Where is Suss. The city of Sousse in Tunisia: rest, interesting places

Basic moments

International tour operators position Sousse as a youth and family resort. Most of the year it is crowded, noisy and fun. Travelers are attracted by the wonderful mild climate, well-equipped sandy beaches, and decent tourist infrastructure. Many comfortable hotels have been built in the city, most of the hotels are located by the sea.

The Medina of Soussa (Old City) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the collection of artifacts from the local Archaeological Museum is one of the richest in the country. The researchers found under the streets of the medina a whole network of dungeons with burials of the period of early Christianity, some of them are available for inspection.

Sousse is home to a large Trading port and several smaller fishing ports. Restaurants located on the waterfront serve wonderful dishes from a variety of seafood. From Sousse, you can easily go to the nearest neighboring resorts, they are served by electric trains and buses. From here, fascinating excursions begin around the surrounding ancient cities, to the picturesque ruins of Roman buildings, jeep safari along the plains of the Tunisian Sahel. For lovers of extreme sports, off-road trips to the Sahara desert are organized. In summer, the city hosts music festivals and various cultural events.

History of Sousse

In the XI century BC. e. Phoenician navigators from Tire built a trading post with a fortress and a port on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The harbor became the next link in the chain of naval bases that provided ships bound for Italy, Sicily and further to Gibraltar. The Phoenicians built their fortified town at the mouth of a small river, about 10 km south of the center of modern Sousse, and called it Hadrumetum. Today, the village of Hammeim stands here, and archaeological excavations are underway on its territory.

Subsequently, the city expanded. It was surrounded by a powerful fortress wall 6410 meters long, had several shipyards, a strong navy and competed fiercely with the later built Carthage. But still, Hadrumetum supported the Carthaginian commander Hannibal in his war with Rome. However, during the Third Punic War, which wiped out Carthage from the face of the earth in 146 BC. e., the ruler of Hadrumetum took the side of the Roman Empire, for which he retained the right to rule in this region and mint his own money. Actually, according to the inscriptions of Hadrumetum on the coins found in the ground, archaeologists established the name of the city in ancient times. This allowed him to be identified in written sources.

During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Hadrumetum, which became one of the largest cities in the province of Africa, supported Caesar. After his victory, the inhabitants of the city were recognized as free citizens of Rome, which gave them significant rights and privileges in all areas of the life of the empire.

According to legend, it was here that Julius Caesar, who stumbled while jumping ashore from the ship, rose to his feet with a handful of sand clenched in his fist and resourcefully exclaimed: “Teneo te Africa!” (Now I have you in my hands, Africa!).

At the beginning of the new era, there was a Byzantine province here, conquered in 434 by the Vandal king Gaiseric. A century later, the Byzantines retook the city, but in the 7th century all of Tunisia was occupied by the troops of the Arab Umayyad Caliphate. The thousand-year-old Hadrumetum was razed to the ground. The conquerors did not rebuild the city and built a new fortress a few kilometers to the north, it received the Berber name of Sousse.

Under the protection of the fortress walls of the medina, the Arabs built a large shipyard in Sousse. Here they designed merchant ships and warships, which then played a key role in the conquest of Sicily, where the Tunisian Arabs ruled from 826 to the beginning of the 11th century.

The rolling plains of the Tunisian Sahel, stretching for 6600 km², are covered with extensive olive groves. Olives are comfortable here: although the sandy and rocky soil is completely dry for most of the year, the low level of precipitation is covered by the high humidity of the atmosphere, the tree foliage “pumps” moisture directly from the air. In the 1960s, at the initiative of the government, Tunisians planted hundreds of thousands of eucalyptus, pine and other drought-resistant trees in the Sahel.

The climate in Sousse is mild, the air temperature in the winter months ranges from +12 ... +18 ° С, however, cold rains often fall during this period. Nevertheless, at the end of January and February, tourists admire the almonds blooming in the city squares, and oranges are already pouring on the boulevards planted with fruit trees. By the way, when they ripen, it is not forbidden to pick a couple of fruits, anyway they will fall on the asphalt, and the janitors will sweep them up and send them to the garbage containers. True, street oranges are small and bitter.

Precipitation stops in May, in the last month of spring the city is rapidly warming up. In summer, the temperature varies widely - from +22 ° С in June to +38 ... +42 ° С in July-August, when the wind brings heat from the nearby Sahara desert.

The Velvet season starts in September and lasts until mid-October. During this period, Sousse is no longer so hot, the hotels are overcrowded with tourists, the cost of rooms soars to the maximum.

The beach season opens at the end of May, swimming in the sea is comfortable until the end of October. At the beginning of summer, the water temperature off the coast of the Gulf of Hammamet is +20...+22 °С, in the middle of the season - up to +25...+27 °С. You can swim until the beginning of November, the water still holds a temperature of +19 ... +20 ° С, but it is no longer very comfortable to go ashore, a cool wind blows from the sea, the rainy season begins. In addition, jellyfish appear near the shore, they are capable of painfully stinging careless bathers.

Attractions Sousse

The main attractions of Sousse are located in the ancient medina. Medieval city occupies 32 hectares, it is surrounded by walls stretching for 2.5 km. Built in 859, these dilapidated fortifications now look great thanks to a recent restoration carried out with the help of an international team of experts.

Originally, there were eight gates in the walls of the medina. To date, only the Kairouan Gate leading to the south and the Western Gate have survived. Since 1988, the entire complex of buildings of the Sousse medina has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Medieval walls and towers of stone darkened in the burning sun, like a mirage, rise on a hill above the snow-white quarters modern city. The streets of the medina often serve as an excellent backdrop for filming adventure films. To the east, the medina faces a convenient harbor in the Gulf of Hammamet.

The Ribat stronghold was built in the 8th century. For about a thousand years, the fortress was garrisoned by marabouts - warrior monks. Marabout literally means "one who is garrisoned". In the Berber dialect of Arabic, this word has the same root as "ribat" (fortress). Muslim brotherhoods of ascetics can be compared with Christian orders of chivalry, but the functions of marabouts are much wider. They are spiritual teachers, and interpreters of the Koran, and even sorcerers who can predict future events. Sufi brotherhoods of armed monks appeared at the time of the conquest of North Africa by the Arabs, they still exist today.

