people walking on the beach during daytime

Sousse

Travelers come to Sousse for the sandy Sahel coast, then stay for the walled medina and its fortified Ribat.

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Sousse is a coastal city in eastern Tunisia on the Gulf of Hammamet, about 140 km south of Tunis, and the capital of Sousse Governorate. It is the central city of the Tunisian Sahel, a sandy coast backed by olive groves and orchards. The city is a major seaside resort, with about 40,000 hotel beds along the coast and around 1.2 million visitors a year. Its history goes back to Phoenician and Roman times.

The walled medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1988. Its narrow, winding streets hold open and covered souks, a kasbah, and the Ribat, a 9th-century fortified tower-minaret in excellent condition. The Great Mosque stands at the entrance, and the Kasbah museum holds mosaics from Roman villas. Catacombs from the Carthaginian, Roman and Byzantine periods can be visited beneath the city. Two days cover the medina and a beach day. Summers are hot and dry, so late spring and early autumn are the easier months for walking the old town.

Sousse in five

Carry Tunisian dinars for small shops and taxisMany shops and taxis in the medina and around the souks want cash in Tunisian dinars (TND). Get some at the airport or a bank before you reach the old town.Money and costs
Take the Sahel Metro from Monastir airportMonastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport is about 20 km from Sousse. The Sahel Metro links the airport with the city, ending at Bab Jadid in the centre.Getting around
Ride red-strip louages between citiesRed-strip louages are shared taxis for trips to other Tunisian cities, and blue-strip ones serve the city itself. Agree the fare with the driver before you get in.Getting around
Dress modestly in the medina and at mosquesCover your shoulders and knees in the medina, the souks and the mosques. Beachwear belongs on the beach and hotel areas, not in the old town.
Check security advice before you travelA gunman attacked tourists on a beach near Sousse's coastal hotels in June 2015, killing 38 people. Read current government advice for Tunisia before you book.

Things to do in Sousse

See all attractions in Sousse

Museum · SousseDar Essid Museum

Beach · SousseBou Jaafar Beach

white and brown concrete buildings during daytime

Mosque · SousseMedina sousse

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SoussePut the places you like in Sousse on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
Entry: Check the visa rules for your passport on the official site before you book
Emergency: 197 police, 190 ambulance, 198 fire
Tipping: Ask if service is included on the bill before you leave a tip
Time: UTC+1, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Mild, wet
FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Mild, wet
MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild, sunny
AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Mild, sunny
MayClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, dry
JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Season starts
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh34°Low25°Hot, busy
AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh34°Low25°Hot, peak season
SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Warm, sea
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Season ends
NovemberClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Cooler, wet
DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Mild, wet

Average daily high and low in Sousse, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jul Aoussou carnival

Right now in Sousse

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 12°
Humidity: 49%
Wind: 27 km/h
Chance of rain: 20%

Sousse

11:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today21°14°20%Monday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 20%.
Tue22°13°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed22°14°21%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 21%.
Thu25°17°25%Thursday: Rain. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 25%.
Fri24°17°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sat24°17°5%Saturday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sun26°18°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 5%.

Updated 07:31 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.013 TND

Amount

Converted to

TND · Tunisian Dinar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Sousse

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

JulAoussou carnivalSousse
Jul–AugHammamet International FestivalHammamet, a day trip

Day trips by train

MonastirOn the Sahel Metro lineA coastal town on the Sahel line, reached by the same metro that serves the airport.
MahdiaOn the Sahel Metro lineA walled peninsula town on the coast, with a long history as a port.
El JemCheck the route before you goA large Roman amphitheatre rises above the town, one of the best-preserved in Africa.

Before you go to Sousse

eSIM for TunisiaMaps and bus times for louage stopsRead the guide

Travel insurance for TunisiaCover for beach trips and day tripsRead the guide

Money and cards in dinarsCash for taxis and small shopsRead the guide

Stays in SousseCoast, medina and port area comparedRead the guide

Rules for Sousse, checked

Check entry rules for your passport on the official government site before you book, since visa-free stays depend on nationality.
Dinars cannot be taken in or out of Tunisia in large amounts. Check the current customs limit before you travel.
Dial 197 for police, 190 for an ambulance or 198 for fire anywhere in Tunisia.
Dress modestly when you enter mosques and religious sites, covering shoulders and knees.

Plan around Sousse

All of Tunisia

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Tunisia trip

Read the guide Getting around Sousse

Sahel Metro, national trains, louages and taxis from the airport

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules for your passport before you book flights

Read the guide Money and costs

Dinars, cards and typical prices for beds, food and transport

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels on the coast, the medina and the port area compared

Read the guide

Sousse FAQ

Is Sousse worth visiting?

Yes, for a beach stay with a walled medina to explore on foot. The medina, the Ribat and the Great Mosque are the main sights in the old town.

How do you get from Monastir airport to Sousse?

Take the Sahel Metro from Monastir airport, about 20 km away, to the Bab Jadid terminus in the city centre. A taxi also works, but agree the fare before you leave the airport.

How many days do you need in Sousse?

Two days cover the medina, the Ribat and the Kasbah museum, with a beach day added. A longer stay suits a beach holiday with day trips to Monastir or El Jem.

When is the tourist season in Sousse?

The tourist season traditionally runs from early June to the first weekend of October, ending with closing parties.

Can you visit the catacombs in Sousse?

Yes, the Carthaginian, Roman and Byzantine catacombs beneath the city can be visited. They were studied mainly from 1913 to 1927.

What language do you need in Sousse?

Arabic is the main language of the city. Most visitor services use French, a legacy of the French protectorate period.