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Best Things to Do in Tunis, Tunisia

Tunis is the capital of Tunisia, a city of over 2 million on the shores of the Gulf of Tunis in North Africa. The Medina of Tunis (UNESCO World Heritage) is one of the Arab world's most complete medieval urban complexes; the Bardo National Museum houses the world's finest collection of Roman mosaics; and the white-and-blue cliffside village of Sidi Bou Said (15 minutes from the city) is one of the most photogenic places in North Africa. Tunis serves as the entry point to Tunisia's extraordinary Roman ruins, Saharan landscapes, and Mediterranean coast.

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The unmissable in Tunis

These are the staple sights — don't leave Tunis without seeing them.

1
Medina of Tunis
#1 must-see

Medina of Tunis

📍 Tunis, Tunisia
🕐 Mon–Sun Open 24h
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2
National Bardo Museum (Musée National du Bardo)
#2 must-see

National Bardo Museum (Musée National du Bardo)

📍 Route Nationale 7, Tunis
🕐 Mon Closed · Tue–Sun 9:00-17:00
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Attractions in Tunis

More attractions in Tunis

Medina of Tunis 1
#1 must-see

Medina of Tunis

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📍 Tunis, Tunisia

The Medina of Tunis is one of the Arab world's finest surviving medieval city centres, a densely layered quarter of narrow alleys, domed hammams, ornate mosques, medersa colleges, and covered souks that earned UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1979 for its outstanding universal historical and cultural value. Founded in the 7th century CE following the Arab conquest of the region, the medina developed over more than a millennium into a complex and self-sustaining urban organism containing over 700 individually significant historic monuments, including dynastic palaces, teaching institutions, public fountains, caravanserais, and the residences of merchant families whose commercial reach extended across the Mediterranean world. At the medina's spiritual heart stands the Zitouna Mosque, the oldest and most venerated in Tunisia, its prayer hall supported by a forest of recycled Roman columns sourced from the ruins of ancient Carthage — creating a serene interior whose layered origins speak eloquently of the region's complex historical transitions. The souks surrounding the Zitouna maintain a medieval trade logic still recognisable today, with perfumers clustered near the mosque, copper-beaters occupying a dedicated lane, and textile merchants filling another. The Medina of Tunis rewards slow and purposeful exploration, offering glimpses through ornate carved wooden doorways into private courtyard gardens that the hurried visitor never encounters. This is a living city as much as a heritage monument, where schoolchildren and worshippers share ancient streets with curious travellers.

National Bardo Museum (Musée National du Bardo) 2
#2 must-see

National Bardo Museum (Musée National du Bardo)

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📍 Route Nationale 7, Tunis

The National Bardo Museum on the outskirts of Tunis is widely regarded as holding one of the world's most exceptional and extensive collections of ancient Roman mosaics, a treasure of such scale, artistic quality, and historical importance that it draws scholars, art historians, and informed travellers from across the globe who consider it among the Mediterranean world's essential cultural institutions. Housed within a former 13th-century Hafsid palace and its substantial Ottoman-era extensions and annexes, the museum displays thousands of square metres of mosaic pavement carefully excavated over many decades from Roman villas, public bath complexes, basilicas, and civic buildings scattered across ancient Tunisia — the prosperous Roman province of Africa Proconsularis that fed the entire empire with grain and olive oil for centuries and generated extraordinary private and public wealth. The mosaics depict mythological scenes drawn from Greek and Roman literature, gladiatorial combat rendered in vivid action, marine life teeming with fish and octopus, exuberant hunting parties, and seasonal allegories of harvest and plenty, all executed with astonishing artistic confidence and superb technical mastery by craftsmen who understood both the grammar of colour and the demands of pictorial narrative. Roman sculpture of high quality, prehistoric artefacts from the Capsian culture, Punic stelae, early Christian objects, and Islamic decorative arts round out a collection spanning several thousand years of documented Tunisian civilisation. The Hafsid palace architecture itself — tiled courtyards, painted ceilings, arched galleries — provides a sumptuous setting. The National Bardo Museum is unmissable for any visitor to North Africa with even passing interest in antiquity.

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Tunis occupies a strategic position between Lake of Tunis and the Gulf, a city that has been inhabited for over 3,000 years but reached its zenith under the Hafsid dynasty (1228-1574), when its Medina was among the Arab world’s greatest cities. The things to do in Tunis divide between the Medina (the old walled city with its souks, mosques, and palaces), the French colonial Ville Nouvelle (built from the 1860s, a grid of Paris-influenced boulevards and cafes), and the archaeological suburbs: Carthage (the ruins of the ancient Phoenician and Roman city that once rivaled Rome, now a UNESCO World Heritage suburb), Sidi Bou Said (the iconic clifftop village), and the La Marsa beach suburb. Tunisia is one of the safest and most accessible North African countries for Western visitors.