Grand Mosque

By tradition, the main mosque in medieval Tunisian medinas is located in the center of the development. In Sousse, this tradition is broken, because the Great Mosque was built only at the beginning of the 9th century, when the center was already occupied by other buildings. On the walls surrounding the mosque, there are not minarets, but two watchtowers with loopholes for archers. This mosque is one of the few that do not have their own minaret. Its role "in combination" is performed by the highest watch tower in the kasbah - another fortress on the territory of the medina.

Kasbah

This fortress is located in the southwestern part of the medina of Sousse. Kasbah is the legacy of various peoples who succeeded each other here in the 9th-11th centuries. The main element of the fortress is the Khalef al-Fata tower, 30 meters high, dominating the city. The tower was built in 859 and was used as a sentinel and signal tower. She has not lost these roles so far, since there is a lighthouse on her top.

The restored kasbah houses the Archaeological Museum, which presents the history of the Tunisian Sahel from antiquity to the beginning of the Arab conquest. Some of the halls are located in underground rooms. In terms of the richness of the exposition, this collection is only slightly inferior to National Museum Bardo in metropolitan Tunisia. The exhibition area of ​​2000 m² includes three thematic sections. They contain artifacts from the Punic (Carthaginian) period, Roman rule and Byzantine times, when Christianity was established in this region.

In the exposition of the Roman section, the collection of mosaic compositions that once adorned the walls and floors of public buildings and private palaces is of the greatest value. Here you can see an image that exactly resembles the Taoist symbol of Yin and Yang, but this mosaic is seven centuries older than the earliest such drawing in China. Mosaic panels with everyday and mythological scenes, still lifes, faces of the gods of the Roman pantheon attract attention.

From June to September, the Archaeological Museum is open from 09:00 to 19:00; during the downturn in the flow of tourists, the exposition is open from 08:00 to 17:00. The entrance ticket costs 9 dinars. To the east of the entrance to the museum there is parking for cars and sightseeing buses, the building has a cafeteria, souvenir shop, toilets.

Catacombs

The French amateur archaeologist Louis Carton and his friend Abbé Leino made an outstanding discovery in 1904 - they discovered many kilometers of catacombs with many Roman and Byzantine burials. These dungeons were dug in the period from the 2nd to the 4th century. Burials are located in wall niches and sarcophagi. Funeral inscriptions and drawings have been preserved on the walls.

The total length of the dungeons, located in three tiers, reaches five kilometers. Only part of the underground corridors is available for inspection. Several stelae and tombstones are exhibited in a separate exposition of the Archaeological Museum.

The entrance to the catacombs is on Rue des Catacombes. You have to pay 5 dinars for visiting. The dungeon is rather dimly lit, so if you want to take a closer look at the graffiti scrawled on the walls, take a flashlight with you.

Beaches

Sousse's city promenade is an endless line of sandy beaches stretching along the bay in a northerly direction, where they imperceptibly pass into the area of ​​the next resort - Kantaoui. The coast is built up with many hotels, restaurants and taverns. You can get an umbrella and a folding deck chair in any bar conditionally “free of charge”, you just need to order something in the institution - a cocktail, ice cream or just a glass of lemonade. In half an hour, you will surely not resist the delicious smell of grilled goodies, and re-invest your place under the Tunisian sun.

The beaches offer all kinds of equipment for swimming and entertainment - from flippers with a mask to scooters and hang gliders towed by boats.

By the sea in Sousse it is good to meet the dawn - the coastline is oriented to the east, the sun rises directly from the sea horizon.

Leisure

From Sousse, you can go on one-day or more detailed excursions throughout the country - go to Carthage, visit the capital Tunisia, see museums and monuments of the Roman era in other cities. Very close, 20 km to the south, is resort town Monastir with many attractions and entertainment.

You can join a three-day off-road trip in the south of Tunisia. During this trip you will visit the mountains of the Big Erg, in the Berber villages, in the oases of the Sahara desert. On the way back, the road runs along the largest salt lake in North Africa, Shot el-Jerid. You will pass through boundless olive groves and picturesque forests of pines - Mediterranean pines with an umbrella crown, make a stop to view the Roman amphitheater.

The cost of the tour as part of a group of cars is 612 dinars, including three meals a day. An individual trip with a guide will cost 1100 dinars. The most comfortable time of the year to travel to the Sahara is late autumn and winter.

Entertainment

The coast of Sousse is dotted with attractions. They belong to coastal hotels, but are available to everyone who wants to have fun. AquaSplash, the largest water park in the area, is attached to the hotel. There are 14 rides here.

At the box office of all water parks there is a height meter, its indicators affect the cost of tickets and admission to attractions - for security purposes. Children from 140 cm tall and above can ride from any slide. A prerequisite is that the child must wear a bright life jacket.

Sousse's nightlife thrives on the seaside streets. On the embankment there are night clubs, bars and restaurants, dance floors, where they have fun until the morning, alternating dancing with night swimming in the gentle sea.

Those who want to play roulette, cards or hit the jackpot in slot machines with the capricious Fortuna, in the evenings go to the seaside Boulevard 14 January (Boulevard 14 Janvier), where the casino Europe, popular among desperate tourists, is located. The casino is open daily from 19:00 to 04:00.

Most of the entertainment in the city is "tailored" to the needs of young people. One of the city discos called Bora-Bora is the largest dance floor under open sky in Africa. A variety of establishments with noisy cheerful parties exists here not only to please foreign tourists. More than 60,000 students study at the University of Sousse, in addition, there are about three dozen educational institutions of various profiles in the city. At parties, you can easily meet and talk with local party-goers: although official language in Tunisia - Arabic, the second official language traditionally is French. The townspeople are fluent in both languages, many speak Italian, Spanish, communicate in English, and you can also meet Russian-speaking Tunisians.

Be sure to go to the park wildlife"Phrygia". It is spread over an area of ​​36 hectares, where more than 400 animals live in spacious enclosures - from lions to turtles, porcupines and tiny jerboas. In total, 62 species of animals are kept here. Above the enclosures with predators, high platforms are arranged, from where visitors observe the life of the inhabitants of the zoo. Elephants and giraffes can be fed, packages of treats are sold at kiosks (1-2 dinars).

Tourists ride on donkeys and camels. Part of the park is reserved for the dolphinarium, where a dolphin show is held twice a day.

