Do you want to know the best things to do in Tunis?
The capital city isn’t usually the reason people come to Tunisia. Most travellers head straight for the desert, the beach resorts of Hammamet, Sousse or Djerba, or places like Sidi Bou Said and Carthage. Tunis is often seen as little more than a stopover or a place to fly in and out of, or, where the ferry docks if you’re coming by sea.
And at first glance, it’s easy to see why. Tunis can feel busy, a little chaotic, and not nearly as charming as some of the country’s more touristy destinations.
But that’s also exactly what makes it interesting and worth a visit.
We loved the craziness of Tunis. The maze-like Medina, the wide European-style boulevards, and the busyness as locals go about their everyday lives.
We spend a couple of days in Tunis in the middle of our Tunisia Road Trip, and revisited the city just before we caught the ferry back to Sicily. From the souks to the cathedral, the mosque to Kasbah Square, here’s our favourite things to see in Tunis.
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11 Best things to do in Tunis
1 Get lost in the Medina of Tunis
The UNESCO-listed Medina (old town) of Tunis is a maze of narrow alleyways, historic buildings, and busy local life, all packed into a surprisingly small area. It’s the kind of place where Google Maps quickly becomes useless, and that’s part of the appeal.
The best way to explore is just to wander. When you come to a corner or crossroads, just go down the most interesting looking alleyway. You’ll come across everything from spice stalls and textiles to small workshops and street food stalls.
It’s not polished, and it’s not built just for tourists, which means that you won’t receive the same amount of attention from shopkeepers as you might in other medinas or bazaars (in places like Morocco or Türkiye).
That said, it can feel busy and slightly overwhelming at times, especially in the middle of the day, so going earlier or later can make a difference. We visited once around midday on a Saturday – it was CRAZY – in the most fun way.
2. Explore the Souks of Tunis
The little shopping alleys in the Medina are known as SOUKs. Each souk sells something different. There’s the gold souk, the spice souk, perfume souk, kitchenware souk and a souk for clothing.
Some souks feel more local and practical, while others are clearly aimed at visitors with all sorts of souvenirs. The sellers will call out “Bonjour” and invite you in for a look, but their approach is very relaxed. A simple smile with a “Non, merci” will suffice. We never felt hassled while we were in the souks.
If you do decide to buy something, remember, bargaining is part of the experience. Prices are rarely fixed, so take your time and don’t feel pressured to buy anything immediately. If something doesn’t feel right, walking away is normal.
3. Check out the views from a rooftop café
There are several cafes and shops near the mosque that have rooftop access. Climbing to the roof is great for views and photos over the city, especially with the minaret in shot.
Probably the most famous viewpoint is the Café Panorama (thanks to Instagram). Yes, the view is epic with the minaret framed by the arch, but be warned, the prices here are absolutely ridiculous. We paid 30 dinar for two cups of tea. Everywhere else we would pay 6-10 dinar.
4. Visit the Zitouna Mosque
The Zitouna Mosque is one of the most important religious and historical landmarks in Tunis. It dates back more than a thousand years and has long been a centre of learning and influence in the region.
As non-Muslim visitors, we could only visit the courtyard, but it’s still worth including in your walk through the Medina. You’ll find the mosque right in the middle of the Medina. The mosque provides an area of calm within the surrounding chaos of the souks.
The courtyard is free to enter, and there are scarfs and skirts available to borrow if you’re not dressed appropriately for a mosque. Oh, and watch out for the pigeons!!
5. Take a breather in Kasbah Square
Continue your walk through the Medina, leaving the souks and exploring the quieter back streets. You’ll arrive at Kasbah Square, a huge open space surrounded by government buildings, cafés, and everyday city activity.
This square has been the centre of political life in Tunis for centuries, and Tunisian national pride was definitely on display with so many flags. We really enjoyed watching kids playing football in the square and climbing over the monument in the centre.
6. Stroll Along Avenue Habib Bourguiba
Avenue Habib Bourguiba is the main boulevard of modern Tunis. It’s has a wide tree-lined central pedestrian area, with cafés and colonial-era buildings along the sides. Strolling along here feels more European, one of our friends calls it Tunisia’s Champs Elysees.
At one end of the avenue, you’ll find the famous city gate, Bab el Bhar, which marks the entrance to the Medina. This is where the old city and modern Tunis meet. There’s also the Royal Victoria Hotel, a beautifully ornate building that was once the British Embassy.
If you walk down the sides of the avenue, you’ll find a lot of tourist restaurants, with very enthusiastic touts outside. We didn’t eat here, we preferred to check out a local restaurant off a side street.
