Things to do in Tunis

Tunis' things-to-do hub is built around fifteen categories rather than a single ranked list, since a good day in and around the city depends on what you're actually after. Roman and Punic sites form the historical backbone: the ruins of Carthage, the excavations at Dougga and Bulla Regia, the amphitheatre at El Djem and the quieter sites of Thuburbo Majus and Utica. Medinas and souks cover the Tunis medina around the Ez-Zitouna Mosque, its souks for spices, leather and copper, and the pottery workshops of Nabeul. The Sahara is its own category: two- to three-day circuits from Tunis to Douz and Tozeur, the troglodyte dwellings of Matmata, and nights spent camping at Ksar Ghilane.

Food and drink covers couscous and brik in medina restaurants, street food stalls, and Tunisia's early wine-growing areas, while museums and art centres on the mosaics of the Bardo Museum and the site museum at Carthage. Beaches and the coast pull visitors toward La Marsa and Gammarth, boat trips and diving, and Cap Angela, mainland Africa's northernmost point. Culture and heritage spans Andalusian Sidi Bou Said, the holy city of Kairouan and its ribats, and Tunisia's Berber, Andalusian and Jewish heritage, while nature and hiking covers Ichkeul National Park, the forests of the Kroumirie and Jebel Zaghouan.

Hammams and wellness is distinctly local: traditional hammams in the medina and the warm springs at Korbous on the Cap Bon peninsula. Family-friendly activities have their own category, from Friguia Park's wildlife to the family beaches of La Marsa, and day trips extend the categories geographically, covering every excursion possible from Tunis. Planning and transport exist because Tunis rewards preparation: knowing how the TGM, the light rail and louages fit together, and understanding visa rules and budget, all change how smoothly a trip runs.

Seasonal content matters too — Ramadan changes the daily rhythm across the country, and the heat of the Sahara reshapes what's realistic outside the cooler months. Finally, the comparison category answers the questions visitors actually ask before booking: Tunis or Marrakech, Carthage or Dougga, Hammamet or Sousse. Together these categories work as a filter, not a checklist — most visitors use two or three heavily and barely touch the rest.