Tunisia sits where the Mediterranean kisses the Sahara—an ancient crossroads shaped by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, and the French. In a compact week you can wander Roman baths at Carthage, sip mint tea above blue-and-white lanes in Sidi Bou Said, then ride a camel into glowing dunes at sunset.

Food is a daily highlight: brik (crispy egg pastry), grilled sea bass, and couscous crowned with harissa are staples. Coffee culture thrives in tiled patios and rooftop terraces, while seaside towns serve gelato and fresh-caught seafood. Dress modestly for mosques, carry cash (Tunisian dinar/TND), and note that museums often close on Mondays and hours shift during Ramadan.

This 7-day Tunisia itinerary focuses on two bases—Tunis and Hammamet—plus a 2-day Sahara experience. Expect manageable travel times, rich storytelling at world-class sites, and space to slow down by the sea. Fly into Tunis-Carthage Airport; most travelers spend their last night back on the coast for easy departure.

Tunis

Tunisia’s capital is a mosaic of UNESCO-listed Medina lanes, French-built boulevards, seaside ruins, and neighborhoods that spill toward the Gulf of Tunis. One moment you’re in a perfumed souk beneath carved cedar, the next you’re staring across the Antonine Baths toward a pearl-blue horizon.

Top draws include the Bardo Museum’s Roman mosaics, the Zitouna Mosque, Carthage’s hilltop Byrsa and harbors, and the artists’ aerie of Sidi Bou Said. The food scene runs from market kitchens to refined seafood temples; evenings often end with mint tea and bambalouni (sugar-dusted dough) with a view.

• Where to stay (Tunis): For boutique atmosphere, look at medina guesthouses like Dar Ben Gacem or La Maison d’Orient. In seaside suburbs (La Marsa/Gammarth), resorts and beach-view rooms abound. Browse options on Hotels.com (Tunis) or VRBO (Tunis).
• Getting in: Compare international flights to TUN on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival in Tunis, Carthage Coast Views

Morning: Fly into Tunis-Carthage (arrive afternoon per this plan). Onboard, read up on Carthage and the Medina—two worlds you’ll step into soon.

Afternoon: Land and check in. Shake off jet lag with a stroll on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, then slip into the Medina for a first mint tea at the rooftop of El Ali—part café, part library, with old-town views.

Evening: Head to Sidi Bou Said for a golden-hour walk. Watch the sea turn opal from Café des Nattes or the clifftop terrace by the marina. Dinner ideas: Au Bon Vieux Temps (sea views; classics like grilled prawns and couscous) or back in town at Dar Slah (fresh fish, lamb with rosemary, excellent brik). Finish with warm bambalouni dusted in sugar from a street stand.

Day 2: Medina, Bardo, Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said (Full-Day Tour)

Let a local expert stitch centuries together on a curated day that hits four icons—Tunis Medina, Bardo Museum, Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said—with lunch and hotel pickup included.

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

Expect a guided wander through souks of copper, perfumers, and weavers; the Zitouna Mosque’s courtyards; Carthage’s Antonine Baths and Punic harbors; and hilltop tea in Sidi Bou Said. After drop-off, dine at Chez Slah—a beloved seafood spot (try the grilled calamari or dorade), reservations advised.

Day 3: Roman Africa in the Hills—Dougga, Testour & Bulla Regia

Escape to the green hills of northwestern Tunisia where Roman Africa shines in open-air theaters and intact villas. This is a full, rewarding day from Tunis.

Book: Private Excursion to Testour, Dougga and Bulla Regia

At UNESCO-listed Dougga, stand on the stage of a Roman theater with olive groves rolling into the distance; at Bulla Regia, marvel at rare underground Roman houses built to beat the heat. Return to Tunis for a late dinner—consider Fondouk El Attarine in the medina (beautiful courtyard, couscous with seafood or lamb, rosewater sorbet).

Hammamet

A classic North African beach town, Hammamet balances storybook white ramparts with wide, sandy crescents and fragrant citrus groves. It’s where painters once decamped for light and where today you can swim, sail, or simply bask.

The medina sits right on the surf, and the cafés spill above the breakers. Hammamet is also Tunisia’s thalassotherapy capital—spa rituals with sea minerals trace back decades here—perfect before or after a desert adventure.