7. Visit the Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul
The Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul is just near the top of the Avenue. It was built in the late 19th century during the French colonial period.
Inside, the cathedral is relatively simple in structure, but it contains a series of detailed mosaics dedicated to various popes, which we found really interesting.
Out the front, you’ll also find a statue of Ibn Khaldoun, the 14th-century North African historian and philosopher often regarded as a founding figure of sociology. When we visited the statue was surrounded by razor wire and guarded by armed soldiers and two large military vehicles!
Oh and there’s an I heart Tunis sign here too.
8. Tunis Clock Tower
At the other end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba you’ll pass the Habib Bourguiba statue and arrive at the roundabout with the Tunis Clock Tower. The tower was built in the early 2000s and it has become one of the city’s best-known modern landmarks. It’s sometimes called Tunisia’s Big Ben.
The roundabout by the clock tower is chaotic, and there are always police here, directing traffic (and guarding the Ministry of Interior building just nearby).
9. Hotel du Lac (Lake Hotel)
Probably the most striking building in Tunis is the now abandoned Hotel du Lac. Built in the 1970s in the brutalist style, it resembles an upside down triangle. The hotel has been abandoned since 2000, and will be removed, despite a movement to save it.
Legend says that the shape of the hotel was used as inspiration for the SandCrawler (Jawa transport) in Star Wars, but apparently the transport shape was designed before George Lucas even came to Tunisia to scout locations.
10. Visit the Bardo Museum
The Bardo Museum is widely considered one of the best museums in North Africa and is home to an extraordinary collection of Roman mosaics, many of which were discovered at archaeological sites across Tunisia, especially Carthage.
The mosaics are incredibly detailed and remarkably well preserved, offering a glimpse into daily life, mythology, and Roman influence across the region thousands of years ago.
We had already visited a mosaic museum in El Jem, so we skipped the Bardo, which may have been a mistake. Many people say it’s one of the best things to see in Tunis.
11. Try Local Street Food in the Medina
One of the best ways to experience Tunis is through its food, and you don’t need an expensive restaurant to do it. Around Rue de la Kasbah and the surrounding streets in the Medina, you’ll find small local eateries serving traditional Tunisian dishes at very affordable prices.
This is a great area to try foods like brik, grilled meats, sandwiches and mahloub, a popular grilled folded flatbread usually filled with cheese, tuna, egg, or harissa. Most places are casual and fast-paced, with menus often written only in French or Arabic, but that’s part of the experience.
These are the sort of places where the locals eat, and this will give you a much better sense of everyday life in Tunis than sitting in a restaurant courtyard.
Having said that, we did also enjoy a traditional meal in the Mrabet Café which was quite a touristy restaurant (menus in English).
But our favourite meal in Tunis was at the Café Erriadh, just off the Avenue Habib Bourguiba. I don’t think they get many tourists in here, and they were really welcoming to us. They didn’t have any couscous left (we went for dinner) and they ended up giving us small plates of a lot of traditional dishes to try, for free. The food was great and very affordable.
Best Day Trips from Tunis
Tunis is a great base for exploring some of the country’s most famous sites, and you don’t need to travel far to see a completely different side of Tunisia. Two of the easiest and most worthwhile day trips are Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, which are both located just a short drive or train ride from the city centre.
Alternatively, you can take an organised tour to visit both places.
Carthage
Carthage is one of the most historically significant sites in North Africa. The city was founded by the Phoenicians in the 3rd century BC. It was from here that the legendary general Hannibal set out with his war elephants to take on Rome in the Punic Wars. Rome eventually defeated Carthage and rebuilt the city in their style. Nowadays you’ll find a scattered collection of archaeological sites rather than a single contained ruin.
The Antonine Baths and Punic Necropolis are probably the highlight, and the theatre is probably not worth the visit! We also visited the Roman Villas and saw some of the remaining mosaics there.
Entry to the Carthage Archaeological Sites is 12 Dinar, which includes entry to all of the sites.
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said is completely different in feel. This clifftop village is known for its whitewashed buildings with blue doors and windows, narrow cobbled streets, and sweeping views over the Mediterranean.
It’s small, very photogenic, and also very popular with visitors, but it’s still worth seeing. You only need to wander a short distance uphill from the crazy busy square to find quieter alleyways.
