Kairouan · El Jem

Kairouan and the El Jem Amphitheatre

  • 7 h 45
  • From Hammamet · 1 h 30 drive
  • Private vehicle
  • French-speaking driver
Kairouan & El Jem - photo 1
Kairouan & El Jem - photo 2
Kairouan & El Jem - photo 3
Kairouan & El Jem - photo 4
Kairouan & El Jem - photo 5

At a glance

A day between two UNESCO-listed wonders: Kairouan, the first holy city of the Maghreb, with its Great Mosque and medina, then the amphitheatre of El Jem, the third largest in the Roman world, which you can explore from the tiered seating down to the underground passages.

Highlights

  • The marble courtyard of Kairouan's Great Mosque
  • Makrouds fresh from the oven
  • The underground passages of El Jem amphitheatre
  • The mosaics of the El Jem museum

Itinerary

Times are approximate and can be adjusted on the day

  1. Pickup from your hotel

    Departure for central Tunisia, about a 1 h 30 drive.

  2. Great Mosque of Kairouan

    The Mosque of Sidi Oqba, its marble courtyard and minaret, among the oldest in the Muslim world.

  3. Medina and Aghlabid Basins

    The lanes, the carpets and the famous makrouds, then the great 9th-century reservoirs.

  4. Lunch break

    At your own pace, in Kairouan.

  5. Drive to El Jem

    About 1 h 15 through the olive groves of the Sahel.

  6. El Jem Amphitheatre

    The tiers, the arena and the underground passages where wild animals waited.

  7. Return journey

    About 1 h 30 back to Hammamet.

  8. Back at your hotel

    Drop-off at your pickup address.

About this excursion

Founded in 670, Kairouan is the oldest holy city in the Maghreb. Its Great Mosque, also known as the Mosque of Sidi Oqba, impresses with its marble courtyard and massive minaret, one of the oldest in the Muslim world. Around it, the ochre-walled medina is home to renowned carpet workshops and pastry shops where you can taste makrouds, the city's speciality.

An hour to the south-east, the amphitheatre of El Jem rises out of the plain. Built in the 3rd century, it could hold around 35,000 spectators and remains one of the best preserved in the world. You can climb the tiers, go down into the underground galleries where gladiators and wild animals waited, then visit the museum and its mosaics.

This private El Jem tour from Hammamet links two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a single day, at your own pace and without the compulsory stops of organised tours.

Included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle
  • French-speaking driver all day
  • Fuel and tolls
  • Pickup and drop-off at your address

Not included

  • Site entrance tickets
  • Lunch and drinks
  • Official on-site guide (optional)

Good to know

  • Modest dress is required for the Great Mosque courtyard.
  • Bring a hat and water: El Jem is very sunny in the afternoon.
  • The El Jem ticket also includes the archaeological museum.

Frequently asked questions

Is the price per person?

No. The price covers the whole vehicle: driver, fuel and tolls. The more of you there are, the lower the price per person.

Can we change the order of the visits?

Yes. Mention it in your request or tell your driver directly: the itinerary adapts to suit you.

Do I have to pay online or leave a deposit?

No advance payment at all. You pay the driver directly on the day of the excursion, in euros or dinars.

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