Hammamet or Sousse – deciding which Tunisian city to include on your weekend in Tunisia can be a little difficult. Here’s what Hammamet and Sousse have to offer, the best spots to see, to plan your Tunisia itinerary
Tunisia is a beautiful country that honestly, is underrated.
Only a 3-hour flight away from London, it has several interesting cities to explore, and is packed with ancient ruins, bustling medinas, and golden beaches.
If you are spending only a weekend in Tunisia, then Hammamet and Sousse are two prominent cities you should consider.
Both the cities are charming, with unique history and cultural diversities. So, Hammamet or Sousse, which one to visit when planning a short trip to Tunisia?
I can help you make your decision easier!
PLANNING YOUR TRIP | THE ESSENTIALS
Top tours for the Hammamet Sousse itinerary:
- Kairouan, El Jem & Sousse Day Trip with Lunch
- Tunis – Full Day Sightseeing Tour with Lunch
- Yasmine Hammamet/Kantaoui: 2-Day Sahara Tour
Recommended hotels in Hammamet Sousse:
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Hammamet or Sousse – how to decide which city to visit
Hammamet – Is a popular tourist destination in Tunisia. Hammamet is all about a leisurely beach holiday. You can enjoy swimming and water sports here and it is quite popular with those looking to visit Tunis and the North.
Sousse – The Medina of Sousse is a tourist place and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sousse also offers one beautiful beaches and family friendly resort holidays.
Why Hammamet?
If you love beach holidays, Hammamet and Sousse both are good.
However, Hammamet is slightly more compact than Sousse and is located closer to popular places like Tunis and Carthage making it slightly more accessible and worth considering for a weekend getaway.
It is a charming town and can be done when on a quick trip in Tunisia.
How to reach Hammamet?
Hammamet and Tunis are connected by a daily train that covers the distance in a little more than an hour.
There are also regular shuttle buses that connect Tunis and Hammamet. These buses are operational from 9 am to 6 pm, giving you flexibility with your itinerary.
Airport transfers and taxis are available and are convenient ways to travel around if you are not comfortable with public transport. It is necessary to confirm the prices before starting your journey in a taxi.
However, the best way to visit Hammamet is via a guided tour or by hiring a private taxi as this way, you can spend longer here and plan your itinerary as you please.
If prices are fixed in advance, cabs can be relatively cheap.

Things to do in Hammamet
While the Medina, Kasbah and beaches are the most popular things to see in Hammamet, most tourists staying here hear to the north of the country to see more of Tunisia when here.
Opt for a private day trip to Kairouan, El Jem & Sousse Day Trip with lunch, which takes you to Tunisia’s historic towns of Kairouan, El Jem and Sousse.
This one-day tour starts from Hammamet and offers a pick-up and drop facility at the hotel.
It offers transportation in a private air-conditioned car and lunch in a local restaurant.
The local guide will be with you throughout the tour. It will cover Kairouan Medina, The Great Mosque, the Amphitheatre of El Jem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Boutiques and beaches of Port El Kantaoui, along with Medina of Sousse.
Or pick the Yasmine Hammamet/Kantaoui: 2-Day Sahara Tour with meals, as it will save you the hassle of planning everything.
This tour starts from Yasmine Hammamet and takes you to the Sahara Desert and other places on the way.
A night in the Sahara desert can be a wonderful experience. The tour charges include transport, meals, and pick-up and drop-offs. I suggest tours as driving can be a little stressful in Tunisia and tours are budget friendly and support the locals.
There are many more things to do in Hammamet. You can shortlist your itinerary depending on your personal interests.
Where to stay in Hammamet?
Here’s some places that can make your stay in Hammamet comfortable!
Hotel Royal Azur Thalassa is a beautiful 5-star property. It is 55 KM away from the Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport. The hotel serves a wonderful breakfast spread. Some rooms offer sea views. The hotel has 3 swimming pools
Diar Lemdina Hotel is located in Yasmine Hammamet and has a private beach. They offer local cuisine and live entertainment
B&B Cote D’azur is close to most of the popular beaches in Hammamet. The spacious apartment has basic facilities and offers a continental breakfast


Why Sousse?
Sousse is relatively bigger and offers more things to do if you do not plan on travelling too far away from the city.
It has a lovely mix of the old and new which makes a stroll around the city quite pleasurable.
Sousse is an interesting mix of ancient architecture and vibrant nightlife, fun restaurants, picturesque cafes, and a shopping centre.
How to reach Sousse?
Tunis to Sousse
The distance between Tunis and Sousse is around 150 kilometres. The train can be the cheapest option and takes about 2 hours 18 minutes.
Taxi is the fastest way and can take about 1 hour 36 minutes.
There are direct trains from Tunis to Sousse. They depart four times a day every day. The train journey takes about 2 hours 18 minutes.
Monastir to Sousse
The distance between these two cities is 23 kilometres. The cheapest means of transport is by train, which takes around two hours.
The fastest way is by taxi, which takes around 25 minutes. Direct buses are there for Monastir to Sousse, which operate twice daily and take around 35 minutes.

