Tunis
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At a glance
- Country
- Tunisia
- Region
- Tunis Governorate
- Population
- 640,000
- Best time to go
- April to June, September to October
- Main airport
- Tunis–Carthage International (TUN)
- Coordinates
- 36.81°N, 10.18°E
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Overview
Tunis pairs a UNESCO-listed medina of souqs and mosques with a French-built new town of cafés and Art Nouveau façades. It is an easy, unhurried capital with the Mediterranean on its doorstep.
A suburban train runs out along the coast to the ruins of Carthage, the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said and the beaches of La Marsa, so you can mix history and seaside in a single day.
Things to see
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Photo: IssamBarhoumi, CC BY-SA 3.0 Medina of Tunis
A maze of covered souqs, palaces and mosques, each trade with its own lane, from perfumes to chechia hats.
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Photo: Céline Rabaud, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bardo National Museum
One of the world's finest collections of Roman mosaics, housed in a former palace.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: T A, CC BY-SA 2.0 Zitouna Mosque
The great mosque at the heart of the medina, with a courtyard of ancient columns.
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Photo: Calips, CC BY 2.5 Carthage
Scattered remains of the Punic and Roman city, including the Antonine Baths beside the sea.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Mohamed Moslem Mosbah, CC BY-SA 3.0 Sidi Bou Said
A cliff-top village of whitewashed houses with blue doors, overlooking the Gulf of Tunis.
Things to do
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Photo: Sami Mlouhi, CC BY-SA 4.0 Ride the TGM
The suburban railway runs from the city across the lake to Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa.
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Photo: Emna Trabelsi, CC BY-SA 3.0 Day trip to Dougga
One of the best-preserved Roman towns in Africa, set on a hillside among olive groves.
Find tours -
Photo: Mietek Ł, CC BY-SA 3.0 Mint tea in Sidi Bou Said
Sit at a terrace café with pine-nut tea and watch the light change over the bay.
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Photo: Muckster, CC BY 3.0 Eat brik and couscous
Try a crisp brik pastry with egg, then fish couscous in a medina restaurant.
Where to stay
Medina
Restored courtyard guesthouses (dars) with real atmosphere.
Hotels in MedinaVille Nouvelle
Central hotels along Avenue Habib Bourguiba, near the medina gate.
Hotels in Ville NouvelleSidi Bou Said
Picturesque and peaceful, on the train line to the city.
Hotels in Sidi Bou SaidLa Marsa
A seaside suburb with a beach, cafés and a relaxed local feel.
Hotels in La Marsa
Getting around
The centre is walkable, and the tram network and TGM train cover the rest. Yellow taxis are cheap and metered.
The airport is about 8km from the centre, a 15 to 20-minute taxi ride.
When to go
Spring and autumn are warm and ideal for sightseeing. Summers are hot, though the coast catches a breeze; winters are mild but can be wet.
Plan your trip to Tunis
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.