Inspection of the park takes 3-4 hours. Here you can have a bite to eat in cafes stylized as buildings of various regions of Africa, relax in the shade of trees near water bodies where flamingos and sea lions live. Souvenir shops sell handicrafts brought from African countries located south of the Sahara - carved ritual masks, animal figurines, decorative weapons, ceramics painted with ornaments.

The Shaka ethnic restaurant is located on site. African cuisine is served here, and a colorful show of South African Zulus is held in the evenings.

The park is open from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday is a day off. Ticket price for adults - 6.5 dinars, for children - 4 dinars. The cheapest way to get to the park is by train, the ticket price is 7 dinars. The trip lasts 45 minutes, you need to get off at the Friguia Park station.

10 km north of the center of Sousse is the marina, where a whole flotilla of pleasure sailing schooners, stylized as ships of Tunisian pirates, is based. The approximate cost of the walk is 80 dinars. Barkers actively offer such sea mini-cruises on the beaches, you can bargain with them.

Sailboats depart about one and a half to two miles from the coast and anchor. Below the waterline, panoramic windows are installed in the sides, tourists watch underwater world. In the open sea, passengers can swim and dive from the ship. In the meantime, a light lunch will be prepared in the galley - stewed chicken with sauce with vegetables, fried fish. Snacks are served during the show. On the deck you can dance with the "pirates", take part in games and quizzes.

For your information: the cost of drinks, with the exception of a glass of lemonade, is not included in the price of the trip, and on board you will see that the captains set the prices for alcohol and cocktails truly pirate. But experienced tourists they know that there is a way out: corsairs do not forbid passengers to grab a couple of bottles of wine from a hotel or port store. Right in the harbor there is a chain supermarket Magasin General, which has the exclusive right to sell alcohol. Here you will find the whole range of goods necessary for resort holiday- light clothing, wide-brimmed panamas, umbrellas, fins, etc.

After boat trip go to the local beach. In the evenings, the marina is not as noisy as the coastal streets of Sousse, although there are attractions and large shops. Here you can play a game of golf, look at funny animals in a mini-zoo. And then take a table at the La Nafoura cafe or at the L "Opera Cafe, between which there is a "singing" fountain, here you can sit nicely with friends and watch the evening illumination of the water jets. From the veranda you can enjoy a wonderful view of the harbor, where in the rays the setting sun moored yachts.

You can get to the marina by taxi (8-10 dinars) or by commuter train(2 dinars).

Shopping in Sousse

The local artisans have long been renowned for their beautiful pottery, fine fabrics, comfortable clothing made from lightweight textiles, and exquisite embroidery. All these things and much more you will find in the markets in the medina of Sousse. Very popular are decorative crafts and beads made of onyx stone, painted faience dishes and tea sets, ceramic figurines of marabouts, metal jugs with a long neck, decorated with embossing. Take a closer look at soft leather shoes, original women's bags with beaded embroidery. Among the paintings with Tunisian landscapes come across very good canvases.

Do not forget to bargain, the price of local merchants is always too high.

Near the medina, on Rue de l "église, 3, is located big store Perle Shopping Center. On its four floors you will find goods from North African countries, boutiques of fashion brands from Italy, France, Spain, sports and beach equipment. The shopping center is open from 09:00 to 21:00.

To the south of the shopping center is a Magasin General supermarket where you can buy alcoholic drinks.

As a rule, the shops of Sousse and nearby resorts close during the hottest hours of the day. The break usually starts at 12:00 and lasts until 15:00.

Farms around the city produce the best olive oil in Tunisia. Often, stone millstones are used for this, serving peasants for centuries. In the markets, you can buy a couple of bottles of homemade unfiltered virgin oil. It is impossible to find it in stores that display factory products, subjected to all sorts of industrial procedures for better preservation. Greenish homemade oil is incredibly fragrant, it is used to dress vegetable salads and other dishes - the dishes acquire an absolutely fabulous taste. But frying in such oil is not recommended, the smallest remains of olive pulp contained in this product can burn, and the taste of the dish will be spoiled. It is a pity that unclarified homemade oil does not last long - two to three months. But this period is quite enough to bring it home as a gastronomic souvenir and cook an amazing treat for friends.

Kitchen

There are many restaurants in Sousse, here you can taste delicious products of the Maghreb culinary specialists, with the motives of the cuisine of the European Mediterranean. Tourists prefer to eat in the Old Town area. Directly outside the walls of the medina is the atmospheric restaurant Dar Soltane. It offers dishes of Tunisian, Italian and French cuisine, a good selection of wines. The restaurant prepares a delicious Turkish chorba - a thick soup with veal and vegetables; they serve tagine with lamb, chicken or fish, with spicy vegetables and porridge. Under a ceramic dish with a lid, coals are warming in a special bowl. If you wish, the chefs will prepare a sweet tagine with nuts, dates, figs and other fruits.

Bread, olives and salads, small portions of snacks are brought to the table for customers waiting for the ordered delicacies to be prepared. This free meal is not included in the bill. Pickle lovers will discover new flavors of pickled or barrel-marinated large plum-sized green and black olives. They are stuffed by hand with lemon slices, salted anchovies, shrimps, mussels. The cost of main courses is 15-18 dinars, a bottle of dry wine 0.7 liters will add 20-22 dinars to the bill.

Nearby, on the port promenade of Sousse, Lido Restaurant awaits you. They say that fishermen bring their catch here by seven in the morning, so the seafood here is the freshest, and the prices are low. Customers are invited to a showcase where fishermen's prey is laid out on ice, you can choose what you like. An impressive portion of large grilled king prawns costs 24 dinars, a vegetable salad with tuna, a pile of fish-stuffed pancakes with spicy sauce and a bread basket plus beer will cost 45 dinars. At the end of the dinner, a surprise awaits you - on behalf of the chef, the waiter will bring a bowl of fruit.

Escargot Restaurant

Tourists praise the excellent Mediterranean cuisine and friendly service at the Le Cristal restaurant, which is located opposite the Soula shopping center. Cute Persian cats live on the open veranda of the restaurant. They behave with dignity, do not beg for anything, but do not refuse treats. The bill for a full meal with wine and dessert will not exceed 70 dinars.

