Attractions of Tunis city - what to see

There are plenty of noteworthy attractions in Tunis; according to some estimates, their number reaches 600, so it is impossible to see them all in one day. Most of them are located in the Old City area, part in the center of the New City, and part in adjacent districts. We have tried to highlight the most interesting places.

The city's main street - Habib Bourguiba Avenue (Avenue Habib Bourguiba)

Can confidently be considered one of the main attractions of the city. After all, without visiting the capital's center, it's impossible to form a proper impression of the country. The street begins from the road that goes through Lake Tunis inland and ends at Independence Square (Place de L'Independance) at the statue of Ibn Khaldun (Ibn Khaldun) – a public figure, scientist, economist, philosopher who lived in the 14th century. Then it turns into Rue de France, which, in turn, ends at the gates of the Old City (Medina) – Bab el Bahr (Bab el Bahr). It's pleasant to stroll along the promenade that runs the entire length of the street, lined with trees on both sides; it's also a favorite place for walks and meetings for Tunisians themselves.

Habib Bourguiba Avenue is home to the most luxurious hotels, the Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul, the national theater, bank offices and administrative buildings, shops and restaurants.

Place 14 Janvier 2011 (Palas du 14 Janiver 2011) features an analogue of London's Big Ben - a clock tower (Clock Tower), installed in honor of the revolution that occurred 23 years ago, which brought President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to power. After the events that took place in Tunisia from December 2010 to January 2011, which entered the country's history as the Jasmine Revolution, President Ben Ali was overthrown, and Place du 7 Novembre 1987 was renamed Palas du 14 Janiver 2011. There is a fountain in front of the tower.

🚶 How to get there: city center, Habib Bourguiba Avenue (Avenue Habib Bourguiba), (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: 24/7, but there's nothing to do here at night.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul (Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul)

The main Catholic church in Tunis. The Cathedral owes its presence to the French protectorate. It was built in 1882 in the Neo-Romanesque style, combining features of earlier eras in its architecture: Gothic, Moorish, Byzantine. The cathedral is named after the French priest Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), who was canonized as a saint. He was engaged in extensive charity work and missionary work outside France. During one of his trips, he was sold into slavery in Tunis, where after liberation he preached Christianity among the local population.

🚶 How to get there: along Habib Bourguiba Avenue (Avenue Habib Bourguiba) west to Independence Square (Place de L'Independance); by metro (lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 14) to Habib Thameur station, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: daily, Monday-Friday 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00, Saturday 8:00-12:00, Sunday - closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

Medina (Medina)

The Medina (or Old City) of Tunis is located in the city center, not far from the main street – Habib Bourguiba Avenue. In 1979, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

According to some sources, the territory of the Medina began to form in the 7th – 8th centuries, and active construction took place from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Before the arrival of the French in the city, the entire urban population lived within the Old City. There is no single entrance to the Medina territory; the area itself is not surrounded by a city wall (although a wall originally existed), as in some other Tunisian cities. The symbolic gate Bab el Bahr (Bab el Bahr) or French Gate or Porte de France marks the entrance to the Medina. They were built at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century and serve as a kind of border between the Old and New City. The Medina territory is conditionally divided into several markets or Souks (Souk), where only goods of a specific purpose are traded, for example, markets for carpets, jewelry, ceramics, fabrics, leather, clothing, food. Wandering through the narrow winding streets with local houses and craft workshops, looking at goods, buying souvenirs for relatives, combining this walk with visiting some attractions – is an excellent remedy for boredom. Among the interesting attractions located within the Medina, we note such as the Great Mosque (Al-Zaytuna Mosque), the museums Dar Ben Abdallah, Dar Lasram, Dar Othman, the Hammouda Pacha and Sidi Mahrez mosques with mausoleums, the Turbet el Bey Mausoleum, the Youssef Dey Mosque, madrasas (schools for studying Islam).

🚶 How to get there: city center, west of Habib Bourguiba Avenue (Avenue Habib Bourguiba), (on the map).

🕐 Opening hours: daily.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

Al-Zaytuna Mosque (Al Zaytuna Mosque) or Great Mosque (Great Mosque)

The largest and oldest Mosque in Tunis; in terms of significance, only the Mosque in Kairouan can rival it. It is also known as the Mosque of Olives, named after an olive tree that once grew on this site. It is located in the center of the Medina, surrounded by a labyrinth of streets, markets, and several madrasas. It was built during the rule of the Aghlabid dynasty in 734 AD, then rebuilt and supplemented with individual elements in 864 AD, and also in later periods; for example, the minaret was added only in the 19th century. The inner courtyard, where followers of other religions may be admitted, is surrounded by numerous columns with arched entrances; it is simple and modest.

Al-Zaytuna Mosque is the main pilgrimage site during important Muslim holidays. Local traders, whose shops are located near the Mosque, may offer you to go up to their shop and look at the Mosque from above; however, for this service, they will very persistently and sometimes rudely try to sell you their goods.

