Travel to Tunisia: everything you need to know to visit Tunis and its surroundings

To be honest, I had never really considered traveling to Tunisia. It took a friend’s bachelorette party as an excuse for me to discover a part of it. I like these kinds of occasions, as I don’t really have a list of countries I absolutely must see. However, I love seizing opportunities that take me to destinations I wouldn’t have thought of. That’s what feeds my curiosity for this blog and my desire to explore this vast world a little more. Incidentally, this is the second Maghreb country I’ve discovered after Morocco (where I’ve been three times and have often told you about on the blog).

Ancient ruins of Carthage with a panoramic view of the city and the sea.

Traditional decorated Tunisian blue door, stone arch.

Female tourist leaning against a wall near a traditional fountain in Tunis.

Interior of the Bardo Museum with a woman in front of the central fountain.

White sculpted ceiling and blue chandelier at the National Bardo Museum, Tunis.

Woman posing next to a Roman statue at the archaeological site of Carthage.

To tell you a bit more, I went on a week-long trip to Tunisia last April. First, the weekend with girlfriends for a friend’s bachelorette party in Tunis. Then, I was joined by my favorite photographer for a few days in Tunis and the surrounding area. We also took a short 2-day getaway to the north of the country, which I tell you about in the article below.

Here are 2 other articles about Tunisia on the blog:

a specific article on Sidi Bou Said (because my favorite photographer took a lot of very beautiful photos there)
an article on the north of Tunisia (Bizerte and Gar el Meleh)

To start, below I’ll let you discover a short video by my favorite photographer about our discovery of Tunis and especially the Medina.

Practical information for traveling to Tunisia / How to get there?

Overall, flight tickets are quite expensive to Tunisia, more so than to Morocco in my opinion (I paid a little over €300 for my round trip by booking 1 month in advance). Here are a few companies that serve the destination and particularly Tunis: Nouvelair; Tunisair (the national airline); Transavia. Personally, I took Nouvelair on the way there and Tunisair on the way back because I had to juggle with the companies a bit to get the schedules that suited me best. For information upon arrival, Tunis-Carthage International Airport is the most practical and closest to Tunis.

Interior of a Tunisian palace with sculpted stucco arch and colorful zellij tiles.

Here is also a small (non-exhaustive) list of essentials for your trip to Tunisia:

a valid passport (no visa needed, however)
local currency: the Tunisian dinar (€32 = 109 dinars at the moment, early 2026)
good news, there is no need for an adapter for electrical outlets

General facts about Tunis

Tunis is the capital of Tunisia. It’s a fairly gigantic city (3 million inhabitants) and very sprawling. It’s also a modern city that well represents the contrasts of the country. Traffic is also very dense there. Historically, the city became the capital in 1159 under the impulse of the Almohads and confirmed this status under the Hafsid dynasty in the 13th century. The city also became the official capital when the country won its independence on March 20, 1956. Having welcomed very diverse populations for centuries, the city is composed of a mixture of cultural and religious influences, which makes it fascinating.

Three-level fountain in the courtyard of the Bardo Museum, Tunis.

Narrow alley in the Medina of Tunis with a white building and a dark wooden door.

Covered market in Tunis with stalls of bags and clothes and a veiled woman.

Dioléz Square in Tunis, cobbled streets, white buildings and palm trees under the blue sky.

Getting around the city: The taxi remains the easiest way to get around and it is also cheap for tourists compared to taxi prices in France, for example. Count about 3 or 4 dinars for a 20-minute ride and about 10 dinars to get to the airport. However, seatbelts are often optional in Tunisian taxis, so you shouldn’t be easily scared…

Ideas for things to do and see in and around Tunis

As usual, I offer you below a selection of activities and visits that I experienced for you during my trip to Tunisia and during my stay in Tunis in the heart of the city, but also in the close surroundings of the capital.

Ruins of Carthage with a panoramic view of the city of Tunis and the surrounding landscape.

Take a Free tour in Tunis with Civitatis

For a total first-timer in the Tunisian capital without breaking your budget, the super good plan is to book a “Free tour” with Civitatis. The operation of this famous activity platform is based on a participative principle that is very advantageous: registration is completely free and you are the one who decides on the tip to leave the guide at the end of the walk, depending on what you enjoyed! For about 2h45, a local French-speaking guide will take you to discover the treasures of Tunis. You will dive into the enchanting atmosphere of its Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stroll through the alleys of its lively souks, and admire the majestic Zitouna mosque or the iconic Bab el Bhar gate.

