| Monastir المـنسـتير, al-munastîr | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Northern Tunisia | |
| Inhabitants | 93.306 (2014) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 5000–5079 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Monastir is a city of Northern Tunisia.
To know
Situated along a beautiful coastline with a blue sea and long golden sandy beaches, Monastir is a pleasant seaside resort, a historic city steeped in tradition and one of the best tourist destinations in North Africa.
Under the protection of his ribat, one of the most impressive fortresses in Tunisia, the Monastir medina, the fishing port, the marina and the backdrop of villages and orchards make it a lively and welcoming destination.
Geographical notes
160 km from Tunis. Located halfway between Sousse is Mahdia and at the intersection of Al-Kairouan ed El Jem, Monastir stands out for its location in the central coast of Tunisia.
Background
It is an ancient city dating back to the Phoenician era. Thanks to its strategic position, it maintains the ribat oldest and most important in the Maghreb: a beautiful fortress which is one of the best examples of Islamic military architecture in Tunisia.
How to orient yourself
Monastir (Tunisia): full screen map.
Map of Monastir
Neighborhoods
- 1 Skanes
How to get
By plane
The airport
- 1 Monastir-Habib Bourguiba Airport (مطار الحبيب بورقيبة الدولي, IATA: MIR) (9 km from the center, follow the RR 92 road to the south-west), ☎ 216 73 521 300. Monastir is a three hour flight from many major European cities.
- The taxi ride costs about 5 DT. Reaching the airport is also possible via the train between Monastir and Sousse, as the "Skanes-Monastir airport station" is located 200m from the airport terminal.
Marina of Monastir
- 2 Port of Monastir.
- 3 Marina of Monastir. Fantastic views, huge yachts, floating restaurants and luxury hotels. It is also a nice place for a walk in the sun and for a coffee.
On the train
Gare Habib Bourguiba Monastir
- 4 Habib Bourguiba Monastir station (Gare Habib Bourguiba Monastir). There are regular rail services to Tunis is Sousse to the north and Mahdia South.
By bus
- 5 Monastir bus station (Gare Routière de Monastir).
How to get around
The distances between the Medina, Ribat and Marina are small enough to be covered on foot.
By taxi
Long-distance taxis within the city can be found everywhere and are very cheap (less than DT3 for a trip within the city).
By car
- 6 parking area.
What see
Ribat
View of the Ribat
1 Ribat. 
8 DT (Oct 2019) with a visit to the Ribat and the museum. 
From Sep 16 to May 31: 08: 30-17: 30. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 08: 00-19: 00. During Ramadan: 08: 00-17: 00. This fortified monastery is located by the sea and offers a great visit with most of the ruins that can be climbed into. Some points, such as the tower and several views may be unsuitable for those suffering from vertigo. Also some stairs have no parapet. It might be familiar as it has been used in several imitating films Jerusalem, in particular Brian of Nazareth by Monty Python e Jesus of Nazareth by Franco Zeffirelli. You can climb the tower and have a nice view of the coast and the city.
8 DT (Oct 2019) with a visit to the Ribat and the museum. 
From Sep 16 to May 31: 08: 30-17: 30. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 08: 00-19: 00. During Ramadan: 08: 00-17: 00. This fortified monastery is located by the sea and offers a great visit with most of the ruins that can be climbed into. Some points, such as the tower and several views may be unsuitable for those suffering from vertigo. Also some stairs have no parapet. It might be familiar as it has been used in several imitating films - The Ribat also hosts the little one Monastir Museum of Islamic Arts which contains illuminated manuscripts, Coptic textiles from the 4th to the 7th century, fabrics from the 9th century, Fatimid glass from the 10th and 11th centuries, Abbasid pottery, gold and silver coins from the 10th and 11th centuries and particularly singular: an Arab astrolabe made a Cordoba in 927 A.D.
Bourguiba Mausoleum
- 2 Bourguiba Mausoleum (ضريح الحبيب بورقيبة), Skanes, ☎ 216 71 341 077. Summer: Mon-Sun 9: 00-17: 30; winter: Mon-Sun 9: 00-16: 00. Huge mausoleum, in the center of a large cemetery. It contains the remains of former president Habib Bourguiba, father of Tunisian independence, who died on April 6, 2000.
Habib Bourguiba Museum
- 3 Habib Bourguiba Museum (Palais Présidentiel Habib Bourguiba), Palais Presidentiel de Skanes. Tue-Sun 9: 00-17: 00. It is the home of Habib Bourguiba, the first president of Tunisia, which was later turned into a museum. It is only worth visiting if you are interested in the modern history of Tunisia, otherwise nothing spectacular.
Museum of popular arts and traditions
- 4 Museum of popular arts and traditions (متحف الفنون و التقاليد الشعبية, Musée des arts et traditions populaires). 5 DT (Oct 2019). Tue-Sun, from Sep 16 to May 31: 9: 00-16-00. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 9: 00-16: 00. During Ramadan: 9: 00-15: 00. It exhibits traditional Tunisian costumes: bridal costumes, ornaments, woven household items and copper items.