Gourmet French cuisine is served on the menu of the Escargot restaurant, located along the waterfront. By the way, this is one of the few restaurants in Sousse that has a menu in Russian. The signature dish is escargot snails with Burgundy nuts, cooked in white wine, flavored with garlic and Provence herbs. In honor of this delicacy, the institution is named: Escargot in French means "snail". The chef of the restaurant is a famous culinary specialist from Paris. You can sit here in the courtyard in the shade of palm trees, or on the terrace overlooking the sea. Lunch for two will cost 150 dinars.

Where to stay

The resort of Sousse has more than a hundred hotels of all categories, about half of them offer the highest level of service, marked by four and five star categories. Many luxury seaside hotels located on the first strip are equipped with thalassotherapy centers, there are attractions on the beaches, swimming pools, open restaurants, green gardens, and animation shows. It also offers a wide range of sports equipment, available to rent everything you need for fun on the water. Tourists who have rested in this resort invariably note the excellent ratio of price and quality of services, the friendliness of the hotel staff.

The closest hotel to the medina is Sousse Palace Hotel & Spa 5 * (Avenue Habib Bourguiba, 30). This romantic hotel by the sea has a well-maintained beach, swimming pool, spa and fitness center. Tourists with children like to stay here: it is possible to invite a nanny, the restaurant offers a children's menu, if necessary, the waiter will put a high chair for the baby to the table. Price double room– from $86 per day.

Concorde Green Park Palace 5* Hotel room Hôtel El Faracha 2*

For unpretentious travelers in the city there are several hotels with a minimum cost of living. Among them is Hotel El Faracha, where you can rent a room for only $13 per night.

Transport

Sousse has an extensive network of bus routes, a well-established taxi service with a large fleet of modern cars. Taxis are painted in corporate yellow. Passengers are also served by fixed-route taxis (luazhi). These minibuses with a blue stripe drive within the city, luages ​​with a red stripe go to the nearest settlements.

Exotic three-wheeled tuk-tuks drive around the streets of Sousse - scooters with a canopy, 4-6 passengers can fit on the seats. The fare must be agreed in advance, trips around the city cost 2-5 dinars.

The city has three railway stations. Metro Sahel electric trains run along the resort's sea coast along the 73-kilometer Souss-Mahdia route. On the territory of the city of Sousse there are 5 stops of these trains, one of the platforms is located 200 meters from the medina. The trip from end to end according to the schedule takes exactly 100 minutes, along the way the train makes 30 stops. The train reaches Monastir Airport in 1 hour.

Metro Sahel train stations are open from 06:00 to 20:00, the train interval is about 30 minutes. The schedule is posted at the stations, near the ticket office. The fare depends on the distance. The trip between the final stations of Sousse - Mahdia will cost 3 dinars, travel to Monastir - 1 dinar. At the entrance, tickets are checked infrequently, but controllers walk from car to car on each train. The fine for ticketless travel is 60 dinars.

How to get there

Sousse does not yet have its own airport. air harbor This resort is served by Monastir Habib Bugrib International Airport located 20 km to the north. Airplanes deliver passengers here from 200 European cities, 24 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The center of Sousse is easily accessible from this airport by the Metro Sahel train.

Charter planes with tourists from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities also land at the new Enfidha Hammamet airport. Buses run from here to Sousse, the distance is 30 km.

Sea routes are also laid to the resort of Sousse. IN tourist season passenger ferries regularly arrive at the berths of the city port from the French ports of Marseille and Toulon, from the Italian harbors on the island of Sicily - Pantelleria and Tarpani.

Small but interesting museum in the center of the medina. This place for a long time served as a place for the overnight stay of pilgrims who, in Sousse, boarded ships to Egypt in order to get to Mecca. Under the French protectorate, the building became a hotel.

This museum does not have the usual halls. The expositions are located in the former rooms of the hotel, and visitors watch them through the doors from the courtyard. The expositions show scenes from the life of Tunisians in the old days. There are many interesting scenes here: cooking couscous, working with yarn, officials and merchants. Of course, a large exposition is devoted to preparations for the wedding.

In the basement of the building you can see the hammam, and on the roof, a dome with curved ribs, unique in Tunisia.

Another small but interesting museum in the medina. Unfortunately, it is located far from the main route, near the western wall. Still need to try to find it.

The museum was created on the basis of the house of a wealthy Turkish official, and it is called “gift”, which is translated from Arabic as “house”.

Inside you can see a collection of furniture, dishes and other household items from the Ottoman era. Imagine how the rich Tunisians of that time lived.

On the top floor, you can sit in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea or coffee, relax and look at the medina from above.

These catacombs are a huge cemetery. It was probably originally an underground Punic necropolis, and in the 2nd-4th centuries it was expanded and Christians began to be buried here.

About 15,000 people are buried in the catacombs. part of it underground labyrinth open to visitors. The longest such piece is called “Pasteur”, it is 1.6 kilometers long.

In 2017, the catacombs were completely closed to visitors. We hope they open again. The entrance to the catacombs is located on Rue Abdelhamid Lasska, 1.5 kilometers west of the medina. You can take a taxi for 3-4 dinars.

Port El Kantaoui is located to the west of the city, you can get from Sousse hotels in 5-10 minutes for 5-10 dinars.

In El Kantaoui, you can go to and watch musical shows. All shops and shopping centers of El Kantaoui are at the disposal of vacationers in Sousse. If you drive a little further into the resort area of ​​El Kantaoui, you will find a local one.

In El Kantaoui, the port is also interesting, where you can book a trip on a catamaran, a pirate ship or a boat with a transparent bottom. Local cafes pour beer and wine. Not far from the entrance to the port is a local one where they sell strong alcohol.

From railway station Bab Jdid in Sousse to Monastir and Mahdia runs a comfortable train.

You can get to Monastir in 30 minutes and 1 dinar. Here you can see, and the Great Mosque, and.

You can get to Mahdia in 1.5 hours and 3 dinars. Here you can see the Black Gate, the fish market and the ancient Arab and Ottoman forts that once protected the coast. The main attraction is the Archaeological Museum of Mahdia, where part of the collection of the Mahdia shipwreck is exhibited.

Perhaps this is the end of our story about the resort of Sousse. Read other interesting articles about Tunisia on our website website ( links below).

Sousse is one of the most popular resorts in Tunisia, especially among young people.

Popularity Sousse how the youth resort was brought at one time by the club Bora Bora which is currently closed.

