Things to do in Tunisia: My 1-week guide to the real Tunisia

If you're looking for the best things to do in Tunisia, my number one piece of advice is not to limit yourself to a beach resort if you want to experience the real, authentic and local side of this beautiful country. Tunisia is so much more than just all inclusive hotels and honestly? If you travel there to never leave your hotel, you are really missing out on experiencing the 'real' Tunisia.

I recently took my first trip to Tunisia and feel in love with this vibrant country, discovering colourful medinas, ancient ruins, bustling fish markets, family-run food producers and landscapes that changed dramatically every few hours. I didn't know what to expect, but Tunisia surpassed every expectation and welcomed me with open arms. This one-week Tunisia itinerary took me from the Mediterranean coast to ancient Roman cities and the historic heart of Kairouan, with plenty of food, culture and adventure along the way.

If you're new here, I'm Lucy, a solo travel expert and lifelong advocate for travelling beyond the obvious tourist trail. I'm passionate about inspiring travellers just like you to explore destinations a little more thoughtfully, going beyond the tourist tick-lists and connecting more deeply with a country, and it's people. This was exactly the kind of trip I love: meeting local people, eating food where it is made and discovering the stories behind a destination rather than simply rushing between its most famous sights.

So, is one week enough for Tunisia? Yes – although you could easily spend much longer here. A week gives you enough time to experience several very different sides of the country, particularly if you focus on northern Tunisia and central Tunisia. Although, I warn you... you will be desperate to return and see what else Tunisia has to offer!

This blog post is a press trip partnership with Discover Tunisia [AD] but I only ever share my honest reviews & travel experiences.

Best things to do in Tunisia? Here's where you'll find:

1. Is Tunisia worth visiting?
2. How to spend one week in Tunisia
3. How to travel from UK to Tunisia
4. Best hotels in Tunisia: Where to stay for a week in Tunisia
5. The best things to do in North Tunisia
6. Explore the Medina of Hammamet
7. Watch the sunset from Hammamet Fort
8. Eat fresh seafood in Kelibia and visit the fish market
9. Explore the Ancient Punic City of Kerkouane
10. Visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan
11. Learn how to make Makroudh in Kairouan
12. Discover traditional crafts at Dar Allani
13. Get lost in the Medina of Tunis
14. Explore the Ancient Ruins of Carthage
15. Eat and explore your way through Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa
16. Visit Dougga: One of Tunisia's Most Incredible Ancient Sites
17. Go ziplining in Testour

Is Tunisia worth visiting?

For those who are unsure whether Tunisia is the destination for them – hold my purse while I explain why it could be the perfect place for your next adventure. If you're craving an escape from Euro summer antics, Tunisia is the perfect entry point to travel in Northern Africa. 

Not only is the flight just 2.5 hours from London (that's quicker than flying to Greece!), but you'll also have the chance to immerse yourself in the country's fascinating blend of Mediterranean and French culture, Arab and Islamic heritage, Berber and Amazigh influences. Let's not forget the intriguing Punic and Roman history and ancient ruins. I hate the overused phrase "melting pot" but Tunisia truly is a melting pot with such a cross-section of culture that I believe it truly would appeal to any type of traveller. It's also a far more affordable trip than many of the Mediterranean neighbours and the all-year-round great weather makes it a great option for winter travel.

While Tunisia may be best known for it's all-inclusive hotels, I think travelling to this incredible country and never leaving the hotel would be the biggest waste of a visit. While the hotels are beautiful, my favourite moments of my trip that made Tunisia truly worth visiting were the moments where I as fully immersed in the authentic local culture, meeting the local people and experiencing true Tunisian hospitality.

One of the things I loved about Tunisia is how easy it is to combine lots of very different experiences into just a one-week trip. From desert to beaches, you can experience historic ruins recognised by UNESCO, experience the local culture through ancient handicrafts, traditions and pastry-making, then seek adventures in the desert or ocean. The foodies among us will love exploring this destination through the unique blend of Mediterranean and North African flavours. Your tastebuds will delight in fresh seafood, hearty couscous and tomato-based stews, spiced salads and the scent of harissa and cumin. Not forgetting some of the best pizza I have eaten in my life!

If, like me, you're a curious traveller who wants to explore beyond the hotel and connect with a destination beyond just sightseeing – Tunisia is the perfect holiday destination for you.

Before you travel, make sure you read my guide to The Best eSIM for Tunisia

How to spend one week in Tunisia

If I've worked my magic and convinced you to book a trip to Tunisia, you'll be wondering how to spend a week in the North African country. Lucky for you, I've done the research and I'm sharing the exact itinerary that I followed (with my recommendations for how to adapt it to suit your travel timeline). One week is the perfect amount of time to spend in Tunisia – you can fit so much into just a few days there, but this also allows you time to relax and rest alongside the adventures.

