A blue-domed clifftop terrace in Sidi Bou Said above the Mediterranean at sunset

Tunisia

Tunis

Sidi Bou Said, Carthage & the coast · 6 must-see spots

The trip

Beautiful — and hotter than we bargained for.

Tunis surprised us in the best way. The star is Sidi Bou Said, a blue-and-white village on a cliff above the sea that's every bit as pretty as the Greek islands, plus the ancient ruins of Carthage and a proper old Medina right there too. Fair warning: we went in August and it was extremely hot — bring water and pace yourself. Two practical tips that made everything easier: carry cash (lots of places don't take card), and use the local ride-hailing apps — they're cheap and worked really well for us. We visited in August 2026.

Andrew by a bright blue studded Tunisian door with a black-and-white striped arch in Sidi Bou Said A Sidi Bou Said lane draped in magenta bougainvillea above craft shops
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Sidi Bou Said

📍 Sidi Bou Said · on the cliffs north of Tunis

Our favourite place in Tunisia by a mile. A whole hilltop village painted crisp white with cobalt-blue doors, windows and shutters, tumbling with bougainvillea and cobbled lanes that open onto the sea. It's made for wandering — every corner is a photo. Go in the late afternoon as it cools down and the light turns golden, and give yourself time to just get lost in it.

Blue & white everywhereGo late afternoon
A blue-domed café terrace in Sidi Bou Said overlooking the sea at sunset Us at a clifftop viewpoint above the Sidi Bou Said marina at sunset
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Sunset from the clifftop cafés

📍 Café Sidi Chabaane & the Sidi Bou Said terraces

Stay in Sidi Bou Said until sunset — it's the moment the whole trip builds to. The tiered clifftop cafés (Café Sidi Chabaane is the famous one) look straight out over the marina and the Gulf of Tunis, and everyone gathers with a mint tea and pine nuts as the sky turns pink and orange. There's a clip of that exact scene further down. Get there a little early to grab a spot on the edge.

Mint tea + pine nutsArrive before sunset
Us in front of an ornate yellow studded Tunisian door set in a carved stone arch Andrew in front of a wall of magenta bougainvillea
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The famous Tunisian doors

📍 Sidi Bou Said & the Tunis Medina

Tunisia's studded doors are a whole thing, and once you start noticing them you can't stop. Each one is a hand-worked pattern of black nailheads on bright blue or yellow, framed by carved stone or striped arches, and half of them are framed by cascades of bougainvillea. Collecting door photos became our favourite little game of the trip.

A photo gameEvery colour
A honey-coloured brick arch among the ancient ruins of Carthage A weathered Roman marble torso on a plinth at Carthage with the sea behind
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The ruins of Carthage

📍 Carthage · between Tunis and Sidi Bou Said

Once the great rival of Rome, Carthage is now a scatter of ancient sites spread along the coast — Roman baths, columns, mosaics and marble statues, all with the blue Mediterranean behind them. It's a lot of ground in the heat, so the easiest way to see it (and pair it with Sidi Bou Said and the Medina in one day) is on a guided trip. This is the one we'd point you to.

UNESCO siteLots of walking
GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Carthage, Sidi Bou Said & the Medina of Tunis with Tunisian Lunch

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Melody walking past a wall of colourful Tunisian ceramic plates and a red carpet Melody sitting on steps in front of hand-painted plates and a red kilim
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The Medina & the souks

📍 Medina of Tunis (UNESCO) · & the Sidi Bou Said craft stalls

The old walled Medina of Tunis is a labyrinth of covered souks selling hand-painted ceramics, carpets, leather, lanterns and art — colour piled on colour. It's a feast for the eyes and the place to pick up something beautiful to bring home (haggling expected, and this is where the cash comes in). If you'd rather have it all arranged with a guide, we'd suggest the private version of the day trip.

Bring cash & haggleHand-painted ceramics
GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Tunis: Medina, Carthage & Sidi Bou Said Private Trip with Lunch

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Andrew paddling at the shoreline of a Tunis beach with turquoise water Us on a palm-shaded seafront promenade with a blue railing at golden hour
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The beaches & the coast

📍 La Marsa & Gammarth · north of Tunis

In August you'll want the sea, and the coast north of the city delivers — long sandy beaches at La Marsa and Gammarth with warm, clear water, palm-lined promenades and cafés right on the front. It's the perfect way to cool off between the sightseeing and the heat, and the golden-hour walks along the water were some of our calmest, happiest moments of the trip.

Cool off from the heatSunset promenades

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The most Instagram-worthy shots

If you only chase a handful of frames, chase these. Tap through to see them on our feed.

Sidi Bou Said sunset terrace Blue Tunisian door Yellow Tunisian door Sidi Bou Said marina at sunset Tunisian ceramics wall Palm-shaded seafront

The full roll

More from Tunisia

A clear-water Tunis beach and headland A Tunisian art and carpet shop crammed with paintings and lanterns A striking white domed building on the seafront A bougainvillea-draped lane of craft shops in Sidi Bou Said An ancient brick arch at Carthage Melody among the ceramics stalls Andrew by a wall of bougainvillea Andrew at the shoreline