Holidays in Sousse (Tunisia) - 2021: reviews of tourists

Should you consider the resort of Sousse in Tunisia? What about prices, beaches, advantages and disadvantages?

If you choose a seaside vacation in Tunisia, then you have to go to Sousse. Why? Well, look: the weather is warmer than in Hammamet; prices are lower than on Djerba; more fun than Monastir or Mahdia!

I will tell you about all the nuances of the trip to Sousse. For example, which courtyard to look into in the Medina so that your breath is interrupted by authenticity, how much to postpone on excursions, where to eat real Tunisian cuisine, and even where to buy some wine if you don't like the hotel :)

Weather in Sousse - when is the best time to go?

Sousse resort is the eastern part of Tunisia. And the geographical position determines some features of the climate: Sousse is warmer than the northern resorts (such as Bizerte or Hammamet). But at the same time, at the height of the season, the city does not look as much like a heated frying pan as the island of Djerba.

The beach season in Sousse begins in June and continues until November... But if you like to travel and see more, you can fly in April-May - you can't think of a better time for excursions. Although the weather in May is conducive to beach idleness - the air is warmed up to + 23 ° С - the water temperature is still insufficient for comfortable swimming, + 19 ° С ... + 20 ° С.

In summer (July and August) - the hottest degrees, the air can be hot up to + 36 ° С. Caution will not hurt in August and September: the coast of Sousse is attacked by jellyfish. Not fatal, of course, but the sting hurts.

When to go to Sousse (Tunisia)?

* indicated sea temperature

Red - off-season
Yellow - great for walking and sunbathing, but the sea can fail
Green - high period, let's go!

Cost of tours to Sousse - 2020

Unlike Turkey, where the resort can be divided into as many as 10 sub-resorts, Sousse is the city of Sousse itself and Port el-Kantaoui (a tourist suburb). The first is distinguished by the medina (that is, the Old Town), the second - by yachts, cafes and shops. There are hotels there and there, but it will be cleaner and quieter in El Kantaoui.

In Tunisia, it is more profitable to have a package vacation, since charters fly from many cities of Russia, and a regular flight is not at all cheap and only from Moscow.

I look and choose tours for myself on aggregators, because they collect offers from all leading tour operators in one place, immediately pull up the reviews of those who have visited the hotel and do not force me to leave the house :) Ahead of the logical question - aggregators do not make extra charges, in fact, this is as travel agencies online:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

How much is Tunisia, and Sousse in particular, this summer?
* we take into account "all inclusive" - ​​the most common type of food

✓ The minimum price tag for a standard voucher for 7 nights is from 55,000 rubles for two.

✓ 10 nights - from 70,000 rubles.

✓ Tour to a good hotel with a high rating - from 75,000 rubles per week for two.

✓ A trip to Sousse in 2021 with the whole family (dad, mom, child) starts from 75,000 rubles for 7 nights.

Tunisia can be cheaper if you fly in early May or mid-October. For example, a seasonal 75 thousand for a decent hotel in the fall turns into 55 thousand rubles. On a note.

Prices in Sousse

The local currency is Tunisian dinars (tnd). 1 tnd ≈ 22 rubles.

Like any tourist, it is always interesting for me to compare how they have it - is the price of the milk in Sousse Pyaterochka much different from ours in Russia? :) How much does an ordinary Tunisian buy a kilogram of dates?

Since Sousse is considered a large city in Tunisia, with a large share of the local population, prices are not raised here.

Food prices in Sousse - 2021:

Alcohol is not sold in every store, I'll tell you more about that.

Fruit in season is also quite inexpensive:
* multiply by 22, we get rubles

• Peaches, kg - 2 tnd
• Kiwi, kg - 1 tnd
• Watermelon, kg - 0.8 tnd
• Melon, kg - 2 tnd
• Avocado, pcs - 4 tnd
• Oranges, kg - 1.6 tnd

The following shops go to: large supermarket Carrefour, network and small Monoprix... The state Magasin General - this is the only place where you can buy alcohol (except Friday, Friday is haram). Two of them are located in Sousse (Corniche and on Rue de l’Independance), one in El Kantaoui, at the port entrance.

