Mahdia

Mahdia, Tunisia

Info

Mahdia is a Tunisian coastal city with 62,189 inhabitants, south of Monastir and southeast of Sousse. Mahdia is a provincial centre north of Sfax. It is important for the associated fish-processing industry, as well as weaving. It is the capital...

Ready to plan your trip to Mahdia?

Plan your stay

Pet-friendly Hotels in Mahdia

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

Affordable Hotels in Mahdia

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

The Coolest Hotels You Haven't Heard Of (Yet)

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

Trending Stays Worth the Hype in Mahdia

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

Attractions of Mahdia

Amphitheater of El Jem

4.8

(4.1K)

Open 24 hours

Click for details

El Jem Museum

4.7

(756)

Open until 6:30 PM

Click for details

Skifa el Kahla

4.4

(630)

Open until 12:00 AM

Click for details

Medina of Mahdia

4.4

(258)

Open until 12:00 AM

Click for details

Explore popular cities

Mahdia

Restaurants of Mahdia

Dar Shat Restaurant & Lounge

2.8

(283)

Closed

Click for details

Restaurant El Medina

4.8

(171)

Closed

Click for details

RESTO DARNA

4.5

(125)

Click for details

Neptune restaurant

3.5

(133)

Closed

Click for details

Get the AppOne tap to find yournext favorite spots!

Amphitheater of El Jem

4.8Historical Place

Charlotte ClarkCharlotte Clark

A Glimpse of Tunisia: The Majestic El Jem Amphitheatre 🏟️🐅（1）

Charlotte ClarkCharlotte Clark

A Glimpse of Tunisia: The Majestic El Jem Amphitheatre 🏟️🐅（2）

Evelyn MooreEvelyn Moore

A Timeless Gladiatorial Spectacle 🏟️🌅（2）

Mia LewisMia Lewis

Tunisia: From Matmata’s Desert Whispers to El Jem’s Roman Grandeur🌄

Elizabeth AllenElizabeth Allen

🚗💨 Tunisia Mini-Loop: Romans, Ruins & Road Trips 💨🚗

See more posts

El Jem Museum

4.7Art Museum

Nicholas G.Nicholas G.

If you are interested in Roman antiquities, which is in all honesty the only reason why any discerning individual would venture to El Jem, then the El Jem Museum is one of two points of interest (the other being the coliseum) one must see. El Jem was called Thysdrus in Roman times and reached the height of its importance in the second and third centuries AD. The museum stands next to the ruins of an eloborate Roman building complex from which a great many artifacts have been excavated. While there are small handheld articles and mostly incomplete sculptures (heads missing) in the collection, the crown jewels of the collection are a truly astonishing variety, quality and scale of mosaics depicting deities, animals, people and decorative designs. They are breathtakingly beautiful with excellent detail, some with amazingly small mosaic tiles The 12 Dinar (~4 USD) ticket to the Museum also covers entry to the Coliseum and you can easily walk between the two.

Christian SparksChristian Sparks

Absolutely astonishing to see such intricate and beautifully executed mosaics. I find it so hard to understand that these were over 1800 years old. I learnt a lot and I am still dealing from the beauty and size and magnitude of the Roman mosaics contained within these walls. Beautiful place. Could do with an explaination that’s clear and prominent about how these are made and how they were saved and transported to the museum. Go visit this place. It’s a must. Currently 12 dinar and that gets you into the coliseum as well. So keep your ticket. I suggest increase the entrance fee for tourists to bring in funds to continue the amazing work that’s being done

Legends lLegends l

El Jem museum is fairly small in size however there is so much to see inside in my view. The same ticket would get you into the amphitheatre and vice versa. The mosaics are similar to that in Sousse Archaeological Museum and Bardo Museum however different at the same time. The museum is tastefully laid out and has a nice courtyard. In the grounds you will find Roman ruins as well as a Roman type private dwelling with beautiful floor mosaic tiles. There is free parking in the area. There are some toilet facilities. Don’t overlook this attraction if you happen to visit El Jem.