Sousse one of the most numerous regions of the country located in the resort area. It is part of the vilayet of Sousse and is its capital, the population in the city is about 360,000 people, in the region about 570,000.

In many sources, including when selling tours, Sousse combined with the resorts of Port El Kantaoui and Schott Meriam. There are noticeable differences between them, and not only in the hotel base, so we share these two resorts.

Sousse can be roughly divided into three parts:

• historical- here is the Medina, most of the historical sites of the city;
• central- mostly inhabited here locals, there are hotels in the coastal zone;
• northern- the Hammam-Sousse district, the tourist part of the city (the El-Hammam river separates Sousse from Port el-Kantaoui).

The resort area of ​​Sousse

Transport in Sousse

Close to Sousse there are two international airports, in addition, getting from Tunis City is also not difficult:

• Monastir (Monastir Habib Bourguiba Airport)– 30km
• Enfidha (Enfidha Hammamet International Airport)– 40 km
• Tunisia (Tunis Carthage International Airport)– 150 km

You can easily get from the airport to the city by taxi, public transport (buses, luages). If you wish, you can order an individual transfer.

Sousse is a very large transport center, if you prefer independent trips around the country, then from here you can easily get to:

• local Railway("metro du Sahel") - to Mahdia or Monastir (trains run at intervals of 15 - 30 minutes);
• the central railway (Tunis-Gabes) - to Sfax, El Jem, Hammamet, Tunis City.

Taxi, as in any other region, is the most convenient mode of transport, you just need to take into account some features.

Climate in Sousse

You can find and book an inexpensive tour to Tunisia with the help of services and. The search for tours is carried out on the databases of 130 tour operators online. Compare prices, choose best options. You do not have to go to the office of a travel agency to apply for a ticket.

Tours and attractions in Sousse

Sousse can be safely attributed to those regions of Tunisia where there is something to see without leaving the resort:

• Fortress Kasbah (Kasbah of Sousse)– built in the middle of the 9th century, the fortress is located in the Old Town, the building houses the Archaeological Museum (the collection of mosaics is second only to the collection of the Bardo Museum);
• Great Mosque- the main mosque of Sousse, you can only see it from the outside - only Muslims are allowed inside;
• Ribat Fortress– built in the 8th century to protect the coast from pirates;
• Medina – Old city, surrounded by a fortress wall, now in fact it is a large market where it is traditionally customary to bargain, if you are not a fan of this process, then it is better to use Fix Price stores;
• Kalaout el-Koubba Museum- located in the center of the Medina, the exposition is represented by thematic skits - exhibitions demonstrating the life, utensils, clothes of Tunisians;
• museum house "Dar Essid" (Museum Dar Essid)- of course, one of the most interesting and visited places in Sousse, is located on the territory of the Medina.

Museum Dar Essid

This is a small private museum - the home of a noble Tunisian family, whose descendants still live in the house (they also own the museum). Visitors have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the life, traditions, way of life of several generations of Tunisians. There are many antiques in the house (paintings, carpets, jewelry, furniture, utensils and much more), even a kind of marriage contract is presented, which is about 700 years old. A very colorful place!

The sights of Sousse are considered the pearl of tourism in Tunisia, they also attract party youth with their popular trendy resort bars and nightclubs. There are many amazing ancient monuments in the Old Town, where the unique atmosphere of antiquity and the Middle Ages reigns.

Sousse (Tunisia), whose sights are striking in their antiquity, originates from the Carthaginian state. The city is over 2.5 thousand years old. Its old part is fully included in the list of cultural and historical heritage of UNESCO.

The port city is on the coast mediterranean sea covering an area of ​​45 sq. km. The population of the 3rd largest city in the country is 675 thousand people. A direct flight to Tunisia takes about 4 hours. During the tourist season, there are many charter flights from Moscow and major cities Russia. The city does not have its own airport.

The fastest way to get there is by taxi from one of the nearest airports, which are at the following distance:

Airport	Distance	Price in euro	Travel time
Monastir	20 km	5-10	10 min.
Enfidha	51 km	20-25	40 min.

You can also get there by regular bus. They leave every 30 minutes. Fare from $2.

Minibus taxis stop at separate stops. They look like minibuses with a red stripe. They depart as they fill up with no special schedule. Paying for the ticket directly to the driver.

Climatic conditions, the best time to travel

Rest in the city is comfortable both in summer and in winter. Thanks to the subtropical Mediterranean climate, the weather here is always pleasant. During the winter months, the temperature rarely drops below +10 °C, but frequent rains are typical.

Summers are dry, with temperatures ranging from 26 to 33°C, but the heat is easily tolerated by the light sea breeze. The best periods to visit are the autumn months and spring. The swimming season lasts from mid-April to October.

Holidays in Sousse

Sousse (Tunisia), whose sights attract tourists and travelers from all over the world, boasts a wide variety of entertainment for every taste and budget.

Beaches

The most popular coastal resort of Port El Kantaoui where you can not only soak up the purest sandy beach, but also have fun on the water attractions of the water park, ride a pleasure yacht, visit the zoo and even play golf.

There are a huge number of eateries, bars and restaurants on the entire beach strip. Many of them provide free beach umbrellas and sun loungers when ordering food.

Next to the beach there are water entertainment stations with banana and water bagel rides, parasailing and other attractions. Within the city, the beaches are rather narrow and dirty, with a minimal set of amenities. But the farther from the city, the more often there are well-groomed private beach areas of hotels, and the sea is cleaner here.

Beaches:

1. The beach with fine white sand Bou Jaafar is located next to the Medina, it is distinguished by calm seas and safety for children.
2. Las Vegas Beach is suitable for lovers of water sports.
3. The beach near the port in the central part of the city with a natural breakwater has everything you need for a family holiday.

Leisure

Not far from the city is the popular Hergla Park, the largest entertainment complex in Tunisia, with a huge number of different attractions, an amusement park, many cafes and a go-cart track. It is located 25 km from the city, but it is easy to get to the park by taxi or a specialized minibus.

For lovers of equestrian sports, there is the EkiClub club, where they will provide riding lessons and organize walks in the picturesque surroundings. Can arrange sea ​​cruise on a yacht or on a pirate ship from 1200 rubles. You can easily arrange a pleasure boat or rent a yacht in the port or book an organized excursion at the hotel.