For “non-food” shopping, they choose the largest shopping center Soula Center in Medina. There you can buy souvenirs and everything that pleases the tourist.

Where to eat in Sousse?

Although Sousse is all inclusive 99% of the time, I recommend stopping by the local cafes for the experience and excitement. For example, during forays into the port or medina.

Here is a list of good establishments:
* multiply by 22, you get rubles

• Café Seles (medina) - homemade cafe with authentic Tunisian cuisine. For food, try couscous (10-12 tnd), kebab (10 tnd) + hookah and views from the roof!
• Restaurant Le Surfin (Sousse) is a fish restaurant with reasonable prices. You can take a complex dish (huge!) With fried fish and shrimps for only 40 tnd.
• The smile (Sousse) - so to speak, a local interpretation of a modern coffee shop. You can order breakfast (2 omelets, croissant, drinks) and keep within 30 tnd.
• Big ben cafe (Sousse) - here for pizza (12-16 tnd), burgers (12-15 tnd), pasta (15-20 tnd).

Attractions of Sousse: what to see?

Attractions in Sousse (city):

• Medina (or Old Town) - the place to go is recommended by any guidebook. Narrow old and dirty streets, ancient ruined walls and a bustling "fragrant" Arab market.

Points of interest in the Medina:

— Sousse Great Mosque - as the most important building in any city in Islamic countries. You can inspect the outside for free, but you are allowed inside only into the courtyard and for 5 dinars.

— Fortress Ribat - for those who love movies about pirates. To protect against them, it was built in the 18th century.

— Kasbah Fortress (+ Sousse Archaeological Museum) - the museum is located in the underground floors of the fortress, mainly collections of mosaics are presented.
Ticket price: 10 dinars.

The museum may seem boring, and therefore I would advise an alternative: an institution Cafe Kasba - it is stylized as a Tunisian dwelling of terry centuries with a bunch of interesting things that look like antiques! And also cool pictures are obtained there :)

— Dar Essid Museum - a private museum showing the life of wealthy Tunisians.
Ticket price: 4 dinars.

Attractions in Port El Kantaoui:

• The port itself - this is a pretty marina with yachts and boats and an embankment, around there are souvenir shops and cafes (but I would not eat there). Here you can take a ticket for a pirate ship (about 20 dinars per person, bargain) or a pleasure boat with a transparent bottom (35-40 dinars). And buy alcohol at Magasin General! Caution: in the port he bred and barked a lot - everyone who needs to make money on a tourist. Don't get fooled.
• Musical fountain - in the evening, a mini-performance is held at the port, from 20:00.

If you have already mapped out what to see in the city of Sousse, you are welcome beyond it.

Excursions in Sousse

Excursions in Sousse are basically the same as in other resort towns in Tunisia. With street agencies, everything is bad here, and therefore, outdoor entertainment, as a rule, is taken from the tour operator (through the guide at the hotel).

Here are the most visited excursions by tourists:

• Overview of 3 main cities (Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and Tunisia) - $ 40- $ 45 per person.
• 2-day trip to the Sahara Desert - $ 115- $ 120 per person.
• Phrygia Zoo is the best program for families. Animals, shows of dolphins and other marine life, and at the end traditional cuisine for lunch and Zulu dancing.
  $ 25 per person.
• Historic Sousse - overview of Suss and the port of El Kantaoui. Includes Medina and Ribat Fortress. $ 30- $ 35 per person.

Do not take boat trips from a tour operator - directly, at the port, it is much more profitable!

Other entertainment in Tunisia

Holidays in Tunisia can be diversified independently, and not only by ancient ruins and walks along the embankments. What does Sousse offer?

— Hookah - well, an Arab country! In establishments it costs, on average, 7-10 dinars, served with tea.

— Night clubs - most of them are located along 14 Janvier Boulevard.

