What to do in Sousse, Tunisia? Sousse is a lovely and exciting holiday resort on the Mediterranean. In the past, many charter trips from Sweden took place here, but today it is once again easy to travel here by direct flight or charter. Here are our top tips for things to see and do in Sousse and the surrounding area.
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Sousse in Tunisia
Sousse is Tunisia's third largest city and a popular seaside tourist destination. We were here in June this year, on a press trip in connection with the resumption of direct flights between Stockholm Arlanda and Tunis.
Sousse is located on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia, about 110 kilometres southeast of the capital Tunis.
What to do in Sousse, Tunisia?
So what can you see and do in Sousse? Many people may come here for the sun and swimming, but there is much more to experience. We have gathered our best tips for the city and its surroundings.
1. Hang out by the pool in a holiday hotel
One of the reasons to travel to Tunisia is of course to enjoy the wonderful climate, and why not do it in a pool at a holiday hotel? We stayed at the Green Park hotel in Sousse, which has a large and really nice pool.
2. Sunbathing and swimming on the beach
Do you prefer the beach and swimming in the sea? Sousse has many beautiful beaches where you can enjoy the sun and the sea. For example, you will find Samara Beach, Las Vegas Beach and Bou Jaafar Beach.
3. Discover Sousse Medina
Sousse's medina, or old town, is surrounded by a city wall built in the 12th century. The historic medina was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988, and within the walls you will find several mosques and two fortresses, both dating from the 9th century.
The environment in the medina also offers a charming atmosphere with blue doors and shutters, as well as shops and cafés. For example, we walked past the incredibly charming café that you can see in the picture below.
4. Check out the Ribat of Sousse
The Ribat of Sousse is a fortress that probably dates back to the 7th century and was completed in the 8th century. This fortress is one of the best preserved in the area from this period. Worth checking out!
5. See the Great Mosque in Sousse
The Great Mosque of Sousse is an old mosque dating back to 851, although it has been renovated in recent centuries. The mosque is considered a valuable monument of architecture from the early Islamic period.
6. shopping for handicrafts
One thing you won't want to miss doing in Sousse is shopping for handicrafts. While strolling in the souk, in the old medina, you can visit lots of shops selling handicrafts. Especially beautiful ceramics, but also carpets, shawls and leatherwork, for example.
There are also plenty of clothes and shoes, both traditional and modern.
Peter went shopping for a bracelet and had his name engraved in Arabic. The engraving only took a few moments, and was skilfully done while we watched.
7. See mosaic on Sousse Archaeological Museum
The Sousse Archaeological Museum is located in the centre of the city and is well worth a visit.
The main focus of the museum is on historical mosaics, which are incredibly impressive in both size and detail, as well as in how well preserved many of them are.
In addition to floors and paintings, you can see a beautifully decorated bath.
8. Strolling by the harbour Port El Kantaoui
El Kantaoui is a slightly smaller town located just next to Sousse, where you will find the nice marina Port El Kantaoui. Here it is nice to walk, among restaurants and boats, both during the day and in the evening.
9. Have dinner in the marina of Port El Kantaoui
In Port El Kantaoui it is also nice to sit down for a bite to eat. For example, you can try the restaurant Les Emirs or La Daurade, where we had dinner one evening. Here we had a traditional salad for starters and a very good fish with baked potatoes for the main course.
1o. Play golf at Port El Kantaoui Golf
Do you like to play golf? Then visit Port El Kantaoui Golf, located near the Port El Kantaoui marina. The area offers a lovely setting, with palm and olive trees, and two 18-hole courses.
11. Enjoy spa and thalassotherapy
The spa is popular in Tunisia, including the form known as the thalassotherapywhich is a treatment using seawater. Specific treatments can be included, such as water pressure massage or clay wrapping, but there are also often classic treatments such as various forms of massage.
On our last trip we tried the spa at the Royal Thalasa Monastir hotel, just south of Sousse. The treatments here were very good and the whole gang was incredibly happy. We also liked the pool, where there are different forms of massage jets from different directions.
12. Take an excursion to Monastir.
Monastir is just under half an hour south-east of Sousse by car. In this town, which is also a tourist resort, you can discover a historic medina with the defence fortress Ribat of Monastir and the Mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba. There is also a nice marina.
13. Go on a boat trip to the Kuriat Islands
Starting from Monastir, you can embark on a delightful 'pirate ship' boat trip to the Kuriat Islands. This uninhabited island offers sunbathing and swimming and the opportunity to relax in comfortable hammocks on the beach. You can also learn more about the sea turtles that inhabit the island.