A trip in jeeps through the desert will cost from 6.5 thousand rubles. Close to Sousse big water park in the tourist area of ​​Port El Kantaoui. There are several pools of different sizes with waves, rivers and slides. There are children's areas and bars for adults. Lots of cafes and restaurants for every taste. The entrance ticket costs 30 dinars for adults and 20 dinars for a child.

Nightlife

Disco Maracana is located in the heart of the resort area, not far from the sea. Here on the 1st floor there is a large dance floor with powerful sound and a laser show. Programs are run by professional fashion DJs. The top floor is entirely occupied by a bar with cozy tables.

The popular youth disco Samara King is also conveniently located in the central part of the resort, next to the hotel.

It is interesting to visit the light musical laser show Al Zahra, which is held on the territory of Medinat Park Sousse. The cost of the performance along with dinner will cost $45.

Another fashionable place in the Sousse resort area is considered to be night club Platinum in the coastal line by the sea. It is equally popular with local youth and tourists. Entrance is free, drinks at the bar are provided according to the price list. Music is different every day.

Attractions Sousse

Sousse (Tunisia), whose sights date back more than one thousand years, are mostly located quite compactly in the historical part of the city.

great mosque

The main city attraction was erected in the middle of the 9th century during the reign of the Aghlabid dynasty. The building of a large mosque resembles a fortress and surprises with the absence of a minaret. It performed defensive functions along with the Ribat fortress.

Sousse, Tunisia, Great Mosque.

The courtyard of the mosque is framed with arched openings and carved columns, the central entrance to the mihrab is decorated with 2 domes. The visit is available to everyone during the day from 8 am to 2 pm. The cost of the entrance ticket is 5 dinars.

Fortress Ribat

Northwest of the Great Mosque is a fortress of the 8th century. This is the oldest building in the city. Warrior monks lived here, who took over the defense of the 1st line in the event of an attack on the city. The fortress consists of 2 floors. The upper level was occupied by the cells of the monks, in the southern wing there was a prayer hall.

The jagged powerful walls are crowned with the Watchtower, in which the minaret used to be. From its height offers a magnificent view of the city. The courtyard has many arches and porticoes. Many rooms have been perfectly preserved to this day. The area of ​​the fortress exceeds 7 thousand square meters. m. The height of the fortress walls reaches 12 m, and the thickness is 4 m.

Entrance from Muhammad Ali street. The cost of visiting is 5 dinars for adults. You will also have to pay for the opportunity to take pictures - 1 dinar. The visit is possible on any day except Monday, from 8:30 to 17:30 from October to March, in the summer from 8 to 19:00.

Dar Essid Museum

It is interesting to visit the traditional house of a noble Tunisian family built in the 10th century. The museum exposition will introduce you to the way of life of a real family for several generations. You can see 11 rooms, among which there are bedrooms, a nursery, a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen. All the details of the premises are recreated with amazing care. Everything here is imbued with the spirit of antiquity.

You can visit the museum in the northern part of the Medina near the northern gate from 10 am to 6 pm daily, with a lunch break from 1 pm to 3 pm. The entrance ticket costs 4 dinars. There is a description of the museum in Russian.

Kalout el Kubba Museum

The traditional ethnographic museum is located in an amazing building of the 11th century with an unusual corrugated dome. At the exhibition, you can get acquainted with household items and utensils of everyday life of Tunisians of different periods, see musical instruments, national costumes and very interesting exhibitions of scenes.

The museum is located in the center of the Medina, 300 meters from the western gate. The entrance ticket costs 2 dinars. For the opportunity to take pictures, you will have to pay another 1 dinar. Time to visit the museum exhibition from 10 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Saturday and Sunday, the museum is open until 14:00. Friday is a day off.

Fort Kasbah

Walls the oldest fortress erected on Byzantine ruins in the middle of the IX century. The fortress has a rectangular shape of 200 m by 140 m and 2 floors. The Kalef Tower is 30 meters high and used to be a lighthouse. Today part of the fortress is occupied by a museum.

It is located in the southwestern part of the Medina, the entrance is from Marshal Tito Street. The cost of visiting the fortress is 5 dinars. Opening hours from May to October from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., in other months until 6 p.m. Monday is a day off.

Archaeological Museum

Located in the fortress fort Kasbah, in its southern part. Here you can see the most valuable collection of mosaics from all over the country, ancient artifacts and relics of the ancient Roman period, works of art, frescoes, amphorae, reliefs of gods, burial urns and ancient tombstones.

Visiting the museum is possible on any day of the week except Monday. Opening hours from 9 am to 6 pm, lunch break from 12 pm to 2 pm.

Catacombs

Unique Christian burials of the II-IV centuries were found in an old quarry. The length of the catacombs of several kilometers consists of several galleries, starting in the city center and going far beyond its borders.

A small section of the catacombs with the name of the Good Shepherd is open to the public. Closed burials can still be seen in the niches. Entrance in the southwest of the Medina from the street of the Catacombs. Admission is free from 9 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm on any day except Monday.

Amphitheater in El Jem

The grandest building of the period of ancient Roman rule is often mistakenly called the Colosseum. It is located in the center of the old city, one of the most visited attractions in Tunisia.

The amphitheater is a 3-4-storey building with many arches, walls more than 30 m high. The length of the stage is 37 m by 60 m. Under the arena there were numerous rooms for slaves, gladiators, and wild animals.

You can get to the local coliseum on your own by taxi or by train. The cost of visiting is 8 dinars, for photographing you need to pay an extra 1 dinar. Visiting time from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. summer period, from October to April from 8-30 to 17 hours. An organized excursion along with the road will cost 1.6 thousand rubles.

Takruna

45 km from Sousse, on a 200-meter cliff, is the ancient village of Takruna, built around the 16th century. Several Berber families still live here in petrified huts. They are engaged in cultivation of the earth and weaving. Some cave houses are allowed to enter to inspect the interior and life of the old way. Entrance to the museum costs 2 dinars.

The best way to visit this place is with an organized tour. For independent travel, you will have to hire a taxi.

Udna

The unique open-air archaeological park-museum is located 30 km from Tunisia. The city is well preserved from the ancient Roman period. Here you can see the forum, the capitol, the amphitheater, the aqueduct, thermae and residential areas. The complex is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. organized excursion. The cost of entrance tickets is 8 dinars.

Excursions in Sousse

The sights of Sousse offer to see many excursion programs with an organized tourist tour to Tunisia. It is possible to choose the tour you like on your own local agencies or use the services of a guide via the Internet.

