Monastir has its own airport, which means a good many British holidays start here, and quite a few never leave. It is the quieter neighbour of Sousse: a great slab of a fortress facing the sea, a marina, decent beaches and an unhurried way of going about things. Here is what to do, where to stay and where to eat well.
Why come to Monastir?
Because you land and you are there. The airport sits practically in the town, so the transfer that eats half a day elsewhere takes ten minutes here. Beyond the convenience: good beaches, a genuinely impressive piece of history on the seafront, a marina for the evening, and Sousse, Mahdia and El Jem all within easy reach. It is calmer than Sousse and prices tend to be gentler too.
What to do in Monastir
The Ribat
The Ribat of Monastir is one of the oldest Islamic fortresses in North Africa, and it looks it — huge, plain, honey-coloured, planted right at the water’s edge. Climb the tower for the view along the coast. Film crews worked this out long ago: it stood in for Jerusalem in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, among others. Bring a hat — there is no shade up there.
The Bourguiba Mausoleum
Golden domes, slim minarets and a long ceremonial avenue leading up to it. The first president of Tunisia is buried here, and the building is worth the walk even if the politics mean nothing to you. Dress modestly and it is free to look.
The marina and the beaches
Boats, cafés and restaurants around the harbour, and sandy beaches either side of town. Nothing dramatic, all of it easy — which is rather the point of Monastir.
The medina
Smaller and less grand than the one at Sousse, and all the better for a quiet wander. Fewer people will try to sell you a carpet.
Where to stay in Monastir
Hotels line the beaches and the marina, most with direct access to the sea and a good many with a spa. Value for money in the Sahel is generally better here than in Sousse. 👉 Browse our selection of hotels in Monastir.
Where to eat in Monastir
Fish and seafood facing the marina, and unfussy Tunisian cooking in town. Eat late and outside — the sunset over the water from the harbour restaurants is the whole point. 👉 Our favourite restaurants in Monastir.
Days out from Monastir
- Sousse — the UNESCO medina and Port El Kantaoui, twenty minutes up the coast. See our guide to visiting Sousse.
- El Jem — the great Roman amphitheatre, about 40 minutes inland and worth every one of them.
- Mahdia — some of the best sand in the country and a working fishing port, an hour south.
- Kairouan — the holy city and its Great Mosque, about ninety minutes away.
Practical bits
- Getting there: Monastir Habib Bourguiba airport takes UK charter flights and is minutes from the hotels. Enfidha is the other option, about an hour away.
- When to go: May to October for swimming; spring and autumn for sightseeing without the heat.
- How long: a week, using Monastir as a base for the Sahel.
- Getting about: the Sahel metro (a local train) links Monastir, the airport and Sousse cheaply and often. Taxis are inexpensive.
- Money: the dinar is a closed currency — change on arrival, and do not expect to bring any home.
Questions people ask
Is Monastir better than Sousse?
Quieter, cheaper and easier to arrive at. Sousse has the bigger medina and far more going on after dark. Many people stay in Monastir and go into Sousse for the day.
How long is the transfer from Monastir airport?
Ten to twenty minutes for most hotels. It is one of the shortest transfers you will find anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Is there much to do in the evening?
Dinner at the marina, a walk along the front, a drink by the boats. If you want clubs and crowds, Sousse is twenty minutes away.
Was Life of Brian really filmed here?
Yes — the Ribat and parts of the old town appear in it, and in Jesus of Nazareth before that. Locals will point out the spots if you ask.