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Kairouan and El Jem Day Trip: Great Mosque and Amphitheatre

This Kairouan and El Jem day trip links the two greatest monuments of central Tunisia, both on the UNESCO list. You see the Great Mosque of Kairouan in the morning and the Roman amphitheatre of El Jem in the afternoon. A private driver collects you from your hotel in Hammamet, Sousse or Tunis, and the price is per car, not per person.

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Two tiers of golden stone arches on the outer wall of the El Jem amphitheatre on a Kairouan day trip

Your day

  1. 08:00
  2. Kairouan
  3. El Jem amphitheatre
Duration
7h45
From
€90 per car, 1 to 4 people
Pickup
Your hotel at 08:00
Group
1 to 12 travellers
Cancellation
Free up to 48 h

How the Kairouan and El Jem Day Trip Runs

The order of the Kairouan and El Jem day trip is not random. The Great Mosque of Kairouan closes to visitors in the early afternoon, so it comes first. El Jem fills the afternoon, 45 minutes away through the olive groves. Since the amphitheatre is the last stop, you can stay as long as you like.

How the day is spent

Drive there
1h30
At the sites
4h
Between stops
45 min
Drive back
1h30
Door to door
7h45
  1. 08:00

    Pickup at your hotel

    About 1 h 30 from Hammamet, 1 h 15 from Sousse and 2 h 30 from Tunis.

  2. 09:30

    Kairouan

    Great Mosque, Aghlabid Basins and the medina souks. About 2 h 30.

  3. 12:00

    Drive to El Jem

    45 minutes through the olive groves of the Sahel. Lunch on the way or facing the arena.

  4. 13:00

    El Jem amphitheatre

    Arena, tunnels, upper tiers and the mosaic museum. About 1 h 30.

  5. 16:00

    Back at your hotel

    Around 16:00, a little later if you take a long lunch.

Route shown from Hammamet.
Courtyard and square minaret of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, first stop of the El Jem day trip

Stop 1

Stop 1: Kairouan and Its Great Mosque

Kairouan is the fourth holy city of Islam and the oldest in the Maghreb. Its Great Mosque, founded in 670, has one of the largest marble courtyards in the Muslim world. Around it you find the Aghlabid Basins, the Barber’s Mausoleum and carpet souks you can enter with no pressure to buy. Allow about 2 h 30, a little more if you love medinas.

Time here
About 2 h 30
Ticket
About 12 TND, city pass
Mosque hours
Mornings, until about 14:00
Dress
Shoulders and knees covered

What you’ll see

  • Great Mosque of Uqba, one of the oldest in Africa
  • Aghlabid Basins, 9th-century reservoirs still standing
  • The medina’s carpet, pottery and perfume souks
  • The Barber’s Mausoleum and its tiled courtyard
Upper tiers and arena of the El Jem amphitheatre under a blue sky on a Kairouan and El Jem tour

Stop 2

Stop 2: The El Jem Amphitheatre, Third Largest in the Roman World

The amphitheatre of El Jem seated 35,000 people. It is the third largest Roman arena after the Colosseum and Capua, and in some ways it is better kept. You can climb the upper tiers, walk the tunnels under the arena and circle the whole ellipse. The museum five minutes away holds some of the finest mosaics in Tunisia.

Time here
About 1 h 30
Ticket
About 12 TND, with museum
Shade
Very little, bring a hat
Built
3rd century AD

What you’ll see

  • The arena and the tunnels where animals and gladiators waited
  • Upper tiers with a view over the town and the plain
  • The archaeological museum and its Roman mosaics

What the price includes

One price covers the car, the driver and the road. Here is exactly what is in it, and what you pay on the spot.

Included in your price

From €90 per vehicle

  • Private air-conditioned car or van, never shared
  • Your driver for the whole day
  • Fuel, tolls and parking
  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
  • An earlier start, from 07:00, on request

Not included

Paid on the spot, usually in dinars.

  • Kairouan pass and El Jem ticket, about 12 TND each
  • Lunch and drinks
  • A licensed guide (we can add one for a fee)

Kairouan and El Jem Day Trip Price per Vehicle

The price of the Kairouan and El Jem day trip covers the whole car, not each traveller. A family of four pays €90 in total from Hammamet, or €22.50 each. From Sousse it costs €100, and from Tunis €130 because of the longer drive. Entry tickets are paid on site, and you pay no deposit when you book.

Pickup from1–4 travellers4–6 travellers5–8 travellers8–12 travellers
Hammamet€90€22.50 each€120€20 each€130€16.25 each€160€13.33 each
Sousse / Port El Kantaoui€100€25 each€130€21.67 each€140€17.50 each€170€14.17 each
Tunis€130€32.50 each€160€26.67 each€170€21.25 each€200€16.67 each

Tap a price to book it.

Tips for Visiting Kairouan and El Jem

A holy city and an open-air arena in one day means two kinds of planning. These four points cover both.

  • Cover up in Kairouan

    Shoulders and knees must be covered at the Great Mosque. Shawls are lent at the door if you forget.

  • Start early

    The mosque closes to visitors around 14:00. An 08:00 start gives you time without rushing.

  • Plan for the sun

    The tiers and the arena of El Jem are in full sun. Bring a hat, water and sunscreen from May to September.

  • Avoid Friday mornings

    Friday is prayer day, so the mosque closes earlier. Any other day works better.

Kairouan and El Jem: Common Questions

What travellers ask most before they book this day.

How long is the Kairouan and El Jem day trip?

About 7 h 45 door to door from Hammamet, plus lunch. You spend about 2 h 30 in Kairouan and 1 h 30 at El Jem, with 45 minutes of driving between them.

How much does a Kairouan and El Jem day trip cost?

€90 per car for 1 to 4 people from Hammamet, €100 from Sousse and €130 from Tunis. The price covers the car, fuel, tolls and the driver. Tickets cost about 12 dinars per site.

Can non-Muslims visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan?

Yes. The courtyard and galleries are open to visitors, usually from 08:00 to about 14:00. You view the prayer hall from the doorway. Cover your shoulders and knees.

Is El Jem as good as the Colosseum in Rome?

It is smaller, but in several ways better kept: the outer arches and the tunnels are almost complete. The big difference is the crowds. Outside high season, you often have the arena nearly to yourself.

Can I visit El Jem only?

Yes, as a half day from Sousse, only 1 h 15 away. Send us your hotel and group size on WhatsApp and we will quote that shorter trip.

Is the day good for children?

Yes. Kids love the amphitheatre, especially the tunnels where the animals were kept. Bring water and caps, since there is almost no shade. Child seats are free on request.

When is the best time to go?

March to May and September to November. Kairouan easily passes 38 °C in summer. In July and August, a 07:00 start makes a big difference.

Pair It With Another Day Trip

Many guests pair this trip with the Carthage and Sidi Bou Said tour for a second day of history closer to the coast. Others pick the Dougga and Bulla Regia tour for more Roman ruins. See every route in our full list of excursions.

Book Your Kairouan and El Jem Day Trip

Tell us your hotel, your date and how many of you are travelling. We confirm by email within two hours with a fixed price for the car and no deposit. Choose your date and book your Kairouan and El Jem day trip.

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from €90 per vehicle

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