Sousse Landmarks: Museum, Mosque and Ramparts
Read the current US State Department and UK FCDO advice for Tunisia before booking; some border and military areas are closed to tourists. The FCDO lists religious and tourist sites among places where terrorism is a higher risk, so allow time for security checks and carry ID.
A single morning is enough for the main landmarks, because the Ribat, the Great Mosque and the Kasbah sit within easy reach of each other.
The Medina
UNESCO listed the Medina of Sousse in 1988 and added to the listing in 2008. It is free to walk, and most visitors begin near the Ribat.
Ribat
The Ribat is a fortress of 36 m by 36 m, probably from the 8th century, rebuilt in 821 and with wings renovated in 1722. Its corner tower acted as the minaret of the mosque nearby. The official page gives 08:00 to 17:30 in winter and 08:00 to 19:00 in summer, open every day. The tower is reached by a narrow spiral stair. Non-residents were charged 8 TND before April 2026.
Great Mosque
Dating to 851, the mosque is on the Medina’s eastern edge. It has an arcaded courtyard and a deep prayer hall, with a domed corner bastion in place of a minaret. Visits are limited to the courtyard for non-Muslims according to most accounts, and the posted rules at the door decide. Official hours: 08:00 to 13:00 in winter, 08:00 to 15:00 in summer, Fridays 08:00 to 12:00.
Kasbah and museum
Mosaics from Hadrumetum, El Jem, Enfidha and other Sahel sites fill the museum, the second-largest collection in Tunisia after the Bardo. Head of Medusa and Neptune on his sea-chariot are highlights. Open 09:00 to 17:00 in winter and 09:00 to 18:00 in summer, closed Mondays. The adult non-resident price was 10 TND on the official page.
Catacombs
Four burial areas lie west of the old city, with roughly 240 galleries and 15,000 burials. Collapses mean only part of the Good Shepherd catacomb opens, and no timetable is published. Ask at the museum first.
Fees and tariffs
New heritage tariffs began on 1 April 2026, with categories from 5 to 30 TND for non-residents and a reduced 2 TND rate for pupils and students. The category of each Sousse site is not published, so treat older figures as a guide and confirm at the ticket window.
Etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees, speak quietly at the mosque and ask before photographing people. A stranger who says a monument is shut may be mistaken, so read the posted hours.
You can compare Sousse sightseeing tours and read the heritage agency’s Great Mosque page .
Read more: Sousse walking tours and Sousse activities .