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Most have dreamt of a weekend in Paris, but how many consider a weekend in Tunis?
Tunis, the northernmost capital of Africa, is not commonly thought of as a long weekend getaway-type destination. Initially a fourth century BC Berber settlement, Tunis is now a melting pot of cultural contrasts. With southern European and eastern influences interspersed with Maghrebi heritage, this traditional north African city is a fantastic affordable alternative to the usual European city break.
With short haul flights from all over Europe and multiple ferry routes across the Mediterranean to Tunis, this exciting city offers a whole slew of things to do, within the city and further afield as day trips. We spent a month exploring Tunisia independently and were surprised by how much there was to see! Here, we discuss things to do in the city and nearby excursions, perfect for a weekend in Tunis. Every trip we mention here can be done independently or as a guided tour.
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A WEEKEND IN TUNIS – IS IT GOOD FOR A CITY BREAK?
Personally, we think a weekend in Tunis is a fantastic alternative to other, more expensive and popular cities on the European continent. Here’s some of the reasons why:
◊ The city is a big cultural mix of Northern Africa, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences – it’s definitely not boring.
◊ There are world-class historic sites, including a bunch of UNESCO ones, within the city and accessible as day trips from Tunis.
◊ The price point, in general, is excellent. Food, transport and activities cost very little compared to equivalent counterparts in Europe.
◊There are many easy access points from Europe including ferries from France and Italy.
◊ Tunis is a terrific introduction to the continent of Africa. If you have never visited an Arabic or Muslim country either, Tunis is a brilliant, accessible city to experience a Muslim-majority culture and learn more about Arabic people, cuisine and language.
◊ It has a lovely Mediterranean climate, with daytime temperatures even in the winter months still averaging in the mid-teens.
◊ If alcohol is something you’d want on your weekend away, then don’t worry. Although Tunisia is a Muslim country, alcohol is widely available. Tunisia actually manufactures wine, beer and spirits!
WEEKEND IN TUNIS MAP
Below is a downloadable Google map of Tunis and the surrounding region, with everything within the ‘weekend in Tunis’ itineraries marked. Orange are day trips from Tunis and the green and blue markers are places in the city of Tunis.
To save the map to your Google Maps, click on the star icon by the title.
A WEEKEND IN TUNIS – HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED?
For enough time to explore just the city itself, we would recommend 2-3 days.
To check out some Roman ruins, a beach or fishing town, some mountains or less known medinas, we’d recommend extending your weekend in Tunis to around five days.
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RELATED POST | BACKPACKING TUNISIA COMPLETE GUIDE
BEST TIME TO VISIT TUNIS
The best time to visit Tunis is during the spring and autumn months of April-June or September-November. Like much of southern Europe the city has a Mediterranean climate, so has distinct seasons. The later months in the year get a little more rain (although we had quite a lot of rain in April when we visited).
If you’re combining a weekend in Tunis with a beach trip, the summer months are a beach-lover’s dream. This season can be uncomfortably warm if you are planning on hiking, sightseeing and exploring though.
Remember to check what time of year Ramadan is. Visiting Tunisia during Ramadan is not a problem, but you will need to adjust some of your planning and expectations (especially around meals). Ramadan in 2024 is between March 10th – April 9th and in 2025 between February 28th – March 30th.
WHO ARE THE BERBER PEOPLE AND WHAT IS THE MAHGREB?
Berber, or their contemporary name of Imazighen (meaning ‘The free’), is the term for the pre-Arab ethnic people who are indigenous to the Maghreb area of northern Africa since before 10,000 BC.
The Maghrebi region is an area of northern Africa which covers Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania.
IS TUNISIA EXPENSIVE TO TRAVEL? | ULTIMATE TUNISIA ITINERARY
IS TUNIS WALKABLE?
It depends on where you stay for your weekend in Tunis. If staying in a dar near the Tunis medina, or a hotel in the newer French part, the central area of the city is very walkable. Further out, in the Lac area (Berges du Lac or Berges du Lac ii), you will want to use taxis, buses or a rental car to get around (don’t drive a rental car around the medina area of the city – traffic is slow). For more imformation, check out our driving in Tunisia guide.
The tourist favourites of Sidi Bou Said or La Marsa will likely require using the Tunis-Goulet-Marsa Rail Line (TGM). This 19-kilometre track is simple, super-affordable and runs until midnight.
