What to Do in Tunisia: 20 Unforgettable Experiences
Wondering what to do in Tunisia? Few countries let you walk a Roman arena in the morning, bargain in a medina at lunch and watch the sun set over Sahara dunes a day later. This guide lists 20 experiences we recommend to our own guests, with where to do them, how to get there and how to fit them into your stay.
Updated September 2026
What to Do in Tunisia: Plan Your Day in 30 Seconds
Deciding what to do in Tunisia gets easy once you choose a base. From Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis, the big sights are all day trips. Pick a tour, a date and your group size below, and you will see the price for your whole vehicle straight away.
20 Best Things to Do in Tunisia
The list starts with the classics near the coast and moves south towards the desert. Each entry tells you where it is and how to do it, so you can see at a glance what fits your trip. For the sights themselves, see our guide to Tunisia attractions.
01UNESCOTunis
Walk through the ruins of Carthage
Stand where Hannibal’s city stood. Start at Byrsa Hill for the view, then walk down to the Antonine Baths by the sea. One combined ticket covers most of the sites, so allow three hours.
How to do it: Our Carthage and Sidi Bou Said tour, or the TGM light train from Tunis.
02Tunis
Sip mint tea in Sidi Bou Said
Order mint tea with pine nuts at Café des Délices and watch the boats in the marina below. Come early or late in the day to beat the tour groups.
How to do it: Our half-day Sidi Bou Said tour, or the TGM train.
03UNESCOTunis
Bargain in the souks of the Tunis medina
Each souk in the old town has its own trade: perfume, copper, gold or chechia hats. Haggling is expected, so start at about half the first price and keep smiling.
How to do it: Walk in through the Bab el Bhar gate, or join our Grand Tunis day.
04Tunis
See the mosaics of the Bardo Museum
The Bardo holds one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. The portrait of Virgil and the sea scenes alone are worth the visit.
How to do it: Metro line 4 or a taxi from central Tunis. Check opening hours before you go.
05UNESCOMahdia region
Stand in the arena at El Jem
Walk the tunnels where gladiators and wild animals waited, then climb to the top tier for the view. In summer, the amphitheatre hosts an international symphonic music festival.
How to do it: Our El Jem and Kairouan tour, or the train from Sousse.
06UNESCOCentral Tunisia
Taste makroudh in Kairouan
Visit the Great Mosque, then buy warm makroudh, a semolina pastry filled with dates, in the medina. Kairouan’s carpet shops sell some of the finest rugs in the country.
How to do it: Our El Jem and Kairouan tour covers both cities in one day.
07UNESCONorth-west
Explore Dougga and Bulla Regia
Dougga is a whole Roman town on a hill, while Bulla Regia hid its villas underground to escape the summer heat. Together they make one of the best history days in North Africa.
How to do it: Our Dougga and Bulla Regia tour, about 2 hours from Tunis.
08Douz, south-west
Spend a night in the Sahara
Ride a camel into the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, eat bread baked in the sand and sleep under the stars in a desert camp. It is the trip most guests remember longest.
How to do it: A 2 or 3 day trip from the coast. Contact us to plan it.
09Between Kebili and Tozeur
Watch sunrise over Chott el Jerid
This salt lake covers more than 5,000 square kilometres and turns pink and silver at dawn. Mirages are common in the heat, and a straight road crosses the middle.
How to do it: Part of any Sahara trip. Best in the cooler months.
10Near Tozeur
Hike the mountain oases
Chebika, Tamerza and Mides sit in rocky gorges near the Algerian border. Short trails lead to waterfalls, palm pools and canyon viewpoints.
How to do it: A half day by 4x4 from Tozeur.
11Matmata and Tozeur
Visit the Star Wars filming locations
Have a drink in Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, Luke Skywalker’s home in the first film, then walk the Mos Espa set at Ong Jemel near Tozeur.
How to do it: On the way to or from the Sahara.
12South-east
Discover the ksour of Tataouine
These fortified granaries, such as Ksar Ouled Soltane, stack honeycomb cells up to four floors high. Some now work as simple guesthouses.