Things to do in Sousse
One day is usually enough to cover most of the tourist attractions in Sousse. You don’t need to go searching for what to see in Sousse, as there are some must-visit places in the city itself.
Ribat (Fort) of Sousse is a popular attraction here. This one is known to be one of the best Ribat’s in Tunisia. The purpose of this Ribat was to safeguard the military troops and protect the trading routes.
The Great Mosque is another attraction that is within walking distance of the Ribat of the Sousse. Worth a visit as its quite tranquil here.
The archaeological museum in Sousse, located in the Kasbah at the edge of Medina, is also worth visiting in Sousse. This museum is home to the second-largest mosaic collection in the world.
If you are highly interested in Tunisian cuisine, this Tunisian Cooking Class Tour, will help you pick local delicacies from local experts.
Sousse has the best beaches! You can relax by the beachside cafes or swim in the beautiful turquoise-blue water of the Mediterranean!
Medina of Sousse
Aside from all the other things to do in Sousse, the medina of Sousse deserves a special mention.
The Medina Of Sousse is a symbol of Arab-Muslim architecture and a UNESCO world heritage site.
The word Medina simply means town in Arabic. Sousse was an important commercial and military port during the Aghlabid period.
The town is an example dating back to the first century of Islam. Sousse was also an important part of the coastal defence system and shouldn’t be missed!

Nightlife in Sousse
If you are wondering what to do in Sousse, there’s another exciting aspect of this city. While deciding whether to go to Hammamet or Sousse, a vibrant nightlife can be a deciding factor when choosing one final destination for many.
If you are someone who likes to head out after an evening meal, Sousse won’t disappoint.
There are many huge open-air discos and prestigious clubs that keep attracting celebrity DJs. You can always get up on the dance floor and shake a leg to popular tunes.
Instead of bars and clubs, hotels can also offer a decent nightlife experience to their guests. Five-star hotels can offer experiences that are different from the typical nightlife.
Nightlife in Sousse can be a great experience for young tourists looking for thriving nightclubs or those travelling with their partners or families looking for something vibrant yet decent.

Where to stay in Sousse?
Sousse Pearl Marriott Resort & Spa is a great beachside 5-star property. Offers 24-hour front desk service in Arabic, French, English, and German and good breakfast options
Residence ElFaracha is a residence facility that provides a kitchen for tourists if they prefer to cook their food
Bybios Sousse is a spacious beachfront apartment. It is fully equipped and very close to most of the tourist destinations
What to shop in Sousse?
If you are a shopaholic, put some time aside on your itinerary as Sousse has huge markets and shopping centres.
Some of Sousse’s specialities include spices, traditional craft items, and textiles. You can also get very good quality leather goods at Sousse markets.
Ceramic pottery is another attraction of Tunisian markets. If you are interested and sure about carefully carrying it home, you must buy a few items.
What to eat in Sousse?
Tunisian cuisine is a blend of Mediterranean and Punics Berber cuisine. At times it had an influence of Italians, French and Arabs. Olive oil, spices, tomatoes, seafood and meat are the main ingredients of Tunisian cuisine.
Couscous, lamb or chicken, and Tajinies are the must-try dishes in Tunisia. Hotels and restaurants also serve multiple cuisines, but you must eat what locals eat!
If you have a sweet tooth, you must try delicacies like Baklawa, Bambalouni, Borzgane, etc.

