The best things to do in Tunis: medina, culture and local food
The best things to do in Tunis are walking the UNESCO-listed medina and its souks, seeing the Roman mosaics of the Bardo Museum, strolling the colonial Avenue Habib Bourguiba and eating your way through lablabi, brik and fresh pastries. Carthage and Sidi Bou Said are 20 minutes away and easy to add on the same day.
Excursion Tunisia team, Hammamet7 min read
On this page
- What are the best things to do in Tunis?
- How do you explore the medina of Tunis?
- Which souks are worth seeing?
- Which medina monuments should you visit?
- Is the Bardo Museum worth visiting?
- What is there to see in the new town?
- What food should you try in Tunis?
- Are Carthage and Sidi Bou Said worth adding?
- Where should you stay in Tunis?
- What should you know about local customs?
- Can you see Tunis on a day trip from Hammamet or Sousse?
- Things to do in Tunis: your questions
What are the best things to do in Tunis?
If you are choosing things to do in Tunis with only one day, give the morning to the medina and the afternoon to either the Bardo Museum or Sidi Bou Said. With two days, do both, and add Carthage. Here is how the main sights compare:
| Thing to do | Time needed | Cost for foreign visitors | Best moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk the medina and souks | 2 to 3 hours | Free | Morning, Saturday to Thursday |
| Zitouna Mosque courtyard | 20 minutes | About 5 dinars | Morning, outside prayer times |
| Bardo National Museum | 2 hours | 30 dinars since April 2026 | Tuesday to Sunday |
| Avenue Habib Bourguiba and the new town | 1 hour | Free | Late afternoon |
| Carthage | 2 hours | 20 dinars since April 2026 | Morning |
| Sidi Bou Said | 2 hours | Free | Late afternoon |
How do you explore the medina of Tunis?
Enter through Bab el Bhar, the old sea gate at the end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba, and follow Rue Jamaa Ez Zitouna uphill to the Great Mosque. From there, let the souks pull you in different directions. The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site with around 700 monuments, but the real pleasure is in the lanes between them.
Which souks are worth seeing?
Each souk was once given to a single trade, and many still are. Three are worth seeking out:
- Souk El Attarine. The perfume souk beside the mosque, with essential oils, henna and bridal goods.
- Souk Ech Chaouachia. Workshops shaping the red felt chechia hat, a craft brought by Andalusian refugees in the 17th century.
- Souk El Berka. The old jewellery market, with gold sold by weight under a vaulted roof.
Which medina monuments should you visit?
- Zitouna Mosque. Founded in the 8th century and rebuilt in the 9th, it is the heart of the old city. Non-Muslim visitors can view the courtyard from a visitor area.
- Tourbet El Bey. The domed mausoleum of the Husainid beys, rulers of Tunis for two centuries, lined with marble and tiles.
- Dar Ben Abdallah. An 18th century mansion with a carved stucco courtyard, home to a museum of traditional life.
- Place de la Kasbah. The square at the top of the medina, framed by government buildings and the Kasbah Mosque.
Is the Bardo Museum worth visiting?
Yes, if you have any interest in the Roman world. The Bardo holds the largest collection of Roman mosaics anywhere, including the famous portrait of Virgil and whole floors lifted from villas across the country. It reopened in September 2023 after a long closure.
The museum is in the Bardo district, about 4 km west of the medina, and opens Tuesday to Sunday. Since April 2026 the entry fee for foreign visitors is 30 dinars, or 45 dinars for a combined ticket with Carthage. Allow two hours, and start upstairs where the largest mosaics are.
What is there to see in the new town?
Walk Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the tree-lined boulevard built under the French protectorate, from the clock tower to the Porte de France. It is the best place to see everyday Tunis: cafés, newspaper kiosks, families on an evening stroll.
- Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul. A grand neo-Romanesque church from 1897, facing the French embassy.
- Municipal Theatre. An Art Nouveau facade from 1902, still used for concerts and plays.
- Café terraces. Order a "capucin", a small strong coffee with milk, and watch the avenue go by.
What food should you try in Tunis?