How to do it: About 2 hours by road from Djerba.
13UNESCOSouth-east coast
Relax on Djerba
Cycle between whitewashed mosques and olive groves, visit El Ghriba synagogue and the street art of Djerbahood, then end the day on Sidi Mahrez beach.
How to do it: A 1 hour flight from Tunis. Ask us about Djerba.
14Everywhere
Try a traditional hammam
A Tunisian hammam means steam, a scrub with a kessa glove and black olive soap. Hotels offer spa versions, but a neighbourhood hammam is the real thing.
How to do it: Found in every medina. Ask your hotel about opening times for men and women.
15Cap Bon
Shop for pottery in Nabeul
Nabeul is Tunisia’s pottery capital, with painted plates, tiles and bowls at workshop prices. The Friday market draws shoppers from all over Cap Bon.
How to do it: About 15 minutes from Hammamet by taxi.
16Cap Bon
Explore the Cap Bon coast
Swim in the turquoise water of Kelibia, visit its hilltop fortress and step into the Roman quarry caves of El Haouaria. The hot springs of Korbous flow straight into the sea.
How to do it: Our Cap Bon tour, about 1 hour from Hammamet.
17UNESCOSahel coast
Tour Sousse, Monastir and Port El Kantaoui
Climb the ribats of Sousse and Monastir, get lost in the Sousse medina, then have dinner by the yachts in Port El Kantaoui.
How to do it: Our Sahel tour links all three.
18Zaghouan
Visit a Berber village
Zriba Olia is an abandoned hillside village with wide views, a short drive from the Roman Temple of Waters in Zaghouan.
How to do it: Our Zaghouan and Berber village tour.
19Everywhere
Eat your way through Tunisian food
Try brik, a crisp pastry with a runny egg, lablabi chickpea soup, fish couscous and anything with harissa. Finish with bambalouni doughnuts in Sidi Bou Said.
How to do it: Street stalls and medina restaurants in every town.
20Near Hammamet
Enjoy a family day at Friguia Park
Children can see lions, elephants and giraffes and watch animal shows in a park built for families. It fits easily into a half day.
How to do it: Our Friguia Park half day, about 30 minutes from Hammamet.
Things to Do in Tunisia by Region
With one week, stay in one or two regions rather than chasing everything. This table shows what each area is best for, where to sleep and how many days to give it.
| Region | Top things to do | Best base | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunis and Carthage | Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, the medina, the Bardo | Tunis, La Marsa or Gammarth | 2 to 3 |
| Cap Bon | Beaches, Kelibia, Nabeul pottery, Korbous springs | Hammamet | 2 to 4 |
| Sahel | Sousse, Monastir, El Jem, Kairouan | Sousse or Port El Kantaoui | 3 to 4 |
| North-west | Dougga, Bulla Regia, Tabarka, Aïn Draham forests | Tabarka, or a day trip | 1 to 2 |
| Sahara and oases | Douz dunes, Chott el Jerid, Tozeur, Matmata | Douz or Tozeur | 2 to 3 |
| Djerba and the south | Beaches, Houmt Souk, Djerbahood, Tataouine ksour | Djerba | 3 to 5 |
What to Do in Tunisia With Kids, as a Couple or on Your Own
The best plan depends on who you travel with. Here are the experiences our guests enjoy most, grouped by type of trip.
Families
Friguia Park, the Carthage Land water park in Hammamet, short camel rides and the shallow beaches around Monastir.
Couples
Sunset in Sidi Bou Said, a hammam and massage, a night in a desert camp and dinner in the Hammamet medina.
History lovers
Carthage, El Jem, Dougga, Kairouan and the Bardo mosaics. Add Kerkouane on Cap Bon for Punic history.
Adventure seekers
Quad bikes and 4x4s in the dunes of Douz, canyon hikes near Tozeur and coral diving in Tabarka.
Food lovers
The Friday market in Nabeul, olive oil tasting, a Tunisian cooking class and fresh makroudh in Kairouan.
