If you do not know where to go on your holiday Port El Kantaoui is a place you may really enjoy. We have been there several times and will definitively return.
Where to stay? We would recommend Marhaba Palace hotel. It is very conveniently located - just a short stroll (5 minutes) from the marina (see the map). We have stayed there for couple of weeks and really enjoyed our stay. The hotel has a fantastic swimming pool. They also serve delicious Crepes in the pool side bar.
Where to eat? Our favourite restaurant is located on the ship (floating restaurant) - Neptune VI. They serve very good local food plus there is a fantastic view over the marina from the upper deck.
Port El Kantaoui is a perfect ‘base’ for exploring other Tunisian cities like Sousse or further south Tozeur, El-Jem, Douz, Matmata or north Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. You may purchase an organised trip to see all these places, hire a 4x4 with a driver or simply visit the country by train. If you will go for an organised trip one of the best companies is Tunisian Travel Services (TTS).
They are a member of National Office of Tunisian Tourism and have about 40 years of experience in organising excursions. The easiest way of purchasing the trip is from your travel representative. Usually we recommend to shop around but in this case the only travel office we have located is on the outskirts of Port el Kantaoui and it is not easy to find it.
To go to Sousse we would recommend that you try Tuk-Tuk taxi. It is very cost effective – 2 DT per person (one way) and very pleasant in summer.
The following Port el Kantaoui travel guide is based on our own experience and therefore description given in the guide necessarily contains an element of subjective opinion which may not reflect your own experience on another occasion.
Port El Kantaoui is in our opinion a perfect tourist destination for everyone who is looking for relaxing holiday and fantastic weather. We have visited Port El Kantaoui several times and will definitively return there.
Port El Kantaoui lies around beautiful ten-acre marina (340 berths) on Tunisia’s central coast in the region Sahel. It is situated about 9 km north from Sousse (15 minutes drive), 23 km from Monastir Habib Bourguiba Airport and approximately 120 km from Tunis. Port El Kantaoui with financial help from Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and the World Bank was established as first purpose built tourist resort in 1979. It was built in the architectural style of village of Sidi Bou Said on the outskirts of Tunis.
The town has to offer everything a tourist may need during holidays: water-front boutiques, banks, cafes and good restaurants, amusement park, supermarket (Magasin General), 130 ha golf course and singing fountains. North from the town (about a minute walk from the marina) lies a very long fine almost white sandy beach. On the beach you may find a variety of water sports: pedalos, paragliding, water skiing, jet ski and windsurfing. In the marina you may go for a catamaran trip or enjoy a pirate ship or a bottom glass boat.
Published on 3rd February 2010
By Arek Zasowski
Photographs by Viola and Arek Zasowski