El Jem: A Journey through the Roman Empire
El Jem is a destination that excites most travellers with its rich history. The crown jewel is undoubtedly the ancient Roman amphitheatre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest and best-preserved Roman colosseums in the world. El Jem has a charming blend of traditional Tunisian ambience whilst is also a modern city. Visitors can explore the winding streets of the medina, where vibrant markets are and you can buy local crafts and try some delicious cuisine. The town’s friendly atmosphere and warm hospitality make it an ideal destination for those seeking an authentic North African experience.
How to Travel to El Jem?
The best way to travel here is from Sousse. You can take a louage from the louage station in Sousse. There are direct louages that go here and this will cost 6.8 TND (€2). You can easily do a day trip to El Jem and return to Sousse later on in the day or you could stay here if you fancy. Note the louages only leave once they are full, they usually fill up pretty quickly though! You could also take the train to El Jem however there are fewer trains departing to El Jem each day compared to the louages.
Top Things to do:
1. Roman Amphitheatre El Jem
The Roman Amphitheatre was built in the 3rd century AD, this colossal structure is the third-largest Roman amphitheatre in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The amphitheatre, often referred to as the Colosseum of North Africa, once hosted gladiatorial contests, chariot races, and other public spectacles. The elliptical arena, surrounded by towering walls that reach up to 35 metres in height, held up to 35,000 spectators. What makes the El Jem Amphitheatre particularly remarkable is its remarkably well-preserved state, with much of the original structure, including the intricate network of underground chambers and passageways, still intact. You can see panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, as well as explore the underground passageways. This is truly one of the highlights of Tunisia and should not be missed!
The price to enter is 12 TND (€3.60) and includes the entrance to the museum as well.
2. El Jem Museum
El Jem museum shows an exceptional collection of Roman mosaics. Most of them are in excellent condition and are displayed so you can appreciate how incredible they are. At the back of the museum is the House of Africa, an AD 170 Roman villa from the heart of El Jem that was excavated in the 1990s and transferred here for display. Behind the House of Africa is an area where Roman villas have been excavated – you can wander around the remains, which feature some mosaics.
3. Old Amphtheatre El Jem
Although this amphitheatre is nowhere near as well preserved and as magnificent as the majestic main one located in El Jem. It is still worth walking a bit further down from the museum to appreciate the ruins of this other amphitheatre. It is free to enter and there is not much to see here but if you have time, have a wander around here!
Where should you stay?
There are not very many options to choose from as this is not a very popular destination to spend the night at. But if you do choose today the night here is where we recommend.
Hotel Julius – this hotel has a sun terrace with a swimming pool and continental breakfast included as well as is a 4-star hotel
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