Medina of Tunis
Medina of Tunis
4
NeighborhoodsPoints of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking Areas
About
The city’s old quarter hearkens back to the opulence once prevalent from the 12th to the 16th century.
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  • Sid_The_Gunner
    Fairford, United Kingdom189 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good to wonder for an afternoon
    Quite nice to walk around. its not huge so never got lost and you will probably end up at a nice square with a fountain and a hotel with seating outside for a coffee. Locals seem to shop here and there are a lot of shops that sell tourist souvenirs. Great food stalls and lots of colour and smells. I never felt threatened or unsafe at any point. The market in Cairo is much better but this was good too and worth a visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 7, 2023
  • LolaGo1
    Washington DC, District of Columbia6,631 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited here early!
    Storeowners were still setting up their stuffs when I entered the Medina around 8:30 am. Like any other medinas, they are selling clothings, shoes, bags, spices, ceramics, jewelries, etc. Inside this Medina are several mosques that are only opened to Muslims. Having recently visited several medinas in Morocco, this one is not that outstanding, much smaller in scale and fewer shopping selections. Tip: Visit the Gate and the Square with fountains and beautiful, ornate buildings before entering the Medina.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 16, 2023
  • LeMarc244
    Albany, Australia15 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tips for Travel
    It's a nice city. Good to learn a bit of French. Anyone who says they "work at your hotel", tell them you know their scam and move on!!! You can use the Bolt taxi app however meter taxis are cheaper. There is surcharge for bag /suitcase put in boot/trunk. Tourist tax applies at hotels.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 18, 2023
  • JSTrip_77
    Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina1,233 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds
    Akin to the souks of the Gulf States, the Medina is a compact and charming area filled with shops, restaurants, mosques, alleys and peddlers of all types. It is not only for tourists though there are plenty of things to catch a tourists eye! I saw previous reviews which focused on trash. I did not find the medina to be particularly trash-strewn considering the throngs of people and activity. Even if you don't want to buy anything (try to resist!), it is a truly immersive cultural experience.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 19, 2023
  • Toru O
    Setagaya, Japan3,232 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful buildings and alleyways
    The old part of the city is located next to the main station. Its buildings are beautifully decorated and represent the ancient part of the city. The Grand Mosque and Ribat are located next to the Medina. Definitely worth visiting if you are in Sousse.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written January 13, 2024
  • Samantha M
    London, United Kingdom320 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An absolute maze, so have some form of maps that works
    An absolute maze, so have some form of maps that works if you have an exit meeting place and time. Take a few off the beaten track turns as a lot of the medina is housing and derelict, great photo ops. Check out the Tunisian carpets as they are VERY cheap in here. Measure up before you leave home. You can buy pretty much anything and everything in here and the surrounding areas, so allow plenty of time to wander around. Carpets, abayas/kaftans, leather and silver items are especially good value. Unlike other Arabic medinas this closes at around 18:00 hrs so go in the daytime.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written February 19, 2024
  • andycoldham
    Crawley, United Kingdom1,032 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An interesting place
    The Medina of Tunis is the largest Median in the whole of the Tunisia. However like other Medinas I have been too it makes the mistake of allowing multiple shops to sell the same old tourist tat. It is easy to get lost here some watch your bearings carefully. In the centre of the Medina is one of the oldest mosques in Tunisia, sadly there was a big queue to get in, when we were there so we had to give it a miss. The cake and sweets area was nice to visit as free samples were often given out. Despite some reviews we did not find the shopkeepers very aggressive, yes they did try to encourage punters into their shops but a firm No Thanks was accepted with disappointment but not aggression.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 19, 2024
  • mel7155
    Singapore, Singapore1,344 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    A typical market place found in any city in the Middle East North Africa Region .
    First off - I visited 4 places - Bardo Museum, Sidi Boussard, Carthage, Medina . I ranked them in the order I stated as I find medina looking like any Kazbah/Medina/Bazaar found in the MENA region . They are just noisy, crowded, sell the same stuff and you get haggled straight in your face throughout. The only good thing going for this medina is that the shopkeepers are a lot less aggressive unlike Dubai, Istanbul, Cairo and don’t manhandle you to come into their shops . Other than that , if you have nothing to do, then visit - but if you are expressively flying to Tunis to visit this place , don’t bother .
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 1, 2024
  • DanylMidlandsUK
    82 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    No hassle, but a bit repetitive
    Pleasantly surprised by lack of intrusion. Quite pleasant to walk around. Early passages more crowded than further ones.Not as intense as others I’ve visited in N Africa. Stalls get quite similar after a while, but heckling prices are ok. I noted cats were being fed. Good on that.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 2, 2024
  • stevebintley
    Bedford, United Kingdom8,853 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Far too crowded on a weekend
    It’s certainly a large Medina, with a huge number of stores, but on a Saturday afternoon it was far too busy. It took an age walking through or getting into any of the stores and was generally an unpleasant experience. Fortunately none of the sellers were pushy and I didn’t get any hassle walking throughout, but a lot of the stores were rather repetitive in what they were offering. For a cultural experience I’d recommend it but try go outside of peak times!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,854 reviews
Excellent
653
Very good
729
Average
342
Poor
77
Terrible
53

