A Long Weekend In Tunis - Tunisia Itinerary
I am currently on a quest to visit all the destinations you can easily travel to from Paris, where I'm based. So when I saw the perfect flight for a quick Mediterranean weekend in Tunis, I jumped on the occasion!
Tunisia used to be a very common travel destination from Europe until political unrest and attacks gave it a bad rep. I found the capital, Tunis to be such an open-minded city, and people to be super helpful there. I felt 100% safe during my trip and would recommend it to female solo travelers. Of course, just use common sense and be open to new experiences!
The city in itself is a perfect mix between old and new and there are enough things to do but not too much, so I didn't feel overwhelmed and had plenty of time to relax. It also has a fascinating history and I really enjoyed learning about it. Most of all it is a destination that needs to be experienced through taking a stroll in the streets, enjoying a mint tea on a rooftop and the beautiful Mediterranean light.
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Weekend in Tunis: Who Is It For?
If you want to enjoy yourself and relax in an easy setting, spending a long weekend Tunis is the perfect way to take it slow and take advantage of what life has to offer without over-planning. I found it particularly easy to travel there: taxis agreed to put the meter on, all the things I wanted to visit had clear opening hours, and the food was safe and delicious.
It also is the perfect destination if you love history and architecture. The Tunis area used to be home to the ancient Carthage state (7th to 3rd century BC), as well as other flourishing civilizations.
Is Tunis Safe?
Let me insist on that another time as I had a lot of questions about this topic. Tunis felt very safe to me. I was expecting to feel less at ease than I have during this 3-day trip: I dressed exactly how I would have at home, didn't need to haggle for hours over transportation prices, which is a big one for me as sometimes I just want to... not talk at all! This is just my personal experience and you might feel different when you travel there but I'm giving a big thumbs up to this country.
I want to insist on the importance of going with your gut and using common sense anywhere to be safe, but also to keep an open mind. You might make some unexpected discoveries this way!
How To Get To Tunis?
If you're not from Europe, I'd recommend you add Tunisia to your itinerary. It is a short flight away from the most common European destinations: for the price and length of a US National flight, you can be in a totally different culture! How cool is that?
If you're from Europe, you've got it easy on this one! There are many flights to Tunis you can choose from.
US and EU citizens don't need a visa if you needed another reason to take a spontaneous trip to Tunis!
When’s the Best Time To Visit Tunis?
I went in January and the weather was JUST PERFECT. I'd even say it's one of my top winter destinations as it is sunny but still a bit cold, especially at night, which is characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. The light is also perfect to take pictures, and I enjoyed the sunsets there.
It is not a tourist destination at all at the moment, we were mostly alone or with locals and we saw the same couple 4 times in different places during the trip.
Where to Stay In Tunis
I picked a local area next to the Tunis belvedere, in the el Omrane neighborhood and stayed in an Airbnb.
I'd also recommend checking out hotels, as there are MANY of them, and you can find luxury hotels with good standards for quite cheap. Just know that in any case, you'll have to take a taxi to go from location to location.
My Tunis Weekend Trip Itinerary:
Day 1: Get lost in the old town
Medinas are walled old towns with maze-like streets that you'll find everywhere in North Africa. They are often divided into souks, markets that are also divided into sections depending on what type of product is sold. Tunis' Medina is particularly beautiful and historic as it was created in the 7th century. I really enjoyed walking around there and finding the cutest streets or houses. My tip here is to leave the main street and just get lost in the small alleyways and see more of the local life complete with street vendors, colorful doors and houses and a lot of cats.
Next, go to El Ali, it is a well-known special occasions restaurant among locals that is very well-priced. Our table neighbor was treating his grandma to lunch when we were there and there were other groups of people celebrating so I just loved the vibe of the place. The food was REALLY good, I had the slow cooked-lamb with spiced rice and nuts.
Then I HAD to go to the local market, the Marche Municipal, as I can't take a trip without buying local food. Be prepared to haggle a bit and get yourself some delicious dates (there are so many varieties), olives and oranges.
Come back to the Medina and take some time to unwind with a mint tea with pine nuts at Cafe Panorama, a rooftop teahouse that is really hard to find. You'll first think you've entered someone's house, but keep going up the stairs to arrive at the mosaic-adorned rooftop and relax there with a book.
Day 2: Enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle
We started our day right with a massive brunch buffet for around $7 in a five-star hotel at the Residence Tunis. It is located on a small strip of land next to the sea, where most of the hotels are and you'll definitely feel the contrast if you chose to stay in a local area as the Northern suburbs are the most expensive and the most touristy. But again, there were few tourists during our trip so I didn't find that to be an inconvenience. Just check the meter is on when taking a cab.
Tunis is right by the Mediterranean and you'll definitely feel some Greek or Italian vibes there. Sidi Bou Saïd is a small cliff-top village North of Tunis that feels like the local version of Santorini, minus the crowds. Its architecture is a mix between Ottoman and Andalusian with distinctive blue doors and windows and white walls that make it an Instagram-worthy dream. Get lost in the small cobblestone streets and climb uphill for gorgeous views of the sea. I personally loved all the flowers and orange trees around the town that make for a relaxing sunny winter vibe.
Day 3: Time for some culture
Tunis was home to a few great civilizations, including the Phoenicians who founded Carthage in the 9th century BC as a commercial hub for the Mediterranean. Carthage is now a Unesco World-Heritage archeological site with ruins dating mostly from the Roman period.
I loved the Antonine Baths, which were among the largest baths to be built in the Roman world. I have a fascination for different types of spas around the world I'll probably write about someday and I loved imagining how people were relaxing and taking care of themselves centuries ago.
A short walk uphill is the Roman Villa, that used to belong to a rich wine-maker. It is particularly well preserved with beautiful mosaics and a patio you can sit in to enjoy the sun.
Wrap your trip up with a visit of the Musée du Bardo, to finish understanding the historical context. The main draw is the massive mosaic collection, but my favorites were all the objects found in shipwrecks dating back to Antiquity. The Mediterranean sea used to be a highway for trade, connecting cultures and civilizations together through maritime routes. But not all ships made it to their final destination, and some stayed at the bottom of the sea for centuries, along with their cargo of olive oil, wine or even art.
I hope you've enjoyed this long weekend itinerary! Have you been to Tunisia? Is it on your list? Let me know by connecting with me on my Instagram!