Taxis are very inexpensive in Tunis, but make sure the drivers turn the meter on. At certain times of day, we found it very difficult to hail a taxi – there were queues of people trying to get one and it got a bit aggressive. I didn’t want to start any fights with angry Tunisian women (this nearly happened twice), so we started using the Bolt taxi app which works very well around Tunis.
Airport taxis can be a bit of a nightmare for inflated prices. If it is an issue, just walk out of the airport and hail a taxi from across the road (or catch the bus). Using Bolt, a taxi is usually less than 14 Tunisian Dinar to the medina area.
GETTING TO TUNIS
From Europe, most people arrive by international flight into Tunis airport. There are flights from all over the continent operated by Nouvelair, Tunis Air, Air France and many more. We flew with Nouvelair for our departure flight. They were decent and even had wine for €0.5.
Tip – if you have the time, consider a self-transfer via France. Flights from France to Tunisia are often incredibly affordable, and if flights from your home country are cheaper to France, this might save money (and get you a free weekend in France if you wanted one!). Have a look on Skyscanner or in the search box below.
Flights from Morocco to Tunisia are also available but sometimes pricey – the cheapest is usually operated by Royal Air Maroc.
There are also ferries from Italy and France – this is how we arrived. We took an 12-hour ferry from Sicily to Tunis which was affordable and comfortable. We always book with Direct Ferries – check them out for routes, costs and timings.
BEST PLACE TO STAY FOR A WEEKEND IN TUNIS
We stayed in a few different areas of Tunis during our month trip around Tunisia and think they all have different benefits. These are some of our most popular options:
City centre or Medina area | this is best if you don’t have a car and want to spend significant time exploring the old town. We recommend, and stayed in, Dar El Jeld – one of the nicest hotels we’ve ever had the pleasure of staying at! It’s adjacent to the UNESCO designated medina, has outrageously nice rooms and a superb, panoramic rooftop bar. This was to celebrate/commiserate the last few nights of a nine-month trip and we wanted to class it up!
Train station | one of the most budget areas in Tunis is around the main train station. Here, there are some extremely affordable guesthouses that suit a backpacker budget. Again, this area would be better if you don’t have a car due to traffic and parking.
Lac | we opted for a nice, homely Airbnb apartment in the Lac area, next to the airport. This was extremely affordable. Airbnbs in Tunisia seem to be particularly well-priced on the face of it, but there were several we stayed at that we would not recommend to others. The apartment in Lac was decent though.
The Lac II area | is lovely if you have a car (everywhere has parking, it’s modern, quiet, there are supermarkets and apartments with kitchens). It is also nearby the airport. This is a great area for a longer stay or during Ramadan (this is where we spent most of our time in Tunis). We recommend Le Corail Suites Hotel – we used our points to stay in a lovely modern apartment with full kitchen, plus it has great parking and lovely staff.
Sidi Bou Said | is a picturesque, photogenic European-style village (some say Santorini-like but I’ve never been to compare). Situated atop a big hill, the accommodation often has pretty sea views and the restaurants here are open even during Ramadan. It’s not great if you have a rental car (parking is scarce and you can’t drive into the centre unless you’re a resident) but is well connected to the city by the TGM (train). We didn’t stay here (but always have a nosey around) and Maison Dedine looked absolutely crazy beautiful in a perfect location, if you have the budget for it!
La Marsa | is on the end of the TGM line and is an expat kind of area – it just gets posher as you head in this direction. The area has beautiful seaside views, a pretty beach and promenade but is furthest from the main city of Tunis. In terms of accommodation, in our experience, the Dar Coniche La Marsa (adults only) is second to none in the area for modern, clean rooms and staff, plus it’s ten minutes from the centre. Value for money is on-point here too.
A WEEKEND IN TUNIS – THINGS TO DO
Within the city of Tunis, there are at least two days of things to see and do.
A Weekend in Tunis – Day 1
Day 1 involves a visit to the famous Tunis Medina area and the adjacent new town (or Ville Nouvelle), centred around the wide, tree-lined boulevard of Avenue Habib Bourguiba. A day (or two if you are not in a rush) will allow time to explore both areas (this will mainly involve a whole bunch of wandering about).
If you were to fit in everything below, it would result in a very long day!
National Bardo Museum
An object of national pride, this beautiful collection traces thousands of years of Tunisian history. It is one of the most important museums in Africa, second only to the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. With its palatial setting, the museum is worth a visit purely for the architecture alone. One of the more prominent displays are the Roman mosaics, one of the largest ever assembled (including pieces from Carthage, Utique and Dougga).
