Straddling the Mediterranean and the Sahara, Tunisia has been a crossroads for Phoenicians, Romans, Arab dynasties, Andalusian traders, and the French. The result is a remarkably dense spread of UNESCO sites—from Carthage to Kairouan—set beside sea breezes and café culture. In a week, you can move from Punic harbors to mosaic-stacked museums, from whitewashed cliff villages to honey-colored ribats.

Food is half the story: brik aux oeufs (crispy pastries), couscous with sea bream or lamb, mechouia salads bright with harissa, and flaky “zrir” and “makroudh” sweets with mint tea and pine nuts. Coffee is strong, sunsets are unhurried, and hospitality is sincere. Dress modestly for religious sites, carry cash (Tunisian dinar is king), and check museum hours—many close on Mondays or for prayer windows.

This 7-day Tunisia itinerary focuses on two hubs for smooth travel: Tunis (for Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, and Dougga) and Sousse (for Kairouan, El Jem, and marina evenings). Arrivals and intercity moves are timed to keep logistics light, leaving your energy for souks, sea views, and the call to prayer echoing at dusk.

Tunis

Tunis pairs a living medina—tailors, coppersmiths, perfumers—with the shadow of mighty Carthage just up the Gulf. The blue-and-white perch of Sidi Bou Said is a quick hop, all bougainvillea and balconies, while the Bardo Museum showcases one of the world’s greatest Roman mosaic collections.

• Don’t miss: Carthage’s Antonine Baths at the sea, Zaytuna Mosque courtyards and rooftop views, Sidi Bou Said’s Café des Nattes and panoramic Café des Délices.
• Eat & drink: Dar El Jeld (refined, classic Tunisian in a restored mansion), El Ali (medina rooftop with couscous and brik), Fondouk El Attarine (caravanserai setting, seasonal Tunisian plates), Le Golfe in La Marsa (seafood right on the sand), Au Bon Vieux Temps in Sidi Bou Said (old-school terrace with Mediterranean plates).
• Fun fact: The Punic and Roman layers of Carthage were quarried in antiquity—what you see today is a puzzle of foundations, baths, cisterns, and hilltop temples with cinematic sea backdrops.

Where to stay (Tunis): Browse curated apartments and riad-style stays on VRBO Tunis or compare central hotels on Hotels.com Tunis.

Getting in: Fly into Tunis–Carthage (TUN). Check fares on Trip.com flights, compare routes to/from Europe on Omio flights, or build multi-city options on Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival in Tunis, Medina at Golden Hour

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Land at TUN and taxi 15–25 minutes to the medina or Ville Nouvelle. Drop bags and decompress with coffee and a pistachio “zrir” at a local institution like Gourmandise (several branches) or a mint tea at the medina’s historic Café El Mrabet.

Evening: Wander the medina’s main arteries (Souk el Attarine for perfumes, Souk des Chechias for traditional caps). For a welcome dinner, book Dar El Jeld for slow-cooked lamb with dried fruit, or head to El Ali for couscous with sea bream and a brik stuffed with egg and tuna. Nightcap on a terrace with views toward Zaytuna’s minaret.

Day 2: Carthage, Bardo Museum, Sidi Bou Said (Full-Day Private Tour)

Cover Tunisia’s north-star highlights efficiently on a guided day with hotel pickup and lunch included.

Carthage, Bardo Museum, Sidi Bou Said and Medina Private Day Tour

Expect Antonine Baths by the sea, Byrsa Hill viewpoints, the Bardo’s famed Ulysses and Neptune mosaics, and time in blue-and-white Sidi Bou Said for coffee at Café des Nattes or lemon sorbet. Guides streamline logistics and share deeper context on Punic, Roman, and Ottoman layers. If lunch is included, you’ll likely sample brik, couscous, and seasonal salads.

Day 3: Deep-Dive Tunis Medina + Evening in La Marsa

Morning: Start with rooftop vistas around Zaytuna Mosque—ask shopkeepers near Souk el Berka for terrace access (a small tip is customary). Visit the Dar Ben Abdallah/Othman-style palaces-turned-museums if open, then browse copperware and fabrics. Coffee break with pine nuts and “bambalouni” (fried dough) where street vendors set up.

Afternoon: Lunch in a historic setting at Fondouk El Attarine (light, seasonal plates in a courtyard). If you didn’t reach the Bardo yesterday, go now; otherwise explore La Goulette’s seaside prom or the Italianate Ville Nouvelle around Avenue Habib Bourguiba for Belle Époque façades.

Evening: Tram or taxi up the corniche to La Marsa. Sunset apéritif at the beach, then dinner at Le Golfe—grilled fish, olive-oil-forward salads, and semifreddo with waves nearly lapping the deck. For a romantic finish, stroll the sand and watch planes arc toward TUN.

