The busy capital city of Tunis is the largest city in Tunisia. It may not be the place for a full-on relaxing beach holiday but it is the place to dive into Tunisia’s culture and you can see the French influence in Tunis with tree-lined streets and delightful pastry shops. Tunis’ rich African heritage can be seen through in the maze of the medina and the old buildings around the city.
Get lost in the winding streets of the medina and find yourself among the souks where locals cram in to sell their handmade goods. The smell of spices will waft through the air and you can refresh with a peppermint tea in one of the cafes. In contrast to the old Medina, Ville Nouvelle, the French district, is home to straight, wide, tree-lined streets that make a great atmosphere for an afternoon walk in the sun.
For a day of relaxation, take the short journey out to Carthage Beach where water babies can paddle out in the water, go swimming in the sea and go scuba diving for the day. The more adventurous can go jet skiing or even paragliding to see Tunis from above. La Marsa, further up the coast, is a great place to try out camel trekking on the beach or just simply soak up the Tunisian sun.
It’s clear to see the French influence in Tunis and that culture overflows into the city’s food as well. North African spices blend with lamb and seafood and there are plenty of cafés around the capital that serve up melt-in-the-mouth pastries and rich coffee. Evening meals often consist of fresh vegetables or couscous with seafood. Watch out for spicy dip called Harissa though, it may be hotter than you think!
Arabic
GMT +1
3 DT
19 DT
3 hrs
(from London)
Tunisian Dinar
1 / 2