Perfect Weekend in Tunis – The Ultimate Itinerary

What comes to your mind when you think of a weekend trip? Paris? Maybe Rome, London or Prague?

Not many people have Tunis on their radar for the perfect weekend trip. In fact, not many people think of Tunisia in general when planning their holidays, meaning that you won’t have to fight the crowds you’d find in Paris or Barcelona.

From London, you can reach Tunis in just under three hours. If you live in Central Europe, it’s even a bit less. Daniel and I were surprised to find out that from Frankfurt, it takes about as long to fly to Tunis as it takes to fly to Madrid.

So why not spend a weekend in Northern Africa, explore the bustling Medina of Tunis and learn about Berber culture? A weekend is just enough time to get lost in the narrow alleyways of the Old Town and to learn about the history of Carthage. Or long enough to laze around on the beach for a few hours.

Plus, Tunisia is famous for its sunny weather, even when it gets cold in Europe, and Tunis is an affordable destination for a weekend trip.

Weekend in Tunis

Why visit Tunis?

You probably already noticed in our introduction that Daniel and I are huge fans of Tunisia. We loved our recent trip to this North African country, and we want to share all of our travel tips with you so your trip can be as amazing as ours.

Tunis is, as we already mentioned, an affordable city with lots of things to do and see. It’s great for anyone who loves history, as you can easily visit the ruins of Carthage or take a trip to some ancient Roman cities. It’s also the perfect destination for those of you who love exploring other cultures.

The Old Town of Tunis, also known as the Medina, is a maze of shops and alleyways. This layout, typical for many Northern African cities, takes you to a completely different world. Haggle with shopkeepers or just follow the crowds to see the different souks and end up in a tiny cafe.

If you’d rather relax on the beach, you can head to Hammamet. You can reach this town in less than an hour from the Tunis airport.

Tunis has something for everyone, no matter what your interests are.

Tunis itinerary

Day 1 – Central Tunis

On your first day, focus on central Tunis. It’s the city’s most charming area, and you can easily spend a whole day here.

#1 Tunis Medina

Once you enter the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you feel like you’ve entered another world. This maze of narrow streets is so fun to explore that we spent a whole day just wandering around and checking out the different markets.

In Northern Africa, a Medina is the centre of the town. These days, it seems like a giant market, but it’s so much more than that. There are palaces, mosques and madrassas. The Medina is where everyone used to live, similar to the Old Town in Western cities.

It’s easy to get lost in the Medina, but that’s part of the fun.

We entered from the Place de la Victoire, which is what we recommend you do as well. If you follow the main street, you come past lots of shops selling souvenirs and handicrafts. This is a great place to stock up if you want to bring a small trinket home.

Next, head to Rue Sidi Ben Arous, which we found to be one of the most photogenic places in the Medina. It’s less crowded than some of the main roads, and we loved some of the colourful doors we saw here.

Other fun areas to explore are the different souqs and some of the traditional houses. Souqs are like themed markets, so you will find a street with all the goldsmiths and one where everyone buys their perfumes.

We were lucky and managed to visit some of the traditional buildings, like the Madrasa Bir Lahjar or Madrasa El Bachiya. They’re not always open to the public, but if you wander around, you might get lucky and get entrance into some of them.

3-4h

#2 Al-Zaytuna Mosque

The Al-Zaytuna Mosque sits in the heart of the Medina, making it a hard-to-miss stop on your Tunis itinerary. It dates back to the 8th century and was built on top of a former Byzantine church.

Pay attention to the columns when wandering around the courtyard. Many of them come from Carthage and were repurposed during the construction of the mosque.

Unless you’re a Muslim, try visiting the Al-Zaytuna Mosque in the morning. In the afternoon, the building only opens for Muslims who come for the prayers.

1/2h

#3 Enjoy a drink at a rooftop cafe

No visit to the Tunis Medina is complete without enjoying a drink in one of the many traditional cafes. We highly recommend finding a rooftop cafe where you can enjoy the view.

As an alternative, head to Cafe Mrabet, next to the Al-Zaytuna Mosque. Some sources claim it’s the oldest cafe in Africa and dates back to 1628. I find that claim questionable (if you Google it, you come across MANY places claiming to be the oldest cafe in Africa). Nevertheless, we enjoyed having a drink here.

The interior is beautiful, with striped columns, and the cafe has cosy corners with carpets and cushions where you can sit down.

If you prefer a place like Cafe Mrabet, that doesn’t mean you have to skip the rooftop view. Some shops have rooftop terraces. Look around at the signs, as many advertise their terraces, hoping to attract customers.

1h

#4 Tourbet El Bey

In the afternoon, head to Tourbet El Bey in the southern part of the Medina. Entrance to this Royal Mausoleum is a bit complicated, as it’s currently not well regulated. Officially, the building is closed, but the keykeeper gives tours of the interior.

