Create meetup in Tunischevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
explore Tunis Guides
3 Days in Tunis: Itinerary 2026
Start your first day in the heart of Tunis, the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Begin at the iconic Zitouna Mosque (open to non-Muslims only from the outside) and… 🗺️ Day 1: Medina and Souks
Start your first day in the heart of Tunis, the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Begin at the iconic Zitouna Mosque (open to non-Muslims only from the outside) and then wander through the labyrinthine souks, where you can shop for leather, spices, and traditional crafts. For lunch, head to Dar El Jeld, a renowned restaurant serving authentic Tunisian cuisine, located at 5-10 Rue Dar El Jeld, with mains around 40-60 TND.
🏛️ Day 1 Afternoon: Museums
After lunch, walk to the Bardo National Museum, about 20 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes by tram (Line 4 or 6, stop: Bardo). The museum houses the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics, and admission is 13 TND for adults. Plan to spend at least two hours here, then return to the Medina for a mint tea at Café M'Rabet, a historic spot on Rue des Forgerons.
🌆 Day 1 Evening: La Marsa
In the evening, take the TGM light rail (Line TGM, about 30 minutes) from Tunis Marine station to La Marsa, a chic seaside suburb. Stroll along the waterfront promenade and have dinner at Le Golfe, a seafood restaurant with views of the marina, where a meal costs around 50-70 TND. End the night with a drink at the trendy Café de la Plage, which stays open late.
🏺 Day 2: Carthage and Sidi Bou Said
Dedicate your second day to the ancient ruins of Carthage and the picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said. Start at the Carthage Archaeological Site (open 8:00-17:00, admission 12 TND), which includes the Antonine Baths and the Punic ports. From there, take a taxi (10 minutes, about 5 TND) or walk 20 minutes to Sidi Bou Said, a blue-and-white village perched on a cliff.
🎨 Day 2 Afternoon: Sidi Bou Said
Spend the afternoon exploring Sidi Bou Said's art galleries and boutiques. Visit the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace, a stunning example of Andalusian architecture, now a museum of music (open 10:00-18:00, admission 8 TND). For lunch, try Café des Délices, famous for its almond pastries and panoramic views, with a meal around 20-30 TND. Don't miss the sunset from the village's cliffside viewpoint.
🍽️ Day 2 Evening: Local Dining
Return to Tunis city center for dinner at Chez Slah, a beloved local spot serving traditional Tunisian dishes like couscous and brik, located at 5 Rue des Glacières. Expect to pay around 25-40 TND per person. After dinner, take a leisurely walk along Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the main thoroughfare, and stop for ice cream at the historic Café de Paris.
🏞️ Day 3: Day Trip to Sidi Bou Said?
If you have a third day, consider a day trip to the ancient city of Dougga, a UNESCO site about 2 hours southwest of Tunis by car or bus. Alternatively, visit the coastal town of Hammamet, known for its beaches and medina, just 1 hour by train. Both options offer a change of pace from the capital and are easily arranged with a guided tour or public transport.
🚋 Getting Around
Tunis has an efficient public transit system, including the TGM light rail, metro lines, and buses. A single metro or TGM ticket costs about 1 TND, and taxis are affordable, with a starting fare of 2 TND plus 0.5 TND per kilometer. For day trips, consider renting a car or booking a shared tour, as public buses can be slow and infrequent. Always confirm the fare before starting a taxi ride.
second the rec for dar el jeld but go for lunch not dinner, the set menu is cheaper and you get the same view of the courtyard. also, the medina gets dead quiet after 7pm, so don't plan on shopping late, everything shuts down except the touristy spots near zitouna.
for day 3, if you do hammamet instead of dougga, take the louage (shared taxi) from the station near bab el bhar, it's like 4 tnd and way faster than the train. get off at the medina gate, not the beach stop, the old town is the best part anyway.
one thing the guide misses: the bardo's mosaics are stunning but the building itself is a former palace, so look up, the ceilings are painted and people miss them walking around staring at the floor. also, friday is the quietest day at the museum, locals are at the mosque so you'll have the rooms to yourself.
last tip, avoid the taxis parked right outside the medina gates, they quote double. walk 2 minutes to the main avenue and flag one down, it'll be half the price and the driver won't try to take you on a scenic route.
The guide's spot on about the Bardo, but here's a tip that'll save you some hassle: buy your ticket at the little kiosk across the street from the main entrance, not at the museum gate. It's the same price, but the line moves way faster and you skip the crowd of touts who hover around the front door trying to "help" you buy a ticket for a tip.
For Day 1, if you're at Café M'Rabet and the terrace is packed, don't bother waiting. Walk two doors down to Café de la Place, it's less pretty but the mint tea is just as good and you'll actually get a seat. The staff at M'Rabet are famous for ignoring tourists, it's part of the charm but not when you're thirsty.
One thing nobody mentions about Carthage: the Antonine Baths are the main draw, but the Punic ports on the other side of the site are way more atmospheric. It's a bit of a walk, but you'll have the place to yourself and you can see where the ancient war galleys were moored. Bring water, there's no shade out there and the sun is relentless.
For the Dougga day trip, if you do rent a car, stop at the café in Teboursouk on the way back. It's the last town before the site, and they do a proper Tunisian breakfast with fresh msemen and lablabi.
solid itinerary, honestly. one thing i'd add: skip the tram to Bardo if you're not pressed for time, the taxi is like 5 TND and drops you right at the gate. the tram stop is a bit of a walk and the heat in summer makes it brutal.
also, for day 2, when you're in Sidi Bou Said, go past the main tourist drag and find the little staircase near Café des Délices that leads down to the rocky coast. there's a tiny hidden cove where locals swim, no one bothers you, and the view of Carthage from the water is way better than from the village. pack a swimsuit even if you don't plan on it.
for dinner at Chez Slah, don't skip the brik with a runny egg, it's messy but worth it. and ask for the terrace upstairs if it's open, way more atmosphere than the ground floor. oh, and for Dougga, honestly i'd rent a car for that one, the bus is unreliable and you'll waste half the day waiting. the site itself is incredible, but it's the kind of place you want to wander without a schedule.
Tunis in 5 months, what am I missing?
if you're here in 5 months thats like april, so plan around Ramadan if the dates line up, everything shifts. the real move locals do is Sidi Bou Said on a weekday morning, not weekend, its dead quiet and you can actually walk the whole village in an hour before the tour buses show. for food go to Dar El Jeld or just grab a fricassé from a random bakery in Bab El Khadra, costs like 1 dinar and beats most sit-down spots. also check the Bardo on a friday afternoon, way less crowded.
For a hammam, skip the tourist-facing ones and go to Hammam Sidi Amor in La Marsa, it's small, cheap, and mostly locals. Friday mornings are women only, other days men, so check before you show up. For food, the lablabi carts around Bab Souika early in the morning beat anything in the medina proper, and you'll pay under 2 dinar. If you want a quiet neighborhood to just walk, try the streets around Rue du Pacha in the old city, it's residential and calm compared to the main souk drag.
honestly the thing most people miss is the food scene outside the centre. head to La Goulette on a sunday and hit the fish grills near the port, you pick your fish and they cook it on the spot, way better than any medina restaurant. also try a bamboo (that's the local word for the little fried dough rings) from a cart in the morning, they're like 300 millimes and unbeatable with mint tea. if you want a quiet hammam vibe try Hammam Sidi Amor in La Marsa btw, locals mostly.
load 1 more reply