Introducing Tunis
Travel alert: Civil unrest has calmed in Tunisia, but keep in touch with the latest news and travel advisories.
Advertisement
Tunis is a good introduction to the opposing character of Tunisia’s Western and Eastern influences, though it’s by no means the country’s most interesting city. The tangled streets of the medina are crammed with people selling, buying and carting goods around, enveloped in the scent of spices and sweat. Its chaos is infectious and you may end up bargaining to the last dinar with a shopkeeper, before flopping onto a pavement café, savouring your purchase. The medina’s maze is contrasted by the straight lines of the Ville Nouvelle, centred on Ave Habib Bourguiba, a wide, tree-lined street where locals stroll in the evenings amid cafés that dot the sidewalks. Tunis’ best attractions are outside of town: the wonderful Bardo Museum and mysterious ruins of the ancient Carthage are Tunisia’s most comprehensive and fascinating archaeological and artistic sights. The evening hubbub is all strolling families and shy couples, while the younger and the hipper head out to the gorgeous Mediterranean suburb of Sidi Bou Saïdfor night-time fun. Tunis is best enjoyed in a day, after which you can move on to smaller and better things.
Last updated: Jan 25, 2012
Tips & articles
-
Tunisia’s vanguard hotels
20 September 2011
There may have been a lot less competition for a Hammamet sun lounger this summer – in the unstable wake...
-
Vanishing history: the most intriguing lost cities
30 June 2011
War, weather, cosmic intervention or simply a case of purpose served…nothing lasts forever. We go exploring some of the world’s...
-
Tunisia: travel books to read before you go
1 October 2010
This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Tunisia guide provides a selection of travel literature to get you in the mood for...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
-
Backpacking in Tunesia
by thomas69 01 June 2012
Dear all, at the end of June I would like to go for approx. 10 days to mainland Tunesia with my backpack. Possible destinations might…
-
RE: Anyone traveled to Malta from Tunisia?
by anillos_de_saturno 01 June 2012
+Is there any low cost carrier connecting Tunisia and Malta?+ There aren't low cost airlines flying from Tunis to Malta. In fact, I think…








