| Susa Arabic: سوسة, Sūsa; (FR) Sousse | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Northern Tunisia | |
| Altitude | 25 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 45 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 270.000 (2016) | |
| Name inhabitants | Soussien, Soussienne | |
| POSTAL CODE | 4000 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Susa is a city of Northern Tunisia.
To know
Susa is one of the oldest cities in Tunisia, possessing an authentic medina, which has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is a popular tourist destination, especially for Russians, Serbs, Croats, Brits, Germans and other Eastern European states.
You will be surprised to see many empty hotels and clubs (permanently closed) along the beach north of the center. However, the Medina and beach areas are still vibrant.
Geographical notes
Located on the coast, it has beautiful beaches and a clear turquoise sea.
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | 15,8 | 16,3 | 17,8 | 20,2 | 23,4 | 27,1 | 30,7 | 31,5 | 30,2 | 25,6 | 20,8 | 16,7 |
| Minimum (° C) | 7 | 7,2 | 8,9 | 11 | 14,1 | 17,8 | 20,6 | 20,9 | 20 | 16,3 | 11,5 | 8,1 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 43 | 48 | 35 | 28 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 35 | 44 | 35 | 53 |
Its climate is classified as warm semi-arid but is close to the Mediterranean heat-summer. Precipitation occurs mainly in the colder months.
Background
In the year 827 A.D. from the port of Susa the ships gathered that three days later will arrive in Mazara del Vallo (first landing point) to start the long struggle that will lead the Muslims to conquer the Sicily.
How to orient yourself
Susa (Tunisia): full screen map.In the historic center of the city is represented by the splendid district of 1 Medina where the oldest buildings are concentrated and you can walk around on foot, without the presence of cars.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Enfida-Hammamet Airport (IATA: NBE) (located on the outskirts of the city of Enfidha).
- 2 Monastir-Habib Bourguiba Airport (مطار الحبيب بورقيبة الدولي, IATA: MIR) (it is located south on the coast, 20 minutes away), ☎ 216 73 521 300. Monastir is a three hour flight from many major European cities.
By car
The A1 motorway connects Susa with Tunis. A toll applies for using the motorway. Furthermore, Susa is crossed by the National Road 1 (RN1), which connects the city with the south of the country and the Libya. The roads are in excellent condition.
.jpg/150px-Тунис-2011._отдых_начался..._-_panoramio_(16).jpg)
- 3 Port of Susa. Car ferries and express ships connect Susa with Trapani (only in the summer months, once a week for cars and passengers) e Mazara del Vallo Street Pantelleria 3 times a week, for passengers only. It takes up to 7-8 hours to Trapani and 5 hours to Mazara del Vallo.
- 4 Port El Kantaoui (ميناء القنطاوي) (about 12 km north of Susa). Private boats and yachts can use this marina.
On the train
- 5 Susa station (Sousse races). Sousse is on the main line that gives Tunis to the north it reaches Sfax is Monastir South. Since it is at the center of the rail network, it is well positioned to reach most of the rest of the network, even as far south as Gabes on the coast and Tozeur at the margins of Sahara. Fares from Tunis to Sousse are 12/10/6 DT in Grand / 1st / 2nd class.
- The main train station is directly north of the Medina (5-10 minutes walk). Tunisian railways are primarily for freight traffic with passenger traffic occupying some sort of back seat, so don't expect to travel fast. That said, rail services are generally reliable and most importantly they are very cheap, even for the upper class (Grand Classe Confort).
By bus
- 6 Bus station (محطة النقل البري, Gare Routière) (it is located some distance west of the Medina at the Souk El Ahad ("Camel Market")). Buses connect the city with most of Tunisia. Prices are slightly lower than second-class train tickets, but many buses do not have air conditioning.
- 7 Gare routière Bab Bhar (محطة الحافلات باب بحر), Boulevard Yahia IBN Omar. Urban bus station.
Louages
- 8 Louages station, Rue El Masjed El Aksa (south of the Medina about 30 minutes on foot). THE Louages (shared taxi) connect Susa with other cities of Tunisia. From here there are frequent services to and from the Tunis Moncef Bey louage station (about 10 DT, about 1 hour and a half). The louage station is well signposted compared to other louage stations and the prices are published by the ticket offices in various cities of Tunisia.
How to get around
By public transport
There light rail connects the center of Susa with the medina (9 Sousse Bab Jdid Station) to Mahdia Street Monastir. Stops along the way in various districts in the south of Sousse and at Monastir Airport (Skanes Monastir Airport Station). Tickets cost 1 DT from Susa to Monastir.
THE Tuk-Tuk is toy trains they can take you on a fun ride to Port El Kantaoui, which is about 12 km away. They are open and shared transports and begin their journey when they are full (or almost). Expect to pay 2 DT per trip on the first and 2.5 DT per second. Tuk-tuks are bright purple.
The carriages horse-drawn vehicles offer another option for a fun ride to Port El Kantaoui for no more than double the price of a taxi (if you bargain).
By taxi
Taxis in Sousse have a bad reputation and the best advice is to agree on a price before boarding and make sure the price is not "per person". If you are not sure what reasonable price should be requested, ask at the hotel reception. Taxis have meters, but drivers are often reluctant to use them; stand firm and insist that it be restored to the "permanent load" dinar of 0.500 at the start of the journey. A favorite trick is to leave the previous fare on the meter so that it is added to the fare before you even leave. Always verify that the instrument has been reset and is on the correct setting for the time of day. Between 21:00 and 05:00 the rates are higher than the daytime rates at 0.510 DT / km. However, many drivers change their meters and use "special rates" for tourists. A typical daytime rate between Sousse and Port El Kantaoui, with an adequate meter, is around 4,100 DT, but, in most cases, with a "special rate", the rate will be around 7 DT. However, it is possible to agree on the fare before getting into the taxi. Expect to pay around 5-6 DT if you do. Taxis are yellow and have a taxi license sticker on the windshield.
