Decided to travel to Tunisia? Maybe you are a first-timer in Tunisia or looking for inspiration on where to go next. Here I have listed 10 destinations to help you to choose where to start discovering this wonderful country. On the list, you will find three places located in the capital Tunis, a couple of perfect beach holiday destinations, a couple of islands, and some places nearby Sahara. On the map, you can see which places are located close to each other, if your plan is not to stay just in one place. Where are you heading next?
La Medina, Tunis
A Medina means an old part of the city or town; typically, it is a home of numerous narrow streets, beautiful doors, small boutiques, palaces, mosques, and fountains. If you have a chance to visit a medina one day, it is really worth discovering.
The Medina is located in the city center of Tunis and it’s a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains a large number of fascinating boutiques selling leather goods, colorful dishes and potteries, clothes, handmade carpets, jewelry. The narrow streets and colorful doorways with vivid cafes and restaurants, hammams, palaces, and Al-Zaytuna Mosque create a unique atmosphere.
You can easily spend a couple of days discovering all paths of the Medina, but it is also worth visiting as a day trip destination. The best time for visiting is during the morning and afternoon to avoid crowding time and extreme heat. During the evening and night, you find the Medina pretty empty. Also, most of the shops are closed on Sundays and Friday afternoons. Please note that the Medina is quite a maze be prepared to get lost but it’s one part of the unique experience.
Sidi Bou Said, tunis
Sidi Bou Said is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tunisia, it’s also enjoying popularity among Tunisians. It’s located about 20km from the capital and it can be easily reached by car, taxi or train.
Sidi Bou Said is famous for its blue and white color scheme. A high build town is offering breathtaking views over the city and sea. You can easily spend hours sitting in cafes and admiring the landscapes, beautiful buildings, and decorative doors around you. Other places to discover in Sidi Bou Said are a high build lighthouse, palace Ennejma Ezzahra, and Café des Délices.
Here you can find plenty of beautiful hotels but another good option for accommodation is Airbnb. Sidi Bou Said isn’t a huge place itself but the location is very good. It is a great combination of beautiful buildings, beaches, boutiques, and restaurants. If you are looking for a cheap destination in Tunisia then I wouldn’t recommend staying in Sidi Bou Said but go there for a day trip or weekend.
Carthage, Tunis
Carthage is an old antiquity city, nowadays a suburb of capital Tunis, located by the Mediterranean Sea about 20 km from Tunis. It is one of the most historically significant cities in Tunisia which was built to control shipping between Sicily, Italy, and the North African Coast. It’s a great place for people who are interested in history, culture, and historical sights: Carthage National Museum, ruins of ancient Carthage, Saint Louis Cathedral just to mention a few.
Carthage isn’t a big place itself but it’s a great destination for a day trip. There is held Carthage Film Festival and International Festival of Carthage and other festivals and music concerts.
Bizerte
Bizerte is located 60km from the capital and it’s the northernmost city of the Africa continent. It is a charming harbor city by the Mediterranean Sea and known for a channel which links Lake Bizerte with the sea. In the old city of Bizerte, you can stroll and enjoy the charismatic atmosphere with fishing boats and it’s a great place to dine and admire the sunset.
Bizerte is a great option for Djerba and Sousse if you are looking for a destination that is less touristic and you can still find deserted beaches. Renting a car will help you reach less crowded places and you will discover incredible nature and landscapes not far from Bizerte. Beaches like Raf Raf, Sidi Ali el Mekki and Marsa Dhouiba. Other beautiful destinations around Bizerte are Ichkeul National Park, Cap Serrat, and Cap Angela the northernmost point of Africa.
Cap Bon
Cap Bon is an 80 km long peninsula in northeastern Tunisia where is located cities Hammamet, Kelibia, and Nabeul. In this area, you find beautiful landscapes, beaches, ancient ruins and different kinds of places to discover. There are a lot of citrus trees, vineyards, olives, and grains cultivated in the peninsula.
Hammamet is a very popular touristic destination, there is everything that tourists are normally looking for: plenty of beautiful beaches, great restaurants and hotels, nightclubs to party, shopping malls and medina. The location is also great it’s only 60km from Tunis where the international airport is located. It is a good option if you are looking for something more touristic and willing to relax, but it’s not offering the most authentic Tunisian experience. I have always liked my stay in Hammamet very much even if the word “touristic “might terrify me a little.
Nabeul is called the pottery capital of Tunisia. Here you can find all kinds of ceramic items: glazed, unglazed, colored, neutral. Walk around the streets and you won’t find only pottery boutiques but also other handcrafts: stone, gold, silver, fabric, perfumes. It’s a great place to fill up your luggage with Tunisian products. From Kelibia you find amazing beaches: Plage el Mansoura, Plage De Sidi Mansour and Petit Paris. It’s also known for its massive fortress and beautiful harbor. Generally, Kelibia is a calmer place than Hammamet and Nabeul.
Sousse
When someone tells that they have visited Tunisia, often the destination has been Sousse as it is very popular among tourists. It is the third biggest city in Tunisia and it’s located 120km from Tunis. It is a city which mixes old and new styles, you can find beautiful old medina and western-style hotel resorts.
It is easy to understand why Sousse is so popular among tourists. There is a great climate, beautiful beaches, well located, great hotels and excellent restaurants, everything that you need for a successful holiday. It’s also said that best parties you find from Sousse. Here is a couple of tips on what you can do in Sousse:
- Stroll in Port el Kantaoui around beautiful yachts and eat in great restaurants
- Relax by the beaches like Boujaffar, Sousse beach, Port el Kantoui and Las Vegas
- Visit medina and ribat
- Explore the Great Mosque
- Play golf, in one of the many fields
In Sousse, it is easy to spend your whole holiday but it is also well located if you want to discover the capital Tunis. The closest airports are Monastir Habib Bourguida and Enfidha-Hammamet.