Best time to visit

March through May and September through November are the best months: comfortable temperatures (18-26°C), clear skies, and manageable crowds. June through August is hot (30-38°C) with peak European beach tourism at the Tunisian coast; Tunis itself becomes quieter as Tunisians escape to the coast. December through February is cool (10-16°C) and uncrowded; the Medina and Bardo are at their most accessible. Ramadan (dates vary annually) changes the character of the city significantly: most restaurants close during daylight, traffic is dense around iftar (breaking of the fast at sunset), and the evenings become festive and lively. Visiting during Ramadan is culturally interesting but requires adjusting expectations about dining hours.

Getting around

Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN) is 8km from the city center, 15-20 minutes by taxi. The TGM suburban train runs from La Goulette (near the airport) through Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, and La Marsa along the northern Gulf shore. The Tunis Métro Light Rail (Métro Léger) has four lines connecting the city center to suburbs. Taxis are inexpensive by European standards; agree price before or use the metered cabs (louage). Shared long-distance taxis (louage) connect Tunis to Carthage, Hammamet, Sousse, and other Tunisian cities more efficiently than buses for tourists.

What to eat and drink

Tunisian food is North Africa’s most distinctive and spiciest: the harissa paste (a blend of red chili peppers, garlic, caraway, and coriander) appears in nearly every dish. Brik (a deep-fried pastry filled with egg, tuna, and capers, a quintessential Tunisian snack) is the essential street food. Couscous with lamb or fish (merguez, a spiced lamb sausage) is the Friday communal meal. Shakshuka (eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce, eaten for breakfast) is a Tunisian invention that has spread worldwide. Lablabi (a chickpea soup with bread, harissa, and egg) is the winter breakfast. For seafood, the fishing villages of Sidi Bou Said and La Goulette have excellent grilled fish restaurants. Boukha (fig brandy) and local wine (Tunisia was a major wine producer under French rule and continues to export) are the local alcoholic drinks.

Top things to do

Medina of Tunis – The UNESCO-listed Medina is one of the Arab world’s best-preserved medieval urban fabrics: a dense grid of souks (markets by craft — cloth, gold, spice, perfume), mosques, madrasas (theological schools), fondouks (merchant lodging), and palaces compressed into an area of 270 hectares. The Zitouna Mosque (Great Mosque, 9th century) is the Medina’s spiritual center; non-Muslims can view the courtyard. The souk of the turban makers, the souk of the brassworkers, and the souk of the perfumers are the most atmospheric. Allow 3-4 hours for a proper wander.

Bardo National Museum – The world’s greatest collection of Roman mosaics, housed in a 15th-century Hafsid palace adapted and extended through the Ottoman period. Over 3,000 square meters of mosaic pavement and panels from the Roman villas, public baths, and cities of ancient Tunisia — including the extraordinary Virgil Mosaic (the poet depicted with the Muses of history and tragedy) and the Triumph of Neptune. An essential half-day visit.

Sidi Bou Said – A clifftop village 20km north of Tunis on the TGM line: white-washed houses with blue-painted doors and window grilles, a lighthouse, and views over the Gulf to Carthage. The village inspired Paul Klee and August Macke in 1914 and has been a fashionable art colony since. The cafe Sidi Chaabane on the main terrace has the best sunset view. Crowded on weekends but spectacular in the early morning before tour buses arrive.

Ruins of Carthage – The ancient Phoenician city that rivaled Rome before its destruction in 146 BC, now scattered across the northern suburbs: the Antonine Baths (the largest Roman baths outside Rome), the Punic Ports (the circular military harbor and rectangular commercial harbor, partly visible from the waterfront), the Tophet (Phoenician sacred enclosure, excavated burial site), and the hill of Byrsa (the original Carthaginian citadel, with a small museum). The UNESCO site is spread across several hectares of modern suburb; a combination of TGM train and taxi is the practical access.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tunisia safe to visit?

Tunis and the main tourist destinations are considered safe following significant security improvements since the political instability of 2015-2016. The UK and most European governments currently categorize Tunis and the tourist coast as 'exercise normal precautions' territory. Border regions (with Libya and Algeria) carry higher advisories. Check current government travel advice before visiting; the situation has been stable but the broader regional context should be monitored.

Do I need a visa for Tunisia?

Citizens of most EU countries, the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia can enter Tunisia visa-free for up to 90 days. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months. Check current entry requirements for your specific nationality before travel.