Located just off the Gulf of Tunis, Tunis is the charmingly frenetic capital of Tunisia. Its climate and ambiance are typically Mediterranean and if it weren’t for the calls to prayer and the Arabic lettering, you might think you’re in Greece or Italy. Top Tunis things to do include the Bardo Museum (home of a top-notch collection of Roman mosaics), the picturesque Medina (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and Habib Bourguiba avenue, where Arab Spring protests took place. Carthage is also close enough to share an airport with Tunis.
If you’re looking to sightsee, then avoid July and August, when temperatures occasionally exceed 100°F (38°C)—although the shaded Medina (Old Town) stays comfortably cool. The summer makes for prime beach time, but spring and fall are better suited for exploring outdoor attractions. Winters have been known to bring chilly spells of rain, but you can always warm up at a local hammam (Turkish-style bathhouse).
Taxis are affordable and plentiful in Tunis; you can hail one off the street, book one through your hotel, or download a rideshare app. But if you’re planning on spending more than a couple days in the capital, then experience traveling like a local by hopping aboard a louage, a shared minibus taxi. There’s also a tramway—confusingly named the Metro—and the Tunis-Goulette-Marsa (TGM) commuter train line, which links Tunis to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said.
Located just 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Tunis, the postcard-perfect village of Sidi Bou Said is named for a Sufi saint and famous for its blue-and-white painted buildings and sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. For a dazzling panorama, head to Café des Délices for a mint tea with pine nuts, a glass of fresh-squeezed fruit juice, or a plate of fish couscous. If that doesn’t fill you up, pick up a bambaloni in town—a honey-glazed or sugar-dusted Tunisian donut.