Be aware that if you park your campervan at the bottom near the sea, you have a decent walk up, and one of the walkways is closed right at the top. We walked all the way, to find our way blocked by a brick wall. Some younger folks climbed the wall, and Nigel could have, but I was not feeling so agile. After walking back down, we caught a taxi for just 10 dinar.
Tunis Travel Guide – Essential Information
For a full rundown on travelling in Tunisia including all our practical tips, check out our main Tunisia Travel Guide.
How to get to Tunis
Tunis is located on the north east coast of Tunisia on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s actually the northern most capital city in Africa.
By Air
The Tunis-Carthage International Airport is only about 8km from the city centre. Many airlines fly here from European cities and throughout Africa and the Middle East. You can take a taxi to the city centre for around 10-20 Dinar.
By Ferry
If you’re bringing your own vehicle on the ferry from Italy or France, you will dock at La Goulette, which is just a short drive from the city centre.
By Train
If you’re already in Tunisia, there is a basic but effective train network throughout the country. We didn’t catch any trains in Tunisia, but we’ve heard they are comfortable and very affordable.
Getting around Tunis
Tunis is a very walkable city, and walking really allows you to experience the city with it’s chaotic vibe. We stayed down near the clock tower and walked up the Avenue Habib Bourguiba to the Medina several times.
If you’re heading out of the centre to the Bardo Museum you can take the Metro (Line 4) or a taxi which should cost around 10 Dinar.
There is also a trainline out to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said.
Where to stay in Tunis
If, like us, you’re travelling in a campervan or motorhome, the best place to stay in Tunis is the central carpark near the clock tower. We stayed here several times. There are no facilities, and the carpark gets busy, but we always found a space.
The parking lot operates by ticket at the boom gate, then you pay at the machine before exiting. The charge was a bit confusing, it appears to be an hourly charge, but the most we ever paid for a day was 14 Dinar.
If you’re looking for hotel accommodation in Tunis, there are several larger hotels in the area around the clock tower (sadly the Hotel du Lac is no longer open), or you can find a hotel near the medina.
FAQs
When is the best time to visit Tunis?
Spring or Autumn are the best times for visiting Tunis. The weather will be warm but not overbearingly hot. The summer (July and August) can get very warm. Winter is surprisingly colder and wetter than you might expect.
We visited Tunis towards the end of our 8 week Tunisia Road Trip. We were there in late March and again in mid April. The weather was really pleasant although the nights in March were quite cool.
How long do you need to visit Tunis
You can see the main city centre sights (Medina, Mosque, Cathedral, Clock Tower etc) in one day. However if you’re wanting to visit the Bardo Museum and head out to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, you’ll need 2-3 days.
Is Tunis safe for tourists?
We found Tunis to be really safe. There is a definite police/military presence (especially by the clock tower and around the cathedral). We walked all over the city including along the Avenue at night, and never felt unsafe.
We found the Medina surprisingly easy and relaxed, we were not hassled in the Souks at all. Of course most shop holders said hello and tried to engage us in conversation, but they definitely didn’t hassle us at all.
Is Tunis affordable for tourists?
Tunisia in general is definitely one of the most affordable countries we’ve travelled to, especially when compared with Europe where we’ve spent the last few years. Accommodation, transport and entrance fees are all really affordable.
If you’re on a budget, avoiding tourist restaurants (especially those along the Avenue Habib Bourgiba) and eating in local spots, you’ll save a lot of money. Be especially careful in the rooftop cafes in the Medina. That’s the one area where we got stung.
Can you drink alcohol in Tunis?
If you’re eating in a tourist restaurant you’ll find alcohol available, and you can buy it in some supermarkets. We saw only two local bars the whole time we were in Tunisia! One of those was in Tunis, and it wasn’t sign-posted at all.
During Ramadan alcohol will only be available in select tourist hotel bars.
Is Tunis worth visiting?
Yes, we really loved Tunis and think it’s well worth a couple of days of your Tunisia Itinerary. The city is modern (you can see that in the way the young people dress) and lively. It’s a really cool mix of tradition and modern life.
Add in the interesting day trips and you’ve got a destination that’s definitly worth spending a couple of days exploring.
Watch our Travel Film
We produced seven travel films while we were in Tunisia. While we didn’t create a specific film on Tunis, the city features heavily at the beginning of our Tunisia Top 10 video which you can watch below.
Where to next?
Continue your Tunisia Road Trip by heading south into the Sahara Desert, or head for the impressive Roman Ruins of Dougga or Sbeitla. Maybe you’d rather relax on the beaches of Djerba? Tunisia is such a diverse country with something for everyone. We hope you love it as much as we did!
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