The theatre of Aptera was built of local fossiliferous limestone near the southeast gate of the ancient city. It stands in a natural hollow, facing south towards the White Mountains. Although 19th-century travellers identified the location of the theatre, it has only been excavated recently, in 2008-2009, with impressive results in spite of the destruction caused by a modern lime kiln constructed in the centre of the cavea. Throughout the 20th century, the seats and architectural elements of the theatre were used to make quicklime, with the result that the tiered substratum of rubble masonry is now all that is visible in most of the cavea. The cavea, 54.68 m in diameter, is divided by five staircases into four cunei (wedge-shaped sections). It had at least 26 rows of seats, as it certainly extended further north. The orchestra, one of the smallest found in an ancient theatre, has a radius of 5.45 m.

The excavation and architectural data of the ancient theatre of Aptera indicate three main building phases.

The construction of the theatre began in the Early Hellenistic period (1st half of the 3rd c. BC). This phase includes the strong wall on the south side of the stage, most of the walls of the parodoi (passageways), the retaining wall around the cavea and the substructure of the seats. During the Roman period, the Hellenistic theatre was radically modified in two phases, adapting to the new demands. In the first remodelling during the second half of the 1st century AD (1st Roman phase), the cavea acquired its final form, the stage was replaced and the floor of the orchestra was lowered.

The third building phase (2nd Roman phase) is difficult to date precisely. The stage building was modified for functional purposes and minor repairs were carried out during the use of the theatre. The lower cavea was remodelled at least once, the final phase being that visible today.

The promotion of the theatre was incorporated in the 3rd Community Support Framework – Regional Operational Programme of Crete in 2008-2009, followed by the 2007-2013 National Staregic Reference Framework, resulting in its full uncovering, conservation and restoration.

The area surrounding the monument was lightly configured, preserving the terrain and the local vegetation, and creating visitor routes utilising the ancient paved street east of the theatre. This impressively long and well-preserved road of the Hellenistic period (55 m long in total) provided access to the theatre, either via the parodos on that side or via the wide staircase, part of which still survives. The excavation data show that the paved road also served other public buildings near the theatre, including sanctuaries. The north end of the paved road meets the east side of the rectilinear theatre.