Day 4: Roman North—Dougga and Bulla Regia (Full-Day Excursion)

Head inland for two of North Africa’s most evocative Roman sites. Dougga sprawls on a hill with a theater, Capitol, and sweeping olive-grove views; Bulla Regia hides its mosaics in remarkable underground villas designed for Saharan heat.

Full Day Dougga & Bulla Regia Via Testour Private tour with Lunch

Most tours include lunch and a photo stop in Andalusian-influenced Testour (note the clock tower with numbers reversed). Wear grippy shoes; bring a hat and water. It’s a big day but a pillar of any archaeology-minded Tunisia itinerary.

Sousse

Two hours south of Tunis, Sousse balances its sandy strand and marina life with a compact, UNESCO-listed medina. The honeyed stone of its ribat (fortified monastery) glows at sunset, and the Archaeological Museum holds mosaics that rival the capital’s.

• Highlights: Ribat of Sousse, Kasbah and Archaeological Museum, Port El Kantaoui marina, beach time, easy day trips to Kairouan and El Jem.
• Eat & drink: La Marmite (homey Tunisian classics—try the lamb couscous), Le Pécheur (fresh catch, grilled simply with lemon), The Saloon (casual steaks and burgers), and within the Mövenpick: Mosaïque (buffet with live stations) or Sendai (sushi and teppan).
• Local treat: Grab makroudh and almond pastries from Pâtisserie Masmoudi and a mint tea at a café maure on the ramparts.

Where to stay (Sousse): Compare beachfront apartments near Port El Kantaoui on VRBO Sousse or check resort deals on Hotels.com Sousse.

Getting from Tunis to Sousse: Morning SNCFT intercity trains take about 2h10–2h40; expect roughly 12–20 TND ($4–7) in 2nd class. Louage shared minibuses are a bit faster (~2h, 15–20 TND). If you prefer open-jaw airfare (e.g., into TUN, out of Monastir MIR or Enfidha NBE), price it on Kiwi.com.

Day 5: Transfer to Sousse, Beach and Medina

Morning: Depart Tunis after breakfast for the train to Sousse. Check in and stroll the seafront promenade to stretch your legs.

Afternoon: Explore the Ribat of Sousse (climb the watchtower for views) and the medina’s narrow lanes. Snack stop at Pâtisserie Masmoudi for almond-stuffed pastries, then visit the Archaeological Museum in the Kasbah for dazzling mosaics.

Evening: Head to Port El Kantaoui for marina vibes. Dinner at Le Pécheur for grilled sea bass or prawns with lemon and parsley, or keep it casual at The Saloon (Tex-Mex staples, lively atmosphere). Gelato on the quay to finish.

Day 6: Kairouan, El Jem, and Monastir (Private Day Trip)

Devote a day to three heavy hitters: Kairouan (Islam’s fourth-holiest city), El Jem (colossal Roman amphitheater), and a coastal pause in Monastir or back in Sousse.

Kairouan, El Jem, and Monastir Private Day Trip

In Kairouan, admire the Great Mosque’s vast courtyard and the Aghlabid Basins. In El Jem, stand in the arena and upper tiers to feel the scale. Your guide can suggest a traditional lunch—look for couscous with lamb or merguez, brik, and makroudh sweets Kairouan is famous for. Time permitting, stop by Monastir’s Ribat and seaside corniche before returning to Sousse.

Day 7: Easy Morning in Sousse, Hammam & Departure

Morning: Slow breakfast at a café maure—mint tea with pine nuts, pistachio pastries—and a last swim if weather allows. Consider a traditional hammam or hotel spa session to reset before travel.

Afternoon: Souvenir dash for ceramics, olive wood, and harissa. Depart from Monastir (MIR), Enfidha–Hammamet (NBE), or return by train to Tunis for flights out. Compare flights on Trip.com, check Europe-bound options on Omio flights, or build an open-jaw on Kiwi.com.

Optional/Alternative Tours You Can Swap In

Prefer a lighter day 2 or a half-day focus? Consider:

• Half-Day Carthage, Sidi Bou Said Private Tour with Licensed Guide

  

• Private tour: Medina, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Bardo Museum + lunch

  

Practical notes: Friday schedules may affect mosque access; dress modestly for religious sites. The Bardo Museum is open again, but hours can vary—check the day before. Taxis are inexpensive; agree to use the meter. For intercity moves, trains are comfortable; louages are faster but pack light.

In a week, you’ll have traced Tunisia’s spine: Punic harbors and Roman grandeur, medina lanes and sea-lapped terraces, sacred Kairouan and amphitheatrical El Jem. Leave room in your bag for spices and olive wood—and in your heart for that Sidi Bou Said sunset you’ll be replaying for years.