Historic Sousse

Overview group walk By ancient city with a visit to the Ribat fortress, the city museum, the quarter of local artisans and a tour of the port. The cost of the historical excursion is 2.8 thousand rubles. for adults and 2.3 thousand rubles. for children.

Berber day

Excursion group tour for $ 50 per person includes a visit to an ostrich farm, a visit to the village of Zriba with swimming in the Moorish baths of the XV century on thermal springs, massage treatments.

On the way to the ancient ruins, you can also visit the small town of Zaguan. Lunch at a cafe and little walk. The next stop is in the Berber village of Takruna on a high cliff, exploring the village and getting to know the life of the locals. Visit to the port city of Ouarglu and a short walk.

matmata

An unforgettable trip to the village of cave dwellers will cost $50 per person. Inspection of the dwelling and a walk through the cave labyrinths will leave an indelible impression of the trip. If you wish, you can stay for an exotic night in a cave hotel.

The tour also includes a walk through the amazing surroundings, reminiscent of an alien landscape, and a tour of the scenery for the film. star Wars.

Itinerary for exploring Sousse on your own for 1-2 days

Sousse (Tunisia), whose sights are conveniently located in the historical part of the city, you can easily get around on foot and explore on your own.

Route:

Hotels in Sousse

Many new hotels and modern hotels are being built in the city, which are located along the beach line, at a distance of no more than 100 m from the sea.

The Pearl Resort & Spa

A magnificent spa hotel 2 km from the Great Mosque is located at Boulevard Abdelhamid El Kadhi La corniche, 4000 Sousse. Guests are offered a closed private beach, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, Turkish bath, international bar and restaurant, continental breakfast in the morning.

All rooms are equipped with the latest technology, there is a private guest area and a terrace. The cost of rooms starts from 16.3 thousand rubles.

Dar Antonia

Well located hotel in the city center is located at 21, Rue Kaabar (Rue de France), Medina de Sousse, 4000 Sousse. The hotel is surrounded by a garden, there is an open patio with a magnificent view and sun loungers for relaxation, a common lounge area. The hotel has a restaurant serving a delicious and hearty breakfast.

It offers spa treatments, massages, Turkish bath and solarium. The hotel has its own tour desk and ticket service.

The rooms are equipped with every comfort and have access to the patio. There is a kitchen with a coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave. The cost of a room starts from 11.5 thousand rubles.

Hotel Royal Jinene

The hotel with its own private beach is located 100 meters from the sea at Bd Du 7 Novembre, Route Touristique. Hotel garden, outdoor pool with sun loungers, bar. Sultan International Restaurant serves free breakfast in the morning.

The hotel has a golf course, tennis court, swimming pool, fitness center, Turkish bath and sauna. Spacious modern rooms with all amenities can be rented at a price of 10 thousand rubles.

Ecolodge Dar zitouna

The country hotel complex is located 15 km from the city at Sidi Bou Ali Sousse Sousse, 4000. Guests are provided with a room with a bathroom and a seating area, equipped with everything necessary, at a price of 5.4 thousand rubles.

The hotel has a garden, an outdoor terrace with magnificent views, pool. The restaurant serves a continental buffet breakfast for guests.

Le Monaco Hotel & Thalasso

A large hotel complex is located in the city on the beach at Boulvard 7 Novembre, 4000 Sousse. It has a private beach, swimming pool, gym, thalassotherapy center.

The hotel has shops, bars and cafes, a restaurant with excellent local and international cuisine, breakfast is served in the morning. It offers en suite studios or apartments with balconies and kitchenettes. The cost of rooms starts from 4.2 thousand rubles.

Where to eat

The gastronomic establishments of the city are distinguished by a huge variety in cuisine, design and prices, but everyone will find a place for their soul and wallet.

Name	Address	Kitchen	average check
Café Casa del Gelato	1 Avenue 14 January	coffee and ice cream	up to 600 rubles
Cafe Seles	Rue Abounawas 42	Arabic and fish	20-50$
Forum Grill Restaurant	av. Hedi Chaker	grill, sea and Arabic	from 650 rubles
Dodo Restaurant	Rue el-Maar	pizza, arabic and european	25-50$
Queen Restaurant	Avenue Taeib Mehiri, corner Rue Monji Baly	Arabic, French	30-55$

What is the best way to get around the city

They walk in the city bus routes, which connect the center with suburban areas and neighboring cities. The fare in the city will cost $3, and to get to the capital of Tunisia will cost about $6. It is also convenient to travel by train, locals call it the metro, 5 stations of which are located within the city. The fare is $2-3.

The convenient location of the train station in the city center makes this view public transport very popular. On a comfortable train, travel to Tunisia will cost from $8. Can move to fixed-route taxis, painted in blue or red stripes, depending on the range.

unique sights and medieval monuments The historical center of Sousse is organically intertwined with new-fangled entertainment, noisy youth bars and modern hotels, making a holiday on this Mediterranean coast of Tunisia bright and unforgettable.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the city of Sousse, Tunisia

Holidays in Sousse, Tunisia:

Sousse is called the capital of the eastern part of Tunisia. This is very a nice place With developed infrastructure entertainment, hotels by the sea, well-preserved old streets medina(the ancient part of the city) and sprawling olive groves.

Sousse is located in picturesque bay south of Hammamet. In the north, the city borders on the popular resort area Port El Kantaoui. In Sousse, it is quite convenient to get to the country's airports: 12 km to Monastir airport, 140 km to Tunisian.

Region	Sousse
Population	579,200 people
	2621 sq. km.
Population density	220.98 per sq. km.
	Tunisian dinars
Timezone
Postal code
International dialing code

Climate and weather

Tunisia is a country with a subtropical Mediterranean climate. Sousse, like most Tunisian cities, pleases its residents and guests with mild and warm weather. It's a warm summer here average temperature in the range +25…+30 °С. The holiday season in Sousse begins at the end of April, and ends only in October-November. In winter, it is also quite warm here - +5…+12 °С.

Nature

Sousse is a very bright city. Here, the mild maritime climate and fine sandy beaches are simply a paradise for tourists. As in other cities of Tunisia, there is a lot of greenery here, gardens with exotic plants are especially interesting.

