Travel Guide to Tunisia

Tunisia is one of Africa’s most visited destinations, but somehow it still feels like a country off the beaten path. Tunisia is often overshadowed by its neighbor, Morocco, which is the most visited country in Africa. I spent 5 days in Tunisia, just enough to get a feel for the country. You can see most of the highlights (excluding the sites in the south) in this timeframe.

If you’re limited on time, you’ll want to concentrate all of your energy in the north; this is where you’ll see Roman archeological sites, beaches, and the capital. Here are the must sees for anyone traveling to Tunisia.

Tunis + Sidi Bou Said & Carthage

Tunis is the capital and your entry into the country. There is enough to keep you entertained for a day or two; I recommend checking out old Tunis and go shopping in the souk. I’m not a souvenir type of guy, but there are tons of stuff here. Aside from Tunis, the main gems in the region are Sidi Bou Said & Carthage, a quick 20-minute drive from Tunis.

Sidi Bou Said is neat town known for its cobbled streets and blue-and-white houses overlooking the Mediterranean. This is one of, if not the most, scenic place in all of Tunisia. I recommend spending 3 hours or so wandering around the town. If you have time, definitely grab dinner and enjoy the view.

Carthage is a small ancient town bordering Sidi Bou Said that dates back to the 9th century BC. This town was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the wealthiest cities of the classical world. Carthage is perfect if you’re in Tunisia for a short trip and don’t have the time to leave the capital to see the more well established/preserved Roman ruins. It’s very close to Sidi Bou Said, so it’s best to begin the day early and knock both of these out in one day (do Sidi Bou Said last). All you need to do is buy the ticket that gives you entry into all the sites.

El Jem + Kairouan

Amphitheatre of El Jem is perhaps Tunisia’s most popular tourist attraction. This colosseum, which dates back to 238 AD, is regarded as one of the most preserved ruins the world. It’s comparable to The Colosseum in Rome but hosts a fraction of the tourists and is more accessible. To think that this place once held 30,000 individuals is impressive!

Most travelers do a day trip to El Jem and combine this tour with the Great Mosque of Kairouan and the Medina of Kairouan, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Medina is a photogenic city and a neat place to check out the souks. Kairouan is famous for their carpet making, so it’s no surprise when you see them. These carpets are also pretty cheap given the quality and size.

Dougga + Testour

This was by far my favorite place in Tunisia. These are some of the best-preserved Roman cities in North Africa. Visiting Dougga felt like traveling back in time.

Dougga had existed for more than six centuries before the Roman annexation of Numidia, and was the first capital of the Numidian kingdom. It flourished under the Romans but declined during the Byzantine and Islamic periods. These well-preserved ruins help you see just what life was like during those eras; I was amazed at how advanced this society was.

Overall thoughts?

Tunisia is a pretty fun country, and I wish I had more time to see the desert in the south. I’d give it a solid 8/10. I could definitely see myself living in Tunis for a few years; the food was amazing, locals were extremely helpful, and the overall vibe is solid. Outside of Morocco, Tunisia is the most accessible North African country and the only one where you’ll see Roman ruins in this great of shape!