Mo AMo A

Well worth a visit if you are in the local area. For 12 Dinar (very reasonable) combine your ticket and get entry fee to the museum AND the amphitheatre which is about a 15 minute walk away. Some very lovely mosaics and artwork on display, and a Roman Villa. There is nothing hi tech (no info screens, hand held voice guides) but it is genuine, informative and a great way to learn the history of the Romani influence on the local area. It does get the odd Coach trip but generally it is quite and well worth an hour or two of your time.

Simon ProudmanSimon Proudman

I went to El Jem after spending half a day at the Bardo in Tunis. And I have to say that the Museum here is as equally impressive as the national museum. It is much smaller but has outstanding mosaics. Many devoted to images of the sea but also some great impressions of the gruesome activities in the nearby Ampitheatre. The museum is a short 5 to 10 minute walk turning right after you leave the Ampitheatre, and the price is included on the same ticket. Well worth a visit.

See more posts

Skifa el Kahla

4.4Historical Place

Marwane ZenaidiMarwane Zenaidi

The Skifa Kahla also known as Bab Zouila, is a fortification of the 10th century, the structure is one of the few remnants of the ancient walls of Mahdia in Tunisia. The building was built by the Fatimids, in which it was used as the main strong to protect the access to the city. The fort is one of the few remnants of the ancient ramparts, as well as being one of the access points to the historic center of Mahdia.The construction of the building dates back to 916.The building was constructed by the order of the first Fatimid caliph, al-Mahdi Billah.The design of the structure is based on Fatimid architecture. In the 11th century, modifications were made to the building to accommodate more artillery made by the Turks, rooms and warehouses were also built to house weapons and ammunition.The building has survived the siege of the city of Mahdia executed by the monarch Charles V. For a time, the building was the only land entrance to the city of Mahdia.The building served as a defense to prevent Christian invasions as well as imperial wars to the city of Mahdia. According to historians, including some from Spain, it is said that the name "Skifa Kahla" means "Dark Vestibule" (French: Vestibule Noir).In 1554, a group of Spaniards blew up the entrance to the building.After the attacks by the Spaniards, the building underwent several modifications. At the end of the 16th century, the building's wall system was rebuilt by Turks. Skifa Kahla served as the main tower for the second line of defense of the city. In 2015, several concrete restorations were made to the building. The building renovations were conducted by the Tunisian National Heritage Institute to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the founding of the city of Mahdia.

Waldek ToczydlowskiWaldek Toczydlowski

Historyczna cześć miasta Al Mahdia, brama do starego miasta mediny, gdzie znajduje się mnóstwo sklepików nastawionych głównie na turystow oferujących różnego rodzaju pamiątki, wyroby ze skóry, regionalna odzież, niestety klimat tego miejsca jest zaklocony przez nachalnych handlarzy którzy nie pozwolą zachwycić się tym miejscem próbując na wszelkie sposoby wcisnąć turystom swój towar nawet wręcz obrazajac się brakiem zainteresowania ich towarem a przecież turyści nie mogą wszystkich ich zadowolić robiąc tam zakupy. Odejście w bok od głównych uliczek mediny nie jest niestety już tak bardzo frapujace a to za przyczyną panującego tam bałaganu i niestety poczucia zagrożenia

Leila BoLeila Bo

Mahdia is a lovely turistic place with amazing beaches and turquoise Mediterranean. Ottoman fort is worth seeing as well as the Romanian port.

Nikol RychlaNikol Rychla

Beautiful sights, tickets can be bought very cheaply. Beautiful sea view. But the streets are very dirty, many stray cats. Which is a pity.

Zane ZaniteZane Zanite

Next to it is small but beautiful museum with treasury. Entry fee just 8 TDN. From the top of Skifa el Kahla is beautiful view.

See more posts

Get the App

Get the most of Wanderboat by installing our new mobile app

Continue to site

Mahdia — Travel Guide & Things to Do

Basic Info

Mahdia

Ratings & Description

Info

Plan your stay

Reviews

Things to Do in Mahdia, Tunisia - Mahdia Attractions & Activities