The Bardo Museum has recently re-opened, after being shut since July 2021 when the Tunisian parliament was frozen (parliament shares the same building as the museum).
If you’re a museum fan, do not miss this stop – it’s the highlight of many visitors’ trips to Tunis.
Ville Nouvelle or Centre Ville
There are several prominent sites to check out in the new town of Tunis, including the Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul (it was surrounded by army tanks and security when we were there).
The striking brutalist architecture of the Hotel du Lac is a fascination for many visitors to Tunis. Located at the Medina end of Avenue Habib Bouguiba, near the big roundabout, this odd building is currently unused and in disrepair. It’s been slated for demolition for some years now, but that has yet to transpire.
The Medina of Tunis
A UNESCO site since 1979, the 7th century medieval quarter of Tunis is home to a sprawling maze of winding, covered alleys. It’s quite similar to other medinas, only more expansive, exceptionally busy and more chaotic, which is unsurprising since it houses about a tenth of the population of Tunis!
The crowds dissipate as you wander further away from the main thoroughfares, providing a window into the (often) traditional artisans and practices that endure in the souqs. Where there are less people, look for the little details; doorways, steps, windows – many have a story to tell.
Being honest, we did find this quarter of Tunis tiring. The vendors can be aggressive and it can be uncomfortably busy, so wander as far from the crowds as possible for a change of pace.
Suggestion | we stayed at Dar El Jeld on the edge of the medina and loved it, but even if you don’t stay there, you can visit their rooftop bar for drinks (and food). The wine is shockingly reasonably priced. We recommend it for the service and views – go at sunset!
Ez-Zitauna (Al-Zaytuna) Mosque
Also known as the Mosque of the Olive Tree (literally translated as Mosque of Olive), this prayer centre is a highlight within the Medina of Tunis. Founded around the 8th century, it is the second oldest mosque in Africa (behind the Great Mosque of Kairouan). The building was constructed with 160 Roman columns, originally from the ancient city of Carthage.
Although non-Muslims are not allowed in the prayer hall, it is still worth a visit to the site to witness the superb structural design.
A Weekend in Tunis – Day 2
Today, explore the outskirts of Tunis on the TGM train that runs through La Goulette, the ruins of Carthage and up to Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa (or you can take a taxi).
The Beginning and the End of the Line
La Goulette is the first stop on the train line. This small local coastal community, adjacent to the port, is a good stop for lunch or dinner. There are loads of decent, affordable seafood restaurants and some nice vibes along the seafront. If you’re looking for a good beach though, check out some of the later stops instead.
Affluent La Marsa is the last stop on the TGM. Its popular corniche is a great place to finish the day (or start it). Grab a coffee and some couscous or shakshuka and crack on with a bit of people-watching.
We have no decent restaurant recommendations for either of these stops because it was Ramadan when we visited, but we had a wander around. La Marsa is the best place to grab some food if you visit during Ramadan, like we did.
Carthage
The next six train stops all service various parts of the ancient city of Carthage. We’d recommend getting off the train at Carthage Hannibal and first taking the ten-minute walk up to Byrsa Hill. This has the nicest views in the area and hosts the Carthage National Museum. From here, you can buy a multi-entrance ticket (12 TND) that gets you into all the Carthage sites (they are pretty spread out).
We walked through the ruins until we finally reached Sidi Bou Said. It was a fair distance, but the weather was lovely and everything was really quiet due to Ramadan. However, you can hop back on the train and head to the next stop, rent a car for the day or hire a guide if you want to avoid walking a million steps! Parking for Carthage is easy, but visiting Sidi Bou Said with a car is more awkward.
Truthfully, Carthage is the least impressive Roman ruin we visited in Tunisia. The setting in an affluent area of Tunis overlooking the sea is impressive, however, it didn’t even come close to a site like Dougga. We figure everyone is going to check it out anyway, so included it on our itinerary, plus the surroundings are lovely. If you want to swap a trip to Carthage with a different Roman ruin, our favourite Roman sites were El Jem and Dougga.
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said is a tourist favourite. With blue accents complementing the pretty, white-washed buildings, this cliffside suburb of Tunis overlooks the Mediterranean providing a calm that perfectly counters the frantic Tunis centre. Along the cobbled streets are small cafes and restaurants, souvenir vendors and galleries, all perfectly placed to lure tourists in. Apparently, it is illegal to paint your house any other colour but blue! (We saw a red door there though).