14. Discover Mahdia
A bit south of Monastir, you can discover the city of Mahdia, which also has an old city centre, including the Bordj el Kebir fort and a mosque whose oldest parts date back to the 10th century.
There are also plenty of cafés and shops, and we popped into the Skila shop, where we found some fantastic hand-woven scarves.
15. See the amphitheatre in El Djem
The amphitheatre at El Djem in Tunisia is about an hour away from Sousse by car and is well worth a visit. The theatre was built in the 2nd century, during the reign of Emperor Gordian I, and in its day could accommodate 35,000 guests. This historic site is incredibly powerful and the Roman amphitheatre is one of the largest and best preserved in the world.
More things to see and do in Sousse for culture and history lovers
Want even more tips for things to do in Sousse? Here are some more suggestions for culture and history lovers, both in the centre of town and in the surrounding area.
- Hergla is a small fishing village with white houses and blue doors, located on a cliff, just north of Sousse.
- Catacombs of Sousse is an old underground cemetery, and part of the area is open to visitors.
- Zaouia Zakkak is a 17th century octagonal stone minaret, a leading example of Ottoman architecture.
- Dar Essid Museum is an art museum in a palace in the medina, in a building that once belonged to a family of aristocrats.
Things to do in Sousse for those travelling with children
Travelling with children or teenagers? Here are more tips for things to do in Sousse and its neighbourhood that might be suitable for you.
- Acqua Palace water park is a water park. (Rue des Palmiers, BP 171, Port, Hammam Sousse)
- AquaparkThalassa Sousse is a water park. (Boulevard du 14 Janvier, Sousse 4039)
- Hannibal Leisure Centre is a park with attractions (Hammam Sousse 4011).
- Magic Eye 3D Museum is an optical illusion experience.
Where to stay in Sousse?
There are of course many different hotels to choose from in Sousse. We stayed at Green Park hotel, which is a large tourist hotel with a large lovely pool, restaurant and sandy beach right next door.
We had an excellent room, with a balcony overlooking the pool. We ate both breakfast and dinner in the large buffet restaurant, where there is plenty to choose from.
Mostly we chose to sit outside, where you sit in the lovely warmth, and with a lovely view of the pool.
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
Do you have time and opportunity to look around Tunisia? Then check out the Karounan and the Hammamet and the capital city Tunis. You can also experience the desert with, for example camel riding or quad bike in Tunisia. Below you will find even more tips.
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More tips for things to do in Sousse?
Have you visited this Tunisian charter resort? If so, what are your top tips for what to see and do in Sousse?
What language is spoken in Sousse?
The population of Sousse speaks mainly Arabic, and also French. In places where tourists congregate, English also usually works well.
How to get around in Sousse?
It is easy, and not too expensive, to get around by taxi. There are also various ready-made excursions that you can book.
Which holiday resort to choose - Sousse or Hammamet?
Both Sousse and Hammamet are pleasant seaside holiday resorts. For excursions, Hammamet is closer to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, while Sousse is closer to the amphitheatre of El Djem.
Facts about Sousse in Tunisia
- Country: Tunisia
- Location: On the east coast of the country, about 110 kilometres southeast of Tunis.
- Population: More than 271 000 inhabitants (2013)
Good to know about Sousse
- Language: Arabic and French (English works in tourist areas)
- Time difference: Sweden is 1 hour ahead of Tunisia
- Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TND)
Travelling to Sousse
- Flight: Direct flights from Stockholm Arlanda to Tunis operate once a week, on Mondays, with the airline Nouvelair.
- Charter: There are charter flights from Sweden to Sousse, including with Detur and Apollo.
History in Sousse
- 900 BC: The city was founded by the Phoenicians as Hadrumetum around this time.
- Roman times: The city was a major export port.
- Later history: The city fell under various lordships and was destroyed several times.
- Present tense: Sousse is a centre for trade, tourism and transport and an important port city. It is home to the olive oil, cotton and automobile industries.
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Anki says:
So much fun to read about Tunisia... many memories pop up in my brain! I celebrated my 50th birthday there, so it's more than 20 years ago. We stayed in a brand new hotel in Sousse. I don't remember the name, but it was near the beach and I remember they had good food. I made a couple of visits to the Medina and it was really an experience ... as well as the camel riding ... and the sailboat trip with a catamaran 🙂 Also remember the cheap taxi rides ... but with a certain horror, because they drove like crazy! 🙂
15 October 2023 - 10:38