Overview

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Tunis is the capital city of Tunisia with a vibrant heart that is incredibly underrated. Dating back to the 4th century BC when it was a Berber settlement, the city is steeped in history with remnants from the Phoenician, Roman, and of course, the Arabic periods. Today, it is a combination of Arabic, African, and European traditions that many people say is one of the most secular and open-minded Arab cities.

The city is divided into the old city, known as the medina, and the new city, or ville nouvelle in French. The Medina is a beautiful labyrinth of covered streets and magical souks - nowhere feels quite as exotic as this part of the city. Here you will also find the latticed Al-Zaytouna Mosque, which was built in 732 CE by the Umayyad dynasty. Much of the material came from the ancient ruins of Carthage, among them 160 columns. However, one of the best places to see is the UNESCO ancient city of Carthage, located just a short drive from Tunis.

Things to See and Do

Tunis Medina
Enjoy the historic Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A walking tour is a great way to learn about all historic souks, the history, and the best places to purchase souvenirs.

From the 12th to the 16th centuries, Tunis was considered to be one of the greatest and wealthiest cities of the Islamic world and its medina is testimony to its former grandeur. Today, visitors can step back in time through the maze of narrow, winding streets, and barter for souvenirs with the locals; goods on sale. Give yourself time to just endlessly wander through the streets and take in the atmosphere. Among the more frequented attractions found within the walls of the medina are the ninth-century Al-Zaytouna Mosque, the perfume makers’ Souk el Attarine and Tunis’s first Ottoman-style mosque, Sidi Yousef, built in the 17th century.

Spend some time bartering for a bargain in Tunis Median. If shopping is your thing, the souks are great if you’re prepared to barter. Visit from August to mid-September and you’re likely to find the best bargains, as this post-Eid period is when stall owners offer the best discounts.

Dar Ben Abdallah Museum
The impressive late 18th-century house of Dar Ben Abdallah is one of the best-preserved medina palaces in Tunis. Here you can discover a rich collection of furniture, textiles and crafts, giving a captivating glimpse into what 19th century life was like in the medina for the wealthy. Housing the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, it’s the best place to see the finest examples of traditional arts and crafts - you can still see much of the same handiwork being produced in the medina.

Al-Zaytouna Mosque
The Al-Zaytuna Mosque (Mosque of the Olive Tree) covers over 53,000 sq ft and is the only mosque open to non-Muslims - although only as far as the central courtyard. This is one of the oldest mosques in all of Africa, it was built in 732 AD, often using stones from nearby Roman Carthage, but it prospered from the 13th century onwards as an important Islamic university.

Avenue Habib Bourguiba
Discover the main thoroughfare of Tunis, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, that runs from TGM train station to the main entrance to the medina. This tree lines street is where you’ll find shopping, restaurants, and cafe terraces where Tunisians connect and socialize in the late afternoon. This is also where the grand art nouveau Municipal Theatre and the 19th-century Cathedral de St Vincent de Paul is located.

Musee National du Bardo
Built in the 13th century the Musee National du Bardo is an excellent example of Arab-Muslim architecture, but is also houses Tunisia’s national museum. The highlight of the museum is the fascinating array of Roman mosaics, the largest and finest single collection in the world, dating from the second century BCE to the seventh century AD. The Greek and Islamic holdings are also outstanding.

Belvedere Park
Laid out by the French, this once exclusive park with a lake, a small zoo, an elegant 18th-century pavilion, and a cafe terrace is now a popular place for Tunisians to escape the summer heat and noise of the city.

Day Trip - Carthage

Just 20 minutes east of Tunis, the Carthage makes for a fascinating day trip. This sprawling complex of ruins has a turbulent and complex history that you’ll sense as you explore the enormous area.

These remains are a UNESCO site, which was founded in 814 BCE, destroyed and rebuilt by the Romans, and again left in ruins by the Arabs in CE692. The Musee National de Carthage (Carthage National Museum) houses some extraordinary treasures. As you explore you’ll discover the restored Theatre of Hadrian, the Antonin Baths and the Tophet, where the ashes of boys sacrificed by the Phoenicians in the eighth century BCE were found. The feeling of walking through this site with millenniums of history is awe-inspiring, and the backdrop against the sea helps to envision how this complex was created.

Be sure to bring a swimsuit if you head to Carthage as white sandy beaches with warm waters are nearby. We recommend La Marsa as it is quieter and great for sunbathing and swimming.

Shopping

Tunis is great for shoppers. Popular souvenirs include traditional ceramic bowls, babouches (leather slippers) and djellabas (ankle-length robes). Tunisia is also famous for its dates, while jasmine perfume if a signature scent of the country.

For great shopping opportunities head to the main drag in Tunis in the rue Jemaa ez-Zeytouna where you’ll find shops selling a variety of souvenirs. Traditionally, each souk is dedicated to a craft, so there is a Souk el-Attarine (perfumes and spices), Souk de la Laine (new silver jewelry), Souk des Etoffes (fabrics and clothes), Souke des Chechias (traditional fet skullcaps). To get an idea of the range of crafts and prices outside the medina, visit the government shop Societe de Commercialisation des Produits de l’Artisanat at La Palmarium, Avenue Habib Bourguiba. On 47 Avenue Habib Bourguiba you’ll find crafts produced by women’s cooperatives in the countryside. Also, for some unique shopping check out Hanout, 52 rue Jemaa ez-Qeytouna, in the medina, it offers some of the best Tunisian crafts.

The souks (markets) in the medina are the best places to shop for local flavor and take in the atmosphe of the city. Be prepared to bargain to get the best price, it is expected!

Traditional Hammams

The Traditional Hammams (Turkish baths) are a fixture of Tunis and have been a part of the country’s cultural heritage for ages. There are medina vendors that sell olive-green soap to clean your body and scrubbing mitts to hand to a masseuse.

Note: Women bathe in the afternoon, men in the evening, and no one does so naked.

Local Cuisine

Tunisia has lots to offer food lovers, especially if you like spicy food. The cuisine in Tunisia can best be described as a blend of Mediterranean and native Punics-Berber cuisines. Like many countries in the Mediterranean basin, Tunisian cuisine is heavily based on seafood, meat, olive oil, tomatoes, and a lot of spices such as cumin, caraway, coriander, and paprika. Tunisian cooking is spicy due to the heavy use of harissa. Harissa refers to a spicy pasted made from a mixture of ground chili peppers, garlic, and spices. It's the most important ingredient in many sauces and gravies and is the most commonly used condiment in Tunisian cuisine.