Your best bet is to do the same as we did—bang on the entrance door and hope that someone opens it for you. If not, try coming back in half an hour.

Inside, you’ll see the tombs of many rulers, princesses, and ministers. The keykeeper can show you around and tell you some interesting facts about them.

1h

#5 Ville Nouvelle

Once you’re done exploring the Medina, it’s time to head to the Ville Nouvelle. This district is Tunis’ colonial neighbourhood, with many French-style buildings, cafes and restaurants.

Head down the main boulevard and stop by the Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul. If you’re hungry, this is a great area to find a restaurant or to pick up an ice cream at one of the many small shops.

For dinner, either try one of the many restaurants here or head back to the Old Town to enjoy a traditional meal there.

1h

Day 2 – Carthage & Sidi Bou Said

On your second day, head first to Carthage and then continue to Sidi Bou Said.

You have two options for getting there. You can either take a taxi or go by public transport. Taxis are usually a bit faster (unless it’s rush hour and you get stuck in a traffic jam), but also more expensive.

Tunis has decent public transport, and there’s a light rail TGM line which takes you all the way to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. We took it and found it quite convenient. The only disadvantage is that it leaves from the Tunis Marina, so you might need to take a tram to get there (take line 3 if you’re coming from the city centre).

#1 Carthage

Carthage might be the most famous archaeological site in Tunisia. The Phoenicians founded the city in the 9th century BC, and it lasted for a few hundred years before its destruction by the Romans during the Punic Wars.

As the Romans pretty much destroyed Carthage, only a few ruins remained. Those are spread out, but you can either walk between them or take the TGM light rail to get from one place to another.

We started at Byrsa Hill, where we hired a guide to learn more about the history of Carthage. You can also find the Carthage Museum up here, so it’s a great place to visit first.

Other sites include the Antonine Baths, the Roman theatre, the Roman villas and many more. You can get a combined entrance ticket for all of them at any of the sites.

3h

#2 Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said, often described as an artists’ village, is one of Tunis’ most beautiful neighbourhoods. The Old Town is perfect for its chaos and bustling bazaar. Sidi Bou Said is its much more laid-back counterpart at the coast, complete with white-washed houses and blue doors and windows.

From Carthage, you can easily get here by continuing on the TGM light rail line.

Keep your camera ready, as you will want to take lots of photos. Take some time to walk around Sidi Bou Said, soak up the atmosphere, and grab a drink at one of the many cafes.

min. 1h

#3 Dar El Annabi

If you walk along the main road, coming from the TGM station, you will eventually see a sign on your left for a museum.

Dar el Annabi is a traditional house, the summer residence of the Annabi family. Daniel and I loved exploring the rooms with their old-fashioned decorations and seeing the interesting layout of the building. You don’t need much time here, but it’s one of those cute places that is definitely worth seeing.

20min

#4 Ennejma Ezzahra Palace

We almost missed this beautiful palace as it was already in the evening when we got here. Fortunately, we managed to get in at the last possible moment.

The palace is worth a visit for its stunning architecture, but it has more to offer. Baron d’Erlanger, who constructed the building in the early 1900s, specialised in Tunisian music, and you can see his extensive collection of musical instruments in the museum.

Make sure to come here with enough time to spare, so you don’t have to rush your visit like we did.

1/2h

Day 3 – Day trip to Sousse or Hammamet

The above itinerary should give you enough things to do for two days, so if you’re only staying in Tunis for one weekend, you probably have to go home now.

If you have another day, however, we have a few suggestions that we think you’re going to enjoy. Tunis is well connected to the rest of the country, and you have the option of doing some cool day trips.

The most popular are Sousse and Hammamet. Sousse is a beach town, so you can come here if you want to spend a day relaxing and swimming in the sea. It also has a pretty cool medina with lots of places to visit.

Hammamet, on the other hand, is much smaller and as picturesque as Sidi Bou Said. It’s closer to Tunis, so it’s a good option if you don’t want to go too far.

Option 1 – Sousse

Sousse is Tunisia’s third-largest city. Therefore, it’s easy to get here on a day trip, with frequent louage and train connections. It takes around two hours, which leaves you with plenty of time to see the city.

If it’s summer and you’re looking for a day of relaxation, head to the beach. The strip of sand that starts north of the Medina seems endless, and you’re guaranteed to find a spot that you like.

But Sousse has much more to offer than the beach. We came here in November, and it wasn’t warm enough to swim, so we spent many hours exploring the Medina. One of the most impressive landmarks is the Sousse Ribat, a fortress that dates back to the 8th century.

If you arrive early enough in the day, you can also visit the Grand Mosque. As a non-muslim, you won’t be able to enter all rooms, but you will be able to see the impressive courtyard.

