Tunisia blends ancient Carthage, Ottoman-era medinas, and endless Mediterranean blue. Phoenicians founded bustling ports, Romans built amphitheaters to rival Rome, and Andalusian and Ottoman artisans layered filigreed doors and tiled courtyards. Today, you’ll find UNESCO-listed quarters, relaxed seaside promenades, and surprisingly affordable spas.

Fun fact: the cliff-top village of Sidi Bou Said helped popularize the blue-and-white palette you’ll see throughout the coast. Tunisia is also a pioneer of thalassotherapy in the Mediterranean—think sea-water pools, algae wraps, and steam rituals, many at prices far lower than in Europe.

Practical notes: most visitors enter via Tunis–Carthage Airport. The Tunisian dinar (TND) is cash-forward; ATMs are common. Dress modestly in historic quarters and religious sites. For connectivity, pick up an Ooredoo/Orange/Tunisie Telecom SIM at the airport. As of 2025, sights like the Bardo Museum are open; always check hours locally.

Tunis

Tunis puts you at the crossroads of North African history and café culture. Wander the labyrinthine Medina of Tunis (UNESCO), step into tile-lined palaces, then ride the seaside TGM train to Carthage’s ruins and blue-windowed Sidi Bou Said for sunset.

Top sights include the Bardo Museum’s Roman mosaics, Zitouna Mosque’s courtyards, the Punic harbors of Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said’s cafés serving hot bambalouni doughnuts. Food spans spicy brik, grilled fish, and hand-rolled couscous.

• Where to stay (budget to midrange): Search stays near the Medina, Lafayette, or La Marsa for value and easy transport. - VRBO Tunis - Hotels.com Tunis
• Getting in: Fly to Tunis–Carthage (TUN). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re starting in Europe, also check Omio (flights).

Great tours to consider:

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

Walking Tour through the Medina of Tunis (Pay what you want)

Hammamet

Hammamet is Tunisia’s easygoing beach retreat. Its whitewashed medina dips into a wide bay, jasmine perfumes the lanes, and the town is famed for thalassotherapy—sea-powered spa rituals that are both soothing and affordable.

Spend unhurried hours between soft-sand beaches, mint tea terraces, and day-pass spa circuits. For a gentle splash of activity, paddle at sunrise, then laze with a book and fresh pomegranate juice.

• Where to stay (budget to midrange): Look in the Old Medina, central Hammamet, or Yasmine Hammamet for value and beach access. - VRBO Hammamet - Hotels.com Hammamet
• Getting there from Tunis: Morning louage (shared minivan) from Bab Alioua station to Hammamet takes ~1–1.5 hours (~8–12 TND). Intercity bus is similar; a private taxi runs ~120–160 TND. Trains reach nearby Bir Bouregba, then a short taxi.

Great tours to consider:

Paddle with us in Golf Hammamet

Hammamet quad bike tour in the mountain with tasting of olive oil and bread (optional light adventure)

Day 1: Arrive in Tunis, Tea under the Minarets

Morning: In transit. Compare flights to Tunis–Carthage on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If flying from Europe, also check Omio.

Afternoon (arrival): Check into your Tunis stay (VRBO / Hotels.com) and stretch your legs along Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Pop into Pâtisserie Masmoudi for pistachio makroud and a mint lemonade—an easy, budget pick-me-up.

Evening: Slip into the Medina for a gentle introduction: dine on brik à l’œuf and grilled sea bream at Dar Essid or the cozy El Ali rooftop. Finish with mint tea and pine nuts at Café Mrabet’s terrace overlooking antique rooftops.

Day 2: Slow Medina Morning + Tip-Based Walking Tour

Morning: Breakfast on msemen (flaky pancakes) and honey at a simple café near Bab el Bhar. Explore artisan alleys—look for hand-painted ceramics on Souk des Chechias and copperware workshops.

Afternoon: Join a pay-what-you-wish stroll of the old city: Walking Tour through the Medina of Tunis (Pay what you want). You’ll learn why the Zitouna Mosque anchors the urban plan and how caravanserais powered trade.

Evening: Unwind in a traditional hammam. Hammam El Kachachine (men/women hours vary) is a historic, budget-friendly choice—think steamy domes, a black soap scrub, and a head-to-toe rinse (tip the attendant). Dinner can be kafteji (fried veg and egg) at a simple kiosk or a fragrant couscous with lamb and raisins at Fondouk El Attarine.

