SOUSSE
Area: Tunisia


Location:
On the NE coast of Tunisia, 85 miles S of the capital Tunis and its airport. 5 miles SE of Port el Kantaoui. 20 miles from Monastir airport.

Telephone code from UK:
216

Website:
http://www.tourismtunisia.com/togo/sousse/sousse.html

Position:
On the SW shore of the Gulf of Hammamet built round a busy commercial port. The urban sprawl spreads inland for quite some distance before reaching flat, agricultural land beyond.

Description:
Primarily a thriving, bustling working town, Sousse is focused around a large commercial port and an ancient walled city (Medina). The principal tourist area begins about a mile NW of the town centre and extends for several miles along the busy coast road with hotels lining both sides.

Suitability:
Budget to middlemarket families, young couples and more mature clientele. Mainly French, German, and to a lesser extent, British.

Accommodation:
Varying from small 2-stars right up to very extensive 5-star hotels. Most are self-contained complexes with organised activities, evening entertainment and their own reserved sections of beach. A handful of self-catering establishments.

Shopping:
Plenty of unsophisticated outlets in the town centre selling souvenirs, leather, ceramics and carpets. Not much else along the coast road. Most hotels have their own more expensive shops and little bazaars. Weekly market. Expect to haggle.

Beach:
Several miles of well-maintained pale sand stretching almost unbroken for 5 miles to neighbouring Port el Kantaoui. Closer to town you often have to cross the busy main road to get to it. However, the bulk of hotels are farther out situated directly by the shoreline.

Entertainments:
Daytime: beach-based with water sports in summer only. One or two museums. Camel and horse riding. Nightlife: reasonably lively in summer; low-key in winter. Choice of bars and cafes in resort centre. More sophistication, live shows and nightclubs in the larger hotels.

Eating:
A broad choice of simple cafes and friendly restaurants serving traditional Arab fare and international cuisine. Most hotels provide everything from a la carte restaurants to barbecue snack bars and pizzerias.

Public-transport:
Taxis are abundant, fairly inexpensive and certainly the most convenient way of getting to and from your often remote hotel. The alternative is a cheap but very erratic bus service with no particular timetable. Minitrain. Horse-drawn carriages. Trains to Monastir, Hammamet, Sfax and Tunis.

Local-excursions:
Safari to Douz (two days). Monastir and El Jem (half day). Tunis and Carthage (full day). Hammamet and Nabeul (half day). Kairouan (half day). Safari to Gabes and Matmata (long day).