My itinerary focuses on exploring North Tunisia, centring around Tunis, but there are lots of alternative ways to explore the country by focusing on central Tunisia or south Tunisia. Once you've followed this itinerary, much like myself, you'll be eager to return and see another side to the country.

How to travel from UK to Tunisia

Travelling to Tunisia from the UK couldn't be easier, with around 42 flights per week and prices starting from £67. The flights take from 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Tunisia and I flew from London Gatwick which I found worked perfectly for my trip. Popular airlines include Tunisair and easyJet. Hot tip: the cheapest months to fly are November and December, which are also great months to visit the country, when the milder temperatures are perfect for exploring. >> Book your flight to Tunisia now

Best hotels in Tunisia: Where to stay for a week in Tunisia

TUI BLUE Palm Beach Hammamet

If you're looking for that all-inclusive experience by the sea, the TUI BLUE Palm Beach Hammamet hotel is the place you need to book. While I'm not usually an all-inclusive girl, I personally was blown away by the service at this hotel. The location was incredible with a private white sand beach, two swimming pools and everything you could dream of including nightly entertainment, an á la carte restaurant as well as the main restaurant, plus a gym, coffee shop and beach bars. One thing I loved about this hotel is how peaceful it was – a perfect oasis to retreat to after a busy day of exploring Tunisia. If you're quite an independent traveller, this hotel offers that perfect balance of comfort and luxury, while still being able to escape and explore the country's more authentic side. You can read my full TUI BLUE Palm Beach Hammamet review here.

>> Book your stay at TUI BLUE Palm Beach Hammamet now

The Nine Lifestyle Experience

If you're looking for a unique stay in Tunis, look no further than The Nine Lifestyle Experience. I loved the luxury boutique feel of this hotel and it's unique design nods to local artists and unique feature of Tunisian culture. Just two years old, this hotel prides itself in providing an authentic and immersive travel experience for visitors while also using the hotel as a place for training young hospitality workers and students to work in the industry. The hotel is stunning, but beyond that it also offers a great location just five minutes from the airport. You can also enjoy the restaurant, bar and nightly live music, bars and pizza station. I highly recommend trying the pizza – it was amazing! I really rated this as a great city stay for solo travellers who are looking for an elevated yet social stay – it would also be great for digital nomads with lots of communal and workspace downstairs.

>> Book your stay at The Nine Lifestyle Experience now

The best things to do in North Tunisia

There are so many incredible things to do in Tunisia – so actually one of the most tricky bits is narrowing it down to your favourites so you don't spend your trip rushing around trying to cram too much in. I found that it really helped to split North Tunisia up into smaller regions so I could focus on a different area each day to help keep travel times low and ensure you fit the most into your itinerary while still having time to relax. Here are some of my standout moments from the trip and the experiences I recommend squeezing into your 1 week itinerary for your Tunisia holiday.

1. Explore the Medina of Hammamet

If you're looking for places to visit in Tunisia, don't miss exploring Hammamet Medina – it's one of the best things to do in Hammamet, Tunisia. Wander the narrow streets and experience the contrast between the touristy resorts and this more historic side of Tunisia. Expect whitewashed buildings, ornate decorated doorways and traditional shops selling wares, handicrafts and souvenirs. If you would love to explore a Medina while in Tunisia, it was also the calmest and most peaceful one we visited, so it's a far less overwhelming experience compared to Tunis.

I love walking through the Medina and smelling the scent of spices mingling with the sea air. There's always an atmosphere, a buzz in the heart of the Medina and sunset is a great time to visit this beautiful seaside town. When I visited, we even had the pleasure of meeting a bride and groom who were recently married and having their wedding photos taken in the Medina and Fort. Outside the Medina walls, you can wander along the seafront, eat at popular restaurants and watch the local children diving into the water from the nearby rocks.

2. Watch the sunset from Hammamet Fort

Hot tip – make sure you visit Hammamet later in the day to watch the sunset at Hammamet Fort. It's the best place to watch the golden glow slip slowly towards the horizon as rowing boats and fishing boats cruise through the gentle waves. There's something really magical about the changing light on the ancient Fort walls and watching local children splash and backflip into the Mediterranean sea. Sunset is the perfect time to visit to experience Hammamet in all it's glory.

