Sousse
From World travel guide
Sousse (سوسة Susa) is in Tunisia.
Contents |
Understand
Sousse is one of the older cities in Tunisia possessing an authentic medina, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly with Russian, East European, British and German people. Located on the coast it has good beaches and a clear turquoise sea.
Get in
By plane
The most convenient airport is Monastir which is to the south on the coast, 20 minutes away and frequently used by holiday charter flights.
By train
Sousse is on the main line from Tunis in the north down to Sfax and Monastir to the south. Example fares from Tunis to Sousse are 12/10/6 dinars in Grand/1st/2nd class.
By car
By bus
By boat
Get around
By taxi
Taxis have a bad reputation and the advice is to agree a price before getting in and ensure that the price is not 'per person'. They do have meters, but the drivers are often reluctant to use them; if you can persuade them ensure it is reset to 0.310 dinar at the start of your journey. Expect double rates after dark. A general (daytime) rate is 1 dinar per kilometre.
Louage taxis are large cars or minibuses/people carriers which start their journey when they are full. Well used by the locals, expect to pay 10% of the price of a taxi.
See
All of Sousse's sights are located within the labyrithine medina in the heart of the city.
- Great Mosque. A surprisingly tranquil place despite its location in the middle of the city. Built c. 850 AD, this mosque is simple and austere in the Aghlabite style, no decoration whatsoever aside from a string of angular Arabic and curved arches. Even the prayer room is covered in reed mats instead of the usual carpet. You must be properly dressed to enter, but green wraps can be rented for a token fee to cover up.
- Mosaic Museum, in the gently crumbling old kasbah on the edge of the medina.
- Ribat
- Catacombs
Do
Buy
- Medina including the souk located in the center of the city. The old section of the city containing the local bazaar, expect to haggle or barter.
- Soula Cantre just outside the souk has fixed prices, it is useful to establish values before haggling in the souk.
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
- Hôtel de Paris. Spotlessly clean if rather austere hotel near the main entrance to the medina. Small singles from TD 13.
Splurge
Contact
Stay safe
Cope
Get out
- Roman Amphitheatre in El Djem or El Jem, approx 70km due south of Sousse which is better preserved than that at Rome. It was the location for some of the filming in Gladiator.
- Port El Kantaoui purpose built tourist resort featuring a marina. Said to be too fake and 'touristy' or cater better for tourist needs with a good range of restaurants and bars. It has a zoo, but the one at Figuiera is better, and a water park.
- Figuiera Zoo Well cared for animals. Although not in an authentic setting, see lions and elephants in Africa!
- Sahara Explorer is a two day 750 mile tourist adventure to the edge of the desert, which includes visits to El Djem, Berber caves, salt lakes and a sunset camel ride in the Sahara.
External links
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