Sousse Monastir excursion: medinas, ribats and the marina

Our Sousse Monastir excursion follows one short stretch of coast: the marina of Port El Kantaoui, the UNESCO medina and ribat of Sousse, then the ribat of Monastir where films were shot. Pickup is at 08:00, no drive between stops takes more than twenty minutes, and you are back at your hotel by 18:00 at the latest.

Duration: Full day, 6 h 30 min
Price: from €90 per car
Pickup: At your hotel, 08:00 to 18:00
Stops: Port El Kantaoui, Sousse, Monastir

Book this day Ask on WhatsApp

What you see on the Sousse Monastir excursion

The Sousse Monastir excursion covers the Sahel, the coast whose two medinas hold some of the oldest Islamic monuments in North Africa. The ribats of Sousse and Monastir were built over a thousand years ago as fortified monasteries facing the sea, and you can still climb their watchtowers. Because the drives are short, it is the day we recommend most for the start of a holiday.

the medina of Sousse, World Heritage since 1988: UNESCO
the year building began on the ribat of Monastir: 796
the longest drive between two stops: 20 min
per car from Hammamet or Sousse, up to four people: €90

How the day runs

We run the coast from north to south, so not a kilometre is wasted: the marina first, the Sousse medina in the late morning and Monastir in the afternoon. The usual pace takes 6 h 30 min door to door from Hammamet, with pickup at 08:00. Stay longer anywhere you like, as the driver waits and the price stays the same as long as you are back at your hotel by 18:00.

Times from

08:00
Pickup at your hotel in Hammamet
30 min drive to Port El Kantaoui
1
Arrival around 08:30
Port El Kantaoui
Marina and promenade, about 1 h
A resort built in the 1970s in the style of an Andalusian village, around a marina full of yachts and fishing boats. Have a coffee on the quay and stroll the white lanes before the day’s history begins.
- The marina and its boats
- White lanes and bougainvillea
- Coffee on the quay
2
Sousse
UNESCO medina, ribat and kasbah, about 2 h 30
Inside the ramparts, climb the watchtower of the ribat for the view over the medina and the sea, then step into the Great Mosque, a model of early Islamic simplicity. The Archaeological Museum in the kasbah holds one of the finest collections of Roman mosaics in the country.
- The ribat and its watchtower
- The Great Mosque of Sousse
- Roman mosaics in the kasbah museum
3
Monastir
Ribat and Bourguiba mausoleum, about 1 h 30
The ribat of Monastir is one of the best preserved in the Islamic world, and its walls appear in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Next door, the gold-domed mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba, the first president of independent Tunisia, faces the sea.
- The ribat and its ramparts
- The Bourguiba mausoleum
- The seafront and the marina
18:00
Back at your hotel in Hammamet, at the latest
The usual pace takes about 6 h 30 min, so you have time to stay longer at any site

The route on the map

Port El Kantaoui, Sousse and Monastir follow one another along twenty-five kilometres of coast. Choose your pickup city, or a stop to see it up close.

Driving times on the map are Google estimates. Your driver knows the quicker roads.

Worth knowing about the Sahel

The Sahel coast is easy to visit, but a few details shape the day. Here is what helps most.

What is a ribat?: A fortified monastery built on the coast in the 8th and 9th centuries, where volunteers kept watch over the sea. Sousse and Monastir have the two finest in Tunisia.
The medina before 11:00: The Sousse medina fills up once the hotel groups arrive. That is why Port El Kantaoui comes first and Sousse in the late morning, while the lanes are still calm.
A good first day: Short drives and three towns give you a good feel for the country. It is an easy start before you head inland to El Jem or Dougga.

Sousse Monastir excursion prices per car

From Hammamet, Sousse or Port El Kantaoui the day costs €90 for up to four people. From Tunis it costs €140, as the drive to the coast is longer. The price is fixed per car with no deposit, and entrance fees are paid on the spot.

Prices for the Sousse, Monastir & Port El Kantaoui excursion, per car, by group size and pickup city
Travellers
1–4 people	€90	€90	€90	€140
4–6 people	€120	€120	€120	€170
5–8 people	€130	€130	€130	€180
8–12 people	€160	€160	€160	€210

Prices are per car, in euros, for the whole day, and they do not change with the season. Tap a city to update the timetable and the booking card.

What’s included

The price covers the car and the driver for the day, not each seat. You pay the driver at the end, with no hotel markup.

Included

Private air-conditioned car, never shared
English and French-speaking driver all day
Fuel, motorway tolls and parking
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or address
Photo stops along the coast whenever you ask

Not included

Entrance to the ribats and the museum (around 8 dinars each)
Lunch and drinks
Shopping in the medina

Good to know

Both medinas are cobbled and both ribats have steep stairs. A little preparation makes the day easier.

A narrow staircase
The watchtower of the Sousse ribat is climbed by a tight spiral staircase. The courtyard is easy for everyone.
Modest dress for the mosques
Cover shoulders and knees for the Great Mosque of Sousse and the mausoleum. A light scarf or sarong is enough.
Comfortable shoes
The medinas are cobbled throughout, and you will walk more than you expect. Trainers are ideal.

Sousse Monastir excursion: your questions

These are the questions travellers ask most about this coastal day. If yours is missing, just ask.

How long is the day?

The usual pace takes about 6 h 30 min door to door from Hammamet, with pickup at 08:00. From Sousse or Port El Kantaoui it is shorter, because you start on the spot. You can stay longer anywhere you like, and the price does not change as long as you are back at your hotel by 18:00.

How much does the Sousse Monastir excursion cost?

€90 per car from Hammamet, Sousse or Port El Kantaoui for one to four people, and €140 from Tunis. Entrance fees, around 8 dinars per site, are paid on the spot.

What is the difference between Sousse and Monastir?

Sousse is a large, busy city with a walled UNESCO medina, souks and the kasbah museum. Monastir is smaller and calmer, with its ribat, the Bourguiba mausoleum and a long seafront. Seeing both in one day shows two sides of the same coast.

Is the Sousse medina worth visiting?

Yes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the ribat, the Great Mosque and the kasbah museum inside its walls. Go in the late morning, before the hotel groups fill the lanes.

Was the ribat of Monastir really used in films?

Yes. Its crenellated walls appear in Monty Python’s Life of Brian and in Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth.

Can it be done as a half day?

Yes, keeping Sousse and Monastir and dropping Port El Kantaoui. Allow about four hours. Message us on WhatsApp for the price.

Is it accessible with reduced mobility?

Partly. Port El Kantaoui and the Monastir seafront are flat, while the Sousse watchtower and the medina cobbles are harder. Tell us and the driver adapts the route.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes, the drives are short and the ribats feel like castles. Child seats are free on request.

Plan your trip

Before you book, read our guides: whether Tunisia is safe to visit and what excursions in Tunisia really cost. They answer the questions most travellers ask about a day like this.

Every day trip below is private, priced per car and leaves from your hotel. Pick one to see its route, times and prices.

Book your Sousse Monastir excursion

Send us your hotel, your date and the number of travellers. You get written confirmation within two hours, with a fixed price per car and nothing to pay until the end of the day. Message us today and we will reserve the car for your Sousse Monastir excursion.