How the Kairouan and El Jem day runs
The order of the El Jem and Kairouan excursion is not arbitrary: the Great Mosque of Kairouan closes to visitors in the early afternoon, so we take it first. The souks follow, before the heat. El Jem fills the afternoon, forty-five minutes away through the olive groves. If the amphitheatre holds you longer than planned, stay as long as you like. It is the last stop and nothing is waiting after it.
Collected at 08:00 or 09:00, whichever you prefer
Departure from your hotel
Dropped off where you started by 18:00, or earlier if you prefer
Back at your accommodation
The route between Kairouan and El Jem
Kairouan sits inland, El Jem halfway back towards the coast. A straight road through the olive groves of the Sahel connects them. Click a stop to see it on its own.
Map from Hammamet. Change your departure city in the booking form to recalculate the route.
Kairouan and the Great Mosque, in the morning
The Great Mosque dates from 670 and its marble courtyard is among the largest in the Muslim world. Around it, the Aghlabid basins, the Barber's Mausoleum and carpet souks you can walk into without any obligation to buy. Allow two and a half hours, a little more if you want to take your time in the medina.
Great Mosque of 670, marble courtyard and square minaret
Aghlabid basins, ninth-century reservoirs
Carpet souks and the Barber's Mausoleum
Shoulders and knees covered to enter the mosque
The amphitheatre of El Jem, in the afternoon
More intact than the Colosseum in several respects: you can still climb the upper tiers, walk the corridors under the arena and go right round the ellipse. It stands without deep foundations, resting on sand, which is part of why it survived the earthquakes. The museum five minutes away holds mosaics that are rarely matched.
35,000 seats, third largest Roman amphitheatre
Upper tiers and underground passages open to visitors
Archaeological museum and its mosaics, five minutes away
Very little shade, so bring a hat and water
Your pace between Kairouan and El Jem
This El Jem and Kairouan excursion is private, which means the programme is a proposal and not an imposed timetable. You choose the departure time, how long each visit lasts, where you eat at midday. If Kairouan wins you over and you want an extra hour there, you can have it. The driver will only tell you at what point that starts eating into El Jem.
Departure at 08:00 or 09:00, your choice
Only two sites, so real time at each one
Lunch on your own terms, in Kairouan or on the road
Back by 18:00, or earlier if you prefer
El Jem and Kairouan tour price by departure city
The price of the El Jem and Kairouan excursion covers the whole vehicle for the day, not the passenger: a family of four pays €90 in total from Hammamet, or €22.50 each. Entry to the two sites, around 12 dinars each, is paid on site. No deposit is taken when you book.
| Departure | 1-4 pers. | 4-6 pers. | 5-8 pers. | 8-12 pers. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammamet | 90 € | 110 € | 130 € | 160 € |
| Sousse | 100 € | 120 € | 140 € | 170 € |
| Tunis | 110 € | 130 € | 150 € | 180 € |
Included in the price
Private air-conditioned vehicle, never shared
English-speaking driver all day
Fuel, tolls and parking
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
Flexible timings, departure from 07:00 possible
Not included
Amphitheatre, museum and Kairouan site tickets (~12 TND each)
Lunch and drinks
Purchases in the Kairouan souks
Good to know
A religious city and an open-air site in the same day: three things to plan for.
Covered clothing in Kairouan
Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the Great Mosque and religious spaces. Shawls are lent at the entrance if you have nothing.
An early start is advised
The Great Mosque closes to visitors around 14:00. Leaving at 08:00 gives you time to see everything without rushing.
Little shade at El Jem
The tiers and the arena are in full sun. Hat, water and sunscreen from May to September.
El Jem and Kairouan: your questions
Dress code at the Great Mosque, how long inside the amphitheatre, ticket prices and the order of the two stops: the answers asked for most.
The other days from your hotel
Staying several days? Most of our guests do two trips in the same week, one cultural and one closer to nature. Here are the other six routes, with their starting price and real duration.
Two UNESCO sites
Carthage, Sidi Bou Said & Tunis Medina Excursion
Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Tunis medina: two UNESCO sites in one day.
from 80 € · 7h
UNESCO archaeology
Dougga & Bulla Regia Roman Cities Excursion
Dougga, the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa, and the underground villas of Bulla Regia.
from 120 € · 9h45
Punic heritage and coast
Kerkouane, El Haouaria & Korbous: Cap Bon Excursion
Kerkouane, the only Punic town left standing, the El Haouaria caves and the hot springs of Korbous.
from 90 € · 7h30
Medinas and coast
Sousse, Monastir & Port El Kantaoui Excursion
Port El Kantaoui, the UNESCO medina of Sousse and the ribat of Monastir in one day.
from 90 € · 6h30
Mountains and a Berber village
Zaghouan & Zriba Loulia Tour: Temple of Waters Excursion
The abandoned Berber village of Zriba Loulia, the town of Zaghouan and its Roman Temple of Waters.
from 70 € · 6h15
With the family
Friguia Park Safari Excursion from Hammamet
A semi-open safari park at Bouficha: lions, giraffes and African savannah in half a day.
from 45 € · 4h
Worth reading before you book this day
Three guides that answer the questions we get most often: what there is to see in the country, what a day costs and when to go.
Book your El Jem and Kairouan excursion
Send us your accommodation, your date, the departure time you want and the number of travellers. You get written confirmation within two hours with a firm price for the vehicle, no deposit and no online payment. One message books your El Jem and Kairouan excursion.
Confirmed within 2 h
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Free cancellation 48 h before