I recently visited Tunis, Tunisia with my travel buddy Steph in April 2022. To my surprise, I absolutely fell in love with the country and it has become one of my favourite trips to date. What made it so special was the people; everyone we met was so kind, welcoming and just wanted to help us make our trip as great as possible.
We happened to visit in the month of Ramadan, a spiritual time in the Islamic calendar for fasting, prayer and self-reflection. What was so special about visiting in this time, was seeing the sense of community and connection between families and friends. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post about my experience in Tunisia during Ramadan.
Currency in Tunisia
We arrived into Tunis airport around lunchtime and one of the first things to note is the number of currency exchange stands in the airport. Tunisia has a closed currency, which means that it is illegal to import or export the Tunisian Dinar into or out of the country. The currency exchange stands all have the same rates and accept a vast number of worldwide currencies – it is very important to keep your receipt so you can exchange the money back at the end of your trip!
Meeting the locals
We were very lucky that on our first night, a friend of Steph’s was also in Tunis, so we took the opportunity to meet with her and her friend for our first Iftar (the evening meal which ends the daily fast during Ramadan). She introduced us to a local who lives in the suburbs of Tunis. He was so lovely and for the rest of our trip became pivotal in showing us around and teaching us about the language, culture and politics in Tunisia.
He gave us so many brilliant recommendations of restaurants to go to for Iftar, he took us to some really great bars in the evenings to show us the celebrations that happen during Ramadan and he helped us to navigate our time in Tunis and recommended many local places to visit. We were so grateful to meet him and know that we have made a great friend for life!
We also met a number of other locals who were extremely welcoming and happy to meet us. Every one of them offered to tell us a little bit about Tunisia and their experiences living in the country. It was so lovely to meet so many kind people.
The Medina of Tunis
One of my favourite places in Tunis is the central Medina. It consists of narrow streets, full of unique shops and souks with handicrafts, food, clothing and many other items. There are also restaurants and bars dotted throughout, alongside residential houses hidden in every corner. There are also number of historic and symbolic monuments in the Medina, alongside grand mosques. The ancient gates of the Medina still stand as monuments, showing where the original Medina walls would have stood – Bab el Bhar is the gate that marks the main entrance into the Medina from the centre of Tunis.
Carthage
We stayed close to the historic city of Carthage, in a residential area called Salammbo, hosted in a beautiful Airbnb by a lovely lady. We were close to a beach and around 300 metres from a train station, which became our primary method of getting around. The train station served Tunis, central Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa.
Carthage was historically destroyed and rebuilt by the Roman Empire and is now known as an archaeological site, where you can visit the old roman ruins, including old residential villas, theatres and an ancient citadel. There are roman landmarks dotted around the city and with one ticket that costs 12 Dinar, you can visit all of these, alongside the museum of Carthage.
Sidi Bou Said
The most beautiful stop on our trip was visiting Sidi Bou Said, a stunning clifftop village of white and blue buildings. It is a hidden gem, a charming village which has a rather Greek feel and somewhat resembles Santorini, Greece. If you are visiting Tunis, it is a must visit spot. From the train station, it is a winding walk up beautiful streets of blue, white and coloured doorways. From the top of the hill, there is a stunning view of the Mediterranean sea, with a backdrop of mountains, alongside the city of Tunis in the distance.
La Marsa
La Marsa is another small and beautiful town, which is the final destination on the train line from Tunis. Best known for being a coastal town in northern Tunisia, it did not disappoint. The beach stretches as far as you can see, with numerous cafes, restaurants and bars along it. We stopped for lunch in a lovely restaurant and sat on its roof terrace overlooking the beach. We even spotted a camel sitting near the promenade!
In summary, Tunisia has really left its mark on me and I would absolutely love to return. Not only to visit the wonderful friends we made, but also to explore more of the beautiful country. During our time in Tunis, we heard so much about southern Tunisia, in the heart of the Sahara desert, an oasis of towns, villages and national parks. I would love to return and spend some time visiting the south of the country and continuing my Tunisian adventures!