The 8 Best Day Trips from Sousse

While the beaches and resort facilities of Sousse’s hotels might keep you entertained for a while, and exploring the Ribat and Medina will interest you for perhaps a day, you should take advantage of some stunning places to visit in the near vicinity of Sousse while you are here.  The area around here has got some rather spectacular things to see and all within easy reach of Sousse itself.  There are port cities, the stunning Roman coliseum of El Jem, hilltop Berber villages, and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Kairouan.  Here’s my guide to the best day trips from Sousse.

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Whether you’re staying at a resort hotel or you’re holed up inside the Medina (both are great options and I recommend them for different reasons), there will come a time for you to get out and about in the countryside around Sousse.  The city and resort area are perfectly located to explore some of Tunisia’s most stunning attractions.  Three at least – El Jem, Kairouan, and Monastir are just an hour or two away.   You can take trains, use the Tunisian shared minibuses (louages), rent a car, or take a guided tour.  You won’t regret it, and I think with at least one of these locations, you’ll be stunned.  In a very pleasant way!

Sousse’s Best 8 Day Trips

You’ve got a whole lot of options when it comes to exploring outside of Sousse and finding day trips that are worth your time.  There are ancient Roman amphitheaters, sleepy fishing villages, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. And some are easily accessible by train and other public transport options.

Of course, having a rental car gives you the most flexibility, and the driving is relatively easy here, so it’s worth checking out that as an option before you dive into the world of louages, trains, and guided trips.

I’ll start with what I think should be on everyone’s agenda for this part of Tunisia.  It’s called El Jem, and it truly is a gem and shouldn’t be missed.

1. El Jem – the Incredible UNESCO World Heritage Roman Amphitheater

This Roman-era amphitheater was built in 238 AD.  And it’s still standing.  Out of the 90 original arches that were built as part of its construction, 68 remain.  It is phenomenal.  If there is one day trip that you do from Sousse, make it to visit El Jem.  It’s not far away, about an hour.  And you can usually combine a trip here with a trip to Kairouan.

It has an amazing history (you can read about it here), and this site that was built to house 35,000 is incredibly atmospheric, all the most because you will likely have it to yourself.  We did.  Just us and about 12 other people. 

You can clamber on walls, crouch in underground passageways that once held wild boars, tigers, and lions waiting their turn to do battle with the gladiators who were in the next underground tunnel.  Then head to the top level –the cheap seats and get the most stunning views of the entire arena and the wider area around El Jem.

It’s easy to visit, hard to leave, and make sure that you don’t miss the El Jem archeological museum that’s included in your 12 TND ticket price, as that has a stunning collection of Roman mosaics, which, even if you’ve spent time at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, will blow your mind.

2. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Kairouan from Sousse

The fourth holiest city in Islam and originally the capital of Tunisia (from 800 AD to 909 AD), Kairouan has several undeniably interesting historic links.  The medina here is quiet and not particularly touristy.  If you’re in the market for a carpet, then this, as the center of Tunisia’s carpet production, is the place to come. 

Most tours to El Jem will stop at Kairouan as well, and it’s worth it, trust me. This is the day trip that we took and it was fabulous!  If you’re traveling independently, then you’ll want to check out my guide to Kairouan here, which includes transport options and what to see.

You’ll want to stop by the Aghlabid Basins, while the water in the ponds might be somewhat murky today, its 9th-century origins are spectacular.  Kairouan’s Great Mosque is a stunning piece of early Islamic architecture, and you shouldn’t miss the mosque of the three doors, with incredible Andalusian influences.  Don’t miss tasting maqroudh, a date-filled pastry dripping in honey. There’s more on what you’ll see in Kairouan here.

3. Take the train to Monastir for a day trip from Sousse

This is such an easy trip to make.  Even if you’re staying at one of the resort hotels, you can take a taxi to the Sousse Metro Sahel station and get right into the heart of the port city of Monastir.

It’s really a simple trip; the Metro Sahel (light rail) system runs directly from Sousse to Monastir, and stops right in the center of town, making it really easy to explore.  And the trip only takes about 30 minutes, with EXTREMELY cheap tickets too.   Tickets in lounges are also very cheap (but heck, you know we prefer trains here, right?) There’s more on the different options on going from Sousse to Monastir here.

You don’t need a whole lot of time in Monastir (my full guide with all the details is here), but you should start with the Ribat, which is the largest in North Africa.   It dates from the 8^th century, and the views from the tower are fabulous.  Movie fans can also re-enact some of their favorite parts of the Life of Brian, which was filmed here.  The mausoleum of Tunisia’s “father of independence”, Habib Bourguiba, is well worth a visit, and it’s also worth getting a little lost in the medina here.  Once you’ve got out of the louage, or off the train, then Monastir is very relaxed and also very walkable.