Free tour in Tunis by Civitatis
Duration: 2h45
Link to book your free visit

Visit the Medina of Tunis

The historic center of Tunis, the Medina, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. I strongly advise you to wander through the Medina to discover the colorful atmosphere of the souks and its maze of alleys. Obviously, in the souk be careful, watch your belongings, do not wear visible precious jewelry, and with these simple precautions, everything should go well. Personally, we walked around there several times and we had no issues. However, a friend living there still advised us to be careful because there are still pickpockets in the Medina.

Traditional Tunisian yellow door with ironwork in the Medina of Tunis.

Souk passage in Tunis with traditional clothes displayed on the stalls.

Narrow street of Tunis with white walls and cobblestones, with a couple walking in the distance.

Artisanal Tunisian ceramics, decorative tiles and tableware displayed in a shop window in Tunis.

Traditional wooden door of Tunis with a black and white stone arch, Dioléz door.

If you want to buy some authentic ceramics in the Medina, I advise you to go to the shop Tunis Céram. Indeed, it is one of the few shops in the Medina that still produces its own ceramics (I even got to visit their small workshop). Below are also some places that I advise you to visit during a short walk in the Medina:

The former consulate of Denmark

I encourage you to go to the former consulate of Denmark, located on Rue Jemaa Zitouna and which is today used as a municipal district headquarters by the city of Tunis. You can see the remains of colonnades of this building built in the 18th century for the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Bilingual French and Arabic historical plaque mentioning the annex of the Christian Brothers and former Danish/Norwegian consulate.

Ancient column with sculpted capital under a brick vault in a historic Tunisian place.

The rooftop terraces of the Medina

The Medina is home to many secret rooftop terraces with magnificent views of the city and you just need to know their addresses to go enjoy them! I’ll reveal one address here that I was able to discover during my stay. You can go all the way to the top of the panorama of the shop Maison d’Orient. Entry is free and you just have to go all the way to the top of the store to reach the rooftop terrace and its superb view. There are also some tables if ever you want to sit down for a drink and admire the view!

Panoramic view of Tunis from a terrace, showing the Zitouna Mosque and the Medina.

Minaret of the Zitouna mosque seen from a terrace in Tunis.

Covered alley in Tunis with scooter, jars and earthenware tiles.

Minaret of the Zitouna mosque dominating the white roofs of Tunis.

Café mnouchi Abderazak or Café du Souk (Rue Ellafa)

This café, which is located in the heart of Souk Leffa, is found in a building (oukala) that had the function of housing foreign merchants specializing in precious products: gold, silver, silks. It is decorated with a very beautiful collection of ceramic panels.

Interior of a traditional Tunisian café with lanterns, drapes and Tunisian flag.

Traditional Tunisian interior with arches, zellij tiles and café ambiance.

Visit the National Bardo Museum

This museum, located in the suburb of Bardo in Tunis, is beautiful! It presents one of the most beautiful collections of ancient mosaics in the world and it is the second museum on the African continent after the Egyptian Museum in Cairo by the richness of its collections. By visiting this museum, one really realizes the tourism problem that Tunisia is currently experiencing. It is sad to see such a beautiful museum almost empty… This is largely explained by the 2015 attack that left a mark on people’s minds and which still unfortunately keeps tourists away from this beautiful museum today. At the same time, if you don’t like crowds, you will be peaceful here and you will be able to admire at your leisure the masterpieces it contains.

Roman mosaic of the Bardo Museum showing Neptune pulled by seahorses.

Roman mosaic of the Bardo Museum representing a wild animal, probably a feline.

Statue of Apollo in an alcove at the Bardo Museum, Tunis, with marble staircase.

Roman mosaic of birds and figures at the Bardo Museum, Tunis.

Detail of ancient Roman mosaic, portrait of a bearded man, Bardo Museum Tunis.

Roman mosaic of the Bardo representing Neptune in the center, surrounded by mythological figures.

Roman mosaics at the Bardo Museum under a glass roof in Tunis.

Roman mosaic of a dog on a leash, Bardo Museum Tunis.

Roman mosaic of the Bardo Museum representing three ancient characters.

During a trip to Tunisia and particularly to Tunis, it is really a must-see of your visit if you like art and archaeology! Moreover, the museum is housed in the former Beylical palace and its visit also allows you to discover this sumptuous complex of buildings built from the 15th century onwards, which was the residence of the Bey (governor representing the Ottoman Empire in Tunis).

Interior of the Bardo museum with ancient sculptures and Moorish architecture.

Ornate interior of the Bardo Museum in Tunis with a couple leaving.

