Exploring The Archaeological Site of Sbeitla
Posted: January 26, 2020
Nomadic Backpacker's guide to exploring the Archaeological Site of Sbeitla in Tunisia.
The archaeological site of Sbeitla, also known as the Roman ruins of Sufetula, contains one of the best-preserved Roman Forums in the world.
The Capitoline Temples are dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva:
The archaeological site of Sbeitla, also known as the Roman ruins of Sufetula, contains one of the best-preserved Roman Forums in the world.
The Capitoline Temples are dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva:
The Arch of Antoninus Pius:
Roman bath mosaics:
Roman ruins of Sufetula, Sbeitla:
Telephoto shot just as I was leaving with ever-improving light.
Arch of Diocletian:
How to get from Tozeur to Sbeitla:
I travelled to Sbeitla from Tozeur via Gafsa and Kasserine using 3 different louages:
Sbeitla is 260km from Tunis and just 100km to Kairouan. More ruins at Duogga, 165km.
- Tozeur to Gafsa 1 hr 30 6,850 Dinar
- Gafsa to Kasserine 2 hrs 8 Dinar
- Kasserine to Sbeitla 30 mins 2,550 Dinar
Sbeitla is 260km from Tunis and just 100km to Kairouan. More ruins at Duogga, 165km.
Where to stay in Sbeitla:
Choices are very limited, if not minimal. I stayed at the "Auberge de Jeunesse Motel".
A single room is as low as 16 Dinar, though I was put in a double, which is 32 for 2. Breakfast is 6 extra. I passed as 2 coffees and bread, and a pot of yoghurt can cost as little as 2.500 from the supermarket. Hot water showers, fast WIFI, internal courtyard. There are no Air Conditioning units like all other hotels I've stayed in, so it would be very hot in summer. And in general, they could use them to heat in winter, but for some reason, they don't. There are only 14 rooms.
Inner courtyard at the Auberge de Jeunesse Motel in Sbeitla:
A single room is as low as 16 Dinar, though I was put in a double, which is 32 for 2. Breakfast is 6 extra. I passed as 2 coffees and bread, and a pot of yoghurt can cost as little as 2.500 from the supermarket. Hot water showers, fast WIFI, internal courtyard. There are no Air Conditioning units like all other hotels I've stayed in, so it would be very hot in summer. And in general, they could use them to heat in winter, but for some reason, they don't. There are only 14 rooms.
Inner courtyard at the Auberge de Jeunesse Motel in Sbeitla:
Extra notes about Sbeitla:
The Hotel Bakini looks closed. The Hotel Al Madhi has rooms at 46 Dinar for 1 person, 72 Dinar for 2 and 88 Dinar for 3.
The Requin Bleu cafe serves the biggest coffees I've seen here. I asked for "un café comme ça", pointing to a glass on the table. When the server told the coffee maker, I heard the word ''filter. I find it much more drinkable than the normal shot-sized coffee and was somehow cheaper than the coffees so far in Tunisia. 2 200ml coffees just 1 Dinar.
The entrance fee for the ruins, (2020) is 8 Dinar. A couple of guides will want to offer you their services, and guys are selling the 'genuine' Roman coins, lol.
The Requin Bleu cafe serves the biggest coffees I've seen here. I asked for "un café comme ça", pointing to a glass on the table. When the server told the coffee maker, I heard the word ''filter. I find it much more drinkable than the normal shot-sized coffee and was somehow cheaper than the coffees so far in Tunisia. 2 200ml coffees just 1 Dinar.
The entrance fee for the ruins, (2020) is 8 Dinar. A couple of guides will want to offer you their services, and guys are selling the 'genuine' Roman coins, lol.
All images were taken on my TZ 70 and all bar one have been auto-adjusted for light on the gallery app on my smartphone. I haven't gotten used to the camera just yet, but I'm getting there.
Related Posts:
- Northernmost Point of Africa
- Visiting Kairouan, the 4th-Holiest City in Islam
- Visiting the UNESCO Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem
- Driving across the Chott el Djerid Salt Lake
- How to get from Sbeitla to El Kef
- Using El Kef as a base
- Visiting the the Makthar Archaeological Site
- Visiting the Historical Ruins of Bella Regia
- Mini Guide to Tunisia
