Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Walking tours
    • Videos
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Tunis

    Tunisia

    Tunis

    City

    Tunis, Tunisia's capital, lies on the Gulf of Tunis on the country's north coast. Its 698-founded Medina, with souks, mosques, and palaces, became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Tunisia
    7. Tunis & Carthage
    9. Tunis
    Tunis, Tunisia's capital, lies on the Gulf of Tunis on the country's north coast. Its 698-founded Medina, with souks, mosques, and palaces, became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. East of it, the colonial New Town with Avenue Habib Bourguiba adjoins; 4 km northwest is the Bardo National Museum with Roman mosaics. Tunis-Carthage International Airport is 8 km northeast; the TGM suburban train reaches Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd in just over half an hour.

    Sights in Tunis

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Zitouna Mosque
    Mosque

    1Zitouna Mosque

    The Medina's Great Mosque dates to the early 8th century, almost entirely rebuilt in 864 under the Aghlabids. Its current minaret dates from 1894. For centuries, it was a major Islamic university in the region. Prayer hall for Muslims only; non-Muslim courtyard access varies. You can see its minaret and facade from the adjacent souks.
    Open in Google Maps
    Bardo National Museum
    Museum

    2Bardo National Museum

    The National Museum, a former palace of the Beys 4 km northwest of the city center, opened in 1888. It houses one of the world's largest Roman mosaic collections. Closed in 2021, it reopened in September 2023. Foreign visitor admission: 30 TND from April 2026, 45 TND from January 2027. Take Metro Line 4 to Le Bardo station.
    Open in Google Maps
    Souk El Attarine
    Historic Landmark

    3Souk El Attarine

    The Perfumers' Souk borders the Zitouna Mosque to the north and was established around 1240 under the Hafsid Sultan Abu Zakariya Yahya. From here, you can reach other guild alleys, such as the Souk Ech-Chaouachine of the Chechia makers and the Souk El Berka of the jewelers, which was founded as a slave market in 1612.
    Open in Google Maps
    Tourbet el Bey
    Museum

    4Tourbet el Bey

    Ali II Bey (1759-1782) built the Husseinid Dynasty Mausoleum in Medina's southwest. Its rulers' hall dome holds thirteen Beys, wives, ministers, and servants. Italian marble, Neapolitan tiles blend with Ottoman architecture. After eleven years of restoration, it reopened in February 2023.
    Open in Google Maps
    Bab el Bhar
    Historic Landmark

    5Bab el Bhar

    The Sea Gate on the eastern edge of the Medina was known as Porte de France during the Protectorate. It took its current form in 1860. Today, it marks the transition from the Old City to the colonial-era New City.
    Open in Google Maps
    Avenue Habib Bourguiba

    6Avenue Habib Bourguiba

    The avenue with its tree-lined central promenade, cafés, and buildings in Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles is the main axis of the New Town. On Place de l'Indépendance stands the Cathedral of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, built between 1893 and 1897 in Romanesque-Byzantine style.
    Open in Google Maps

    City walks in Tunis

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Through the Medina of Tunis

    About two to three hours from the Bab el Bhar Sea Gate, through the souks to the Zitouna Mosque, into the south of the Old Town to the Mausoleum of the Beys, and up to the Place de la Kasbah. Mosques you'll see from the outside; Tourbet el Bey and Dar Ben Abdallah you can visit.

    Open in Google Maps
    Stops (8)

    Videos & Travel Reports

    Tunesien: Ein Pirat setzt die Segel

    Tunesien: Ein Pirat setzt die Segel

    ARTE, Stadt Land Kunst (2026): Die Bucht von Tunis und die Geschichte des Fischers Jack Ward, der als Pirat hier an Land ging.

    The herbalists of Tunis medina: on borrowed thyme

    The Guardian (2022), photo essay by Harry Johnstone: the herbalists of Souq El…

    Flight-free to Tunisia: London to Tunis in two days by rail and ferry

    The Guardian (2025), by Diana Jarvis: the overland route from London to Tunis…

    Restaurants in Tunis

    1

    Fondouk El Attarine

    Restaurant in a restored caravanserai in Souk El Attarine. Enjoy your meal in the covered courtyard with arcades and columns, and there's also a small gallery for handicrafts.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Dar Slah

    Small family restaurant on Rue de la Kasbah in the Medina, with tables under bougainvillea and Tunisian cuisine.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    El Ali

    Café-restaurant in a converted house near the Zitouna Mosque, with wooden beamed ceilings, stained-glass windows, and a rooftop terrace. Good for a break with mint tea or citronnade, Tunisian dishes are also served.
    Show on Google Maps
    4

    Dar Belhadj

    Restaurant with traditional Tunisian cuisine on Rue du Tamis, a few minutes' walk from Zitouna Mosque.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food & Beverages

    In the Medina and New Town, eat cheaply and quickly at food stalls. These dishes you'll find especially often in Tunis.

