The perfect week travel diary in northern Tunisia

 While everyone is flocking to Morocco, its neighbor Tunisia is spared from mass tourism. The country has so much to offer, from a diverse culture to a rich history, there is so much to discover in Tunisia.

This northern route will take you to the ruins of past civilizations, deserted beaches and picturesque towns.

One week road trip itinerary in northern Tunisia

Day 1 - Tunis

Tunis, the capital, is a bustling city at the crossroads of modern and traditional life, and the best place to visit is its Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Arabs built cities, which means city in Arabic, during their conquest of Africa. The ancient cities were fortified and always included the ribat and/or the kasbah (forts) and the souk (the souk). Medina now refers to the historical part of the city.

The old town of Tunisia is very well preserved. Feel free to get lost in this maze-like structure. Don't miss the market, where each street is reserved for a specific trade. Unless it's a big deal, I wouldn't recommend buying anything there. Also, be sure to leave before sunset.

In the city you should also visit one of the many rooftop cafes and try the mint tea. From there, you will have a view of the entire medina.

In Tunisia, you can also visit the Bardo Museum, the second largest in Africa. The museum relives the country's history through an impressive collection of artwork from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, from the first tools to Islamic art. The museum also contains one of the finest collections of Roman mosaics in the world.

Day Two - Carthage and Sidi Bougala

Start your second day with a visit to Carthage, the ancient capital of Hannibal. From Tunisia, you can take a train or taxi, and it takes about 20 minutes to get there. You can do everything on foot, rent a taxi or rent bicycles.

Carthage was a vast empire that defeated Rome for a long time. At one time he controlled most of the Mediterranean basin. In the fourth century BC. AD, the empire reached its peak until 149 BC. M when Rome attacked Carthage and defeated it.

The Romans destroyed most of the city and settled there. From the Carthage Empire, only the district of Birsa and Tophet, a cemetery, survives. Other monuments that you can visit today date back to the Roman era.

Here are some sites not to be missed:

Carthage Byrsa Museum

Antonine Baths

death

roman villas

A Finnish day in Sidi Bou Said, perhaps the most beautiful village in Tunisia.

There, time seems to be constant, everything is white and blue, and jasmine perfumes the air. Stroll the cobblestone streets, dine at one of the many restaurants overlooking the sea, or have a drink at one of the rooftop bars.

During your stay in Sidi Bou Said, you can visit the Center for Arab and Mediterranean Music and Dar El Annabi, two traditional houses.

Day 3 & 4 - Road trip to Cap Bon

On the third day, rent a car in Tunis and head to Cap Bon, a popular beach destination among locals. Even in winter, it's worth the detour, as the cape offers great scenery and breathtaking scenery.

Make your first stop in Korbus, which is famous for its many hot springs with its healing properties. The most famous of them is Ain Atrous. You can also hike along Old Solomon Road near the slopes.

Next, head to El Haouaria and the caves of its Punic ancestors. The entire cave system is huge, but only a small part of it can be visited. It was once used as a stone gate and more recently as a hideout for soldiers. The caves became famous because one of the rocks looked like a camel. The area around the cave is beautiful, it is located right on the sea, there are no beaches, but you can swim, the water is really clean. There is also a waterfront restaurant serving fresh grilled fish and other local dishes.

Then stop at Kerkouane, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient Punic city from the 6th century BC. Because of its remoteness, Karakouane has been very well preserved. