City breaks in Tunisia: Tunis, Sidi Bou Said and Sfax

Tunisian cities are ideal for short breaks. Compact and often set by the sea, they blend historic medinas, colonial-era districts and lively seafront promenades. Tunis packs the essentials into a few kilometres: souks, the Bardo Museum and Avenue Habib Bourguiba, then, by suburban train, the ruins of Carthage and the white and blue lanes of Sidi Bou Said, perched above the gulf.

Elsewhere, each city has its own personality. Sousse and Monastir combine beaches and monuments, Sfax keeps an authentic trading medina, Bizerte cultivates the charm of its old port and Kairouan invites contemplation. Two or three days are enough to capture the atmosphere of each, on foot, at the pace of cafés and markets.

City breaks

Our picks

Medina of Tunis

Listed by UNESCO, it is organised around the Zitouna Mosque and a maze of specialised souks. Palaces, the mausoleum of the beys and rooftop terraces offer fine views over the city.

Tunis

Sidi Bou Said

This hilltop village of white houses and blue doors overlooks the Gulf of Tunis. Its cobbled lanes, wooden lattice windows and panoramic views make it one of the most photographed places in the country.

Carthage & Sidi Bou Said

Avenue Habib Bourguiba

This broad, tree-lined boulevard links the medina to the Lake of Tunis. The Art Nouveau Municipal Theatre and the Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul bear witness to the early twentieth-century European city.

Tunis

Medina of Sfax

Surrounded by almost intact ramparts, it remains a real trading centre used by local residents. The Dar Jellouli Museum presents the arts and traditions of the region.

Sfax

Old port of Bizerte

Lined with colourful houses and overlooked by the kasbah, the old port is the picturesque heart of the city. The Andalusian quarter and the seafront complete a pleasant stroll.

Bizerte

Monastir

The ribat, one of the oldest in the country, faces the sea. Nearby, the mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba and the marina set the pace of a visit to this well-kept town.

Monastir

Tunis in two or three days

Spend one day in the medina and the European city, half a day at the Bardo, then take the TGM suburban train to La Goulette, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa. In the evening, the La Marsa seafront and the cafés of Sidi Bou Said offer a relaxed atmosphere facing the sea, with views over the gulf and Mount Boukornine.

The Sahel cities

Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia are easy to combine in a single trip. The Sahel metro, a regional train, links these towns and their surroundings. Sousse appeals with its medina and mosaic museum, Monastir with its ribat and seafront, and Mahdia with its peaceful peninsula. A detour to the amphitheatre of El Jem is a must.

Kairouan, the holy city

The first great Arab city of the Maghreb, Kairouan offers a different, more spiritual break. After the Great Mosque, wander through the medina with its painted doors, visit the Aghlabid basins and the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, then taste makroudh, semolina pastries filled with dates. The city is also a renowned centre of Tunisian carpet making.

Destinations

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