Want to Visit North Africa

Tunisia

Duration 7 days Cost ~EUR 900 for two Season April-June, September-October Currency TND (Tunisian Dinar) USD 1 USD = 3.05 TND Lang Arabic, French

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

— Lao Tzu

Tunisia is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets — Carthage ruins, the clifftop village of Sidi Bou Said, medieval medinas, and Saharan landscapes all packed into one affordable, compact country.

Why I Want to Visit

Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, and the French have all left their mark here. I want to walk through Carthage’s ruins, explore living medinas, and see Saharan desert just hours from the coast — all at a fraction of typical Mediterranean prices.

Planned Itinerary

Tunis & Carthage (2 days) - Medina of Tunis, Bardo Museum mosaics, Carthage ruins, Sidi Bou Said
Dougga (1 day) - Best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa on a hilltop with valley views
Sousse & El Jem (1 day) - Fortified medina of Sousse and third-largest Roman amphitheatre
Tozeur & Sahara (2 days) - Desert oasis, Star Wars filming locations, Chott el Jerid, night under Saharan stars
Hammamet (1 day) - Mediterranean coast, old medina, fresh seafood

What I’m Most Excited About

Standing in El Jem’s amphitheatre imagining Roman crowds
Getting lost in the Tunis medina’s winding souks
Visiting Star Wars filming locations in the southern desert
Tasting brik fresh from a street vendor

Where to Eat

Dar El Jeld (Tunis) — Refined restaurant in a restored 18th-century medina palace. ~TND 60-120. 📍 Maps
Au Bon Vieux Temps (Sidi Bou Said) — Clifftop terrace restaurant with panoramic Gulf of Tunis views. ~TND 35-70. 📍 Maps
Cafe des Nattes (Sidi Bou Said) — Legendary hilltop cafe serving visitors since the early 1900s. ~TND 10-20. 📍 Maps
Restaurant Neptune (La Marsa) — Popular beachside seafood restaurant in the upscale Tunis suburb. ~TND 40-80. 📍 Maps
Fondouk El Attarine (Tunis) — Restaurant in a converted medieval caravanserai with a stunning courtyard. ~TND 30-60. 📍 Maps

Where to Stay

La Maison Bleue ★★★★ (Sidi Bou Said) — Boutique guesthouse in the clifftop village with traditional blue-and-white interiors. ~TND 250/night. Book
Hotel Dar Said ★★★★ (Sidi Bou Said) — Palace-style hotel with pool. ~TND 300/night. Book
Hotel Belvedere Fourati ★★★ (Tunis) — Affordable hotel in central Tunis near the medina. ~TND 100/night. Book
Dar Ben Gacem ★★★★ (Tunis) — Restored 17th-century medina house with hand-painted tiles. ~TND 220/night. Book

Tours & Excursions

Tunis Medina Walking Tour — Guided walk through the UNESCO-listed medina’s centuries-old souks. 3h, ~TND 80. Book
Carthage & Sidi Bou Said Day Trip — Ancient Carthage ruins followed by a stroll through the blue-and-white hillside village. 5h, ~TND 100. Book
Sahara Desert Tour from Tozeur — 4x4 through Chott el Jerid. 2 days, ~TND 300. Book
El Jem & Sousse Day Trip — The remarkably preserved Roman amphitheatre. 8h, ~TND 120. Book
Djerba Island Tour — El Ghriba Synagogue. 8h, ~TND 90. Book