Full-Day Kairouan and El Jem Tour from Sousse

Two millennia of faith and empire in one day

A full-day guided tour from Sousse to Kairouan, Islam's fourth holiest city, and the Roman amphitheatre at El Jem, with professional guide, lunch and hotel pickup included. You start at the 9th-century Aghlabides basins, move through the 7th-century Great Okba Mosque (North Africa's oldest), visit the 17th-century Sidi Sahbi shrine, walk the medina, then drive to El Jem to tour the third-largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire and its museum.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Kairouan and El Jem

• Depart from Tunis accommodation
• View 9th century Aghlabide Basins
• Visit Great Okba Mosque
• Visit Sidi Sahbi mosque
• Walk through Kairouan Medina
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Transfer to El Jem
• Visit El Jem Roman amphitheatre

The experience

Kairouan sits 70 kilometers south of Sousse, and the tour begins at the Aghlabides basins: two vast 9th-century waterworks that powered the city at its height. You view them from the top of the Tourist Information Building, which frames how Kairouan became one of the Islamic world's greatest centers. The Great Okba Mosque stands next: built in the 7th century, it is the oldest mosque in North Africa, and its scale and detail show the architectural confidence of early Islamic faith. The minaret and courtyards of nearby Sidi Sahbi, a 17th-to-19th-century shrine decorated with green-blue tilework and white stucco, follow. Then comes free time in the medina: the old walled city where you can wander the main street up to Bir Barrouta, a famous well, and browse the shops without a schedule pushing you forward.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour transfers 70 kilometers south to El Jem. The amphitheatre there, built in the mid-3rd century AD, is the third largest ever constructed in the Roman Empire and ranks behind only Rome's Colosseum and Verona's arena. Unlike those, it survives nearly intact: the best-preserved Roman amphitheatre anywhere. The architectural refinements here, added late in the empire's building era, actually improve on the Colosseum's design. You tour the structure itself, then visit the Museum of El Jem to see artifacts from the site and the city that once surrounded it.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your choice of language.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Dutch, Japanese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats available

Operated by Batouta Voyages

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine Kairouan's Islamic sites with El Jem's Roman amphitheatre in one day. The minivan handles the distance between them while you walk through the 9th-century basins, North Africa's oldest mosque, and the medina.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What is the Great Okba Mosque and why does it matter?

The Great Okba Mosque, built in the 7th century, is the oldest mosque in North Africa and a centerpiece of Kairouan's spiritual and architectural heritage. Its scale and design reflect the city's importance as one of Islam's four holiest places.

How much walking is involved in the medina?

The medina walk follows the main street up to Bir Barrouta, a famous well, but you also get free time for individual exploration and shopping, so you set your own pace through the narrow streets.

What makes the El Jem amphitheatre different from Rome's Colosseum?

El Jem's amphitheatre, built in the mid-3rd century AD, is the third largest in the Roman Empire and the best preserved. Built later than the Colosseum, its design actually improves on Rome's original, though it is not much smaller.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food should I expect?

Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour price. The restaurant serves Tunisian cuisine typical of the region.

How long is the drive from Sousse to Kairouan, and from Kairouan to El Jem?

Kairouan is about 70 kilometers from Sousse. El Jem lies another 70 kilometers south of Kairouan, a drive of roughly one hour and fifteen minutes.