    Lablabi

    Chickpeas in a broth with garlic and cumin, ladled over torn stale bread. Often added are a poached egg, capers, parsley, and harissa. You tear the bread yourself; it is eaten quickly before it softens.

    Fricassee

    Small fried bread roll, filled with tuna, harissa, potato, and olives. Popular as a quick lunch or late snack.

    Kafteji

    Fried, finely chopped vegetables like potato, pumpkin, bell pepper and tomato, mixed with egg and often served with Merguez.

    Brik

    A thin dough sheet with an egg filling, fried and eaten immediately.

    Salata Mechouia

    Grilled bell pepper salad with a smoky flavor, one of the common appetizers in Tunisian restaurants.

    Culture

    The Medina The old city grew from 698 around the Zitouna Mosque and covers approximately 270 hectares. Its alleys do not follow a grid, and the residential buildings are constructed around courtyards. The Medina boasts around 700 historical monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas, and fountains. Guilds and Souks Souk El Attarine: Perfumers, established around 1240 under the Hafsids on the north side of the Zitouna Mosque Souk Ech-Chaouachine: Makers of the red Chechia hats, a guild of Andalusian origin Souk El Berka: Jewelers, established in 1612 as a slave market Souk El Leffa: Fabrics, woolens, and clothing Visiting Mosques Mosques in Tunis are generally not accessible to non-Muslims, including the prayer hall of the Zitouna Mosque. However, structures such as the Tourbet el Bey Mausoleum are open to visitors.

    Getting Here & About

    Getting There Plane: Tunis-Carthage Airport is located about 8 kilometers northeast of the city. There's no train connection; take a taxi to the city center. Ferry: CTN and GNV connect La Goulette port with Marseille and Genoa, plus there are departures to Palermo. Getting Around the City On Foot: The Medina and New Town are adjacent, connected by Bab el Bhar. Light Rail: Line 4 goes to Le Bardo station, from where it's a short walk to the National Museum. Taxi: The most convenient option for destinations outside the city center, such as the Bardo Museum. TGM Suburban Train Route: From Tunis Marine via La Goulette and Carthage to Sidi Bou Saïd and La Marsa, approx. 45 minutes to the final stop Sidi Bou Saïd: about 35 minutes from Tunis Marine Frequency: As of February 2026, the train is running again on the full route; due to construction, a 45-minute frequency was sometimes in effect in 2026, check current times locally.

    Accommodations in Tunis

    Find perfect stay in Tunis

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Plan your trip to Tunis

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Tunis

      Live
      • 1Zitouna Mosque3 days
      • 2Bardo National Museum4 days
      • 3Souk El Attarine5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Tunis
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Tunis & Carthage

    Tunis & Carthage

    The region Tunis & Carthage encompasses Tunisia's capital and its coastal suburbs on the Gulf of Tunis. Here, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites are close together: the Medina of Tunis, the Ruins of Carthage, and the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Saïd. Most travelers arrive at Tunis-Carthage Airport or by ferry at La Goulette port.
    Carthage

    Carthage

    The ruins of Carthage are scattered among residential areas on the coast northeast of Tunis and are directly accessible by the TGM suburban train. Traditionally founded by Phoenicians in 814 BC, the city was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC and later rebuilt as a Roman colony. Since 1979, the archaeological site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visible attractions include the Antonine Baths by the sea, the Punic Ports, the Tophet, and the Amphitheater.
    La Marsa & Gammarth

    La Marsa & Gammarth

    La Marsa and the adjoining Gammarth to the north are Tunis's beach suburbs, located about 18 to 20 kilometers northeast of the capital on the Gulf of Tunis. In summer, Tunisians gather at the beach and around the Café Saf-Saf; in the evenings, life shifts to Gammarth's bars and clubs. La Marsa is the terminus of the TGM suburban train, coming from the city center via Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd.
    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Sidi Bou Saïd

    Sidi Bou Saïd is a village on a cliff above the Gulf of Tunis, about 20 kilometers northeast of the capital and directly above Carthage. Its white houses with blue doors have been protected by a 1915 decree, and in July 2026, UNESCO added the village to its World Heritage List. Its alleys host traditional cafes overlooking the bay, and the palace of Baron d'Erlanger. The TGM suburban train takes about 35 minutes from Tunis Marine.
    Zaghouan & Thuburbo Majus

    Zaghouan & Thuburbo Majus

    Around Zaghouan, about 60 kilometers south of Tunis, are two Roman sites that can easily be combined in a single day. On the hillside above the town, the Roman Water Temple collects the springs that supplied Carthage via an aqueduct. A good 20 kilometers west, near El Fahs, lie the ruins of Thuburbo Majus with its Capitol, Forum, and Baths.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • Video reportages: Tunesien: Ein Pirat setzt die Segel, The herbalists of Tunis medina: on borrowed thyme, Flight-free to Tunisia: London to Tunis in two days by rail and ferry
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI