Sousse, Tunisia: travel guide
A lively Mediterranean resort city on the Gulf of Hammamet, home to a UNESCO-listed medina with a Ribat and Great Mosque, long sandy beaches and the Port El Kantaoui marina.
- Country
- Tunisia
- Currency
- TND
- Time zone
- Africa/Tunis
- Nearest airport
- MIR
Top places to visit in Sousse
Ribat of Sousse
Fort · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry TND 8
An austere 8th-century fortified monastery, the finest surviving ribat in the Maghreb, whose watchtower gives a panorama over the medina and sea.
Great Mosque of Sousse
Mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry TND 5
A fortress-like 9th-century Aghlabid mosque with crenellated walls and a serene arcaded courtyard, in the heart of the UNESCO-listed medina.
Sousse Archaeological Museum
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry TND 7
Set within the medina's kasbah, it holds Tunisia's second-richest collection of Roman mosaics after the Bardo, including celebrated marine and mythological scenes.
Medina of Sousse
Heritage · about 2 h
A UNESCO World Heritage walled medina of the early Islamic period, its ramparts, kasbah, souks and monuments among the best preserved in the western Mediterranean.
Boujaffar Beach
Beach · 4.1 rating · about 2.5 h
Sousse's long central sand beach along the Boulevard de la Corniche, the city's summer hub for swimming, promenading and beachfront cafes.
Dar Essid Museum
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry TND 7
A restored traditional family mansion in the medina, furnished across the centuries, offering an intimate look at old Sousse domestic life and a rooftop view.
Port El Kantaoui
Market · about 2 h
A purpose-built Andalusian-style marina village north of Sousse, ringed by whitewashed arcades, restaurants, a golf course and boat trips.
Things to do
- Sousse Medina & Ribat Guided Tour Tour · 2.5 h · from TND 55 per person
- Kairouan & El Jem Full-Day Excursion Tour · 10 h · from TND 130 per person
- Port El Kantaoui Pirate Boat Trip Water Sports · 4 h · from TND 70 per person
- Quad Biking through the Olive Groves Adventure · 2 h · from TND 80 per person
Day trips and tours
- Kairouan & El Jem from Sousse 9 h · from TND 130
Where to stay in Sousse
- Medina of Sousse about TND 150 per night
Stay beside the historic ramparts, steps from the Ribat, Great Mosque and souks.
- Boujaffar Corniche about TND 200 per night
The seafront strip of hotels along the town beach — swimming and promenade nightlife.
- Port El Kantaoui about TND 260 per night
The manicured marina resort north of town, ideal for a self-contained beach-and-golf holiday.
Hotels
- Sousse Pearl Marriott Resort & Spa 5-star · TND 380 to TND 720 per night
- Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse 5-star · TND 350 to TND 700 per night
- Hôtel Orient Palace 5-star · TND 220 to TND 420 per night
- Jaz Tour Khalef 4-star · TND 180 to TND 320 per night
- Abou Nawas Nejma 4-star · TND 160 to TND 300 per night
- El Hana Beach 3-star · TND 120 to TND 220 per night
Where to eat
- Le Poisson d'Or Seafood, Tunisian · about TND 40 per person
- Restaurant Essaada Tunisian · about TND 18 per person
- Couscous El Medina Tunisian · about TND 20 per person
- La Marmite French, Tunisian · about TND 38 per person
- El Sofra Tunisian, Grill · about TND 16 per person
- Le Guepard French, Mediterranean · about TND 50 per person
- Restaurant l'Escargot French, Seafood · about TND 70 per person
Getting around
- Shared Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Train main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Taxi meter "broken"
Sousse medina & port
Drivers claim the meter is broken and quote a high flat fare, especially near tourist areas.
How to avoid it: Only take metered taxis and insist on the compteur; if refused, take the next cab. Know the rough fare in advance.