In August 2016, as a single traveler, there were no problems with taxis here; all the taxis hired immediately used their meters and did not attempt to play with the fares.
Louages
THE louages o shared taxis are large cars or minibuses / couriers that start their journey when full. Well used by locals, you are expected to pay 10% of the price of a taxi. Shared taxis can take you beyond regular taxis, connecting the city with Tunisia's larger cities. Shared taxis for destinations in the same or adjacent city (eg Hergla, Chott Mariem) are also yellow with a blue stripe in the center. Taxis shared between cities (distant connections) are white with a red stripe. In Sousse there are also white taxis with red, black, blue and yellow stripes serving destinations in the greater Susa area (e.g. Akouda, Hammam-Sousse, Port El Kantaoui, Chott Mariem). They leave from the "Louage Station" which can be reached by normal taxi.
What see
All the main attractions of Susa are located within the labyrinthine medina in the heart of the city.
- 1 Great mosque of Susa.
5 DT (Oct 2019). 
From Sep 16 to May 31: 08: 00-13: 00. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 08: 00-15: 00. During Ramadan 8: 00-15: 00. A surprisingly quiet place, despite its location in the middle of the city. Built c. in 850, this mosque is simple and austere in the Aghlabite style, no decoration aside from a series of Arabic angles and curved arches. The prayer room is also covered with reed mats instead of the usual carpet. You must be properly dressed to enter, but green cloaks can be hired to cover up.
5 DT (Oct 2019). 
From Sep 16 to May 31: 08: 00-13: 00. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 08: 00-15: 00. During Ramadan 8: 00-15: 00. A surprisingly quiet place, despite its location in the middle of the city. Built c. in 850, this mosque is simple and austere in the Aghlabite style, no decoration aside from a series of Arabic angles and curved arches. The prayer room is also covered with reed mats instead of the usual carpet. You must be properly dressed to enter, but green cloaks can be hired to cover up.
2 Ribat. 8 DT (Oct 2019). From Sep 16 to May 31: 08: 00-17: 30. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 08: 00-19: 00. During Ramadan 8: 00-17: 00. While not as impressive or extensive as Monastir's Ribat, this fortified sacred site is worth a visit. It served as a home to a branch of Islamic warriors very similar in nature and I believe the Knights Hospitaller who lived in Rhodes. Climbing to the top of the watchtower offers fantastic views over the Medina. - 3 Archaeological Museum of Susa (المتحف الأثري بسوسة), Rue Abou Kacem Echabi. 10 DT (Oct 2019). From Sep 16 to May 31: 9: 00-17: 00. From 01 Jun to 15 Sep: 09: 00-19: 00. During Ramadan 9: 00-16: 00. In the old Kasbah that gently crumbles on the southwestern edge of the Medina. It contains a large collection of mosaics second to the Bardo and other archaeological artifacts from the Roman era.
- 4 Dar Essid Museum (متحف دار الصيد), Boulevard Yahia Ibn Omar, 65 (Approaching the Ribat from the Hotel de Paris along the north wall, follow the signs for Musee Dar Essid). 4 DT, 1 DT for photographic rights. 10: 00-18: 00, and closes 1 hour later during the summer. An extremely charming little museum located right inside the old city walls. It was the home of a Tunisian family that has now become a museum with the disappearance of the last member. The property is centered around an open courtyard from which you can access all the rooms, including the bedrooms for the first and second wife and, in turn, for the children's rooms. All are delightfully fully furnished, with some 200-year-old curtains and imported German clocks from the 1800s. The house is complete with a tower, which was used for stargazing for the start of Ramadan, from which you can get views over Sousse - it is higher than the Ribat. There is also a small bar area with great views. A must see!
- 5 Catacombs of Susa. Closed for restoration work. An underground Christian necropolis from the 1st century. It stretches over 5km and contains over 10,000 tombs.
- 6 Church of San Felice.
- 7 El Rabba Mosque.
- 8 Bu Ftata Mosque.
- 9 Keter Torah Synagogue.
Events and parties
What to do
Stroll and lose yourself in the western residential areas, which offer beautiful surprises. There are signs for the "cultural walk" that you could follow. On the western side, the medina rises to a higher level where you can see the sea.
- Boat trip (Aziza), At the port. Adults 70 TND, reduced 35 TND. Tour with a boat that reproduces a pirate galleon.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
A terrorist attack in late June 2015 killed 38 mostly British tourists. The government of the UK still recommends avoiding all travel, except essential ones, for Tunisia as a whole, although it does not have a stronger warning against travel to Sousse in August 2016.
There is no danger of criminal acts on the street. Many streets are very busy until late at night. Respect the locals and you will be respected. Crime is almost non-existent, although some neighborhoods in the city may seem seedy or dangerous.
Expect some hassle in the souk (medina) this is normal. Merchants are always trying to show their products / shops and see what you like. You have to get into the spirit to have fun, always be kind and have a smile. While it is annoying at times, this is by no means dangerous.
Women should avoid the red-light area in the northwest of the medina, reached through two overlapping walls that shield that street from the rest of the medina. Single women walking alone can be stared at, but again, this isn't dangerous, but rather a curiosity of some local men.
Most of the people who come and speak English on the streets hope to sell something, no risk, but quickly end the conversation to avoid getting indignant when you don't buy, a simple "don't, goods" should suffice.
Inside the medina, in the evening it is not unlikely to come across drug dealers who try to sell drugs to passers-by.
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Susa (Tunisia)
Commons contains images or other files on Susa (Tunisia)
Wikiquote contains quotes from or about Susa (Tunisia)
