They call it the pearl of the Sahel, and for once the nickname is earned. Sousse has a walled medina the UNESCO people put on their list, miles of sand, a marina full of boats at Port El Kantaoui, and a reputation for staying up late. It is the busiest of Tunisia’s resorts and makes no apology for it. Here is what to do, where to stay and where to eat well.
Why come to Sousse?
Sousse gives you two holidays for the price of one. There is the beach — long, sandy, lined with hotels — and there is a genuine medieval city behind it, still lived in, not tidied up for visitors. Add a wide choice of hotels at sensible prices and a position that puts El Jem, Kairouan and Monastir within easy reach, and you have the most practical base in the country. If you like a bit of life in the evening, this is your resort.
What to do in Sousse
The medina (UNESCO)
One of the best-preserved walled towns in the Arab world, and still very much a working one. The Ribat — a ninth-century fortress-monastery — is the thing to climb: the watchtower gives you the whole city and the sea beyond. Then the Great Mosque, and the kasbah, which holds a museum of Roman mosaics well worth an hour. Go in the morning, before the heat and the coach parties.
The beaches
Long stretches of fine sand running north from the town, with hotels and beach bars along most of them. Easy swimming, plenty of water sports if you want them, and enough space to find a quiet patch if you do not.
Port El Kantaoui
A purpose-built marina village a few kilometres up the coast: whitewashed arches, flowers everywhere, restaurants around the harbour and a golf course behind. It is unashamedly pretty and works very well with children.
After dark
Sousse is the liveliest place on this coast — cafés, markets, bars and clubs that keep going long after the rest of Tunisia has turned in. Worth knowing in both directions: brilliant if you want an evening out, less so if you want silence at eleven.
Where to stay in Sousse
From the big beachfront resorts to the quieter hotels around Port El Kantaoui, Sousse has the broadest range of prices in the country. Book early for July and August. 👉 Browse our selection of hotels in Sousse.
Where to eat in Sousse
Grilled fish facing the water, proper Tunisian cooking in the medina, and a row of international kitchens around the marina. Ask for harissa on the side rather than in the dish until you know how you feel about it. 👉 Our favourite restaurants in Sousse.
Days out from Sousse
- El Jem — a Roman amphitheatre very nearly the size of the Colosseum, and you will have rather more of it to yourself. An hour away, and the single best day out in the region.
- Kairouan — the holy city and its Great Mosque, about an hour and a half inland.
- Monastir — the Ribat and the marina, twenty minutes down the coast.
- Mahdia — quieter beaches and a fishing port, an hour south.
Practical bits
- Getting there: Monastir airport is about 25 minutes away and Enfidha about 45 — both take UK flights.
- When to go: May to October for swimming; spring and autumn are the pleasantest for walking the medina.
- How long: a week, using Sousse as a base and taking two or three days out.
- Money: the dinar is a closed currency — you cannot buy it before you travel or bring it home. Change on arrival and keep cash for the souks.
- In the medina: haggling is expected and good-humoured. Decide your price first and stick to it.
Questions people ask
Is Sousse or Hammamet better?
Sousse if you want the bigger old town, more choice and a proper night out. Hammamet if you want quiet, gardens, spas and golf. Both have very good beaches.
How far is El Jem from Sousse?
About 60 kilometres, an hour by road or a straightforward train ride. Go early — there is almost no shade in the amphitheatre.
Is Sousse suitable for families?
Yes, particularly around Port El Kantaoui, which is calmer and geared to children. The town centre is busier and noisier at night.
Can you walk from the hotels into the medina?
From the town beach hotels, yes — fifteen to twenty minutes along the front. From Port El Kantaoui it is a short taxi ride, and taxis are cheap.