Start with lablabi for breakfast, eat a brik at lunch and finish with mint tea and pastries. Tunisian food is generous, cheap and often spicy, thanks to harissa, the red chilli paste that comes with almost everything.
| Dish | What it is | When to eat it |
|---|---|---|
| Lablabi | Chickpea soup poured over torn bread, with cumin, harissa and often a soft egg | Breakfast or a cold evening |
| Brik | Paper-thin pastry folded around an egg, tuna and parsley, then fried | Lunch starter |
| Ojja | Eggs poached in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce, sometimes with merguez | Lunch |
| Couscous | Steamed semolina with lamb, chicken or fish and vegetables | Lunch, especially on Fridays |
| Fricassé | A small fried bun filled with tuna, egg, olives and harissa | Snack |
| Makroudh | Semolina pastry filled with dates and soaked in honey | With tea |
| Bambalouni | A sugared doughnut, fried to order in Sidi Bou Said | Afternoon |
In the medina, look for small canteens with a handwritten menu and a queue of office workers at lunch. For a special dinner, the restaurants set in old medina palaces serve traditional dishes in carved courtyards; book ahead.
Are Carthage and Sidi Bou Said worth adding?
Yes, and they are close enough to share a day with the medina. The TGM light railway runs from Tunis Marine, at the end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba, to Carthage in about 25 minutes and on to Sidi Bou Said a few stops later, for around 2 dinars.
The archaeological site of Carthage is spread across a residential suburb, so pick two or three sites rather than trying to see everything: the Antonine Baths, Byrsa Hill and the Punic ports. Then ride up to Sidi Bou Said for mint tea on a terrace above the gulf. Our day trip guide has the timings.
Where should you stay in Tunis?
Stay in or near the medina for atmosphere, in the new town for convenience, or in Sidi Bou Said or Gammarth for the sea. Each area suits a different trip.
| Area | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Medina | Restored guesthouses in old houses, walking to the souks | Cars cannot reach the door, and lanes are quiet at night |
| New town | Hotels near Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the TGM and taxis | Busy traffic, less charm |
| Sidi Bou Said and Gammarth | Sea views, calm evenings, beach hotels | About 30 minutes from the medina |
| Hammamet | A beach holiday with day trips to Tunis | One hour from the capital by road |
What should you know about local customs?
- Dress. Tunis is relaxed, but cover shoulders and knees in the medina and at mosques.
- Friday. The day of the main prayer. Mosques close to visitors around midday and some medina shops open later.
- Ramadan. Restaurants may close by day, and the evenings come alive after sunset.
- Photos. Ask before photographing people, especially in the souks.
- Language. Arabic and French are spoken everywhere; English is common in hotels and shops that see visitors.
Can you see Tunis on a day trip from Hammamet or Sousse?
Yes. From Hammamet the capital is one hour away by motorway, so a day trip leaves time for the medina, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. From Sousse allow about 90 minutes each way. If you are planning the rest of your stay, our Tunisia itinerary for 3, 5 or 7 days shows where a Tunis day fits best.
Our private Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said day trip, also listed as the Grand Tunis excursion, picks you up at your hotel at 08:00 and brings you back by mid afternoon, from 80 € per vehicle from Hammamet. The driver knows the medina gates and the parking, which is half the battle in Tunis.
Things to do in Tunis: your questions
Is Tunis worth visiting?
Yes. The medina is one of the best preserved in the Arab world, the Bardo holds the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics, and Carthage and Sidi Bou Said are 20 minutes away. One full day covers the top things to do in Tunis; two days let you enjoy them at a slower pace.
Is the Tunis medina safe for tourists?
The medina is busy and generally safe during the day. As in any crowded market, watch your bag and phone. Some lanes get quiet after the shops close in the evening, so visit in daylight and stay on the main streets if you return at night.
How long do you need in the Tunis medina?
Two to three hours is enough to see the Zitouna Mosque, the main souks and one or two old houses. Half a day lets you add a long lunch and some shopping. Mornings are best, because many shops close in the late afternoon.
What is Tunis famous for?
Its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site with around 700 monuments, the Bardo Museum and its Roman mosaics, and its closeness to Carthage. It is also known for food such as lablabi and brik, and for the café culture of Avenue Habib Bourguiba.
Is the Bardo Museum open on Mondays?
No. The Bardo National Museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, roughly from 09:30 to 16:30 in winter and 09:00 to 17:00 in summer. Since April 2026 the ticket costs 30 dinars for foreign visitors, or 45 dinars combined with Carthage. Plan around two hours for the visit.
See the best things to do in Tunis in one private day
Your driver meets you at 08:00, knows the parking at the medina gates and has you back by 18:00. Book your day and tick off the best things to do in Tunis.