The train station is at the bottom of a reasonably steep, cobbled hill, so don’t wear heels! There are souvenirs everywhere but be careful – as much as you’ll read about handcrafted gifts and unique items, most of it is still mass-produced. We wouldn’t recommend the main street in Sidi Bou Said if you are after something genuinely Tunisian!
Honest opinion – we loved how visually stunning Sidi Bou Said was, but that’s as far as our enthusiasm stretched. While we were mostly approached by very friendly people, a man with a captive tied bird, restrained for tourist photos, really bothered us. We also just felt like hanging out in a place saturated with ‘made in China’ souvenirs wasn’t exactly our thing. We’d recommend visiting, but don’t go expecting any kind of ‘authentic’ experience.
A WEEKEND IN TUNIS – DAY TRIPS
As well as sites within Tunis, there are lots of options for day excursions to get a peek into the Tunisia that exists outside of the capital. Here are all the places we recommend, with suggestions for combining several sites in one day.
Each location has the choice of self-driving, public transport or tour (some places might be a bit tight with public transport and would necessitate an overnight stay).
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR WEEKEND IN TUNIS
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trips in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan and Morocco, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
If you book through the link below, we make a small profit, at zero cost to you, which helps us write these posts with no advertising! We only endorse products and companies we actually use regularly. For more information, read our position on affiliates.
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Hammamet (1 hour, 66 kilometres)
For a quick beach hangout, or maybe just wanting to experience another Tunisian town, consider visiting Hammamet. It’s pretty, timelessly charming and everything you’re likely to expect from a beachfront town in Tunisia.
Along with the legendary beaches, the city also has a giant Hispano-Turkish fort, a typical winding medina and a huge Islamic cemetery.
We spent a night in an Airbnb here and it was a nice change of pace. However, we would be remiss to mention that during Ramadan and in the off-season, it’s a bit like a ghost town. Apparently, in the summer months, it’s a very lively and fashionable place to hang out.
Best combined with: Zaghouan (for hiking), Thuburbo Majus or Uthina (for Roman ruins)
Bizerte (1 hour, 71 kilometres)
The colourful, picturesque harbour town of Bizerte is the northernmost city in Africa. It’s a small, walled, atmospheric place with some lovely vibrant buildings and street art. Just on the outskirts sit some superb empty coastline (well away from the typical tourist itineraries).
When we visited, there was also a cool street market on (we drove over some onions by accident after we got our car stuck in there following someone else). As always in Tunisia, the city has a cool little medina worth taking a stroll through.
Something we noted was that drivers became astonishingly aggressive as we drove towards Bizerte.
Also, we wanted to see the boat wrecks on the coast to the east of the city called ‘wreck of Ydra’ but it was sketchy weather when we visited (and it’s easier with a high clearance car). We would recommend checking them out if it’s your kind of jam. Along with this, there is Ichkeul National Park, which contains a freshwater lake, famous for migratory bird watching.
Best combined with: Utique archaeological site
Sousse/Monastir (2 hours, 148 kilometres)
Sousse, traditionally a beachside resort town, hides one of our favourite attractions in Tunisia, the UNESCO designated Medina of Sousse. This was our favourite of all the medinas we visited, with shadowy little alleys and lovely, friendly people (zero hassle here). It also had very little in the way of tourist tat.
The resort region of Sousse left us with little to be enthusiastic about, to be honest (I think Nick described the area as a bit desolate like he imagined Pripyat to be). For a beach holiday though, I’m told it’s one of the best.
Only 21 kilometres away is the pretty town of Monastir, which is definitely worth a visit if you are in Sousse. Outside of the city there is a resort area with sandy beaches for a night by the sea. The centre has the impressive Ribat of Monastir, a defensive structure that looms over the town and the attractive promenade.
Best combined with: El Jem (Roman ruin), Kairouan (ancient Islamic city)
Kairouan (2 hours, 160 kilometres)
The UNESCO designated Islamic holy city of Kairouan was one of the best stops on our road trip through Tunisia. Renowned for its Great Mosque, described by UNESCO as a ‘universal architectural masterpiece’, this revered city has been a major centre of Islamic study for well over a thousand years and is the ancient heart of Islam in the Maghreb. As one of the oldest sites of Islamic worship in the world, the mosque alone is well worth a trip.