One thing I loved about Hammamet, I learned while visiting the town that jasmine is the national flower of Tunisia when a local offered me a tiny bouquet of my favourite flower and started to tell me about the historic connections between the flower and this area. The flower, although not native to the country, fills the streets of Hammamet due to the age-old connection with Andalucia in Spain. The fragrant scent is associated with purity and the flower remains a symbol of simplicity, serenity, purity, and happiness to the local people.

4. Eat fresh seafood in Kelibia and visit the fish market

If you're looking for unique gastronomic experiences when visiting Tunisia, pay a visit to the seaside town of Kelibia. Here, you will find El Mansourah restaurant which offers unparalleled panoramic sea views and a menus designed around the freshest catch of the day from local fishermen. This restaurant celebrates local produce and Tunisian flavours, while also offering the unique opportunity to dine with your toes in the ocean and to take a break between courses to swim.

Tunisia's coastline and cuisine are closely interlinked and the ocean is where the country's food culture begins. If you arrive in Kelibia early enough, you can also visit the local fish market with Mansourah's chef, who will select the ingredients right in front of you and give you the chance to see the journey of your food from fisherman to market to restaurant to plate. 

5. Explore the Ancient Punic City of Kerkouane

While most visitors head straight to Tunisia's Roman ruins, Kerkouane offers something completely different. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the only surviving Punic city that was never rebuilt by the Romans, giving you a rare glimpse into Carthaginian life over 2,000 years ago.

Set on the wild Cap Bon coastline, it's one of the most peaceful and fascinating ancient ruins in Tunisia, and an easy day trip if you're looking for things to do near Hammamet beyond the usual tourist trail.

Discover Kairouan: Tunisia's spiritual and culinary heart

Don't miss the beating cultural heart of Tunisia – Kairouan is such a special place and deserves a pot on your itinerary if you really want to connect with Tunisia's authentic side both past and present. It's also one of my favourite place where you can meet the locals and truly connect with them, something that has stayed with me long after landing back in the UK.

6. Visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan

Did you know that one of the holiest cities in Islam began with a legend about a golden goblet buried in the desert? The Great Mosque of Kairouan – also known as the Mosque of Uqba – was founded in 670 AD and is considered the fourth holiest site in Islam, after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. If you're looking for things to do in Kairouan, visiting this ancient, holy site is an absolute must for your trip to Tunisia.

But the story of how Kairouan, Tunisia, became a sacred city is even more fascinating. Legend says that when Uqba ibn Nafi first established a military camp here, his horse stumbled upon a golden goblet buried in the sand…

The goblet was said to have mysteriously disappeared from Mecca years earlier. When it was uncovered, a spring miraculously appeared beneath it – and legend says its waters came from the same source as the sacred Zamzam well in Mecca. Whether you believe the legend or not, Kairouan went on to become one of the most important centres of Islamic civilisation in North Africa.

Today, walking through the Great Mosque means stepping across more than 1,300 years of history, surrounded by Roman, Byzantine and pre-Islamic influences woven into its architecture.

7. Learn how to make Makroudh in Kairouan

One of the most unforgettable experiences from my Tunisia trip was discovering the very unique Kairouan food scene. My wild sidequest of the trip was becoming a Tunisian pastry chef and learning how to make the traditional Tunisian pastries known as makroudh. The city’s famous diamond-shaped pastry is made from semolina and filled with dates, cinnamon and orange blossom water. After shaping them, we cooked them and dipped them in fragrant honey.

But what made this experience so special was learning from Halima, who was taught the recipe by her mother and grandmother. For me, this is what travel is about. Not just seeing a new place, but learning its traditions from the people who have carried them through generations. It's such a special way of connecting the food on your plate with years of family history, cultural connection and a fun new skill that you won't forget. 

Did I eat an unreasonable amount of makroudh? Yes. Would I now like to abandon everything and become a Tunisian pastry chef? Absolutely.

>> Book Experience Makhroud with Halima

8. Discover traditional crafts at Dar Allani

Explore the history of Dar Allani and traditional handicrafts trail through Kairouan and discover the craftsmanship that connects the women of Tunisia's past with the current day. This is one of the best things to do in Kairouan and helps to give you a unique insight into local women artisans while experiencing the true Tunisian hospitality in a former Governors house. The building is also spectacular and a palace of the Kasbah of Algiers built in 1791 by Sidi Hassan. Enjoy sipping mint tea and nibbling makroudh as you learn about this side of Tunisian culture.

Generations of knowledge lie within these walls and visiting means you are supporting these traditional skills that many local women are moving away from in favour of more modern pursuits. Not only is it a great place to buy souvenirs, but you can also learn about what sets Kairouan apart in terms of quality, skill and luxury of these rugs.

