Sousse, Tunisia: travel guide
Mediterranean resort city with a walled medina, a ribat and long beaches
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.
About Sousse
Sousse is a resort city on the Gulf of Hammamet, where long sandy beaches sit beside a walled medina that is a UNESCO site. The Ribat of Sousse, a fortified monastery of the early Islamic era, and the Great Mosque anchor the old town, and climbing the ribat tower gives views over its white rooftops and the sea.
The Archaeological Museum holds a notable collection of Roman mosaics, while Boujaffar Beach is the main city beach and Port El Kantaoui, a marina resort to the north, adds boats, golf and waterfront restaurants. The medina's lanes sell textiles, ceramics and leather, and fresh fish is a speciality.
Sousse suits beach holidays with a cultural side trip and families who like having a lively old town nearby. Spring and early autumn are warm and pleasant; midsummer is hot.
- Country
- Tunisia
- Currency
- TND
- Time zone
- Africa/Tunis
- Nearest airport
- MIR
Last updated
Top places to visit in Sousse
Ribat of Sousse
ribat · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
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
great mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
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
archaeology · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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
old town · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
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
city beach · 4.1 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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
historic house · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
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
marina · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
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 to Sousse
Airport: Monastir (MIR)
How visitors arrive in Sousse
- Fly to Monastir airport By air from Monastir · common
Monastir airport is the most convenient airport and is frequently used by holiday charter flights. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fly to Enfidha-Hammamet airport By air from Enfidha · common
Enfidha-Hammamet airport is the other airport option, north of the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Train from Tunis By train from Tunis · common
Sousse is on the main railway line from Tunis to Sfax and Monastir. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Bus or louage from Tunis By road from Tunis · common
Long-distance buses and shared louage taxis link Sousse with Tunis and most of the country. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Ferry from Trapani, Italy By ferry from Trapani · possible
A car ferry from Trapani runs in summer only. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Taxi from Monastir airport unconfirmed
Monastir is the most convenient airport for Sousse. Agree the fare before getting in, not per person, and check the meter is reset. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Light rail from the airport
The light rail on the Sousse to Monastir line also stops at the airport, linking to the main station near the medina. Source: habibbourguibaairport.com
- Taxi fares are the usual complaint here: agree the price first and confirm the meter was reset. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the bus terminal to the centre
- Louage from Monastir unconfirmed
Shared louage taxis connect Sousse with Monastir and other towns and leave when full. The station is south of the medina. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Shared Taxi
Louages, shared taxis that leave once full, connect Sousse with nearby towns and other cities.
- Taxi
Taxis in Sousse run on meters; check the meter is started or agree the fare before getting in.
- Train
A light-rail line runs from Sousse Bab Jdid station via Monastir to Mahdia along the Sahel coast.
- Walking
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.
Best time to visit Sousse
- Jan 16°C
- Feb 16°C
- Mar 18°C
- Apr 20°C
- May 23°C
- Jun 27°C
- Jul 31°C
- Aug 32°C
- Sep 30°C
- Oct 26°C
- Nov 21°C
- Dec 17°C
More in Tunisia
Frequently asked questions about Sousse
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Sousse?
- The highest-rated places in our Sousse guide are Sousse Archaeological Museum, Great Mosque of Sousse, Ribat of Sousse, Dar Essid Museum, Boujaffar Beach.
- Where should I stay in Sousse?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Sousse: Medina of Sousse, Boujaffar Corniche, Port El Kantaoui.
- How do I get around Sousse?
- Ways to get around Sousse covered in our guide: Shared taxi, Taxi, Train, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Sousse?
- Scams reported to us for Sousse include Taxi meter "broken". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Sousse?
- Average daytime highs in Sousse run from 16°C in Jan to 32°C in Aug.
- Which airport is nearest to Sousse?
- The nearest airport to Sousse has the code MIR.