Kairouan tour with El Jem & Monastir: Guided 3-city access

Three ancient cities and a Roman amphitheater that held 30,000 spectators

A private guided tour departing from your hotel covers Kairouan (Islam's fourth holiest city), the Roman amphitheater at El Jem, and the medieval Ribat fortress in Monastir over eight hours. The guide speaks English, French or Italian. Entrance fees to the Great Mosque, Aghlabid basins, El Jem amphitheater and Ribat are included, as is air-conditioned transport. Lunch is not included. You choose between a private tour with a dedicated guide or a small group option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Kairouan, El Jem, and Monastir

• Travel from hotel to Kairouan
• Visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan
• Explore Kairouan medina and souks
• See the Aghlabid basins in Kairouan
• Visit the Roman amphitheater in El Jem
• Tour the Ribat of Monastir

The experience

Your hotel pickup starts the day. The route moves first to Kairouan, where the Great Mosque sits at the center: built in 670, it is one of the oldest religious buildings in the Muslim West and the reason Kairouan holds status as Islam's fourth holiest city. The minaret, courtyard with its sundial, and cedar wood doors carved centuries ago frame the prayer rooms lined with marble columns. After the mosque, you have free time in the medina to walk the souks, taste the local pastry Les Mekroudhs, and watch artisanal carpet manufacturing at work.

The Aghlabid basins come next, a ninth-century hydraulic system built outside the medina walls and considered the most important water works in Muslim history. Then the tour moves to El Jem, where the Roman amphitheater rises as the third largest in the ancient world: only Rome and Capua held more spectators. Built in the third century AD and now a UNESCO site, it could seat 30,000 and remains the most impressive Roman monument in Africa. The final stop is Monastir's Ribat fortress, founded in 796 as a defensive structure along the Maghreb coast. A spiral staircase of about a hundred steps leads to the watchtower, where you can see across the city and the sea. The fortress also houses prayer rooms and a collection of medieval crafts and religious objects.

An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group throughout, and your guide manages the route and all entrance fees. The tour runs eight hours total. If you book the private option, the guide is yours alone. The small group option shares the guide and vehicle with other travelers. Both include entry to every site named above.

What’s included

• Pickup from your hotel.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• entrance to the Great Mosque of Kairouan, the Aghlabid basins, the El Jem amphitheater and the Ribat fortress in Monastir.
• a live guide in English, French or Italian who manages the route and all entry logistics.
• free time in the Kairouan medina to explore the souks and local crafts.

Options for this experience

3 options

Excludes guide and entrance feesGuide in English, French or Italian · 08:00Excludes guide and entry: this option includes a driver and private car. Our driver will take you to the excursion locations. Pickup is included

Small group tourGuide in English, French or Italian · 08:00Small group, maximum 12 people, with pickup included

Guided private tour to Kairouan, El Jem and MonastirGuide in English, French or Italian · 08:00Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Didon tours

Is this one for you?Pick the private option if you want a dedicated guide and vehicle for your group. Choose the small group tour if you'd rather share costs and travel with other visitors.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Great Mosque of Kairouan actually like when you walk inside?

The Great Mosque, built in 670, centers on a vast courtyard surrounded by arcades and lined with marble columns that open into the prayer rooms. The courtyard holds a sundial and is framed by tall cedar wood doors carved with detail. The minaret is imposing, and the overall structure, designed to evoke an adobe fortress, is one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in the world and inspired mosque architecture across the Maghreb.

How much time do you get to explore the Kairouan medina on your own?

The itinerary includes free time in the medina after the Great Mosque visit, so you can browse the souks at your own pace, taste the local pastry Les Mekroudhs, and watch carpet makers at work in their workshops.

Is the El Jem amphitheater really the third largest in the Roman world?

Yes. The El Jem amphitheater, built in the third century AD, is the third largest Roman amphitheater ever built, after Rome's Colosseum and Capua's amphitheater. It could hold 30,000 spectators and is the most impressive Roman monument in Africa. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1972.

Can you climb the Ribat fortress watchtower in Monastir?

Yes. A spiral staircase of roughly a hundred steps leads to the watchtower at the top of the Ribat fortress. From there you can see across Monastir and out to the sea. The fortress also contains two prayer rooms and a collection of medieval religious objects and crafts.

What's the difference between the private tour and the small group option?

The private tour gives you a dedicated guide and vehicle for just your party. The small group option shares the same guide and air-conditioned vehicle with other travelers. Both include the same sites, entrances and eight-hour itinerary. You choose which one at checkout.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included. The eight-hour itinerary covers three cities and four major sites, so you'll want to plan a meal break during the day, likely in Kairouan or El Jem.