[2025 Sousse Medina Attraction] Travel Guide for Great Mosque of Sousse (Updated Mar)

Wandering the Medina de Sousse felt like stepping back centuries. The ancient walls, a UNESCO World Heritage site, immediately impressed. The Ribat, with its commanding views, offered a glimpse into the city's historical defense. Exploring the narrow, winding alleys, I discovered bustling souks filled with vibrant crafts and local treasures. The Grand Mosque's simple yet elegant architecture was striking. The Kasbah, perched atop the Medina, provided stunning panoramic views. The mix of historical significance and lively modern activity made the Medina de Sousse a truly captivating experience. #africatravel #tunisia #travel #thingstodo

The niche and low-key Sousse Medina Sousse is the third largest city in Tunisia, a famous port and tourist destination, known as the 'Garden Port of the Mediterranean'. In 1988, UNESCO listed the old city of Sousse as a cultural heritage site, included in the 'World Heritage List'. Perhaps because I have visited quite a few Mediterranean cities, the seaside of Sousse seems quite ordinary to me. However, the Medina of Sousse should be the most beautiful Medina in Tunisia. Compared to the Medinas of several major cities in Morocco, it is more rustic and quiet here, with no traces of commercialization. Strolling through the Medina gives one a sense of being forgotten by time. The Medina is small and can be explored in half a day. The iconic building of the Medina is the Great Mosque of Sousse, and the best viewpoint is from the Sousse Ribat fortress opposite the mosque. Climbing up to the watchtower of the fortress, one can overlook the entire Medina. At the entrance of the Medina is the old port of Sousse, with numerous pleasure boats and a plethora of restaurants and cafes. Taking a boat trip out to sea is also a nice experience if you have the time. Tips: Sousse is an hour's drive from Tunis, and it is convenient whether you take a train, louage, bus, or drive yourself, as the whole journey is on the highway. The Sousse Pearl Marriott Resort & Spa is the top-ranked hotel in Sousse, located on the Mediterranean coast. You can choose half-board when booking, and the food for breakfast and dinner is rich and tasty. It is considered to have a high cost-performance ratio among the many Marriott hotels, recommended

🇹🇳Driving 155 kilometers from the capital of Tunisia, the third stop is the fourth largest city, Kairouan. 🛕The ancient capital of Tunisia, Kairouan, is located in the central and eastern part of Tunisia. It was built in 670 and the Aghlabid Dynasty established its capital here from 800 to 909. Since then, it has become famous and one of the four holy places of Islam. In 1988, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, known for its unique architectural style and long history. 🏰There are more than 80 mosques, over 100 tombs, dozens of reservoirs and domed indoor markets in the ancient city. Famous buildings include the Great Mosque of Kairouan, the 'Three Gates' Mosque and the Great Reservoir of Aghlabid. Tunisian Muslims believe that making a pilgrimage to Kairouan seven times is equivalent to making a pilgrimage to Mecca once. 🕌The Great Mosque of Kairouan, built in 670 AD, is the first and largest mosque established by Islam in North Africa. It is one of the four major mosques in the world, along with Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem, attracting countless believers to visit every year. Its appearance is like a huge castle, with a unique and exquisite architectural style and layout. The courtyard is paved with marble, surrounded on three sides by a long arcade supported by 300 stone columns. The connected arcades, rows of stone columns and towering minarets are spectacular and are classic works of Arab architecture and Islamic culture and art. The minaret in the northwest of the mosque is 35 meters high and is the tallest building in the entire ancient city of Kairouan. Standing tens of kilometers away, you can see the towering minaret, which has become one of the iconic buildings of Kairouan. 🚶‍♀️In addition to the long-standing historical buildings, the ancient city also has a strong market atmosphere. There are numerous shops and stalls on the streets, with a wide variety of goods and the sound of selling everywhere, presenting a charming Arabic market style. 🏵️Among them, the most eye-catching are the beautifully made carpets and exquisitely crafted handicrafts. Some friends bought traditional costumes, some bought characteristic jewelry, which are cheap but of good quality. The carpet weaving industry in Tunisia originated in Kairouan, so Kairouan is also known as 'The Land of Carpets'.

In Sousse, there is also a large mosque, which is in the heart of the city, but surprisingly quiet, not as famous as the mosque in Kairouan. This mosque is simple and simple in style, with no decoration except for the Arabic-style door corners and the curved arches. Even the prayer room is placed on a reed mat instead of the usual carpet. Speaking of the advantages of this mosque, it is probably that it allows visitors to climb the top overlooking the entire city of Sousse. Although the narrow spiral staircase is really letting us go panting and dizzy haha~