Medina and Village Walks in Tunisia

October 31, 2026

Advice, 31 October 2026. Tunisia is Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) on the US State Department scale, and the UK FCDO (updated 24 July 2026) advises against all or all-but-essential travel to certain border and military areas. Check the current US State Department and UK FCDO advice before booking; some border and military areas are closed to tourists. The three walks below are in Tunis, Sidi Bou Said and Sousse, on the main tourist circuit.

How walking tours work here

Tunisia does not have a daily schedule of free English-language walking tours of the kind found in many European cities. Most visitors walk on their own with a route and a map, or book a private walk with a licensed local guide. Medina lanes are narrow and often unsigned, so a guide is useful on your first visit. Wear sturdy shoes, since the cobbles are uneven and slope towards central drainage channels. Cover your shoulders and knees in medinas and residential quarters.

Tunis medina, about three hours

The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the walk is about 3 km. Start at Bab El Bhar, the stone gate known as Porte de France, which separates the colonial new town from the old city. Climb Rue Jamaa Ezzitouna, where shops sell brassware, perfume oils and leather slippers. The route reaches the courtyard of Ez-Zitouna Mosque, which non-Muslims may view in the morning but not enter beyond.

North of the mosque is Souk El Attarine, the perfume market, scented with jasmine and orange-blossom water. Turn into the Souk des Chechias, where hand-knitted and felted red caps are made. Pass the Medersa Slimania and Dar Lasram, a nineteenth-century mansion with carved stucco and painted ceilings that often hosts exhibitions. Finish at Place du Gouvernement, in front of the Kasbah Mosque.

Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the wide boulevard in the new town, is a colonial-era street of the 1890s. It is pleasant for a coffee, but it is not part of the UNESCO listing.

Sidi Bou Said, up to two hours

This walk is about 2 km. Start at the TGM station and climb Rue Habib Thameur, with its white walls, blue grilles and arched doors. Dar El Annabi, an 18th-century house museum with courtyards and a roof terrace, is worth an hour. Walk on past the lighthouse to the terrace of Cafe des Nattes, known for mint tea and its matting seats, which the painter August Macke visited in 1914. You can also go down the steps to Cafe Sidi Chabaane, also called Cafe des Delices, for views of the Gulf of Tunis and the twin peaks of Jebel Boukornine. The village is quietest in the morning.

Sousse medina and ramparts, about two hours

This walk is about 2.5 km. Begin at Place Farhat Hached and enter the walled medina by Bab El Bhar. Visit the ninth-century Great Mosque, then the Ribat, founded in 796 AD. Its 30 m watchtower gives views over the roofs to the sea. Climb through the covered souks, including Souk El Caid, to the kasbah. It houses the Archaeological Museum of Sousse, whose Roman mosaics include a Head of Medusa and a Triumph of Bacchus. Check opening days before you go.

Practical tips

Ask a guide for an official badge, agree the price in dinars before you start, and agree the language. Carry small notes for tips and for mosque courtyard entries. Keep exchange slips from any bank or desk where you change money.

Private guided walks in Tunis can be compared on GetYourGuide . Official pages: Discover Tunisia and UK FCDO Tunisia advice .