UNESCO medina, ruins of Carthage overlooking the gulf, Bardo mosaics and the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Saïd. Tunis fits a packed 2-day visit, ideally 3 to breathe.
Tunis at a glance
Population
2.8M (metro)
Airport
TUN
Ideal stay
2 to 3 days
Budget / day
€35-180
Flight Paris
~2h30 direct
Time diff
0h winter, -1h summer
Current climate
Best season
In brief
Combine Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd on the same day
The TGM (suburban train) links the center to La Marsa in 40 min, with stops at Carthage-Hannibal and Sidi Bou Saïd. About 1 TND per ticket, a train every 10 to 20 minutes.
Book the Bardo for the morning
The Bardo National Museum (13 TND) holds the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics. Opens 9am, best light in the morning, quieter before 11am.
Stay in the medina or La Marsa depending on pace
Medina for immersion in a restored dar (€60-120/night). La Marsa for the seaside, trendy cafés and restaurants, 20 min by TGM.
Yellow taxi: insist on the meter
Meter mandatory by day, 50% surcharge at night (night rate from 9pm). City ride 5 to 12 TND, airport to center 10 to 20 TND.
Cash is king: withdraw 200-300 TND on arrival
The Tunisian dinar (TND) cannot be bought outside the country. ATM at the airport, official exchange on arrival. Cards work in upscale hotels and restaurants, cash everywhere else.
Must-see
UNESCO-listed since 1979, 700 protected monuments, 270 hectares of vaulted lanes. The historic heart.
Souk el Attarine for perfumes, the Chéchias souk for red felt caps, souk el Berka for jewelry.
The oldest mosque in North Africa (732). Courtyard open to non-Muslim visitors (3 TND), prayer hall off-limits.
The world's largest collection of Roman mosaics, in a 19th-century beylical palace. Fully reopened after renovation.
Punic and then Roman capital, ruins scattered across 15 km: Baths of Antoninus, theater, Punic ports, Byrsa hill.
Blue-and-white village perched above the gulf. Café des Nattes, Café Sidi Chabaane on the cliffside, flowering lanes.
Mausoleum of the patron saint of Tunis (17th century), distinctive white domes. Bab Souika district.
Tunis's Champs-Élysées, French Art Deco heritage. Saint-Vincent cathedral, municipal theater, terrace cafés.
Three 18th-century medersas (Slimaniyya, Bachiyya, Mouradiyya) around the Zitouna mosque. Quiet courtyards, restored zellige.
Tunis's historic port, former Italian and Maltese quarter. Lively quays at night, seafront grilled-fish restaurants.
Choose your district
Restored dar at the heart of the souks, real immersion. Walking distance to the Zitouna mosque and Avenue Bourguiba. From €60/night.
★ Recommended
Around Avenue Habib Bourguiba, chain hotels, Art Deco cafés, direct TGM access. From €45/night.
Convenient
Chic seaside, 20 min by TGM. Beaches, hip cafés, good addresses. From €80/night.
Seaside
Upscale residential overlooking the gulf, boutique hotels and guesthouses. Ideal for 2 nights outside the medina. From €100/night.
Chic
Getting around
Yellow taxi
Meter mandatory by day (5-15 TND in town). Night rate from 9pm, 50% surcharge. Refuse any flat fare, check the meter as you get in.
TGM (suburban train)
Tunis-Marine to La Marsa line, with stops at Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd. A train every 10-20 min, 1 TND ticket. The best way for day trips.
Light metro
6 lines, serves the Bardo (line 4) and western suburbs. 0.5-1 TND ticket. Handy for the museum, less so for tourist sights.
On foot in the medina
The only way to visit the old town (cars banned). Allow 2-3 hours to get lost. Use the Zitouna mosque as your anchor point.
Climate & crowds
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Winter
Dec to Feb · 8-17°C, rainy · Good: mild but showery, sights uncrowded
Spring
Mar to Jun · 12-28°C, dry · Ideal: perfect temperatures, blue skies, glowing ruins
Summer
Jul to Aug · 22-35°C, dry · Avoid: heat at 35°C+, sun-baked open sites
Autumn
Sep to Nov · 16-30°C, dry · Ideal: still warm in September, mild through November
How much
Backpacker
€35
per day
Comfort
€90
per day
Premium
€240
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
25 min by TGM · Blue-and-white village, cafés perched above the gulf
20 min by TGM · Ancient Punic and Roman city, UNESCO-listed
2h30 away · Roman colosseum, the world's third-largest
2 h away · Fourth holy city of Islam, UNESCO medina and carpets
FAQ
Thomas Bernard ✓
·Geographer & traveler
Last updated: June 9, 2026.