Day 3: Carthage Mosaics, Sidi Bou Said Views

Morning: If you’d like a guided, time-efficient day, book Carthage, Bardo Museum, Sidi Bou Said and Medina Private Day Tour. Self-guiding? Head first to the Bardo Museum to see world-class mosaics (Ulysses and Neptune are highlights).

Afternoon: Ride the TGM light rail to Carthage for the Antonine Baths and Punic harbors. Continue to Sidi Bou Said: snack on hot bambalouni at Café des Nattes and photograph blue doors wreathed in bougainvillea.

Evening: Watch the sun fall from Café des Délices’ tiered decks above the bay. Back in Tunis, seafood lovers can try Chez Slah’s grilled fish (arrive early; it’s popular), or keep it thrifty with a brik-and-salad combo near Lafayette.

Day 4: Tunis → Hammamet, Beach and Thalasso

Morning: Transfer to Hammamet. The louage from Bab Alioua takes ~1–1.5 hours (~8–12 TND). Check into your stay near the beach (VRBO Hammamet / Hotels.com Hammamet).

Afternoon: Ease into the sea. For a restorative reset, look for a thalasso day pass (often ~$25–45) at Bio Azur Thalasso (Bel Azur area) or a spa circuit in Yasmine Hammamet—expect heated seawater pool, sauna, and jet showers.

Evening: Dinner on the ramparts at Restaurant Sidi Bouhdid: harissa, meze, and grilled catch of the day with the medina walls glowing. Walk the sand afterwards listening to the surf.

Day 5: Paddle at Sunrise, Hammam After Lunch

Morning: Greet the day from the water with Paddle with us in Golf Hammamet—gentle, scenic, and meditative, ideal for a relaxing vibe.

Afternoon: Long lunch at Chez Achour (beloved for fresh fish and Tunisian salads) or a budget plate of merguez with frites near the central beach. Then a traditional hammam: steam, kessa glove scrub, and a relaxing rinse; plan ~$5–12 plus a tip.

Evening: Golden hour along the bay, then mint tea or almond sorbet at a beachfront café. If you want live oud music, ask locally for small venues with nightly sets—intimate, low-cost, and atmospheric.

Day 6: Hammamet Medina, Yasmine Promenade, Optional Quad

Morning: Explore Hammamet’s compact medina and the 15th-century kasbah. Shop for jasmine essence, olive-wood trays, or hand-loomed foutas (towels). Breakfast on bambalouni and thick Turkish-style coffee.

Afternoon: Stroll Yasmine Hammamet’s marina—great for benches, sea breezes, and people-watching on a shoestring. For another spa dose, consider a short thalasso session (algae wrap + hydro-massage are soothing on tired muscles).

Evening: If you fancy light adventure before sunset, book the Hammamet quad bike tour into low hills (fun but optional). Otherwise, dine cheaply on ojja (spicy tomato stew with eggs) and warm bread at a local eatery; finish with date pastries.

Day 7: Slow Morning, Departure

Morning: Final swim or beach walk, then a simple breakfast: fricassé (savory tuna-and-harri​sa sandwich) and a pomegranate juice. If time allows, one last steam at a neighborhood hammam.

Afternoon (departure): Head to Tunis–Carthage (TUN) in ~1–1.5 hours, or Enfidha–Hammamet Airport (NBE) in ~45–60 minutes. Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Keep a few dinars handy for airport snacks and water.

Evening: In transit.

Where to eat and drink highlights (budget-leaning):

• Tunis: El Ali (Medina terrace; couscous and brik), Café Mrabet (historic tea house), Pâtisserie Masmoudi (sweets), simple kafteji stands around Lafayette for a filling plate under 10 TND.
• Sidi Bou Said: Café des Nattes (bambalouni + tea), Café des Délices (views of the bay; come for sunset).
• Hammamet: Chez Achour (fresh fish at fair prices), Restaurant Sidi Bouhdid (walls-and-sea views), casual shawarma/merguez grills along Avenue de la République for quick, cheap bites.

Optional extras if you crave more culture:

• Switch Day 3 to this combo from Hammamet or Tunis: From Hammamet or Tunis: Carthage, Bardo, Sidi Bou Said and Medina

This relaxed Tunisia itinerary keeps costs low while delivering spa time, soft-sand beaches, and history-steeped wanderings. You’ll return home with salt in your hair, mint tea in your memory, and the blue-and-white calm of Sidi Bou Said stamped on your camera—and your mood.