Sousse Travel Guide

The captivating holiday resort town of Sousse lies on Tunisia's east coast, about two hours drive south of the capital, Tunis. From the 9th century onwards, the Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs, and Romans all discovered the delights of this fertile spot. Dubbed 'the pearl of the Sahel' in ancient times, today its mild climate and beautiful Mediterranean shoreline work their magic on holidaymakers from all over Europe.

Sousse is also favoured by Tunisians as a getaway destination, and locals enjoy mingling with visitors on the sandy beaches and busy promenade. Thankfully, the proliferation of modern resort hotels along the beachfront has not detracted from the charms of the inner city.

Sousse is still regarded as having probably the finest old city in Tunisia, even if is fairly small. A warren of narrow covered alleyways nestling below the (fort) hides hundreds of colourful shops selling a myriad of local goods from carpets and porcelain to leather bags and olive oil. Outside the medina, there is also a vast modern shopping complex.

However, Sousse is not all just shopping and beach bathing. The town's museum, situated in the old (castle), is renowned for its collection of mosaics, masks, statues, and other relics of the Roman occupation. There are also several miles of well-preserved ancient Christian catacombs and marble tombs in the town.

Sousse offers its many package-tour visitors all the facilities and surroundings of a relaxing seaside holiday, overlaid with the undeniably foreign and exotic atmosphere of North Africa, all at extremely affordable prices.

Shopping

There are bargains to be had in the alleyways of the Sousse old city for holidaymakers who can haggle successfully. Carpets and leatherware are favourite buys for tourists, but there is also a vast stock of cheap souvenirs on which to fritter away the holiday budget.

Some visitors are intimidated and do not enjoy bargaining with the souk shopkeepers, who usually begin negotiations with inflated prices. These visitors would be better advised to do their shopping in the adjacent modern shopping mall, which is crammed with shops offering local goods and wares from all over North Africa at fixed prices.

Restaurants

Visitors to Sousse are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out, with a variety of options available such as pizza, tapas, and French cuisine. Couscous is a local staple. Most of the better restaurants are located inside the luxury hotels; others are within walking distance of wherever visitors are staying.

Nightlife

Nightlife for tourists is generally confined to the apartment resorts and hotels, and offers dancing and entertainment. Young Tunisians tend to gather on the beach promenade after dark.

Holiday activities

Most of the pleasurable and sporting activities offered to holidaymakers in Sousse are beach-based, including fishing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and water-skiing. There are also numerous excursions on offer for those keen on exploring more of the Tunisian coastline. In the town itself, delving into the ancient Roman history at the excellent museum and shopping are interesting diversions.

Any negatives?

Many visitors have complained that shopkeepers in the medina are overbearing, and even frightening, in their persistence. There have also been reports of pickpockets being active in the alleyways.