Excursions · Sousse · Tunisia
Sousse is one of Tunisia's most perfectly positioned cities for excursions. Within 60 km of your Sousse hotel you can explore a UNESCO Great Mosque, stand inside a Roman amphitheatre that holds 35,000 people, and walk the medina walls of a city founded in the 9th century. Add boat trips from Port El Kantaoui marina, medina walking tours, and Sahara day excursions, and Sousse becomes one of the richest excursion bases in North Africa.
Things to do
Sousse
Tunisia
Top Experiences
The Colosseum of Tunisia — a near-intact Roman amphitheatre from 238 AD, just 60 km south of Sousse
Tunisia's spiritual capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Great Mosque is North Africa's most important Islamic monument, 57 km west
Day cruises, glass-bottom boats, and pirate boat tours departing from the Port El Kantaoui marina, 8 km north of Sousse
Walk the UNESCO-listed medina walls, explore the Ribat fortress, and visit the Great Mosque of Sousse — all within Sousse city
Available Excursions
Visit the El Jem amphitheatre — the third largest Roman colosseum in the world, built in 238 AD and capable of holding 35,000 spectators. A staggering feat of engineering in the Tunisian interior.
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Explore Kairouan — Tunisia's holy city and the fourth holiest city in Islam after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. The Great Mosque of Kairouan dates to 670 AD. The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Cruise the Gulf of Hammamet from Port El Kantaoui marina on a glass-bottom boat or traditional sailing vessel. Spot marine life through the glass floor and swim in open sea. Pirate-themed boats available for families.
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Walk the streets of the UNESCO-listed Sousse medina with a certified local guide. Visit the Great Mosque (exterior), the Ribat fortress walls, the Kasbah Museum, and the artisan souk district.
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Visit Monastir — 20 km south of Sousse — to see the iconic 8th-century Ribat fortress overlooking the Mediterranean, the Bourguiba Mausoleum, and the town's historic medina.
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A long but spectacular full-day excursion from Sousse to the Sahara Desert via Kairouan and Sbeitla. Visit a Berber village, the Chott el Jerid salt flats, and see the first sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental.
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Insider Tip
The El Jem excursion and the Kairouan day trip are the must-do experiences from Sousse. If you only have one free day, combine El Jem with Monastir on a single half-day morning circuit — both are south of Sousse and the round trip takes 5 hours.
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Questions & Answers
The top day trips from Sousse are: (1) El Jem Roman amphitheatre (60 km, 4–5 hour half-day), (2) Kairouan holy city (57 km, full day), (3) Monastir and the Ribat fortress (20 km, 2–3 hours), and (4) Port El Kantaoui boat trips from the marina. All can be booked through your hotel or at the marina.
The Sousse medina (UNESCO-listed) has the Great Mosque of Sousse (9th century), the Ribat fortress with sea views from its watchtower, the Kasbah Museum with Roman and Punic artefacts, and a vibrant artisan souk with ceramics, textiles, and traditional crafts. A full medina visit takes 2–3 hours with a guide.
Yes — Port El Kantaoui marina (8 km north of Sousse) offers daily boat trips including glass-bottom boats (see marine life without getting wet), traditional wooden sailing vessels, and pirate-themed family boats. Trips run 3–4 hours with a swimming stop. Cost: €15–€25/person. Depart from the marina entrance at 9:30am and 2pm.
El Jem is approximately 60 km south of Sousse — around 45–55 minutes by car. Organised excursions take 4–5 hours total including transfer, guided tour of the amphitheatre, and optional museum visit. You can also reach El Jem independently by train from Sousse station (journey: approximately 1 hour).
Yes, but it is a very long day — 12+ hours of travel. Most Sousse-based Sahara excursions go to the Chott el Jerid salt lake and the edge of the dunes near Douz, with stops in Kairouan and Sbeitla. Better option: take a domestic Tunisair Express flight from Monastir Airport to Tozeur (45 min) and stay overnight for a proper desert experience.
Families love: (1) Port El Kantaoui pirate boat trip (children's favourite), (2) El Jem amphitheatre (kids love the gladiator history), (3) the Kasbah Museum's mosaics and artefacts, (4) the beach at Port El Kantaoui (shallow, calm, lifeguarded). Aquapark visits are also available via Hammamet Yasmine (60 km, 1 hour transfer).
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