There is also the dusty, atmospheric medina, which consists of, in traditional Tunisian style, alleys and small stalls. It is also a well-known place for handmade Tunisian carpets.
Best combined with: Sousse/Monastir (beaches and medinas), El Jem (Roman ruins)
Dougga/Bulla Regia (110 kilometres/157 kilometres, both two hours)
Dougga and Bulla Regia are some of the premier Roman archaeological sites in Tunisia, situated west of Tunis.
We didn’t visit Bulla Regia due to some horrendous weather, but we heard enough good things about it that we are happy to recommend it to anyone looking at a trip to Tunisia.
We did visit the Roman site of Dougga, which was one of the best archaeological sites we have ever visited. It is set atop a hill, with panoramic views across the speckled olive tree fields, and almost no tourists. We absolutely loved our time here.
These sites are reasonably far from Tunis and as such, would be tiring (but doable) to fit both into a single day trip by self-driving. It is feasible to see both in one day as part of a tour (we know people who did this during a weekend in Tunis).
They are also a good combination to pair with a longer overnight trip to El Kef or Ayn Darahim.
El Jem (2.5 hours, 205 kilometres)
If you enjoyed the Colosseum at Rome, but not the crowds that came with it, this place is a real treat! This amphitheatre is truly spectacular with access all the way around the top with expansive views that stretch across the entirety of the city.
It’s pretty far away, so usually we wouldn’t suggest El Jem as a day trip, however people seem to day trip here all the time during their weekends in Tunis.
Best combined with: Kairouan or Sousse/Monastir. Also, as a longer journey if spending a night in Sfax.
Other Ruins – Thuburbo Majus, Utique, Uthina (61, 36, 27 kilometres)
There are so many Roman archaeological ruins in Tunisia! Thuburbo Majus, Utique and Uthina are close to Tunis and we would recommend them to any history buffs out there for a weekend in Tunis.
Each of these sites is pretty wild, partially restored, with zero tourists (for us anyway) and a nominal entry fee of 8 TND each. They’re not large and won’t take a whole day to explore. Often, sheep herders were wandering their flocks throughout the sites (watching livestock wander around a huge ancient amphitheatre felt peculiar).
Uthina | we liked Uthina. Visiting late in the day meant the light made the place feel kind of ethereal and otherworldly. The facilities there are also super-modern, with lots of information and the site has phenomenal views.
Thuburbo Majus | this was the least developed of the three and was still heavily under restoration (during Ramadan only a few guys were working). There was some signage with names, but mostly you had to settle with your imagination. There were some very ornate pillars, lots of half constructed buildings and some large mosaics. Like Uthina, this site has substantial views and we really enjoyed it, despite the lack of information. Places like this have a kind of majesty, especially if you get to explore them in solitude.
Uthique | if you must choose, Utique was our least favourite; there was quite an annoying caretaker harassing us for tips and the ruins were the least interesting. However, it had really well-preserved Roman mosaics of fish and a creepy skeletal remains of a child.
Zaghouan (1 hour, 58 kilometres)
Zaghouan is one for the outdoor lovers. The small town of Zaghouan is situated at the base of the Dorsale mountains and below eastern Tunisia’s tallest peak, Djebel Zaghouan, which stands at 1295 metres. This makes for a great strenuous hike for anyone fancying a challenge. Set in a national park, this region is also home to Temple des Eaux (Temple of Water), a roman archaeological site consisting of an aqueduct which originally provided water for Carthage.
Best combined with: Sousse/Monastir, Hammamet (beaches)
TUNIS DAY TRIPS – WITH OR WITHOUT A TOUR?
We’ve suggested day trip options here, however every one of these trips in Tunisia we did with a self-drive rental car. The country is easy to get around and self-driving provides more flexibility, however with little time, tours may be a more suitable option.
For any prebooked tours, we use Get Your Guide – check them out for all the places listed above. There are affordable tour options, especially designed for shorter trips, combining sites so you can fit more into your schedule.
FINAL THOUGHTS – WEEKEND IN TUNIS
Tunis is a top-notch weekend getaway destination. If you’re sat Googling the next interesting place to visit in Europe, why not go that little bit further and visit Tunisia? We spent a little over a week in Tunis during our month there and loved the city and day trips from the city even more!
The country of Tunisia, in general, is little visited by tourists but this destination will not remain unknown forever. We thoroughly recommend a visit to check it out for yourself.
We hope you have an amazing trip!
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