Kairouan & El Jem Private Day Trip
From $82, a private day trip to Kairouan and the Roman amphitheatre of El Jem. Pickup at your hotel door, and one fixed price for the vehicle.
Private Day Trip from Your Hotel to Kairouan and El Jem
This private day trip joins two of the main sites of central Tunisia. In Kairouan, you see the Great Mosque, the Aghlabid Basins and the lanes of the old city. In El Jem, you walk inside one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in the world. Your driver picks you up at your hotel and brings you back in the evening. The price is fixed per vehicle, for your group only.
From the First Muslim City to a Roman Arena
Kairouan and El Jem are close on the map but far apart in time. One was built for Roman games, the other as the first Muslim city of the Maghreb.
The City of Uqba ibn Nafi
Uqba ibn Nafi, an Arab general, founded Kairouan around 670 as a base for his army. He chose a plain far from the coast, out of reach of the Byzantine fleet. Kairouan became the first great Muslim city of the Maghreb. For four centuries, it was the political and religious capital of the country.
The Great Mosque
The Great Mosque was first built at the city's founding, then rebuilt in 836 by the Aghlabid emir Ziyadat Allah I. Its prayer hall rests on 414 columns, many taken from Roman and Byzantine sites. The square minaret is often called the oldest standing minaret in the Muslim world. UNESCO listed the city in 1988.
The Mosque of the Three Doors
In the Medina, look for the Mosque of the Three Doors. A man from al-Andalus, Muhammad ibn Khayrun, paid for it in 866. Its front, carved with Kufic writing and flowers above three arches, is often called the oldest decorated facade in Islamic architecture. Only that front survives from the first building. The minaret came much later, in 1440.
Carpets and Makroudh
Kairouan is the carpet town of Tunisia. Local tradition says the first knotted carpet here was woven in the 19th century by the daughter of the city's governor. The classic Kairouan carpet has a central medallion and a deep red ground. The other famous product of the city is makroudh, a semolina pastry filled with dates.
Thysdrus, a Town of Olive Oil
In Roman times, El Jem was Thysdrus, a prosperous town that lived from olive oil. Its landowners grew wealthy enough to build one of the largest arenas of the empire. The amphitheatre is nearly 150 meters long and 36 meters high. It could hold some 35,000 people, and UNESCO listed it in 1979. Its arches still rise above the low houses of the modern town.
The Revolt of 238
In 238, Thysdrus made history. Local landowners, angry at a harsh tax officer, killed him. They then asked Gordian, the governor of Africa and a man of about 80, to take the throne. His reign lasted some three weeks, until troops loyal to Emperor Maximinus won at Carthage. The arena was begun around that time and never fully finished.
Under the Arena
Below the arena floor run two long stone corridors. Wild animals and fighters waited in their side rooms before the games. Trapdoors and lifts brought them up into the light, in front of the crowd. Walking there today, you see the same walls and the same openings in the ceiling.
A Fortress for the Kahina
After the Romans, the arena served as a fortress. Around 700, Dihya, the Berber queen known as the Kahina, fought the Arab armies. Tradition says she took refuge inside the arena. Accounts place her last battle near El Jem in 703. Its walls sheltered local people again in later wars, and her story is still told across North Africa.
Your Day, Stop by Stop
The order depends on where your hotel is, and you can change it on the day. Here is a common plan from the coast hotels.
- Pickup at your hotel at the agreed time.
- El Jem: the arena, the tiers and the underground passages of the amphitheatre.
- Lunch break on the way, at a place you choose, paid on the spot.
- Kairouan: the Great Mosque, the Aghlabid Basins and a walk in the Medina.
- Time for the carpet shops or a box of makroudh, the city's date pastry.
- Drive back to your hotel in the evening, door to door.
Price from Your Departure City
Prices change with the distance from your hotel, which is why Sousse is the cheapest departure point. Each price is for the whole private vehicle, with the driver, fuel and highway tolls included. Nothing is added on the day. A certified guide costs $50 for the day, for your whole group.
Price per private vehicle, in US dollars
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Tunis or Gammarth | $130 |
| Departure from Hammamet | $110 |
| Departure from Nabeul | $120 |
| Departure from Sousse | $82 |
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Monastir | $95 |
| Departure from Mahdia | $100 |
| Departure from Bizerte | $155 |
| Departure from Djerba | $175 |
What You Pay and What Is Included
The price covers the vehicle and the driver for the whole day. Tickets for the amphitheatre and the Kairouan monuments are paid on site.
Included
The long drive between the two cities is covered, with the car, the driver and the highway tolls.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for the day, driver, fuel and highway tolls
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel entrance
Not Included
What you buy in the souks, and your lunch, stay on your own budget.
- Entrance tickets in El Jem and Kairouan
- Lunch, drinks and purchases
- On request: certified guide, $50 for the day, for your whole group
Tell us your hotel, the date and how many of you are traveling. Our team sends back the confirmation with the fixed price. We answer 24/7, on WhatsApp or by phone.
Questions About Kairouan and El Jem
How long is the day trip to Kairouan and El Jem?
Count on a full day. The driving time depends on your hotel, and you decide how long you stay at each site.
What should we wear to visit the Great Mosque?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf. Dress the same way for the other religious sites of Kairouan.
Can we go down under the arena in El Jem?
Yes, the underground passages are part of the visit. This is where animals and fighters waited before the games.
Can we leave from Sousse or Monastir?
Yes. Both cities are in the price table, and they are among the closest departure points for this trip.
Is the trip shared with other travelers?
No. It is a private trip, so only your group rides in the vehicle with the driver.
Other Day Trips in the Sahel and the South
From the same hotels, you can also visit Monastir and El Jem, or Sousse and Monastir on the coast. For a longer trip, our Sahara circuits go south to the dunes of Douz.
