Shopping in Tunisia: souks, crafts and local markets

Shopping in Tunisia starts with getting lost in the souks. In the medinas, each alley was long dedicated to a single trade: perfumers, weavers, coppersmiths, jewellers or chechia makers. This know-how is still passed down, and you can still watch craftsmen at work in their stalls, from the potter of Nabeul to the weaver of Mahdia and the carpet maker of Kairouan.

Each region has its specialities: Cap Bon ceramics, Kairouan carpets, Djerba pottery and palm-fibre objects in the oases. Alongside the souks, weekly markets and covered markets offer an authentic glimpse of daily life and local produce, far from the tourist trail, where bargaining and friendly conversation go hand in hand.

Shopping and crafts

Our picks

Souks of the Tunis medina

Souk el Attarine is fragrant with perfumes and essences, Souk ech Chaouachia keeps alive the making of red chechias, and Souk el Berka gathers the jewellers. A journey into the trading history of the capital.

Tunis

Nabeul ceramics

Tunisia's pottery capital, Nabeul produces dishes, vases and painted tiles with floral motifs and bright colours. The workshops can often be visited freely.

Nabeul

Kairouan carpets

Kairouan is famous for its knotted carpets with geometric patterns and for its woven mergoums. Inspected pieces carry an official label guaranteeing their quality.

Kairouan

Guellala pottery

In the south of Djerba, the village of Guellala has shaped pottery from local clay for centuries. A heritage museum there presents the island's traditions.

Djerba

Mahdia silk

Mahdia keeps alive the weaving of silk, notably for traditional bridal costumes. You can watch the weavers at their looms in the medina.

Mahdia

Sidi Bou Said birdcages

White and blue, made of wire and wood, these decorative birdcages are the emblem of the village. They come in many sizes and are easy to take home.

Carthage & Sidi Bou Said

The art of bargaining

In the souks, bargaining is part of the exchange and is done with courtesy and good humour. Look around several stalls before buying, set yourself a budget and only start negotiating if you are genuinely interested in the item. A deal is often sealed over a glass of tea. In modern shops and supermarkets, however, prices are fixed.

What to bring home

Among the most popular souvenirs: olive oil, harissa, dates, spices and orange blossom water for food lovers; ceramics, foutas, carpets, chechias, engraved copperware and silver jewellery for the home. In the south, desert roses and palm-fibre objects recall the Sahara. Remember to pack fragile items carefully, ideally wrapped in clothes in your hold luggage.

Markets and modern centres

Weekly markets enliven many towns, such as the Friday market in Nabeul or those of Houmt Souk on Djerba. Fruit, spices, pottery and livestock are sold there in a very local atmosphere. In Tunis, the Berges du Lac and La Marsa districts are also home to shopping centres and boutiques of Tunisian designers.

Destinations

Where to experience it

The North

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