National Bardo Museum
Route Nationale 7, Tunisia

open every day except Monday
Rates: 13 dinars for non-residents

Visit the sites of Carthage

As an archaeologist, I have obviously always dreamed of visiting this legendary site. There are actually several archaeological sites in Carthage: the site of Roman villas, the Antonine Baths, the Punic military port, the Punic quarter and the forum… To make a brief historical reminder, without going into details of course, the city of Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC in the Gulf of Tunis by the Phoenicians. From the 6th century BC, the city was the powerful capital of a maritime empire extending over the entire western basin of the Mediterranean.

Carthage was the rival and enemy of Rome for many years, during which long Punic wars pitted the two cities against each other. Carthage was finally destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC and a second Carthage, Roman this time, was then founded on its ruins.

Ruins of Carthage with a view of the sea and cypress trees.

Panoramic view of tourists in Carthage with a large central tree and the city in the background.

The Roman Villas

Remains of the Roman villa of Carthage with cobbled courtyard, columns and vegetation.

Headless Roman statue in the ruins of Carthage in front of a stone wall.

Roman ruins of Carthage: marble columns and stone fragments under a clear sky.

Roman ruins of Carthage with minaret visible in the background.

The Antonine Baths

Woman entering an ancient rock opening near the steps of the Baths of Carthage.

Remains of the Baths of Carthage with a Roman column and a blue sky.

Woman examining a twisted column at the Baths of Carthage, Tunisia.

Ruins of the Baths of Carthage with the sea in the background under a cloudy sky.

Byrsa Hill and the Archaeological Museum

Unfortunately, the museum was closed during our stay, but I understood it should reopen soon…

Archaeological site of Carthage with Saint Louis Cathedral in the background.

Ancient ruins of Carthage with a view of the modern city of Tunis in the background.

Sculpted Paleo-Christian sarcophagus of the Good Shepherd, archaeological site of Carthage.

Headless Roman statue and stone columns on the archaeological site of Carthage.

White facade with arches and twisted columns in Carthage.

Roman statue torso on its base at the archaeological site of Carthage, Tunisia.

Overturned Roman column in Carthage, near a palm tree and a white building.

As the sites are quite far apart, the friend with whom we were staying in Tunisia at the beginning of our trip made us discover the principle of the Lemon Tour, guided tours of the site by bike or in complete autonomy. This idea is particularly ingenious for traveling the distances between the different sites, and it is thus easy and pleasant to link them by bike. Since you buy your ticket for a day of visiting, if you want to do all the different sites in the day and thus make your ticket profitable, it’s possible. But in this case, I strongly advise you to plan a means of transport between the locations.

Woman on a blue bike on the Tunisian coast near the turquoise sea.

Carthage sites

Rate: 12 dinars (entry valid for one day for all sites)
Opening hours: from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (from 09/16 to 03/31)
From 08:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (from 04/01 to 09/15)

Lemon Tour rates: 15 dinars half-day / 25 dinars full day
Visit the site of Carthage by bike For a more transparent world…If you book a visit by clicking on this link, a small commission will be paid directly to us by the site. This has no effect on the price you pay, but in return you support the blog and help it grow. It's up to you :)

My favorite addresses in Tunis

Obviously, during a trip to Tunisia, you absolutely must test the local cuisine. The latter blends different cuisines that have influenced the region: Berber, Arab, Jewish, Italian, Spanish cuisine…

Here are some key dishes to taste during your trip to Tunisia:

egg or tuna bricks
couscous, obviously
Tunisian salads (like mechouia salad with grilled peppers, tomatoes and onions)
traditional soups very present in Tunisian cuisine

In any case, it is a very spicy cuisine and each meal is accompanied by harissa that Tunisians eat directly with bread and drowned in olive oil. Obviously, for dessert, a small mint tea (a little different from the one found in Morocco in my opinion), accompanied by Arab pastries is a little moment of happiness (if you like that, obviously). Tunisians are also fans of creams that you will find in almost all sauces or almost.

As in Morocco, apparently it is recommended to drink bottled water, but at the same time they will serve it to you directly as soon as you arrive at the restaurant, so well… In terms of alcohol, you can taste the Tunisian beer (thirst-quenching but not unforgettable), but also Tunisian wines, which can turn out to be very interesting. Notably the AOC Mornag for reds. Indeed, Tunisia was a great region for vine cultivation during antiquity, we must not forget it.

Tunisian hotel lounge with red sofa, cushions and colorful painting.

Assortment of traditional Tunisian oriental pastries, often served at the Dar Slah restaurant.