Last, we loved the archaeological museum, where you can learn more about Tunisia’s rich history.

Option 2 – Hammamet

Some people describe Hammamet as the most beautiful town in Tunisia. It’s similar to Sidi Bou Said with its white-washed houses and blue windows. It feels larger, though, and getting lost in the Medina is a perfect way to spend your time.

While here, make sure to visit the Kasbah. This fortress sits next to the sea, offering you stunning views over the city and the Mediterranean.

Hammamet also has a beautiful beach, so if you need a break, you can head here to relax for a few hours.

Practical advice

Where to stay in Tunis

You have two options when booking a hotel in Tunis. The first one is to stay close to the Medina, and the second one is to get a hotel in Sidi Bou Said. While the latter is quieter and also more picture-perfect, we highly recommend the Medina. It’s in the heart of Tunis and close to a lot of the main sights.

Here are some options that are close to the Medina:

• Mid-range: Dar Hamouda Guest House is an excellent option if you’re looking for a place to stay in the Medina. It’s in a traditional family house turned into a guest house, and rates include breakfast.
• A bit more comfort: As the name says, the Royal Victoria – Ex British Embassy allows you to stay in a historic house. You’ll get colourful Tunisian decor and a location right at the entrance to the Medina.
• Budget: If you don’t mind sharing your bathroom, check out Dar Ya. It’s located in a stunning traditional house, complete with a courtyard and a rooftop terrace.

If you’d rather stay in Sidi Bou Said, your options are a bit more limited, but you also have some choices:

• Mid-range: We stayed at the Hotel Bou Fares, which is known for its colourful Tunisian tiles and traditional decoration. Plus, you’re right in the middle of Sidi Bou Said.
• A bit more comfort: La Menara Hotel & Spa is perfect if you want to stay in a five-star hotel. Relax in the spa or swim in the outdoor pool after you’re done exploring.
• Budget: Raf Guest House is within walking distance of the most charming part of Sidi Bou Said. It’s a solid budget option, plus it features a courtyard with a garden where you’re free to sit and relax.

How to get to Tunis

Unless you’re already in Tunisia, the easiest way to get to Tunis is to fly. Multiple airlines fly to Tunis, and we managed to get a direct flight from Frankfurt.

Make sure to use a website like Kiwi or WayAway for researching your flights, so you can find out which airline is cheapest and offers the best connections.

From the airport, the easiest way to get to the city centre is to take a taxi. Make sure to haggle, as the taxi drivers will try to scam you. If in doubt, send the taxi away and check with a few other ones to find out for which price they’re willing to take you.

You can also use Bolt, but they’re not allowed to come to the airport directly, so you would have to leave the airport area on foot.

If you have more time and don’t want to fly, you could also take a ferry from France or Italy. Yes, it’s going to take you a whole day, but it’s a bit more of an adventure than taking a plane. Plus, most ferries go overnight, so you can get a cabin and sleep through most of the trip.

If you’re interested, check out all ferry routes to Tunis on Direct Ferries, where you can directly compare multiple companies.

Getting around Tunis

Getting around Tunis is easy, and you have plenty of choices to get from one place to another.

The easiest way is to either get a taxi or a Bolt. In case you haven’t used Bolt yet, it’s similar to Uber, and it’s very common in Tunisia. The advantage is that you know the price in advance and are less likely to get scammed. The disadvantage is that you need internet to use the app, so it’s not great if you don’t have a local SIM card.

If you get into a regular, yellow taxi that you hail on the street, always insist on using the taximeter. If the driver refuses, let them leave and get a different cab.

Besides taxis, you can also use public transport to get around Tunis. We have already mentioned the TGM light rail route, which goes to Sidi Bou Said. Tunis also features a tram network, so check out the map if you want to plan your route.

Is Tunis safe?

If you think of Tunisia, you might think of the terrorist attacks of 2015 and wonder if the country is safe to visit. Daniel and I spent two weeks travelling all over Tunisia, and we never had any issues.

Tunisia experienced a massive decline in tourism after 2015. Nevertheless, Daniel and I always felt perfectly safe when exploring the country. Locals were very friendly and helpful. The biggest issue we had was a taxi driver refusing to put on the meter, and we just got a ride from a ride-sharing app instead.

That said, it always pays to take some precautions. Don’t flash around any expensive jewellery. If you come across a demonstration, stay away from it. And be careful when crossing the street, as traffic can be chaotic at times.

As always, when travelling, be mindful of your surroundings. Keep an eye on your belongings and use common sense, and you should be fine.

We hope we have convinced you that Tunis is a fantastic destination for a weekend trip. If you’re coming from Europe, it’s only a short flight away, and yet, it’s an entirely different culture.

While you’re here, make sure to also check out our blog post about how to visit the northernmost point of Africa, which can easily be done on a day trip from Tunis!

Until your next adventure!

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