To stay in Tunis, I tested two places that have nothing in common: a mansion in the heart of the medina and a hotel at the very end of Sidi Bou Saïd. It was during a week in April in Tunisia, which started with a girls’ weekend in Tunis. Then my favorite photographer joined me for a few days in Tunis, Sidi Bou Saïd and the north of the country.
These two hotels come from stories I’ve already shared with you: my guide to discovering Tunis and our stroll through Sidi Bou Saïd. I’m bringing them together here with two other, more affordable places I spotted but haven’t tested: a guesthouse in the medina and a classic hotel in the Belvédère district.
The practical information (access, addresses, prices) was checked in October 2026.
Plan your stay
Hotels we tried
Dar El Jeld Hotel & Spa
Luxurious suites in the heart of the Medina, hammam and breakfast on the rooftop
Other places found, not personally tested (2)
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Table of Contents
Which neighborhood should you stay in when in Tunis?
Here are three neighborhoods to stay in in Tunis, two of which are where we dropped our bags with my favorite photographer.
In the medina of Tunis
Sleeping in the medina means having the souks, the Zitouna Mosque and the maze of little streets right on your doorstep. We wandered around there several times without any trouble, but a friend who lives there still advised us to keep an eye on our belongings, because pickpockets do exist. I also loved the medina’s rooftop terraces, where the Zitouna minaret rises above the white rooftops.
In Sidi Bou Saïd, above the gulf
Sidi Bou Saïd is a village perched on its cliff, about twenty kilometers north-east of Tunis, with the gulf at its feet and the ruins of Carthage close by. The main thing to do is get lost in the little streets with blue doors (which is just what we did with my favorite photographer). The village is very easy to reach from the capital, by taxi or by TGM (the suburban train that links Tunis to La Marsa via Carthage), and you can also stay overnight there, facing the sea.
In Belvédère, near the modern center
Belvédère is a residential neighborhood north of the center, with Belvédère Park right nearby. You’re a few minutes by car from Tunis Marine station and avenue Habib-Bourguiba, and about 2 km from Bab Bhar (Porte de France). We didn’t sleep there: I’m only telling you about it based on my research.
Getting to your hotel from Tunis-Carthage airport
Here’s how to get to these four places from Tunis-Carthage airport, the most convenient one for the capital.
- Medina (Dar El Jeld, El Patio): a taxi is the easiest option. Dar El Jeld also offers an airport shuttle that winds through the medina’s alleys and drops you right opposite (according to its website), and the El Patio guesthouse offers a paid shuttle (according to its Booking listing).
- Sidi Bou Saïd (La Villa Bleue): a taxi goes direct from the airport. Otherwise, bus 35 leaves opposite the taxis, at the arrivals level, and goes to Tunis Marine, near the TGM station: the TGM then serves Sidi Bou Saïd station (check the timetables and the arrival stop on site).
- Belvédère (Hôtel Belvédère Fourati): a taxi is the easiest: the hotel is about 7 km from the airport.
- Taxis in general: they remain the simplest way to get around Tunis, but ask for the meter to be running if the driver quotes you a flat fare. During our stay, seat belts were often optional: don’t be scared!
The hotels I tested in Tunis
Dar El Jeld Hotel & Spa
This luxurious hotel is nestled in the heart of the medina, around the Zitouna and a stone’s throw from Government Square. It combines a restored traditional mansion with a contemporary building in the same spirit, with 16 suites around a lemon tree garden and its fountain, away from the bustle of the medina. The welcome and service were particularly attentive. The hotel only offers suites, and ours was 80 m², so let’s just say we had plenty of space! Anyway, I really loved the design, the decor and the calm of this suite, with a super comfortable king size bed, a coffee machine, free wifi and a kettle (essential for my evening herbal tea).
We had breakfast on the rooftop, right at the top, above the medina’s rooftops, outdoors when the weather was nice. The hotel’s restaurant is set up on that same rooftop. The hotel also has a traditional hammam, followed by a relaxation area and a herbal tea room. Opposite, the Dar El Jeld restaurant, from the same group, is where we had a candlelit dinner in the patio (I talk about it in my Tunis guide, with the stuffed cuttlefish couscous and Tunisian wines).