— Thalassotherapy (or Tunisian spas) - they say they are the best in North Africa. Many hotels in Sousse have their own thalassotherapy centers, and the prices for the services are as follows:

• Wrap - $ 18— $ 20
• Massage - $ 35- $ 40 per hour
• Complex of procedures (3-5 times a day for 4 days) - $ 280— $ 420
• 3-hour session (hydromassage, hammam, massage) - $ 65

— Aqua splash - there is only one water park in Sousse and is mediocre. Located on the territory of the Thalassa Sousse hotel. Prices do not depend on the age of vacationers, but on their height: above 1.2 meters - 45 dinars ($ 15), below 1.2 meters - 35 dinars ($ 12), below 0.8 meters - free of charge.

— Casino Veneziano - it is completely lousy, obviously not a must visit in Sousse.

— Water fun on the beach - bananas, catamarans, parachute ($ 20 per person, but together you can for $ 30).

Of course, while having fun, do not forget about safety. Although Sousse is one of the few quiet cities in the country (the main danger is the places near the border with Libya). Whole police battalions monitor the well-being of citizens and visiting tourists around the clock.

Transport

The transport infrastructure in Sousse is excellent. You can easily get around the city and anywhere in the country.

The bus company STS operates here. Buses travel regularly. But they have their own characteristics:

- stop not at stops, but "on demand"

- the description of the route is in Arabic, less often in French

- entrance to the bus only through the back door

Travel is inexpensive, depending on the distance. On average, it will cost 1 dinar (22 rubles).

But of course tourists don't take buses. After all, the most convenient transport is Taxi... According to the rules, the driver is obliged to turn on the meter, but in fact the cost is negotiated in advance. Haggle! Don't be Europeans agreeing to 10 dinars when the "red price" is 5 dinars.
* for example: a trip of ≈ 5 km should cost 5-6 dinars.

Car rental in Tunisia is as easy as anywhere in the world. Choose a car in advance on RentalCars and pick it up upon arrival (at the airport or other suitable place). The roads in the country are good, the driving is more or less adequate, which is surprising for the Arab mentality. An economy class car for 1 day costs from $ 30, but: the longer the period, the more profitable (4 days of use cost $ 80, i.e. ≈ $ 20 per day). Oh, yes, and gasoline - 2 dinars ($ 0.7) per liter.

The nearest resorts to Suss - Mahdia and Monastir - can be reached by train. I don't know what to do there, but the ticket costs 1 dinar. The central railway will take you to Sfax, Tunis City or Hammamet.

How to get to Sousse?

Airplanes from Russia arrive either at Hammamet-Enfidha airport or at Monastir airport. Both are close, so bingo! - shake on the bus for a short time.

But what about independent tourists who are not met by the transfer?

• Taxi airport Monastir-Sousse - from 30 dinars ($ 10)
• Train from Monastir airport to Sousse - from 1 dinar
• Taxi airport Enfidha-Sousse - from 75 dinars ($ 27)

Sousse hotels - where to stay?

Things to remember when choosing a hotel in Tunisia:

- An additional tourist tax is paid, it is not included in the tour price. For a 4 or 5 star hotel, the surcharge is 3 dinars * number of nights per person. More than 7 nights do not take, that is, for 10 nights you pay as 7.

- Even in the "five" there may be a paid Wi-Fi / refrigerator or a deposit for beach towels. All because ...

-… the hotel business is very specific here, but you have to dream of service. Local five-stars may differ from the level of five in the same Turkey. Often there are reviews like “what are you, for Tunisia this is an excellent four / five!”.

- Sousse and all inclusive are inseparable. The most popular type of food.

My selection of decent hotels in Sousse where you can spend your vacation:

