Overview
El Jem is a small Tunisian town dominated by one of the finest Roman amphitheaters outside Italy. Built in the mid-3rd century CE, this UNESCO World Heritage site could seat 35,000 spectators and was used for filming scenes in the Oscar-winning film Gladiator.
Architecture · Budget Travel · Day Trips · History · Museums
Before you go
Money
Tunisian Dinar (DT) is the local currency. Prices for the amphitheater are DT12, coffee at local cafés around 0.5 DT, and hotel rooms around 80 DT per person.
Packing
The site has one of the cleanest public bathrooms in Tunisia, located about 150m to the right of the entrance—useful for long visits.
Safety
Ignore aggressive souvenir sellers at the bus station—they are annoying but not dangerous. Put unwanted items on the ground and walk away calmly.
Transport
Tunisia's louage system (shared long-distance taxis) is an efficient and affordable way to travel between cities, including to El Jem. Trains from Tunis via Sousse take about 3 hours.