Explore Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said

9. Get lost in the Medina of Tunis

Looking for activities for your Tunis itinerary? I've got you – visiting Tunis Medina is one of the best things to do in Tunis and a great way to culturally immerse yourself. However, I will pre-warn you to try and visit either in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler. Prepare yourself for full sensory overload and take time to soak up the sights, sounds and vibrant colours as you meander through the Medina. Personally, I love to wander through the tiny winding streets and to take it all in, particularly seeing the local sellers at work.

One thing I did love was that I found the sellers in the Medinas of Tunisia far less invasive and aggressive than when I've visited countries such as Morocco, Turkey or Egypt. They're happy to chat and show you their wares, but there's no pressure which I much prefer.

10. Explore the Ancient Ruins of Carthage

No trip to Tunisia is complete without visiting Carthage, one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean. Once the powerful capital of the Carthaginian Empire and later rebuilt by the Romans, today the sprawling Carthage ruins stretch across a series of archaeological sites overlooking the sea.

Walking through Roman baths, amphitheatres, villas and ancient harbours, it's easy to imagine the scale and influence this city once held, making it one of the most unforgettable things to do in Carthage, Tunisia.

11. Eat and explore your way through Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa

Everyone calls Sidi Bou Said the “Santorini of Tunisia”… but they forgot to mention the magical well. Perched above the Mediterranean, Sidi Bou Said is famous for its whitewashed buildings, blue doors and spectacular views. But beneath the postcard beauty is a much older story.

The town takes its name from Sidi Bou Said, a 13th-century Sufi saint whose mausoleum helped make this place a spiritual sanctuary. Local legends say there is a well here with miraculous healing powers – blessed by the holy man himself. Some say drinking from it can cure everything from headaches to more serious ailments.

Whether you believe in the legend or not, there is something about Sidi Bou Said that feels different from simply wandering through a pretty town. It’s a place shaped by spirituality, artists, centuries of history and stories that have been passed down through generations. So yes, it might look like a Mediterranean postcard. But Sidi Bou Said is so much more than Tunisia’s answer to Santorini.

My food lovers will enjoy trying the local cuisine this area is known for including bambalouni, brik, fricassé. These local street food dishes are a great way to eat your way through the area and really experience Sidi Bou Said beyond the picture postcard views.

12. Visit Dougga: One of Tunisia's Most Incredible Ancient Sites

If you only visit one ancient Roman site in Tunisia, make it Dougga – one of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tunisia. This was by far one of my highlights of the trip and was a truly incredible sight. What an honour it was to walk around such a fascinating ancient city and to learn about those who once called this ancient city home. The most haunting thing about Dougga isn’t how old it is. It’s how it became a ghost city. Hidden on a hilltop in northern Tunisia, Dougga is one of North Africa’s best-preserved Roman cities.

Walking through Dougga, Tunisia, is like stepping into the past. Unlike other popular archaeological sites, these Roman ruins in Tunisia are often completely empty due to the time it takes to reach them – but those more patient and persistent travellers who make it there will often be rewarded by having the entire site to themselves. There's something even more special about experiencing the scale of these ruins and quite how much of them is still standing when you can't see a single other person. If you're looking for things to do in Dougga, visit a 2,000-year-old Capitol theatre carved into the hillside, more than 20 temples, ancient baths and streets you can still walk through.

But people lived here long after the Roman Empire disappeared. Families made homes among the ancient columns. Children grew up with Roman ruins as their playground. Around 300 people still lived here in the 20th century. Then they were moved to make way for archaeology. Dougga had survived Numidians, Carthaginians, Romans, vandals and Byzantines – only to become truly empty in modern times.

And even its most famous monument has a story: in 1842, a British diplomat dismantled a 2,000-year-old mausoleum to steal a bilingual inscription. That stone later helped scholars decipher the ancient Numidian script. A city that survived four empires became a ghost city in the name of saving its history.

Hot tip: when you visit, make sure you pop by Dar Jdoud for lunch and try the fish cous cous (save a little bit for a the cute kitties that will want to make friends!)

13. Go ziplining in Testour

If you're a bit of an adventure seeker – here's a hot tip that you won't find in other Tunisia itineraries. Did you know you can go ziplining through the Tunisian mountains? Here's a completely unique experience that will get your blood pumping and give you a chance to experience the landscape of Testour from a different perspective.

It's a great way to add a little adrenaline to your Tunisia one week itinerary! Sadly the zipline was closed when I was there – we were supposed to visit but we had to cancel. However, I would love to go back and try the zipline. Make sure you book ahead and check before you arrive.