Weekend In Tunisia
Tunisia is perfect to visit if you have a long weekend, are looking for something on a budget or all inclusive yet want it to be offbeat and not overflowing with tourists,
A weekend in Tunisia is worth considering as flights especially from the UK are cheap and the distance is short.
Your weekend in Tunisia can be a relaxed one that includes spending time on the beach views, spas, and cultural museums or you could even try visiting some archaeological site and the Sahara. If you are in the UK, Tunisia can be a great option for spending a long weekend.
Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, is hardly 3 hours by air from Heathrow. Even if you decide not to explore Tunisia beyond Tunis, your weekend in Tunisia can be worth it.
Tunisia is definitely way more affordable than most weekend destinations in and around the UK.
Here is a tentative itinerary for the perfect weekend in Tunisia.
Day 1 in Tunisia
Fly to Tunis. Check in at your hotel. Freshen up and get ready for a sightseeing tour. You can consider a Tunis – Full Day Sightseeing Tour with Lunch for your weekend in Tunisia or maybe just relax by the pool as most resorts have them!
If you opt for the tour, the tour will take you to the charming seaside towns of Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. It is a great way to understand Carthage’s history on how the Romans destroyed it.
Enjoy a traditional Tunisian Lunch and take a tour of Tunis Medina. It also includes a visit to Al-Zaytuna Mosque, the oldest mosque in the city.
There are many other weekend tours available. You can choose the one best suitable to your likings to make your weekend in Tunisia memorable.

Day 2 in Tunisia
After having breakfast at the hotel, you can start your day by visiting City hall and then head to Tunis Medina.
This is a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s a colourful, busy area filled with shops, houses, restaurants, palaces and mosques! You can spend time taking a stroll around this place and then head for lunch.
After lunch, you can go directly to the National Bardo Museum, which is the second most important museum in Africa.
The museum is the best source for understanding Tunisia’s history.
There’s a huge collection of statues, coins, jewellery, manuscripts, and furniture here. Another speciality of this museum is that it has the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the country. The largest vertical mosaics in the world can also be seen in this museum.
Day 3 in Tunisia
Use this day to relax in Sousse or opt for a Tunis to Sousse and Monastir Sightseeing Tour. This tour gives you the chance to explore the Ribat of Monastir. Stroll through Monastir Marina or even visit the Bourguiba Mausoleum when here.
You can also plan on visiting Sidi Bou Said if you are spending a weekend in Tunisia.
Spend your time on the beach relaxing or can take a stroll around the pretty town. The cafe’s here are pretty so you could also consider spending some time here even reading a book! It is also a good spot for some souvenir shopping.
A photo walk in this city with your DSLR or smartphone is a great idea as Sidi Bou Said is super picturesque and pretty!
This concludes your weekend in Tunisia.

Other Interesting Cities In Tunisia
Sidi Bou Said is a city which offers tourists beautiful views of white and blue-coloured buildings. However, that’s not all there is to the city. Overlooking the Mediterranean and home to some of the best cafes, eateries , it is quite the relaxing spot to spend a day or two here.
Kairouan is a holy city of Tunisia and holds a special significance for those who follow Islam.
The Great Mosque Of Kairouan is one of the oldest Islamic landmarks in the northern side of Africa.
The city is also known for its carpets. Visit the carpet market in Kairouan. Carpets can get heavy and expensive but the stores here offer other products too worth checking out.
Pros & Cons of Hammamet and Sousse
Pros of Visiting Hammamet
- If you are a beach person, visit Hammamet for its beaches. They are beautiful yet lively
- Dance and DJ nights if you are a nightlife fan
- Ceramic pottery, textiles and artefacts if you are a shopaholic
Cons of Visiting Hammamet
- Scams you should stay aware of
- Hot weather
Pros of Visiting Sousse
- Tunisia’s most modern city
- Best conservation of history and heritage
- Relatively lower crime rate than other cities in Tunisia
Cons of Visiting Sousse
- Worth a short visit, can’t spend too long
- Have to arrange day trips if you plan to stay here for longer

Hammamet and Sousse are two prominent and beautiful cities in Tunisia.
Both have their own pros and cons. Choosing Hammamet or Sousse can be difficult so I’ve listed all the info you need here so you can get an idea of which place suits your interests better; plan your itinerary accordingly and no matter whether you include either, you’ll still end up having a great time in Tunisia!
FAQs – Hammamet or Sousse
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What is better, Hammamet or Sousse?
Hammamet and Sousse both have their pros and cons. Choose depending on what suits your likes and interests best.
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Is Hammamet worth visiting?
Yes. Hammamet is a beautiful and perfect holiday destination. It is definitely worth visiting if you are looking for a relaxing holiday.
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Is Sousse worth visiting?
Sousse is definitely worth visiting if history and modernism excites you as a tourist. From archeological sites to nightlife, Sousse has everything.
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Is Sousse safe for tourists?
Sousse or any city in Tunisia for that matter definitely has some areas which are not that safe. But that doesn’t mean the city is unsafe for tourists. It is safe.
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Does Hammamet have nightlife?
Hammamet has restaurants and bars but most of them are very low key. Lounge type bars are more common in Hammamet.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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