Water sports in the turquoise Mediterranena Sea, sunbathing on the beach, sightseeing in the ancient medina and bargaining in the colourful souq are all popular activities in the lively Tunisian city of Sousse. One of the most famous holiday destinations in Tunisia, Sousse and the nearby resort town of Port El Kantaoui have pleasant Mediterranean climate and excellent accommodation and dining opportunities.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic medina of Sousse is the heart of the city where many fascinating attractions are located. The oldest monument in the medina, Ribat originally served as a fortified Islamic monastery. The Ribat has an impressive watchtower with breathtaking views over the old city of Sousse. One of the landmarks of the city, the 9th century Great Mosque has very simply decorated interior. Rich in history, Sousse was founded by the Phoenicians and later ruled by Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs and Europeans. For those interested in the rich cultural heritage of Tunisia and Sousse, there are several interesting museums in Sousse. One of the most exciting attractions in the city, the catacombs consists of 100 meters of tunnels formerly used as graves. Some of the graves have glass fronts displaying remains of the old skeletons. For shopping in Sousse head for the colorful souq in the heart of the Medina. The souq is a great place for bargaining and buying traditional Tunisian handicraft.
Golf around Soussecan be found in Port El Kantaoui area. The stylish Mediterranean marina is also located in Port El Kantaoui. The palm-fringed promenades are dotted with numerous restaurants in Sousse serving delicious Tunisian specialties. In the many clubs and bars you can enjoy the lively nightlife in Sousse. Sousse is also an ideal destination for day trips to nearby coastal towns of Hammamet, Monastir and the magnificent Roman amphitheatre at El Jem. Your trip to Tunisia is not complete without taking one of the safari tours from Sousse to Sahara desert and its magical landscape.
Historic Medina, colourful souq and long beaches in Sousse
The beautiful, long beaches in Sousse are one of the major attractions in the city. Sousse and the adjacent Port El Kantaoui host as much as 20 km stratch of beaches by the warm Mediterranean waters. Many hotels in Sousse have their own peaceful beaches ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea offer good opportunities for water sports activities, such as kayaking, sailing, snorkeling and diving in Sousse. The luxuriousspas around Sousseare ideal places for relaxing on your holiday.A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic medina of Sousse is the heart of the city where many fascinating attractions are located. The oldest monument in the medina, Ribat originally served as a fortified Islamic monastery. The Ribat has an impressive watchtower with breathtaking views over the old city of Sousse. One of the landmarks of the city, the 9th century Great Mosque has very simply decorated interior. Rich in history, Sousse was founded by the Phoenicians and later ruled by Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs and Europeans. For those interested in the rich cultural heritage of Tunisia and Sousse, there are several interesting museums in Sousse. One of the most exciting attractions in the city, the catacombs consists of 100 meters of tunnels formerly used as graves. Some of the graves have glass fronts displaying remains of the old skeletons. For shopping in Sousse head for the colorful souq in the heart of the Medina. The souq is a great place for bargaining and buying traditional Tunisian handicraft.
Golf around Soussecan be found in Port El Kantaoui area. The stylish Mediterranean marina is also located in Port El Kantaoui. The palm-fringed promenades are dotted with numerous restaurants in Sousse serving delicious Tunisian specialties. In the many clubs and bars you can enjoy the lively nightlife in Sousse. Sousse is also an ideal destination for day trips to nearby coastal towns of Hammamet, Monastir and the magnificent Roman amphitheatre at El Jem. Your trip to Tunisia is not complete without taking one of the safari tours from Sousse to Sahara desert and its magical landscape.
Practical Information for Your Stay in Sousse
Sousse is located in the eastern coast of Tunisia by the Gulf of Hammamet on the Mediterranean Sea.
Photo: ahisgett, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
The city enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Summer from June to September is the high season for tourism in Sousse. The most pleasant time to visit Sousse is in spring from April to May when the city is less crowded and the prices at the hotels are not at their highest.
More than 1,2 million visitors stay in Sousse each year and there is an excellent selection of hotels around Sousse. Many of them located in the modern tourist resort of Port El Kantaoui approximately 12 kilometers from the city centre. The third largest city in Tunisia, Sousse is easily accessible from many countries and other destinations in Tunisia. Flights to Sousse arrive at Monastir Airport which is located 20 km away from Sousse. There are also good train and shared taxi connections to Sousse from the Tunisian capital Tunis. The roads in Tunisia are generally in very good condition and there are good highway connections to Sousse from other cities and towns in Tunisia. Sousse is the major port in Tunisia and receives ferries from Italy and France.
Taxis are widely available in Sousse. As the majority of them do not use meters it is advisable to negotiate the price before entering a taxi. Shared taxis are an inexpensive way of traveling long distances and travelling around the city. Car rental in Sousse is easy and a good option if you want to travel around Tunisia on your own. Sousse can be considered a safe travel destination. English is widely understood by those locals working in the tourist industry. A formal dress is expected when visiting the religious monuments in the city. It is advisable to be aware of pickpockets and avoid traveling alone after dark. Driving in Tunisia may be dangerous, if you are not accustomed to the local driving habits.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Hammamet, Tunis