4. Take a day Trip to Mahdia for Historic Coastal Charm.

Just over an hour’s drive south of Sousse and right on the coast, in fact on its own peninsula, is the quiet beach town of Mahdia.  The city of about 40,000 people is known for olive oil, silk weaving, and fishing, and is one of those seaside resorts that hasn’t quite been caught up with the international tourism bug that launched the resort hotels of Hammamet and Sousse.  It’s a delightful place to spend a day and an easy day trip from Sousse.  You can easily take a train down here from Sousse Ville, via Monastir, although it takes a little longer than driving (2 hours versus 90 minutes).

As is fitting, there’s a fortress, an authentic medina, and plenty of quiet squares to enjoy a mint tea and some of the fish that the city relies on. There’s a glorious coastline here, and walks are a little bit more interesting than just hiking along the sand. 

If you’re heading here for a day trip, then this two-hour locally guided tour will take you to the hidden corners, the best place for tea, for lunch, and also take you through the history of Mahdia (and there’s a lot of it!).

5. Visit Hammamet & Nabeul for Ceramics, a Fortress & More Beaches

You might not think that heading to another resort town for a day trip is a good idea, but Hammamet has an interesting 15th-century fortress that overlooks its medina.  The train runs here too, as do the louages, so if you fancy something a little different, then head north.

It will take you about an hour to get here from Sousse (driving is easy too.  If you’ve got a car, or take a tour, then you can combine your visit with a trip to Nabeul, which is famous for its ceramics workshops.  The weekly market (on Fridays) specializes in tiles and tableware.

6. Visit Sidi Bou Said, Tunis & Carthage from Sousse

If your trip to Tunisia doesn’t include any time in her capital city and visiting the stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites of Carthage, and a day trip is all you have, then you should take it.  This trip combines a visit to the old town of Tunis (the Medina is something entirely different from the medina in Sousse), a visit to the fabulous Carthage ruins, and an exploration of the gloriously photogenic Sidi Bou Said.

This is a great way to combine ancient history, charming cafes, and the vibrancy of Tunis’s mosques and souks.   It’s going to be a long day, and while you can take the train, you’ll need transfers at the other end. Doing this as a guided trip will really benefit you in time saved.  You can read my guide to Carthage here, and see that just getting between the sites of the ruins is actually part of the adventure!

That said, if you do want to take the train, then you’ll need to be up early.  Arrive in Tunis, and switch to the TGM lines for Carthage. Remember that the ruins are scattered and not just a single site, so you might be best picking one or two – try the Antoninus Baths, Byrsa Hill, and the Roman Villas.  When you’ve had your fill of UNESCO World Heritage ruins, jump back on the TGM and head up to Sidi Bou Said.  Once you get off the TGM, you’ll need to hike up the hill for the views and the blue and white that this town is famous for.  Your return to Sousse is the same in reverse.  You’ll want to check the return train times to make sure that you don’t have an unscheduled night in Tunis. Worried about the timings? Jump on a guided tour here.

7. Visit the Hilltop Berber Villages of Takrouna & Zaghouan from Sousse

So far, we’ve covered the coast and the historic centers of El Jem and Kairouan; now it’s time for something entirely different.  I did tell you that Sousse was a fabulous place for exploring a multitude of different places, didn’t I?  Now we’re heading into the hills.  The traditional Berber villages of Takrouna and Zaghouan are completely different.

There are winding alleyways, stone houses, and stunning landscapes.  Zaghouan’s Roman aqueduct ruins and the magnificent Mount Zaghouan are fabulous for hiking if that takes your fancy.  So if you want a peaceful day out, lots of nature, fresh, clean mountain air, and the odd market, head up into the hills.

If you have a rental car, this is an easy trip to make, but you won’t be able to get here on public transport.  This full-day trip explores ruined villages, the Roman aqueduct, and the slower pace of life.

8. Visit the Sahara Desert from Sousse

And for my final suggestion, we’re going to need a longer day.  Or rather, two days to head to the Sahara Desert.  And yes, you definitely should; it is an incredible place.  If you want date palms, dunes, mirages, and salt flats, then heading south to Douz and Tozeur is a magnificent trip to take from Sousse.  Don’t forget to top up on your cash before you head south (read details of ATMs, currency and cash in Tunisia here)

If you do have longer, then read my guide to Tozeur here, its a fabulous place. You’ll get to see camels in the desert, famous movie locations from the Star Wars franchise, The English Patient, and more.  My guide to visiting the Star Wars movie locations is here.

These are long days, but the rewards are high; it’s a place that you won’t forget in a hurry.  If the Sahara is on your list, then a good place to start is this two-day Sahara tour from Sousse.

Final Words on the 8 Best Day Trips from Sousse

As if the choice of different resort hotels or hideaways in the Medina wasn’t enough, Sousse is a great base for this part of Tunisia to get to other places.  The train lines that run through the town and the louage system make it easy to explore independently if you don’t wish to take day trips and tours.  And there’s a huge diversity of places to visit within a couple of hours of the city. 

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