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Abovetheclouds
2,298 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Solo
Loved this.  Much nicer than the ones in Morocco.  Less tourists and not as busy.  More authentic too.  The buildings are timeless.  Beautiful.  The stalls had really nice items from handicrafts to bags, souvenirs and more.  Most were good quality.  Vendors were not as pushy as other Middle Eastern countries and let you browse in peace. Apart from the stalls, there are eateries, bustling cafes, back streets full of artisans at work, residential areas, historical palaces, hammams, mosques and madrassas. I had a guide with me as a solo female traveller and glad I did as he pointed out buildings and places I would never have found on my own.  Also, go beyond the main shopping area, you will find picturesque empty cobbled streets, taking you into another world.  If you don't have a guide, just remember where you are walking as it is easy to get lost navigating the many alleys.  Not too crowded on a Saturday.  However, as per anywhere where you are walking tightly with other people, make sure bags and phones are kept secure.  You can bargain with the vendors.  Go earlier in the day when it is in full swing.  Tends to quieten down and start to close by sunset. I went back on my own the next day, Sunday. Stalls are closed on a Sunday except for the odd few. Eateries are open. It was like a different atmosphere walking around almost deserted alleyways, you could really appreciate the architecture of the medina, the peace and get some good photographs.
Written May 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barrie G
Cardiff, UK27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Couples
You can get all sorts of stuff in the Medina, so get your gifts there. Branded trainers are a bargain at around £35. The stall holders are incredibly industrious, especially the youngsters. Look out for the cafes and restaurants tucked in behind the stalls. Allow time for getting lost, since it's easy to lose your sense of direction. You won't get the "hard sell" in the Tunis Medina, so it's very unlike the Marrakesh Souk experience. It's much more civilised and was a little like a scaled-down version of the Istanbul Souk. Well worth a visit!
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alexandre Martins Alves
Sao Paulo, SP176 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Visiting the Medina of Tunis was a truly enchanting experience, full of vibrant colors, exotic aromas and a rich history. From the moment I entered the narrow, labyrinthine streets, I was immediately enveloped by a unique and authentic atmosphere.
My visit to the Medina of Tunis went beyond expectations, revealing a cultural and historical treasure that captivates the senses. I recommend this charming city to all travelers who want to immerse themselves in an authentic Tunisian experience, rich in tradition, hospitality and beauty.
What helped a lot was having Tawfik @tawfikmbarki as a guide (phone 00216 55 905 495), an experienced guide who showed and presented everything we wanted to know!
Very worth the visit!
Google
Written February 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mrc282
World9,368 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Solo
medina is a maze of alleyways as expected. not the best I have seen but worth exploring for 3 hours

vendors are generally low pressure. but has the usual tactics of asking you to go into shop because they have "panoramic view" of medina upstairs