🚶 How to get there: center of the Medina (near the public library), from Bab el Bahr gate along Jamaa Ez Zitouna street to Souk el Belat street turn right, to Souk Attarin street turn left; by metro (lines 4, 2, 14, 3, 12, 5) to Habib Thameur or Place de Barcelone stations, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: daily from 8:00 – 11:00, Friday – closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: Muslims – free, non-Muslims – entry to the prayer hall is prohibited (entry to the courtyard - 2 dinars, see currency of Tunisia)

Hammouda Pacha Mosque (Hammouda Pacha Mosque)

North of Al-Zaytuna Mosque (about 100 m) is the Hammouda Pacha Mosque. It is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Tunis. It was built in 1655 as a mausoleum for the bey Hammouda Pacha (1782-1814). Today it serves two functions: as an active mosque and as a mausoleum. Moreover, it served as the prototype for the Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum in Monastir. Its architecture is in the style of Muslim Baroque, which came to Tunisia during Turkish rule.

The rectangular prayer hall is lined with columns with arched passages and domed ceilings. The mihrab in the form of a horseshoe arch is made of white and black marble. The walls and ceilings of the hall are decorated with patterns and crescents, and fine carvings. The tall minaret has eight sides.

South of the Mosque is the Hammouda Pacha Mausoleum (Hammouda Pacha Mausoleum). It is a room measuring 6 by 6 meters. The tomb itself is built in the shape of a pyramid and faced with green marble. Next to it is another room where his relatives are buried.

🚶 How to get there: center of the Medina, north of Al-Zaytuna Mosque (Al Zaytuna Mosque), in the southeastern corner of the intersection of Rue Sidi ben Arous and Rue de la Kasbah, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: open during prayers.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: Muslims – free, non-Muslims (entry to the inner courtyard) – for a fee.

Kasbah Mosque (Kasbah Mosque)

Originally, on the site where the Kasbah Mosque stands today, the first city fortification stretched; the period of its construction dates back to the 12th century. It covered an area of about 8 hectares. Behind 10-meter high walls were hidden a mosque, a palace, administrative buildings, and barracks. After the arrival of French troops in 1883, only some parts of the Kasbah remained. In particular, the Kasbah Mosque. It was built in 1235 under the Hafsid dynasty by ruler Abu Zakariya (1229-1249) as a palace for him, later repurposed into a mosque. The Kasbah Mosque is interesting primarily for the decoration of its minaret, as well as its interior decoration (after all, it was a palace) and the fact that it is located at the highest point of the Medina. By the way, a white flag is still raised on its minaret, which serves as a signal for the call to prayer for other mosques.

🚶 How to get there: west of the Medina, in the southwestern corner of the intersection of Rue du 2 Mars 1934 and Boulevard Bab Mnara, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: during prayers.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: Muslims – free, non-Muslims (entry to the inner courtyard) – for a fee.

Youssef Dey Mosque (Youssef Dey Mosque)

In the western part of the Medina, not far (about 100 m) from Al-Zaytuna Mosque, stands the Youssef Dey Mosque, built by a Turkish architect in 1616. In its time, it was an example of a new style in mosque construction. The attention is drawn to the octagonal minaret crowned with a green roof, which became the prototype for the construction of similar minarets later in Tunisia. The mosque building also houses the mausoleum of Youssef Dey himself and his family.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, Souq el-Berka street, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: during prayers.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: Muslims – free, non-Muslims entry prohibited.

Dar Hussein Palace (Dar Hussein)

The palace is interesting primarily for its history, and only a small part of it is open for visits, including a large inner courtyard with galleries.

On the site where the Museum now stands, there once stood the Beni Khorassen Palace (Beni Khorassen), built in the 11th century. In the 18th century, the house was rebuilt by the son-in-law of the ruling bey - Ismail Kahia (Ismail Kahia). In 1858, it was the residence of the city council, whose chairman was Hussein. From 1881 to 1956, the palace housed the commander of the French troops. Currently, it houses the National Institute of Archaeology and Art.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, Rue de Chateau street, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: unknown.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: unknown.

Dar Ben Abdallah Museum (Dar Ben Abdallah Museum)

The museum is located in a former palace of the Tunisian nobility, built in 1796. The museum's exhibition allows you to imagine how a wealthy family lived in the 18th-19th centuries. The house has an inner courtyard with a series of columns, from which you can access the exhibition halls. The walls and ceilings of the rooms are lined with mosaic patterns. The rooms themselves recreate domestic scenes of family life; some items (dresses, toys, dishes, furniture, etc.) are also on display. Four rooms are used to recreate the life of the bourgeoisie in the 19th century.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, 100 m east of the Turbet el Bey Mausoleum, Rue Sidi Kacem street, Impasse Ben Abdallah; by metro (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14) to Place de Barcelone station, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: daily, 09:30-16:30, Monday - closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 5 dinars.