• Where to stay (Hammamet): For calm and style, look at adult-friendly resorts and beachfront stays north of the medina; families often like Yasmine Hammamet for pools and marinas. Compare options on Hotels.com (Hammamet) or VRBO (Hammamet).

Day 4: Tunis to Hammamet, Medina by the Sea

Morning (Travel): Depart Tunis for Hammamet. By car or taxi it’s ~1–1.5 hours (60–75 km). Expect ~150–250 TND for a private car; shared louage vans run ~12–15 TND; the SNCFT train via Bir Bouregba plus a short taxi is the budget pick (~10–20 TND total). Leave after breakfast to maximize beach time.

Afternoon: Check in and hit Hammamet North Beach for a swim. Wander the seafront ramparts and artisan shops in the medina—look for hand-painted ceramics and jasmine-scented oils. Coffee at Café Sidi Bouhdid sits right on the sea wall; the sea breeze pairs well with pine nut tea.

Evening: Dinner at Le Barberousse (stone walls, surf below your table; get the grilled sea bass, salad mechouia, and almond-milk pudding) or La Bella Marina (family-run, mixed grill and prawns à la plancha). For something sweet, the local institution Canari serves praline gelato and kaak warka pastries.

Days 5–6: 2-Day Sahara Tour with Night in a Tent

Trade the surf for dunes on a swift but soulful trip to the desert—camel silhouettes at sunset, a starry sky, and mountain villages where homes are carved into rock.

Book: From Tunis/Hammamet/Sousse: 2-day Sahara tour with night in tent

Typical routing includes a cultural stop in Kairouan (Great Mosque exteriors and old basins), the mirage-prone Chott El Jerid salt flats, and arrival in Douz for a guided camel trek to your Sahara camp. Expect a Berber dinner beneath a bright Milky Way.

On Day 2, visit Matmata to see troglodyte homes and desert scenery used as film backdrops, then return north by early evening. You’ll be dropped back in Hammamet in time for a seaside dinner—try fresh grilled calamari and a carafe of citronade.

Day 7: Seaside Slow Morning and Departure

Morning: Unwind with a classic Tunisian thalasso session—steam, seaweed wrap, and massage—before your flight. This private spa booking in Hammamet keeps timing smooth.

Book: Private Thalassotherapy Spa Session in Hammamet

Afternoon (Travel): Transfer to Tunis-Carthage Airport (~1–1.5 hours). Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have time for lunch en route, pause in Hammamet for a quick brik and salad mechouia at a simple café near the medina.

Food & Café Cheatsheet (Save for Later)

• Tunis: El Ali (Medina rooftop café; couscous and pastries), Chez Slah (seafood; book ahead), Dar Slah (traditional Tunisian plates), Au Bon Vieux Temps (Sidi Bou Said sea view), Le Golfe (La Marsa beachfront Mediterranean).
• Hammamet: Le Barberousse (on the ramparts; grilled fish), La Bella Marina (prawns, mixed grill), Café Sidi Bouhdid (sea-facing mint tea), Canari (gelato, kaak warka).

Optional Add-Ons (If You Have an Extra Day)

• El Jem & Kairouan: Combine the world’s second-largest Roman amphitheater with Tunisia’s spiritual capital on a long day trip from the coast.
• Kayak or paddle at sunrise: Calm morning seas in Hammamet are ideal for an hour of light activity before breakfast.

All-in-One Activity Links Used in This Itinerary

• Private tour: Medina, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Bardo + lunch
• Private Excursion to Testour, Dougga and Bulla Regia
• 2-day Sahara tour with night in tent (pickup Hammamet/Tunis/Sousse)
• Private Thalassotherapy Spa Session in Hammamet

Practical tips: Keep small bills for taxis and tips; Fridays and religious holidays affect site hours; shoulders and knees should be covered for mosque courtyards. The Bardo Museum is typically closed Mondays; confirm times a day prior. Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Nov) bring mild weather; summers are hot inland but breezy on the coast.

This week in Tunisia braids together Roman Africa, Andalusian blues, and Saharan silence—then returns you to the sea. You’ll leave with mosaic fragments in your memory: a call to prayer over the Medina, the taste of harissa and lemon, and dunes that glow long after sunset.