for 360 rooftop view of the medina, look for Cafe La Medina (Cafe Panorama). it can be a little tricky to find it but is not far from the Zitouna Mosque
Written January 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sasha S
Belgrade, Serbia188 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Friends
We visited on 6th September, beautiful whether – excellent for walking and taking photos.
We visited Tunis mainly for its Medina and suburbs of Sidi bou Said and Carthage. We walked from the French Theatre, passing French Cathedral to Medina. All that is left from the walls of Medina is its entrance gate (Sea gate) with a make-a-wish-while-going-through story. There is a fountain after it and a beautiful hotel on the right. Up front were several narrow passages into Medina. Fortunately, we had 2 guides, so I didn’t get lost. Cobble-stone floors, shops and cafes everywhere, with so much merchandise. We saw a Mosque inside the Medina, a perfumery where they distil their own perfumes, a shop where they make fesses (their caps), sweets-shop where they make sweets in front of customers. I bought several things, all gifts for family, friends and colleagues. I know that we saw a very small part of the Medina and, since we had limited time there, I felt rushed and knew that I would need days to properly see all the passages inside Medina.
My advice to visitors to Medina: have a guide with you or go in small group, take care of your things and parcels (if you lost something you will never find where you lost it), prepare the money in TND how much you plan to spend on that visit, plan that you will need several visits if you wish to see all the Medina.
Written October 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GIOVANNA B
Italy9,377 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Friends
The historic center of Tunis, the Medina, is the largest and best preserved in the country. It was built by the Aghlabids in the 9th and 10th centuries and rebuilt in the 13th century and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Walking through the Medina is an indescribable emotion, it gives the impression of being lost in time. A labyrinth of narrow streets in the midst of which there are souks, minarets, colored doors, covered passages, museums and places of culture, tea rooms, Koranic schools and hammans. From time to time, small squares and hidden corners open up, making everything more evocative. In the center of the Medina is the seat of religious power, with the large Zeituna Mosque. The different streets of the souks start from the mosque: booksellers, goldsmiths, perfumes, fine fabrics... in short, a world to discover. Some shops are distributed over several floors which end with a panoramic terrace. The terraces are small works of art, decorated with handmade majolica, columns and arches, amphorae and carpets scattered everywhere. The guide accompanied us to a bazaar where they were selling souvenirs, ceramics and carpets, we went up to admire the view and take some obligatory photos, a truly exciting experience! After shopping we returned to the bus that was waiting for us in Square Kasbah.
Google
Written October 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cristian Popescu
Bucharest, Romania30 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Solo
First of all, I must admit that everbody was nice and that I felt safe all the time, despite the warnings from my country’s Foreign Office not to come here and to avoid this destination.

Pick up a hotel near the Medina, the Old City, which is incredible, a real travel in the past …

The best pick is Royal Victoria Hotel (the former British Consulate) across the Porte de France, at the entrance in the Medina. It is a 4 stars hotel of oriental luxury (I would rate it 3 stars considering the western standards) but most of all, the location is important. After all, you don’t go there to spend your time in the hotel.

Don’t get lured to accomodate at the Berges du Lac condominiums or hotels, real classy indeed, but very far from the city center and in a location where there’s nothing to do.

Drink a cup of tea on the roof of Cafe du Souk in the Old City, a place from where you can admire the entire city.

Have lunch or dinner in one of the former Ottoman Palaces transformed in restaurants. I recommed Dar el Jeld and Fondouk el Attarine, but only with prior booking. Good food and perfume of the past …

Have a one day trip to Carthage (a little bit disappointing but the history is more important) and to Sidi Bou Said which is really charming !!! But again, unless you’re not in your honey moon to stay just there, it is not worth accomodating to Sidi Bou Said, also very far from the city center and the Old City.
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Donald K
Edmonton, Canada1,179 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
I see that this is the # 2 thing to do in Tunis. We spent an hour which consisted of looking for something to see and then walking back. Nothing wrong with the walk and it gave a good sense of what it must be like to sit and try to sell "stuff" all day. I did end up in some church somewhere that had art on display and that was sort of neat mostly because it was not a bunch of little shops selling some things I would not want.
I encourage people that come to Tunis to see it, however some guy suggested we go to Alexandria instead of Tunis and now I think he was probably wise.
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Masood K
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania1,468 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
The labyrinth of Lanes with cobbled stones is a delight to walk, passing shops selling lamps, carpets, food, dry fruits, dates jewelley and so on and so forth.

In between you find mosques, coffee shops or then stray cats looking for food.

the whole atmosphere is so soothing that you just feeling walking through these alleys and feel the aroma of perfumes and incense that burn and hear the sound of arabic and french words.

All in all a beautiful experience of feeling the culture of the Tunis people
Written November 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SunriseSki
Singapore1,080 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
“Hello my friend, come in!“ and. “Where you from?” Are the two phrases you literally hear every 2 meters when you walk through it. For some it’s difficult to enjoy walking through a narrow corridor of shops where literally everybody is calling you in. Others don’t care and just enjoy the place and see what is being offered. The sad part, only a minority part is made of locally crafted goods or foods. The vast majority are cheap shoes, shirts and bags with fake luxury brands made in the far East. So yes, tourist trp at its best, but still needs to be seen so can imagine how it might have been.
Written July 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Medina of Tunis - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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