Tunisia Travel Guide: The Best Of Tunis And Hammamet

Located in the center of North Africa and the Mediterranean basin, Tunisia is a country that has seen empires rise and fall over more than 3,000 years of history. Its rich cultural heritage reflects a vibrant mix of civilizations, from its ancient Roman sites and colorful medinas to whitewashed towns with towering minarets and desert dwellings. This year, skip the crowds traveling to France, Italy and Spain to discover Tunisia and two of its most popular destinations: Tunis, its capital, and Hammamet, an elegant seaside resort town.

What To See & Do In Tunis

Tunis Medina

There’s a lot to see in and around Tunis, the capital of Tunisia which is home to just under 700,000 people. You'll want to spend at least half a day exploring the Medina of Tunis, a vibrant patchwork of ancient streets filled with shops, palaces, mosques and small museums. Tunis rose to prominence between the 12th to the 16th centuries, and remnants of its golden years remain. Step inside the courtyard of the Moorish Al-Zaytuna Mosque, the oldest in the city, before admiring its imposing minaret from the rooftop of Café du Souk, an evocative tea room featuring a mishmash of furnishings and tiles.

Bardo Museum

Art is abundant in Tunis, and the capital houses some of the world’s most impressive ancient Roman mosaics at the Bardo Museum. The museum is the second largest in Africa (after the Egyptian Museum in Cairo), though it is closed at the time of publishing.

Carthage

The next day, step back in time to explore the ancient ruins of Carthage, scattered along the coast just 20-minutes north of downtown Tunis. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 9th century, Carthage was one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world thanks to its strategic position in the Mediterranean. Today, evocative ruins pay tribute to its former glory. Your entrance ticket will grant you admission to 6 different sites: you can either walk between them or take taxis (we recommend downloading the Bolt app, which is cheap and convenient).

The highlight is the Baths of Antoninus, an impressive 2^nd century bath complex, and the largest ever built on African soil. It is also worth visiting the Roman villas, which still have some mosaics intact, and the Roman theater, which could seat 5,000 spectators. It now hosts the International Music Festival of Carthage each summer.

Sidi Bou Saïd

After a tour through ancient history, head over to Sidi Bou Saïd, a picture-perfect hilltop town named for a 12^th century Tunisian Sufi scholar. With impressive views of the sea, the district became popular when wealthy Tunisians built residences here in the 18^th century. In the 1920s, French painter and musicologist Rodolphe d’Erlanger introduced a blue and white theme to the town, turning it into the most photogenic destination in the capital.

Sidi Bou Saïd is a small district but full of cute cafés, shops and galleries. Pop into Rock The Kasbah for beautiful homewares and décor, Aly.C art gallery to peruse contemporary and impressionist paintings of Tunisia, and bleue! for coffee, pastries and sandwiches. Café des Délices, though very "touristy", is worth a visit for its 360-degree view above the Sidi Bou Saïd harbor.

Where To Stay In Tunis

The Four Seasons Tunis is the most luxurious place to stay in the Tunisian capital. A beachfront property located in the upscale Gammarth neighborhood, it is an oasis of calm about 15-minutes’ drive from Sidi Bou Saïd and 30-minutes from the Medina of Tunis. First opened in 2018, the hotel’s design features contemporary Arabesque architecture with Mediterranean influences.

It is an opulent property set upon multiple levels, with open-air courtyards and palm-lined walkways giving way to plush living rooms, outdoor patios and fountains throughout. Situated at the base of a grand staircase and surrounded by gardens, the outdoor swimming pool is the focal point of the hotel with dozens of loungers where guests can soak in the Tunisia sunshine.

The Four Seasons Tunis is the largest resort in the country with 203 rooms and suites, all equipped with private balconies or terraces. Opt for a sea-view suite for ample space to relax and enjoy views of the emerald ocean from your large private terrace. Guests will love the spacious bathrooms featuring double-vanities, heated marble floors and L'Occitane amenities.

The hotel has a myriad of dining options to please all palates, from raw seafood at the Blu Bar & Grill to Mediterranean specialties at the elegant Creek Bistro Chic. Taste dishes like sea bass ceviche with pickled onions and candied tomatoes, pan-fried beef tenderloin with foie gras and buttered croutons, or crepes stuffed with spinach, ricotta and parmesan cheese. The wine list offers an array of Tunisian labels that complement the local cuisine.

What To See & Do In Hammamet

Just one hour southeast of Tunis, Hammamet is considered Tunisia’s most elegant seaside resort. The name “Hammamet” literally means “baths” — a nod to the town’s crystal-clear sea and white sandy beaches — making it a perfect weekend getaway during the summer months. This charming, white-washed fishing village has attracted artists and affluent travelers since the 1920s, when Romanian millionaire George Sebastian built a large villa in town. His home, now affectionately referred to as Dar Sebastian, welcomed notable visitors including Jean Cocteau, Winston Churchill and Elsa Schiaparelli. Frank Lloyd Wright even declared it one of the most beautiful homes he had ever seen. The property, along with its gardens, is open daily for visits.

Hammamet also has a colorful medina selling local crafts, a 13th-century fort that offers sweeping views of the sea, and several excellent seafood restaurants. Le Barberousse, located along the ancient city walls, is one of the best.

Where To Stay In Hammamet

A stylish resort set upon its own private beach, La Badira is part of Leading Hotels of the World and is the most glamorous property in town. An adults-only hotel, it’s an ideal hideaway to spend a few days relaxing on the beach cabanas, enjoying indulgent wellness treatments and sipping cocktails by the property’s many reflecting pools. La Badira also offers a plethora of recreational activities, such as yoga retreats, golfing at a nearby club, tennis and cultural excursions in the area.

La Badira’s 130 suites are bright minimalist in style, with open floor plans and subtle, contemporary Arabic elements. Six special Nour Suites are named after famous artists who spent time in Hammamet and each features its own private pool. The colorful Paul Klee suite, a playful nod to the German painter's fanciful works, is a standout.

The Spa by Clarins offers dozens of wellness treatments in beautifully designed rooms, including a hammam experience with exfoliation, followed by a rebalancing massage with essential oils. The spa also has a flotarium where guests can float effortlessly in hot salt water, a waterbed for dry treatments, and an infrared sauna.

The hotel has numerous bars and restaurants to delight guests with local flavors. Adra serves upscale Tunisia fare like stewed lamb served with semolina, dried fruits and date juice, and chicken simmered with turmeric, candied lemon and saffron. Kamilah instead focuses on international favorites like steamed Vietnamese shrimp ravioli, Galician-style octopus with paprika, and forest risotto with fresh mushrooms and parmesan truffle oil.