Roman Stadium of Plovdiv

Tickets and tours: which to book

There is nothing to buy for the stadium alone. The exposed northern end sits in a sunken area of Dzhumaya Square, and you can look down on it from the square or walk down the steps to the lowest rows and the track for free. No tour is sold online specifically for the stadium.

A small visitor centre beside the ruins shows a short film that reconstructs the stadium and the games held in it, and charges a modest fee. It is the easiest way to picture the full length of the building, most of which is hidden under the shops of the main street.

Most visitors see the stadium as part of a walk through central Plovdiv. City walking tours, many of them run on a tip basis by local guides, usually start or pass here and continue to the Old Town, the Roman theatre and the Ottoman houses. Day trips from Sofia to Plovdiv include a stop on Dzhumaya Square, with transport and a guide, while the theatre and the old houses are paid separately. Some sites in Plovdiv are covered by combined tickets for the Old Town houses, but the stadium does not need one.

The sensible plan is a short free visit, and the film if you have children or want the full picture.

A short history

The stadium was built in the early 2nd century AD, during the reign of Hadrian, when Philippopolis was the capital of the Roman province of Thrace. It was set unusually inside the walls, in a natural hollow between two of the city's hills. The track was one stadion, about 180 metres, and the building held up to 30,000 spectators. Inscriptions and coins record games modelled on the Pythian Games, renamed for the visits of Caracalla in 214 and Elagabalus in 218. In the 4th century an aqueduct crossed the site. The stadium was found in 1923, excavated more fully by Liliya Botusharova from the 1970s, and its surroundings were renovated in 2010 to 2013.

Getting there

The stadium is in the heart of Plovdiv, on Dzhumaya Square at the northern end of the long pedestrian street, Knyaz Alexander I. From the central railway station it is a flat walk of about 15 minutes north along the main street. Trains and buses from Sofia take about two to two and a half hours, and the main bus stations are close to the railway station. Plovdiv airport, about 12 km south-east, has few flights, so most travellers fly into Sofia and continue by bus, train or car. Driving into the centre is not advisable: the area around the square is pedestrianised, and paid parking is available in the blue zones and car parks a few streets away.

Rules and what to bring

Do not climb on the outer walls or walk on fenced parts of the track. Skateboarding and cycling on the marble rows are not allowed. When visiting the Dzhumaya Mosque next door, dress modestly, remove your shoes and avoid prayer times. There are no toilets at the ruins themselves, but cafes and restaurants line the square. In summer the sunken area becomes hot, so bring water.

When to go

Because the stadium is open to view from the square, you can come at any hour. Early morning is the quietest time, before the main street fills with shoppers and school groups gather for city tours. In the evening the ruins are lit and the cafes on the square are busy, which makes for a pleasant short stop on the way to dinner in the old town.

Plovdiv is hot in July and August, often above 33 degrees, and the stone bowl of the stadium holds the heat, so visit early or late in the day. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the city. Winters are cold but rarely severe, and the visitor centre keeps shorter hours. Plovdiv hosts many festivals in summer and autumn, and the square is sometimes used for events, when the view may be partly blocked. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the stadium itself, or half a day for central Plovdiv.