril.”
In the world of traditional bullfighting, this term refers to the pen where the bulls wait before entering the arena; it has given its name to some of the most sought-after rows of seats during the shows. As you climb the steps, you will sense the same methodical organization that governed the reception of the public in Roman times, when each category of citizen occupied an assigned seat.
We recommend taking the time to sit down for a moment on these bleachers, if only to take in the view of the city from this vantage point.
The medieval tower and the view of Arles
Climb up to the tower for a unique view
In our opinion, the climb up to the tower is one of the highlights of a visit to the Arles Amphitheater. A staircase, located above the main entrance, leads to a tower built in the Middle Ages, when the amphitheater served as a fortress. As you walk by, take a moment to admire the white limestone arches typical of the second floor.
The photo below shows a low-angle view of a stone wall built in the opus reticulatum style (or a similar pattern using small, regular blocks), typical of Roman architecture. You can see the high walls of the amphitheater rising toward a deep blue sky.
Once you reach the top, the reward is well worth the effort: you’ll have a commanding view of the entire cavea—the arena, the bleachers… And you can get a closer look at the tops of the arches.
In addition, you’ll get to see the rooftops of Arles, the bell towers of Notre-Dame-de-la-Major and Saint-Trophime, as well as the Grand Rhône, which flows around the city. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Montmajour Abbey and the Alpilles.
That moment remains one of our fondest memories of the visit, as the view takes in the monument, the city, and the surrounding countryside all at once.
The amphitheater, from the outside and at dusk
The outer perimeter of the arena
Walking around the exterior of the monument allows you to appreciate the uniformity of its sixty bays and its two-story arcades. As we walked slowly around the building, we enjoyed spotting traces of different eras: the original Roman stone, medieval additions, and the remains of the three towers still visible today, which bear witness to the monument’s transformation into a fortress.
Depending on the angle you choose, you’ll discover very different views of the arcades and the rooftops of the old town that surround it closely. It’s a natural complement to the indoor tour—something you shouldn’t miss before or after your visit inside the monument.
The Arenas at Dusk
At night, the Arles Amphitheater takes on a different look—one that is even more imposing. We especially enjoyed walking past the monument at that time of day, when the surrounding streets quiet down and the stone structure stands out against the Arles sky.
During the ferias, the nightlife takes on a completely different atmosphere: the bodegas liven up the streets of downtown until the wee hours of the morning, with live bands and outdoor music performances.
History in brief
Here are the key dates to keep in mind to understand the history of the Arles Amphitheater:
- Late 1st century (around 80–90 AD): construction of the amphitheater by order of Emperor Domitian on the Hauture Hill,
- The Fall of the Roman Empire: The amphitheater continued to be used for games and gladiatorial combat,
- Late 6th century: conversion into a fortress,
- Middle Ages: The complex became a veritable walled and fortified town, with more than 200 houses, streets, squares, and chapels,
- 1825–1830: At the initiative of the writer Prosper Mérimée, the city began the expropriation and subsequent demolition of the houses built within the monument,
- 1830: The first bull run was held in the open amphitheater to celebrate the capture of Algiers,
- 1840: The monument was designated a historic landmark,
- 1981: Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the other Roman and Romanesque monuments in Arles,
- 2013: The completion of a major restoration project that spanned ten years.
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