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Sousse Tours & Activities
Search guided tours and activities in Sousse on GetYourGuide — verified operator listings including medina walking tours, Kairouan day trips, and Sahara circuits. Booking in advance is advisable from June to September.
The Sousse and Monastir Delight Tour is a confirmed full-day option running from the Sousse medina and Ribat to the Monastir coastal stops and the village of Hergla — approximately 8 hours, from $136/person as of 2026.
Sousse is Tunisia’s second-largest resort destination, positioned at the centre of the Sahel coast 140 km south of Tunis. The UNESCO-listed medina, the Ribat fortress, and the Archaeological Museum give the city real historical substance beyond the beach hotels. From here, Kairouan is an hour west, El Jem is under an hour south, and Monastir is 25 minutes by train — making Sousse one of the most efficient day-trip bases on the Tunisian coast.
This page covers guided tours, self-guided excursions, and boat trips from Sousse, with realistic prices in TND and practical transport notes.
Medina Walking Tours
The Sousse medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most complete Islamic medina on the Tunisian coast after Tunis. The walled city dates from the 9th century and contains three significant monuments within a short walk of each other: the Ribat, the Great Mosque, and the kasbah.
Ribat of Sousse: Entry approximately 8 TND as of 2026. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 08:00–19:00 (summer), 08:30–17:30 (winter). The watchtower gives views across the medina roofscape and out to sea — one of the best vantage points in the city.
Archaeological Museum of Sousse (kasbah): Entry approximately 10 TND as of 2026. Holds one of the largest Roman mosaic collections in Tunisia, including the famous mosaic of Neptune. Open Tuesday–Sunday.
Great Mosque of Sousse: Non-Muslim visitors may enter the courtyard only. Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered.
Guided medina walking tours typically run 2–3 hours and cover the Ribat, Great Mosque, and kasbah. Book through GetYourGuide (search Sousse tours) or your hotel. Half-day guided tours cost approximately 80–150 TND per person as of 2026.
Day Trip to Kairouan
Kairouan is the most culturally significant day trip from Sousse and among the most important cities in North Africa. Founded in 670 CE, it was the first Arab city in the Maghreb and contains the oldest mosque in continuous use in the region.
Getting there: Kairouan is 60 km west of Sousse. Louages run from Sousse bus station (Bab Jedid) for approximately 8–12 TND per person. Journey time: approximately 1 hour. A private taxi costs 120–170 TND return as of 2026. Hire car is the most flexible option — car hire from Sousse from approximately 120 TND/day.
Key sites:
- Great Mosque of Kairouan (entry approximately 8 TND including three sites, as of 2026): The oldest mosque in the Maghreb in continuous use. The prayer hall is closed to non-Muslims but the courtyard, ablutions basin, and minaret are accessible and architecturally striking.
- Aghlabid Basins: A 9th-century water storage system — two large circular reservoirs built to supply the city. Free to visit, 5 minutes’ walk from the mosque.
- Medina of Kairouan: UNESCO-listed, less touristed than Tunis or Sousse. The carpet souks near the Great Mosque are the most concentrated in Tunisia.
Organised day tours: Guided Kairouan day trips from Sousse cost approximately 150–250 TND per person for a shared group tour including transport and guide. Private full-day tours run 300–450 TND as of 2026.
Day Trip to El Jem Amphitheatre
El Jem’s Roman amphitheatre is the third largest in the Roman world — larger than the Colosseum in Rome — and stands in near-pristine condition in the centre of a small market town 60 km south of Sousse.
Getting there: The SNCFT train from Sousse runs to El Jem in approximately 50 minutes; tickets cost approximately 8–12 TND as of 2026. Louages from Sousse bus station run directly for approximately 8–12 TND per person. A private taxi costs 100–130 TND return.
At the site: Entry to the amphitheatre is approximately 14 TND as of 2026, covering access to the underground corridors used by gladiators. The Archaeological Museum of El Jem (separate entry, approximately 10 TND) holds exceptional Roman mosaics excavated from villas across the Sahel. Allow 2–3 hours for both.
Combining with Mahdia: Many visitors combine El Jem with a stop in Mahdia (50 km further south) in a single day. Mahdia has a well-preserved Fatimid medina, the Skifa el-Kahla gateway, and good fish restaurants on the harbour. The SNCFT train continues from El Jem to Mahdia.
Boat Trips from Port El Kantaoui
Port El Kantaoui, 8 km north of central Sousse, is the primary departure point for coastal boat excursions. The marina is purpose-built and has a concentration of licensed operators along the quay.
Glass-bottom boat tours: Run approximately April–October, departing most mornings and afternoons. Duration: 1.5–2 hours. Cost: approximately 50–80 TND per person as of 2026. The bay between Port El Kantaoui and the offshore shallows has seagrass beds and small fish visible through the hull.
Pirate boat excursions: Family-oriented trips with themed entertainment, popular with resort guests. Duration: approximately 3 hours. Cost: approximately 80–120 TND per person as of 2026. These are high-volume tourist operations — expect crowds.
Fishing and snorkelling trips: Less formal half-day charters are available through marina operators. Ask at the quayside — expect to pay 100–180 TND per person for a private half-day as of 2026.
Getting to Port El Kantaoui from Sousse: Taxi from central Sousse is approximately 20–25 TND each way. Local minibuses run the coastal route from Bab Jedid for under 2 TND.
Sahara Desert Tours from Sousse
Multi-day Sahara circuits departing from Sousse (or pickup arranged from Sousse hotels) cover the salt lakes at Chott el-Djerid, the Star Wars filming locations near Tozeur, the desert oasis town of Douz, and camel treks into the dunes.
Typical 2-day Sahara circuit: Departs Sousse at approximately 06:30, heads south via Kairouan and El Jem, reaches the Saharan fringe by afternoon. Overnight in a desert camp. Day 2 covers dune trekking, return via Tozeur or Douz. Cost: approximately 400–650 TND per person for a shared group tour as of 2026.
Book through GetYourGuide (Sousse tours) or through hotel concierges — most Sousse resort hotels have a dedicated excursion desk running Sahara circuits.
Day Trip to Monastir
Monastir is 22 km south of Sousse — the shortest major day trip. The Ribat of Monastir, the Bourguiba Mausoleum, and the marina are the main draws.
Getting there: SNCFT train from Sousse to Monastir takes approximately 25 minutes; tickets cost approximately 4–6 TND each way as of 2026. Louages from Sousse bus station cost 4–7 TND per person.
The Sousse and Monastir Delight Tour is a structured full-day option covering both cities with a licensed guide — approximately 8 hours, from ~$136/person.
Getting Around on Sousse Day Trips
Hire car: Best for Kairouan and multi-stop days. Car hire in Sousse starts at approximately 120–150 TND/day as of 2026. Several agencies operate near the train station and in Sousse city centre.
SNCFT train: The Sousse–Tunis and Sousse–Mahdia–El Jem lines cover most coastal and inland destinations efficiently. Trains run frequently on the Sousse–Monastir corridor. Buy tickets at the station — no advance booking needed for local services.
Louages: Shared long-distance taxis depart from Sousse bus station (Bab Jedid) to Kairouan, El Jem, Monastir, and Mahdia. They depart when full (typically 5 passengers) and are faster than buses on most routes.
Organised tours: Browse tours departing from Sousse on GetYourGuide for the current seasonal programme. Most guided circuits include hotel pickup from Sousse or Port El Kantaoui.