Pula Arena

Pula is a small town, so seeing such a grandiose structure from the era of the great Roman Empire here is both unexpected and impressive. There are far fewer visitors than at the Roman Colosseum, so everyone has the unique opportunity to find a secluded spot, stand, and reflect on eternity, on how times, customs, and games have changed over the centuries. Don't miss the small but fascinating museum located in the arena's underground chambers—it's dedicated primarily to olive oil production in Istria.

What a site to see! Amazing roman arena built between 27–68 AD. Sixth largest in the world. There is a fee to enter and you are free to walk around once inside. There are QR codes that provide a self guided tour using your phone. Bring ear buds or headphones for the audio. This is one of the best preserved amphitheaters in the world. This is a must see.

We visited Pula Arena and oh my God, it was incredible. It’s absolutely worth paying to go inside. Once you’re in, you can walk around everywhere and really feel like you’ve stepped back into ancient Roman times. The Arena is in very good condition - well preserved and majestic. It’s a gorgeous spot for photos, history lessons, or just soaking up atmosphere. What impressed me most is how immersive it feels - you can almost imagine the crowds, the spectacles, the echoes of the past. Also, I discovered that the Arena is sometimes used for theatre and opera performances, which must be fantastic in such a setting. The Pula Arena (also called the Pula Amphitheatre) was built between 27 BC and AD 68 and is one of the world’s six largest surviving Roman arenas. It’s especially remarkable because it’s the only Roman amphitheatre with all four side towers fully preserved.

Gorgeous arena. A must see when in Pula. Beautiful weather helped to get some beautiful shots. More than 2000 years old and one of six biggest amphitheatres still standing.. breathtakingly stunning.

Absolutely breathtaking! The Pula Amphitheatre is one of the most impressive Roman monuments I've ever visited. It's incredibly well-preserved and offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient history. Walking through the arena and underground passages feels like stepping back in time. The views from the top are stunning, especially at sunset. Highly recommended for history lovers and anyone visiting Istria.

The 8th largest Arena of the roman empire, the arena of Pula was only ever and exclusively used for gladiatorial fights and could not be flooded like its larger cousin in Rome. Sea fights were instead conducted directly in the bay, onlyeters from the arena itself. The outer walls are amazingly well preserved l, though half of the seating had been removed bu the venetians to be used for building material. Below the arena in the catacombs, there is an exhibition about roman life in istria, showing artefacts of a nearby olive oil manufactury. This place is an absolute must visit for history fans!

Pretty amazing structure and very reasonable entrance fee. Still being used for concerts and gladiators, which seems appropriate, although not every night. Just a bit of a shame that the modern set-up for that jars with the ancient history. Nicely lit up at night too. Way, way easier to access than the one in Rome in terms of queues and tourist numbers.

The best experience is to enjoy a concert inside the arena. You'll breath the seaside wind and the ancient history of the place in a unique ambient. Bryan Adams was delightful to play there and the most amazing thing is that you can freely move inside, stay in the crowd and the acoustic is unbelievable. Just remember to respect the place as a historical monument so don't walk the walls and don't throw garbage around.