Roman mosaic of a fish at the Bardo museum, Tunis.

As usual, I provide you below with the few addresses (restaurants, hotels) that I was able to test during my stay in Tunis. That said, the offer is vast on site and if you wish to compare prices or find another style of accommodation, you can easily explore a wide diversity of hotels in Tunisia to unearth the one that will best match your expectations.

Restaurant Dar Slah

This restaurant located in the medina of Tunis offers very good traditional Tunisian cuisine for a reasonable price. I advise you to follow the recommendations of the host if you want to taste typical dishes.

Plate of Tunisian dish with soup, salad, and brick.

Glass of Tunisian mint tea in front of decorative tiles.

Traditional Tunisian dish of meat, potatoes and vegetables on a decorated plate.

Restaurant Dar Slah

145, rue de la Kasbah – La Médina – 1006 Tunis, Tunisia

Fondouk El Attarine

This traditional restaurant located in the heart of the souks of Tunis in the Medina offers a superb setting, as it takes place in an ancient caravanserai (a place where merchant caravans used to stop). In addition to the restaurant, the venue also houses an exhibition/sale of Tunisian handicraft products and a boutique. So, even if you are not going to eat there, I still highly advise you to plan to take a tour to enjoy the architecture of the place. It is very pleasant to eat in its beautiful interior courtyard.

Interior patio of a restaurant in Tunis with set tables and vegetation.

Tunisian couscous served with pieces of meat and vegetables in a bowl.

Interior patio of a restaurant in Tunis with glass roof and lush vegetation.

Plate of Tunisian salad with tomato stuffed with tuna and hard-boiled egg.

Fondouk El Attarine

9 bis, Souk el Attarine, Tunis Medina
Reservation recommended to eat there

Restaurant Dar El Jeld

This gourmet traditional cuisine restaurant is known to be one of the best in the city. In the evening, the intimate and romantic atmosphere of a candlelight dinner in the beautiful patio of this magnificent place is a memory you are not ready to forget. The very high-end service is impeccable and the cuisine offers traditional dishes made with a lot of refinement. Incidentally, this restaurant is part of the same group as the hotel of the same name that I tell you about just below and where we stayed during our stay in Tunis.

To test: the stuffed cuttlefish couscous, one of the house specialties; the very beautiful selection of Tunisian wines.

Plate of marinated anchovies with olives and vegetables in Tunisia.

Candle lit in the hushed atmosphere of a Tunisian restaurant.

Portrait of a brown-haired woman wearing glasses, hands joined, in a restaurant in Tunis.

Plate of seafood and Tunisian salad at the restaurant.

Fish in sauce with olives and tomatoes, traditional Tunisian dish.

Tunisian couscous with vegetables and broad beans on a decorative plate.

Table set in an elegant restaurant in Tunis with yellow armchairs.

Restaurant Dar El Jeld

5 rue Dar El Jeld, Medina of Tunis
Price: menus from 45 to 80 dinars

Hotel & Spa Dar El Jeld

This luxurious hotel nestled in the heart of the Medina around “La Zitouna” and a stone’s throw from the government square, is a truly sublime place. The hotel consists of a rehabilitated traditional residence and a contemporary building in the same vein with a lot of refinement. It has 16 luxurious suites installed around a lemon tree garden decorated with a fountain. A place out of the hustle and bustle of the Medina that invites relaxation and rest.

Tunisian interior with mosaics, "Reception" sign and colorful art exhibition.

Doors open onto marble interior courtyard and Tunisian-style paneled door.

Interior patio of Tunisian hotel with lush garden and mashrabiya.

Traditional interior courtyard with stone arches and glass openings in Tunis.

Interior courtyard of a Tunisian hotel with columns and balconies.

Woman reading in a Tunisian hotel lounge with columns and sculpted furniture.

Obviously, as in all establishments of this standing, the welcome and the service are particularly careful, with attention paid to each guest.

Our suite

We were therefore lucky enough to stay in one of the hotel’s suites (80 m2) during our stay in Tunis. Let’s just say we had space! I in any case loved the design, the decor and the quietness of this suite. Inside the suite, we obviously find high-end equipment: super comfortable king-size bed, Lavazza coffee machine, flat-screen television (48-inch full HD), free wifi, mini-bar, electric kettle (an essential element for my evening herbal tea)…

Woman jumping on red bed in a bright hotel room in Tunis.

Cinq Diolez hotel lounge in Tunis with gray sofa and armchairs.

Self-portrait with camera in front of a mirror decorated with Tunisian zellij.