• 5 * Iberostar Selection Kantaoui Bay (el-Kantaoui) is a proven hotel with high-quality and varied food, non-hassle cleaning both in the rooms and on the beach. But for a child's vacation it will be boring.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 95,000 rubles for two
• 5 * El Mouradi Palm Marina (El Kantaoui) - the hotel is positioned as a family hotel. The main feature is great animation! Well, the rest is also 5 points.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 80,000 rubles for two
• 4 * Marhaba Palace (El Kantaoui) - honest 4 stars, 1st line, good food in the restaurant. A plus are a clean beach and sea and 2 swimming pools (one with sea water).
  Tour for 7 nights: from 85,000 rubles for two
• 4 * Hasdrubal Thalassa Hotel & Spa Port El Kantaoui (El Kantaoui) - the spa center of this hotel is considered the best in all of Sousse.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 80,000 rubles for two
• 4 * Thalassa Sousse (Sousse) - a hotel on the first line with a large water park (accessible to everyone) and a good spa center (despite the Thalassa prefix, there is only a spa here, but on request they organize a transfer to an excellent thalasso center in Monastir). The main disadvantages are in the direction of the service - it can hardly be called mediocre. The food is normal, there is enough of everything. Animation for children is active. The location is favorable - next to a supermarket, close to both the Medina and Kantaoui. The beach is good, the seaweed is removed on time.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 65,000 rubles for two

Where is the best place to relax with children in Sousse?

Why is Suss with a baby a good choice?

+ Firstly, the transfer from the airport takes 40-60 minutes.

+ The flight is also short - about 4 hours.

+ Sousse has shallow sea and soft sand.

+ "All inclusive" reigns here.

What kind of entertainment do parents with children choose?

• Phrygia Zoo - here are tigers, elephants, and giraffes. And you can feed someone.
  How to get there? Excursion or for 40-50 dinars by taxi from Sousse.
• Aqua Splash water park is mediocre, but this one is good at “no fishy”.
  Ticket: $ 12- $ 15 per person
• Hannibal Palace amusement park is small and there is nothing to do until 3 years old.
  "Subscription" costs 10 dinars, attractions from 3 dinars.

Although most often described as a fun and bustling city, Sousse is not entirely suitable for families with children. Therefore, if you are going on vacation with the whole family, it may be worth considering other options. For example, Mahdia and Monastir are suitable for the little ones, Hammamet will appeal to schoolchildren, and the island of Djerba ...

Sousse beaches

In Sousse, as elsewhere in Tunisia, sandy beaches with fine white sand. In terms of cleanliness, some of them are inferior to the beaches of Mahdia, but this depends on who owns the territory.

The hotels do not have their own coastal strip; they rent a place for rest from the municipality. Accordingly, traders walk along the beaches, sometimes camels (a local attraction). The beaches in the port of El Kantaoui are considered the best: they are larger, cleaner, they are closely watched (because the area is tourist).

Tips and reviews of tourists about the rest in Sousse

Ai-Zaytun Mosque and Cathedral of Saint Vincent de Paul in Tunis
(went on an excursion)

Sousse is a city in Tunisia, and reviews about Tunisia are always mixed. Those who travel there more than once know the peculiarities of this country. Others are sometimes horrified by the garbage and poverty outside the hotels.

I'll put it this way. Tunisia is different from other resort destinations (read, Turkey) white sandy beaches and a more pronounced cultural component (which, however, will not be pleasant to everyone).

What are the most common complaints of tourists in Sousse?

- Hotel rooms are worn out.

- The buffet is not the most varied, and the local spice - harissa - is added to almost every dish.

- Jellyfish in August-September.

- Outside the walls of hotels - dirt and stench, the contrast is impressive. Although in Arab countries this is always the case (yes, the exception is the UAE).

- There are not enough cutlery and utensils in hotel restaurants.

- You can't question anything without a tip from Tunisians. That is, first an encouragement, then a request.

- Many people speak Russian in basic terms, but "they pretend they don't understand."

And what do vacationers praise?

+ A gentle entrance to the water and beautiful beaches that "save the whole vacation!"

+ Sea warmed up in the season.

+ Cheap prices for water activities.

+ Inexpensive spa services.

+ Convenient currency exchange - right at the hotel, at an excellent rate. But do not forget to exchange back, it is forbidden to export dinars from Tunisia. Therefore, keep all paperwork and receipts for the initial exchange.

And finally. What are the tourists taking from Sousse? Hmm, there is not much to run away here, all of Tunisia offers a standard set of "souvenirs" such as coffee, halva, olive oil and olive oil soap / shampoos. But I would definitely bring ... couscous! Still, 20 rubles per kg of local cereals versus 160 Russian ones! :)