Monastir is a handsome seaside community in Tunisia, where the charms of Mediterranean North Africa and old world medina culture combine to form a noble holiday destination. A short coastal drive from Sousse and only 160 km from Tunisia’s superb capital, Tunis, Monastir welcomes a lot of spin-off tourism from both. With over 4 million passenger arrivals a year at Monastir-Habib Bourguiba International Airport however - a good many of whom come from France, Germany and the United Kingdom - the reverse is accurate as well. Monastir is a supreme gateway to the rest of Tunisia.

Like many other coastal towns on the Mediterranean with a considerable cultural heritage, Monastir has made purposeful strides in recent years to reboot and lure new tourists. The cityscape renovation, while decidedly sterile in spots and not altogether seamless, has made enough waves to steal some of Sousse’s thunder. Despite the whitewash refurb of the ancient medina, the city still offers a beautiful ensemble of landmarks to explore. The Ribat is a foremost epitome of Arab fortress and monastery architecture and the Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum honours the First President of the Republic of Tunisia in grand spectacular fashion.

• Ribat fortress
• Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum
• Moknine Folk Museum
• Ksar Hellal
• Great Mosque

• Water Sports
• Medina Shops
• Beach Resorts
• Golf
• Monastir Marina

• El Hana
• Snax
• Le Chandelier
• Marina Captain
• Le Rempart

Nightlife in Monastir centres largely on the holiday resorts that populate the coast and even then, the party scene is minimal to nil. The best bet for after-dinner entertainment is to head to nearby Sousse, where a number of clubs and bars, provide a solid nightlife fix.

Monastir has a warm Mediterranean climate, with mild weather throughout the year.

• Winter (December to February) 6-16°C
• Spring (March to May) 8-24°C
• Summer (June to September) 17-33°C
• Fall (October to November) 11-25°C