Attractions

Must visit in Sousse Ribat. This is a monastery-fortress, which was founded in 780 and fully completed in 821. On the inside of the Ribat along its perimeter there are galleries of cells. Closer to the southeastern part is a sentinel tower nador, to which 73 steps lead.

Sousse is very beautiful medina. It is surrounded by walls observation towers. The walls are 2.25 km long and 8 m high.

The medina in Sousse is known for its towerKalef Al Fata, which was built in 859, once it was a lighthouse. The height of the tower is 30 m. If you climb it, you will see a beautiful panorama of the city.

Also a beautiful architectural monument of the 10th century is Grand Mosque, which was erected by the Arab dynasty of the Aghlabids. Watchtowers rise in the corners of the mosque. On the inside of the courtyard is a gallery.

IN Sousse Museum a large number of mosaics are presented. It contains perhaps the most beautiful and unusual mosaic collection in the world.

Ancient finds can be seen in archaeological museum Sousse in Fortress of the Kasbah.

In the vicinity of the city, the remains of Christian catacombs, Roman houses, Phoenician tombs and Byzantine fortifications have been preserved.

Every year in August Sousse hosts the Festival " D'Ossu”, known for its carnival processions.

Nutrition

You can have a cheap and tasty meal in Sousse restaurants: fish Le Pacha And mediterranee, as well as in an institution with Tunisian cuisine La Caprice. Many popular Arabic cafes, where you can always smoke hookah and taste local drinks, are located in Port El Kantaoui.

In addition, in Sousse you can visit the Ice Cream House ( Casa Delgelata). This is just a paradise for tourists with a sweet tooth. It offers about 100 varieties of different ice cream.

Accommodation

Many new hotels are being built in Sousse, so sometimes the hotels here are separated from each other by hundreds of meters of wasteland. All of them are located on the beach. The longest distance from the hotel to the sea is 100 meters.

In Sousse, prices for 4 and 5 star hotels fluctuate within 500-800 $ per person per week. But you can choose hotels with 3 stars - albeit more modest, but very neat and clean. Umbrellas in hotels are issued free of charge. Sunbeds cost about $1. They can be taken for the whole day along with the mattress.

Entertainment and recreation

In Sousse one of the most popular tourist places is Port El Kantaoui. This is a prestigious resort that has a zoo, an artificial marina, a water park, a 27-hole golf course and an amusement park.

The sandy beaches in Sousse are some of the best in Tunisia.

Close to Sousse in a small town Hergla entertainment complex is located Hergla Park, where there is an amusement park and a go-kart track.

At the casino caraibe there are more than 300 slot machines, you can also play baccarat, poker, roulette and blackjack here. Entrance strictly by passport, the visitor must be at least 21 years old.

The most popular discos in Sousse are Samara King And Maracana.

In the city you can not only relax, but also improve your health - in the centers of thalassotherapy Hasdrubal Talassa And Abou Navas Boujafar.

Purchases

The best places for shopping are oriental bazaars. Here you can buy products made of olive wood and leather, gold, silver, bronze and copper, carpets, dresses, antiques, shoes and many other interesting things. Remember that in Sousse, as in any Arab city, you need to bargain. Then you will not only save money, but also behave in accordance with local traditions.

Sousse shops are open every day (except Sunday) from 9:00 to 19:00. Usually the lunch break is from 12:00 to 14:00.

Soul Center- is the largest shopping mall in Sousse. Here prices are fixed.

Transport

In the city center is Train Station. By train it will be very convenient to get, for example, to the capital of Tunisia. And it only costs $8. There are also luxury trains running here.

They go through Sousse and electric trains, which for some reason the locals call "metro".

The bus station is located on Souq el Ahad. The cost of tickets for public transport is the same as in other cities. For example, a ticket to El Jema, where the Roman amphitheater is located, will cost $ 3, and to Tunisia - $ 6.

Connection

A call from a hotel room will cost three times as much as from pay phones on the streets of Sousse. To communicate with other countries, it is better to use payphones in international call centers Taxiphones Internationales .

Payphones accept 1 DT ($0.62), half a dinar ($0.31) and 100 millime ($0.062) coins. Dinars can be exchanged for small coins from the attendants working in call centers.

During conversations, do not forget to monitor the payphone counter and add coins to it in advance. Payment starts after the 14th second of communication, even if you just hang on the line, waiting for a response. Pay phones operate from 08:00 to 22:00.

Safety

Photography is prohibited in Sousse:

• women in veils;
• those who pray;
• policemen;
• presidential apartments;
• objects with the state flag.

Be as polite as possible with the local population - Eastern people value culture and tact more than anyone else.

Walking around Sousse, do not forget that it is forbidden to drink bottled wine and beer in cans on the streets. If possible, do not drink alcohol on the street at all, since the Arabs, although hospitable people, are disapproving of alcohol.

Business climate

In Sousse, as in other cities of Tunisia, it is very profitable to start your own business. For a foreign businessman, the local government can offer:

1. Regulated banking sector.
2. modern legal framework.
3. Favorable taxation.
4. Developed infrastructure.
5. Opportunity to cooperate with both European and Arab countries.
6. Qualified workforce.
7. Fairly high standard of living.

Since Sousse is a resort city, it is quite profitable to open various cafes, restaurants, and retail outlets here. You can also build hotels or rent out real estate (houses by the sea) to visitors. In addition, it is profitable to open companies in the field of information technology.

Real estate

Sousse is famous for its snow-white houses in oriental style. Very often, palm trees grow right in the yards, which creates the feeling that you are living in an oriental fairy tale. Houses usually combine traditional oriental luxury and modern elements inside. They always have a lot of light and space.

Absolutely any foreigner can buy his own house in Sousse without any problems. The cost will depend not only on the footage, but also on how close the object is to the sea. True, with the purchase of land plots it will be more difficult, since it will not be possible to acquire land in ownership - you can only rent a plot for 40 years (with the possibility of a subsequent extension of the contract for another 40 years).

Going to rest in Sousse is good both in summer and in winter. Even at this time, the weather is always warm here and you can properly relax and unwind. True, in this case, do not forget to take an umbrella with you - precipitation is possible in Sousse in winter.

During your vacation, be sure to check out the coastal resort, which bears the name Port El Kantaoui. Here you can not only soak up the beach, but also rent one of the yachts, play on the golf course, have fun in the water park and rides or go to the zoo.