A three-dimensional display apparatus is provided with an optical element including optical apertures arranged opposite a display module and in association with the parallax images. The optical apertures cause the parallax images to be displayed in a near-side region closer to an observer, while causing a three-dimensional image to be displayed in a far-side region located opposite the observer with respect to the display module. When a smooth three-dimensional image is to be displayed in the near-side region, the optical gap between the optical element and the display surface is set longer than a reference distance depending on the position of the three-dimensional image. In order to display a smooth three-dimensional image in the far-side region, the observer sets the optical gap shorter than the reference distance depending on the position of the three-dimensional image.