Primarily a thriving, bustling working town, Sousse is focused around a large commercial port and an ancient walled city (Medina). The principal tourist area begins about 1 ml NW of the town centre and extends for several miles along the busy coast road, with hotels lining both sides.

Budget to middlemarket families, young couples and more mature clientele. Mainly French, German and, to a lesser extent, British.

Varying from small 2-stars right up to very extensive 5-star hotels. Most are self-contained complexes with organised activities, evening entertainment and their own reserved sections of beach. A handful of self-catering establishments.

Several miles of well-maintained pale sand stretching almost unbroken for 5 mls to neighbouring Port el Kantaoui. Closer to town you often have to cross the busy main road to get to it. However, the bulk of hotels are farther out, situated directly by the shoreline.

Plenty of unsophisticated shops in the town centre selling souvenirs, leather, ceramics and carpets. Not much else along the coast road. Most hotels have their own more expensive shops and little bazaars. Weekly market. Expect to haggle.

Daytime: beach-based with water sports in summer only. 12th- to 17th-century fort (kasbah) with adjacent museum displaying mosaics. 9th-century fort with adjacent mosque. Camel and horse riding. Nightlife: reasonably lively in summer; low-key in winter. Choice of bars and cafes in resort centre. More sophistication, live shows and nightclubs in the larger hotels.

A broad choice of simple cafes and friendly restaurants serving traditional regional fare and international cuisine. Most hotels provide everything from a la carte restaurants to grill/snack bars and pizzerias.

Taxis are abundant, fairly inexpensive and certainly the most convenient way of getting to and from your often remote hotel. The alternative is a cheap but very erratic bus service with no particular timetable. Minitrain. Horse-drawn carriages. Trains to Monastir, Hammamet, Sfax and Tunis.

Half day: Monastir and El Jem; Hammamet and Nabeul; Kairouan. Full day: Tunis and Carthage. Long day: safari to Gabes and Matmata. 2 days: safari to Douz.

On the NE coast of Tunisia, 85 mls SE of the capital Tunis and its airport. 5 mls SE of Port el Kantaoui. 20 mls from Monastir airport.

At the S end of the Gulf of Hammamet, built round a busy commercial port. The urban sprawl spreads inland for quite some distance before reaching flat, agricultural land beyond.

Post Code: 4000
Website: www.tourismtunisia.com/togo/sousse/sousse.html

Airport : Monastir
Airport Code: MIR
Flight time from ther U.K.: 3 hrs