El Jem and Kairouan Excursion: Two UNESCO Sites in One Day
Kairouan and its Great Mosque in the morning, the amphitheatre of El Jem in the afternoon. This El Jem and Kairouan excursion runs in a private vehicle from your hotel, with two UNESCO sites in a single day.
- 08:00 at your hotel
- At your hotel by 17:00
- Full day, private vehicle
From90 €per vehicle
What the El Jem and Kairouan excursion covers
This El Jem and Kairouan excursion pairs the two greatest monuments of central Tunisia, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Kairouan is the fourth holy city of Islam, with the Great Mosque of Uqba, the Aghlabid basins and a medina of white and blue lanes. El Jem holds the third largest Roman amphitheatre ever built, a 35,000-seat arena you can walk from the underground passages up to the top tiers. Pickup at your hotel in Hammamet, Sousse or Tunis at 08:00, back at the same address by 18:00.
- 4th holy city
- Kairouan
- 3rd in the world
- Amphitheatre
- Capacity
- 35,000 seats
- Founded in
- 670 AD
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.
Scroll to drive the day
Pickup at your hotel
Your driver waits at reception. Hotel, residence, Airbnb or any address in Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis.
On the road to Kairouan
Kairouan
Holy city of Islam, UNESCOVisit: 2 h 30
Kairouan is the fourth holy city of Islam and the most important in the Maghreb. Its Great Mosque, founded in the 7th century, is among the first built in Africa and remains a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. The Aghlabid basins, two circular reservoirs built in the 9th century to supply the city, are remarkably preserved. The UNESCO-listed medina holds working souks where weavers and potters keep thousand-year-old skills alive.
- Great Mosque, founded in 670, one of the oldest in Africa
- Aghlabid basins, 9th-century reservoirs still standing
- Medina and souks: carpets, pottery and local perfumes
Lunch break
In a local restaurant of your choice. Your driver suggests good addresses, the meal itself is not included.
On the road to El Jem amphitheatre
El Jem amphitheatre
Third largest Roman arena, UNESCOVisit: 1 h 30
The amphitheatre of El Jem rises out of the Sahel plain like an apparition. Built in the 3rd century AD with no foundations, on a layer of sand, it has stood for 1,800 years on the sheer perfection of its Roman engineering. It is the third largest Roman amphitheatre in the world after the Colosseum and the one at Capua. Its arena, its underground galleries and its exceptional state of preservation make it one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the whole Mediterranean.
- Original capacity of 35,000 spectators
- Underground passages for gladiators and wild animals
- Archaeological museum, Roman mosaics in situ
Drive back
The driver takes you back to your hotel, with a stop on the way if you need one.
Back at your hotel
Drop-off at the same address, never later than 18:00.
From Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis the pickup stays at 08:00 and you are back at your hotel by 18:00 at the latest. The driver adapts the time at each stop to the road.
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. Pick your pickup city above the map to see your own route.
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 20 dinars each, is paid on site. No deposit is taken when you book.
- Your day
- Your details
Pickup at 08:00 at your hotel in HammametBack at your hotel by 17:00
No deposit. You pay the driver on the day.
See every price by city and group
| Pickup | 1 to 4 people | 4 to 6 people | 5 to 8 people | 8 to 12 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammamet | 90 € | 120 € | 130 € | 160 € |
| Sousse | 100 € | 130 € | 140 € | 170 € |
| Port El Kantaoui | 100 € | 130 € | 140 € | 170 € |
| Tunis | 130 € | 160 € | 170 € | 200 € |
What's included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, never shared
- English-speaking driver all day
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
- Pickup at 08:00, back at your hotel by 18:00
Not included
- Amphitheatre, museum and Kairouan site tickets (~20 TND each)
- Lunch and drinks
- Purchases in the Kairouan souks
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 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.
- Pickup at your hotel at 08:00
- 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
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.
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Every day below runs with the same driver, the same 08:00 pickup and one price per car.
Book your El Jem and Kairouan excursion
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