Tested in April 2019 - Invitation
Dar El Jeld Hotel & Spa
10 rue Dar El Jeld, 1006 Tunis (medina)
On foot: 1 min from Government Square (in front of the Kasbah), 5 min from the Zitouna Mosque, about ten minutes from Bab Bhar (Porte de France)
By car: about ten kilometers from Tunis-Carthage airport
Who it’s for: those who want to stay in the medina, with plenty of space (the hotel only offers suites, from 65 to 95 m²)
Price in October 2026: Junior suite (65 m²) for two at €178.40 per night on Wednesday 14 as well as Saturday 17 April 2027, 80 m² suite at €201.60 (non-refundable rates, without breakfast, with the 20% discount shown on the hotel’s website)
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La Villa Bleue
This charming hotel has only 13 rooms and suites, at the very end of the village, with a spectacular view of the sea. We stayed in the Bellevue suite (I can’t find it under that name among the rooms offered today). I found it a bit noisy, because it’s located above the kitchens, but the retro bathtub and the panoramic view from the windows were superb.
In the evening, we tried room service: the menu offered a few Tunisian specialties, like the trio of salads or the lamb shank cooked in a gargoulette, and a selection of Tunisian wines. Having breakfast on the terrace facing the sea remains a very relaxing memory, just like the pretty pool with its view of the Mediterranean.
Tested in April 2019 - Invitation
La Villa Bleue
68 rue Kennedy, 2026 Sidi Bou Saïd
On foot: 6 min from the café des Nattes, in the heart of the village, and about 15 min from the Sidi Bou Saïd TGM station
By car: 17 km from Tunis-Carthage airport
Who it’s for: a night with a sea view, at the end of the village, to treat yourself
Price in October 2026: classic double room for two at €340 per night on Wednesday 14 as well as Saturday 17 April 2027, luxury sea-view suite at €400 (public rate, free cancellation until 10 April for the night of the 14th, breakfast not specified, hotel website)
Book your stay → For a more transparent world…If you book through this link, we receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support our work and our upcoming reports.
Where to stay in Tunis: two other places I spotted
I haven’t slept in either of these two places. They complement our two tested hotels: they are more affordable, and travelers rate them very highly. One is in the medina, the other is more convenient if you’re driving. What I say about them comes from their listings and reviews, not from a stay.
El Patio Courtyard House
This small guesthouse occupies a historic building in the medina, around an inner patio. The rooms are air-conditioned, with a private bathroom, and some have a balcony or a terrace overlooking the city. Breakfast is included, and it’s what travelers mention most in their reviews. It suits a couple or friends who want to stay in the medina without aiming for a luxury hotel.
It has its limits: it only welcomes adults, requires quiet from 8 pm to 7 am and is paid in cash, at the property. The wifi is the lowest-rated criterion, and one traveler finds the neighborhood rather quiet in the evening, when the souk gates close.
El Patio Courtyard House
Rue Tourbet El Bey, 1008 Tunis (medina)
On foot: 7 min from the Zitouna Mosque, about ten minutes from Bab Bhar (Porte de France)
Who it’s for: a couple or adult friends (children not admitted) who want to sleep in the medina for less than the luxury hotels
Traveler rating on Booking in October 2026: 9.3/10 (257 reviews)
Price in October 2026: standard double room for two at €89 per night, for both Wednesday 14 and Saturday 17 April 2027, breakfast included (non-refundable rate, €110 with free cancellation, Booking); payment in cash, at the property
Book your stay → For a more transparent world…If you book through this link, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's a way to support our work and our upcoming reports.
Hôtel Belvédère Fourati
It’s a classic hotel, with 24-hour reception, a restaurant, a bar and parking according to its listing. It’s located in the Belvédère district and suits those who prefer a city hotel to the alleys of the medina. Breakfast, which costs extra depending on the rate, gets good ratings from travelers.
On the downside, the rooms I looked at are 16 m² and overlook a courtyard. The area is residential, and the hotel isn’t right at the foot of Avenue Habib-Bourguiba.
Hôtel Belvédère Fourati
10 avenue des États-Unis d’Amérique, 1002 Tunis (Belvédère)
By car: 3 min from the TGM Tunis Marine station, 7 km from Tunis-Carthage airport; on foot: about thirty minutes from Bab Bhar (Porte de France)
Who it’s for: those who want a classic hotel, with 24-hour reception and parking, without staying in the alleys
Traveler rating on Booking in October 2026: 9.2/10 (806 reviews)
Price in October 2026: superior double room (16 m², courtyard view) for two at €114 per night, for both Wednesday 14 and Saturday 17 April 2027, without breakfast (non-refundable rate); €129 with breakfast and free cancellation (Booking)
Book your stay → For a more transparent world…If you book through this link, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's a way to support our work and our upcoming reports.
Extending your stay to the north
If you have a few extra days, Ghar el Melh is about an hour’s drive from Tunis, and Bizerte is only about forty minutes from there. I tell the story of our getaway in the article about northern Tunisia.
And you, where did you stay in Tunisia? Share your favorite spots in the comments!
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Melle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free; permission from the photographer is required before any use.