Interior courtyard of a Tunisian hotel with lush gardens and white architecture.

Hotel bathroom in Tunis with bathtub, vanity sink and magnifying mirror.

Woman drinking coffee on a bench in a hotel room in Tunis.

Breakfast

Breakfast is offered on the top floor Rooftop of the hotel, overlooking the roofs of the medina. This allows, during sunny days (so a large part of the year in Tunisia), to have breakfast outside!

Woman with sunglasses having a hearty breakfast on a terrace in Tunis.

Tunis hotel terrace with planters, white umbrella and view of the blue sky.

White hotel terrace with pergola and view of the roofs of Tunis.

Hammam & Spa

The hotel has a magnificent hammam in the pure Tunisian tradition of well-being and body care. After taking a short tour of the hammam, you can relax in the rest area and tea room provided for this purpose.

Woman in white bathrobe using her phone in a hotel room in Tunis.

Woman in a traditional Tunisian hammam with blue lighting.

Relaxation in a Tunisian-style room with blue light motif.

Rooftop Restaurant

The hotel also offers a dining service all day and late into the night on the top floor of the establishment. On the menu, a wide range of Tunisian and international dishes and wines. The restaurant is also open to clients who are not staying at the hotel.

Table set for dinner in a modern restaurant in Tunis with bar in the background.

Bouquet of red and burgundy flowers in a glass vase, restaurant decor.

Bottle of Jour et Nuit Mornag 2014 wine, Wine of Tunisia.

Hot Tunisian soup with green vegetables and carrot pieces in a white plate.

Revisited Tunisian dish with meat, flatbread, puree and herb sauce.

Man eating in an elegant restaurant hall in Tunis.

Four verrines of gourmet Tunisian desserts, including chocolate mousse and pistachio cream.

Hotel & Spa Dar El Jeld
10 rue Dar El Jeld, Tunis

The good plan: every Saturday (depending on demand) a guided tour in French (duration: 2 or 3h) of the Medina leaves at 10 a.m. from the hotel (inquire at the reception)

Rate: starting from €171 per night
Link to book a room For a more transparent world…If you book a room by clicking on this link, a small commission will be paid directly to us by the site. This has no effect on the price you pay, but in return you support the blog and help it grow. It's up to you :)

Brunch and relaxation at the Mövenpick Hotel Gammarth Tunis

For the bachelorette party I mentioned at the beginning of this article, we went to spend an afternoon with girlfriends in this elegant seaside hotel. On the program for this girly Sunday, it was brunch and massage at the establishment’s spa.

Pool and palm trees at the Mövenpick Hotel Gammarth Tunis facing the sea.

Tunisian brunch with main course, flowers and bottle of Safia water on the terrace.

Hotel pool in Tunisia surrounded by palm trees and bright blue sky.

Terrace with turquoise sea view and umbrella, ideal place for lunch.

Sunny sandy beach near Tunis with sun loungers, umbrellas and flowering vegetation.

Mövenpick Hotel Gammarth Tunis

36 Avenue Taieb Mhiri, Marsa 2078, Tunisia
Sunday brunch at Restaurant Horizon from 12:30 p.m.
Link to book a room For a more transparent world…If you book a room by clicking on this link, a small commission will be paid directly to us by the site. This has no effect on the price you pay, but in return you support the blog and help it grow. It's up to you :)

Shopping? The Perfumer Hamdi Mondher

This shop is located opposite Al Madrassa Slimania in the Medina. It sells massage oils and perfume extracts. We didn’t buy anything there, but we were treated to a very interesting explanation about the manufacture of these perfume essences. It’s always a little extra to understand the importance of the local production of this kind of product during your trip to Tunisia, I think.

Traditional Tunisian colored perfume bottles on a decorated table.

Perfumer Hamdi Mondher

4 rue El Khomsa, Tunis

Thanks to the Tunisian Tourist Office Discover Tunisia for this collaboration and for this discovery program of the city of Tunis and this beautiful trip to Tunisia.

Couple visiting the cobbled ruins of Carthage under a blue sky.

I hope that with all this I will have made you want to discover Tunis and Tunisia on a trip, and if you also have your own good addresses and tips for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!

Find below all my articles on my trip to Tunisia in April/May 2019:
⇒ All my articles on Tunisia

MY STAGES IN TUNISIA
⇒ Tunis and its surroundings
⇒ Sidi Bou Said
⇒ Bizerte and the north coast

Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Melle Bon Plan
Photos not royalty-free, authorization from the photographer required before any use