Beach lovers
Hammamet, Djerba, Mahdia and the quiet coves of Kelibia, with warm water from June to October.
Tunisia Itineraries for 3, 7 and 10 Days
These routes assume you stay on the coast around Hammamet or Sousse and only spend nights away for the desert. Each day trip listed is one of our private tours.
- 3 days
The highlights
Day 1: Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Tunis medina. Day 2: El Jem and Kairouan. Day 3: the beach, then the Hammamet medina at sunset.
- 7 days
History and coast
Add Dougga and Bulla Regia, the Cap Bon coast, the Sahel towns and a free day for a hammam and the Nabeul market.
- 10 days
Coast and Sahara
Follow the 7 day plan, then fly or drive south for two nights in Douz and Tozeur, with sunrise over Chott el Jerid and a hike in the mountain oases.
What to Do in Tunisia Month by Month
Tunisia works all year, but each season suits a different plan. Festivals are a bonus if your dates line up.
| Months | Weather | What to do | Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to February | Mild days, cold desert nights | Sahara trips, oases, quiet ruins | International Festival of the Sahara in Douz, late December |
| March to May | Warm and green | Ruins, medinas, hiking, Cap Bon | Spring flowers across the north |
| June to August | Hot, over 30°C inland | Beaches, water sports, early visits | Carthage and Hammamet international festivals, El Jem music festival |
| September to November | Warm sea, softer heat | Everything, including swimming into October | Date harvest around Tozeur and Kebili |
Practical Tips Before You Go
A few details make any trip smoother. These are the tips we share with every guest before their first day out.
- Carry cash in dinars. The Tunisian dinar cannot leave the country, so change small amounts as you go.
- Dress modestly in medinas and holy places, and cover shoulders and knees in Kairouan.
- Start early in summer. See El Jem and Dougga before 11 am and keep the afternoon for the beach.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses and water on every day trip, even in spring.
- Agree on a taxi fare before you get in, or ask the driver to use the meter.
- Learn a few words: aslema (hello), shukran (thank you) and bislama (goodbye).
- Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims. The courtyard of the Great Mosque of Kairouan is the main exception.
- Read the UK travel advice for Tunisia or your own government’s page before booking.
Book a Day Trip From Your Hotel
Every tour below is private, starts at your hotel and is priced per vehicle, not per person. Choose one and tomorrow is planned.
Prices are for 1 to 4 travellers leaving from Hammamet. The booking form adjusts them for your pickup city and group size.
What to Do in Tunisia: Your Questions Answered
Short answers to what travellers ask us most while planning their days.
What is the number one thing to do in Tunisia?
Most visitors pick Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, because one day gives you 2,800 years of history and the prettiest village in the country. If you love open spaces, a night in the Sahara comes a close second.
What can you do in Tunisia for free?
Walk the Tunis and Hammamet medinas, watch the sunset from the cliffs of Sidi Bou Said, swim at public beaches and browse the Friday market in Nabeul. Museums and ruins charge a small entry fee.
Is Tunisia good for families?
Yes. Beaches are shallow and calm, especially around Monastir and Djerba, and Friguia Park and Carthage Land keep children busy. A private tour lets you stop whenever the kids need a break.
Can you swim in Tunisia in winter?
The sea drops to about 15°C in January and February, which is too cold for most people. Many hotels have heated pools, and the sea is warm again from June to October.
How do you get around Tunisia without a car?
Use trains along the coast, louages between cities and the TGM light train for Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. For inland sites, a private day tour is simpler and often cheaper for a group.
What should you not miss in Tunisia?
Do not miss El Jem, the medina of Tunis, Sidi Bou Said and at least one sunset in the desert. Our guide to Tunisia attractions lists the 15 must-see sights.
Plan What to Do in Tunisia Now
Choose a tour and a date above, or send us your hotel and travel dates on WhatsApp. We reply with a plan and a fixed price per vehicle, so you know exactly what to do in Tunisia.