Monastir
Monastir is a city located nearby Sousse about 160km from Tunis. It has a reputation for being one of the best tourist destinations in Northern Africa. An international airport is located in Monastir and it’s also used by the people who are heading to Sousse and Hammamet.
Monastir can be described as a tourist resort located by the Mediterranean Sea and it has become also a popular destination among golfers. Here you find a pleasant old port, golf courses, beautiful sandy beaches, historical areas and possibilities for different kinds of activities. There is a wide range of hotels for all kinds of budgets and you can discover Tunisian cuisine but there are also international restaurants available.
Due to its climate, it is a popular destination throughout the year. If you are looking for a little bit calmer environment then choose Monastir over Sousse and Hammamet. The price level is about the same in these destinations.
El Jem
A famous Tunisian attraction El Jem amphitheater is something you shouldn’t miss when visiting Tunisia. It is one of the world’s largest and well-preserved Roman-style amphitheaters. Located in a small city El Jem (El Djem), about 200km from Tunis and only 60km from Monastir.
El Jem is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage list and it is placed in the middle of the city so it is impossible to miss when entering El Jem. It is large and it has been designed for 35000 people to witness gladiator fights and slaughter of criminals. Besides the amphitheater, you can visit an El Djem Archaeological Museum and archaeological site behind the museum. El Jem is perfect for a day trip, besides the attractions, there are beautiful restaurants and cafes where to eat before heading to your next destination.
Galite islands
If one day you have a chance to visit Galite Islands, consider yourself lucky. It is a group of islands located in the Mediterranean Sea about 40km northwest of Cap Serrat. The group consists of six islands, La Galite (Jalta island) being the main island.
If you are planning to visit La Galite, one option to get there is to take about a five-hour boat ride from Bizerte. Getting to this island isn’t that easy as the Tunisian military is trying to prevent and minimize all possible threats towards the island. Nature in these islands is highly protected that’s why only 25 people can enter the island at one time. There is no accommodation on the island, so only camping is an option.
Might sound quite challenging to get to this island but it is one part of the unique experience. On this uninhabited island, you can experience nature that hasn’t been touched by the people. Explore untouched parts of the sea by snorkeling, hiking on an abandoned island, and camping under the starry sky. Just be prepared for breathtaking landscapes.
Tozeur
Tozeur is a city located southwest of Tunisia, you can get there by airplane, bus, train, taxi, or car. The flight from Tunis to Tozeur takes about 1hour 30 minutes and by car about 7 hours. The landscapes and nature of Tozeur are truly breathtaking. Thousands and thousands of date-palm trees, a giant salt lake, mountains create an amazing gateway to the Sahara Desert.
As a destination, Tozeur is more adventurous with plenty of things to do. Its versatility makes it a dream spot for photographers. Being one of the biggest date producers in Tunisia, you will see thousands of date-palm trees. Tozeur’s medina Ouled El Hadef has been made of decorative mud and clay bricks and patterns, combined with sandy colors make it a stunning place to visit.
Tozeur itself has a lot to offer and it’s around with other interesting day trip destinations: the Sahara Desert, salt lake Chott El Jerid, places where parts of Star Wars were filmed and beautiful oases Midès, Tamerza, and Chebika. 2019 November in Nefta/Tozeur was organized 3 days electro-music festival Les Dunes Electroniques. It’s hard to imagine a more unique place for the festival than the middle of sandy dunes.
Djerba
The Island of Djerba is a fantastic mix of incredible beaches, culture, idyllic villages, island life, and delicious seafood. This is a wonderful destination to start discovering Tunisia with your family, friends, or on your own. Also, the perfect climate is making this a great destination around the year.
One of the main attractions to visit Djerba is the beaches. There are too many beautiful white sand beaches around with bright blue water. These attract for a long day sunbathing and relaxing. The most popular beach is Plage Sidi Maharès but if you are looking for something more peaceful Aghir is a great option but during the high tourist season, you won’t be alone.
In case of feeling like strolling and shopping Tunisian products, Djerba’s markets have a lot to offer. Start with Houmt Souk. This charming old town is a perfect strolling destination with beautiful buildings and shops with jewelry, clothing, sandals, carpets, and potteries that makes a colorful view. In Houmt Souk you find also great restaurants which offer fresh seafood and other traditional Tunisian food. If you are interested especially in handmade pottery, go to the village Guellala.
This versatile island has a lot to offer, if you have only one week, I would suggest you stay only on this island and discover it entirely.
Gabès
Gabès is a town located by the Mediterranean Sea, 100km to the south from Djerba. It has a beautiful and unique mix of nature to offer: mountains, sea, desert, and oasis. Here you can still discover a traditional way of living and traditions. Gabès has amazing beaches to offer, you can start with Ghannouch, Plage Corniche, Kazma, and Ouedhref. The city is famous for its traditional Bazaars and one great one is called Jara Market, here you find a great collection of Tunisian products. Often people go to Gabès to use it as a gateway to the Sahara and another interesting destination nearby is the famous underground village Matmata.
I recommend Gabès for the people who are interested to explore still-living traditions. Its versatility is a great advance: wonderful beaches, monuments, nature, Sahara, oasis, a port town, and delicious Tunisian food. Here you can easily spend a couple of weeks but it works also as a couple of nights’ destination if you are interested to see only the main attractions. In addition, Tunisia is planning to invest in tourism in Gabès, time will show if it’s going to be one of the most popular destinations in Tunisia.