How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Tunis – a Guide
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 21 Jun 2025
Are you looking for an alternative weekend getaway? Well, Tunis is a fantastic, affordable, adventurous option that offers blue waters, value for money, Roman and Arabic history, all within the city! Read on for how to spend a perfect weekend away in Tunis.
Most people dream 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 BCE Berber settlement, it is now a melting pot of cultural contrasts. With southern European and eastern influences interspersed with Maghrebi heritage, this diverse 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, both 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, perfect for a weekend in Tunis. Check out our corresponding post for information on day trips from Tunis.
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Is Tunis a Good Choice for a City Break?
Personally, we think a weekend in Tunis is a fantastic alternative to other, more popular (and expensive) cities on the European continent. Here’s some of our 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 its own wine, beer and spirits!
A TUNIS CITY BREAK – HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED?
For enough time to explore just the city of Tunis itself, we would recommend 2-3 days.
To check out some Roman ruins, a beach or fishing town, some mountains or lesser known medinas, we’d recommend extending your weekend in Tunis to around five days.
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RELATED POST | BACKPACKING TUNISIA COMPLETE GUIDE
Is Tunis a Walkable City?
Parts of Tunis are very walkable, but it depends on where you stay.
If you stay in a dar near the Tunis medina, or a hotel in the newer French part of town, 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 your own rental car to get around (don’t drive a rental car around the medina area of the city – traffic is slow and messy).
For more information on renting a car, check out our driving in Tunisia guide.
Public Transport
Tunis is serviced by trains, buses and taxis, so is easy to get around.
The tourist favourites of Sidi Bou Said or La Marsa will likely require using the Tunis-Goulette-Marsa Rail Line (TGM). This 19-kilometre train track is simple, super-affordable, covers all the places you’d want to visit and runs until midnight.
This entire itinerary is doable by walking and using the local railway and taxi.
Taxis
Taxis are very inexpensive in Tunis, but make sure the drivers turn the meter on if you haven’t ordered through a taxi app like Heetch, Amigo and Yassir.
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 worked 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 (£3.50) to the medina area.
Note | currently, in mid-2025, there are no Bolt taxis in Tunisia due to a suspected tax evasion issue – keep an eye out to see how this develops.
A Weekend in Tunis – Itinerary
Within the city of Tunis, there are at least two days of things to see and do.
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).
If you’re a museum fan, do not miss this stop – it’s the highlight of so many visitors’ trips to Tunis.
Ville Nouvelle/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 apparently 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 part 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 and the vibes are magical. 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.
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 BCE.
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
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).
If you didn’t have time to see the National Bardo Museum yesterday, check it out this morning instead.
The Beginning and 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, so we had a wander around instead. 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 start by taking the ten-minute walk up to Byrsa Hill. In our opinion, this has the nicest views in the area and also hosts the Carthage National Museum. From here, you can buy a multi-entrance ticket (12 TND or £3) that gets you into all the Carthage sites (they are pretty spread out).
We walked through the ruins until finally reaching Sidi Bou Said. It was a fair distance, but the weather was lovely and everything was really quiet due to Ramadan. However, you can always 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.
Opinion | 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 in Sidi Bou Said! (We saw a rebel with 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 – Map
Below is a downloadable Google map of Tunis and the surrounding region, with everything within this itinerary marked.
To save the map to your Google Maps, click on the star icon by the title.
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 want one!). Have a look on Skyscanner for options.
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 AREA TO STAY 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 favourite 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.
Train station | one of the more budget-friendly 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 perfect 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. 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 helpful staff.
Sidi Bou Said | situated atop a big hill, the accommodation here 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 has beautiful seaside views, a pretty beach and promenade but is furthest from the main city of Tunis. In terms of accommodation, our experience of 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, too.
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When is the 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 experiences 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 2026 is roughly between February 17th – March 18th.
Extra Days in Tunis
Have you got a few more days? If so, consider checking out one of the many incredible day trips from Tunis.
Whether you’re after some world-class Roman ruins, an alternative medina experience, exploring one of the oldest Islamic centres in the world, or just checking out a beach or two, Tunisia has got it all!
For all of our favourites, check out our Tunis day trips post, or take a browse through Get Your Guide for some inspiration.
Final Thoughts – a Weekend in Tunis
Tunis is a top-notch weekend getaway destination.
If you’re sat Googling the next interesting place to visit in Europe with your annual leave, why not go that little bit further and visit Tunisia? We spent a little over a week in Tunis during our month in the country 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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