Turbet el Bey Mausoleum (Turbet el Bey Mausoleum)

In the southern part of the Medina, about 100 m west of the Dar Ben Abdallah Museum, is the Turbet el Bey Mausoleum. This large burial place is the resting place of the rulers of the Husainid dynasty, as well as members of their families and particularly close associates. It was erected under ruler Ali Pasha (or Ali Bey II, 1759-1982) under the influence of the Turkish style of mausoleum construction, which allows for rich decoration. The construction of the Mausoleum took place from 1759 to 1761. The walls of the rooms are lined with ceramic tiles and decorated with carvings. The room where the rulers of Tunisia rest is the most richly decorated.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, at the intersection of Rue Tourbet el-Bey and Rue Sidi Kacem, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: daily, 09:30-16:30, Monday - closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 2 dinars, photo – 1 dinar.

Dar Othman (Dar Othman)

Northeast of the Dar Ben Abdallah Museum is one of the oldest and most beautiful palaces of the Tunisian nobility – Dar Othman. It was built by the pirate Othman Dey (Othman Dey) as a personal residence in the 17th century. Part of the premises is now occupied by the Association for the Preservation of the Medina.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, Rue el Sidi Ettinji street (or Rue el M'Bazz street), (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: unknown.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: unknown.

Dar Lasram (Dar Lasram)

The palace, belonging to the Tunisian landowner and military man Hammuda Lasram (Hammuda Lasram), is located in the northern part of the Medina. The palace's setting allows you to see in the interior how his family lived from the 18th century until 1964, when it was handed over to the municipality. Today it is one of the interesting museums. The palace consists of three floors: the first floor was occupied by servants, the second by the Lasram family, the third by the guest floor.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, Rue de Tribunal street, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: daily, 08:30-13:00 and 15:00-17:30, Sunday - closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

Sidi Mahrez Mosque (Sidi Mahrez Mosque)

In the northern part of the Medina is the Sidi Mahrez Mosque, built in 1692 in honor of the patron saint of Tunis. It is held in special respect by locals, and there are always many people here. The prayer hall is surrounded on three sides by galleries. Inside it, four large columns support a semi-spherical dome, which rises 29 m above the ground. Of interest is the many white domes concentrated in the center, which makes it look somewhat unusual compared to other mosques, as well as the absence of a minaret. The mosque is surrounded by markets selling pottery.

Sidi Mahrez died in 1022. His zawiya (tomb) (Zaouia Sidi Mahrez) is located across the road from the Mosque.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, Rue Sidi Mahres street, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: during prayers.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: Muslims – free, non-Muslims (entry to the inner courtyard) – for a fee.

Bardo Mosaic Museum (Bardo Museum)

The Bardo Museum is located in the northwest of the city in the former residence of one of the Tunisian beys. The official opening took place in 1882. Initially, the museum was named after the then-ruling Ali Bey, as the Alaoui Museum. In 1899, another building was added to the existing one. Later, these buildings were supplemented with new premises. On two floors, an amazing collection of exhibits from different historical periods is presented, starting from the Stone Age to the present day. Moreover, the collection is constantly replenished thanks to ongoing excavations. Here you can see items and artifacts found throughout the country, in particular, in Carthage, Dougga, Sousse, El Jem, etc. The Bardo Museum takes particular pride in its richest collection of mosaics from the Roman period.

Visiting this Museum will help supplement your understanding of the culture and history of the country as a whole.

🚶 How to get there: by taxi or by metro (lines 4, 14) to Le Bardo station, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: daily, from 16.09. to 30.04. – 9:30-16:30; from 01.05. to 15.09. – 9:00-17:00, Monday - closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 11 dinars.

Belvedere Park (Belvedere Park)

A great place to relax is a huge park area stretching east of the city center. This is not only a park but also a center for preserving some species of flora and fauna. Over an area of about 126 hectares, more than 250 species of trees brought from five continents grow, some over 100 years old(!). In addition, in its southern part, there is also a small zoo, housing about 150 species of animals, birds, and reptiles.

The park was laid out on a hill on the site of an olive grove in 1892, and its official opening took place in 1910. Today, Belvedere Park is the most popular recreation spot. Local residents and guests of the capital love to relax here.

🚶 How to get there: by taxi or by metro (line 2) to Palestine station, then to Avenue Mohamed V and follow the signs to the left, (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: park – 24/7, zoo – daily, Monday - closed.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: entry to the park – free, entry to the zoo – 1 dinar.

Jardin Habib Thameur (Jardin Habib Thameur)

A small recreation area is located 0.5 km north of Independence Square (Place de L'Independance). Designed in the English style, its territory features greenery, a fountain, and flower beds. Previously, the area of the garden was occupied by a Jewish cemetery; later it was named after Dr. Habib Thameur (1909-1949) and turned into a small park.

🚶 How to get there: on foot from Independence Square (Place de L'Independance) north along Rue de Rome, turning into Avenue Habib Thameur (garden on the left); by metro (lines 2, 4) to Plase de la Republique station (garden on the left), (on the map)

🕐 Opening hours: 24/7.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.