Walls of Monastir
- 5 Walls of Monastir.
- 6 Old port el Kahlia. Ancient port with excellent location and panoramic views.
- 7 Great mosque of Monastir (Next to the ribat). Entry ban for non-Muslims. Built in the 9th century and then expanded over the centuries. It now includes a prayer hall and minaret and does not have an interior courtyard.
Old port el Kahlia
Great mosque of Monastir
- 8 Ennour Mosque.
- 9 Bourguiba Mosque (جامع بورقيبة).
- 10 Zawiya Sidi Mansour Ba Yazid (Close to the coast). White mausoleum of the 17th century Muslim mystic.
- 11 Ancient ruins.
- 12 Zawiya Abou El Fadl Al Ghedamsi.
- 13 Mausoleum Imam Mezri (Mausolée Imam Mezri).
- 14 Zawiya Omar Makhlouf.
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Rent a bike. 3 DT / hour.
- 2 Gokart (near the Sahara Beach Hotel), ☎ 216 23400004, @[email protected]. 15 minutes / 20 DT and 30 minutes / 30 DT. 10: 00-02: 00 in summer and 09: 30-19: 30 in the rest of the year. Palm Karting Monastir offers a lot to kart enthusiasts or to those who want to try it. Two circuits (adults and children), a café, an excellent Mexican restaurant and a pleasant space for parties.
- Carriage. You can also go around Monastir with the famous and traditional carriages and of course at a good price.
- Tourist train. It is an inexpensive and original way to discover the city.
- 3 Flamingo Golf Course, Route de Ouardanine B.P. 40 (take road C 100, towards Ouerdanine, to the southwest. Turn left immediately after crossing the railway), ☎ 216 73 500 283.
- 4 Palm Links Golf Course (take the RN 92 towards the west. Pass the Monastir airport. In Sahline, follow the RN 82 road to the end of the salt pans and turn right, then immediately left), ☎ 216 73 521 910. Designed by a Californian architect.
- 5 Beach (Road RR 92 towards Habib Bourguiba airport). Free access.
Shopping
- 1 Medina. Only a small part of the original medina remains but it contains a bazaar that sells the usual souvenirs, handcrafted jewelry, pottery and carpets. Prices generally seem lower than in nearby Sousse.
- 2 Monoprix. 8:30–22:00. A large supermarket near the south-east wall of the Medina. You can buy everything here, including alcohol (wine / beer) at the back entrance. Next to Monoprix there is a small local market for meat, vegetables, bread, etc.
- 3 Monastir's Artistic Workshop for Freedom, Avenue Habib Bourguiba.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- 1 The Pirates, Fishing Port 5000, El Ghedir, ☎ 216 73 468 126. Tue-Sun 12: 00-16: 00 and 19: 00-23: 00.
Where stay
The hotel infrastructure is of remarkable quality and continues to improve further. The class hotels (from one to five stars) are irreproachable for hygiene and facilities. Indoor swimming pools, sports facilities, children's mini clubs and spas are very common.
Average prices
- 1 [link not working]Amir Palace, Dkhila, ☎ 216 73 520 900, fax: 216 73 521 823. from 100 DT for the double. four stars hotel
- 2 Dessole Bella Vista, Dkhila Skanes tourist area, ☎ 216 73 520 555, fax: 216 73 521 477. Hotel 4 Stars
- 3 Delphin Ribat Hotel Monastir (El Habib), Av Habib Bourguiba, ☎ 216 73 466750, fax: 216 73 466751. 100 DT the double. 3 star hotel
- 4 Marina Cap Monastir - Appart Hôtel, Port Marina Monastir, ☎ 216 73 462 305. From 80 DT. Nice studios in the Marina with sea view, private bathroom and small kitchen. You can get a special price by booking online through one of the hotel portals.
- 5 El Mouradi Skanes Hotel. From 100 DT. A great hotel near the beach. It is not a budget hotel but it is worth the price.
High prices
- 6 Royal Thalassa Monastir, Skanes, ☎ 216 73 520520, fax: 216 73520500. From 250 DT. The only 5 star hotel in town.
Safety
Monastir is known as a very beautiful and peaceful city.
How to keep in touch
Around
Lamta Archaeological Museum
- 15 Lamta Archaeological Museum, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Lamta. Tue-Sun 9: 00-13: 00 and 16: 00-19: 00. The ancient city of Leptiminus is located about 10 km south of Monastir. It was founded by Phoenician sailors around the 12th century BC. The modern city of Lamta it was built on top of this ancient city, so it left almost nothing. Although some remains from the times of Leptiminus can still be found in this museum.
- 16 Ribat of Lamta. 9:00–18:00.
- 17 Archaeological Museum of Moknine (Musee Archeologique de Moknine), Moknine. Tue-Sun 9: 30-16: 30.
- Sousse
- Al-Kairouan
- El Jem
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Monastir (Tunisia)
Commons contains images or other files on Monastir (Tunisia)
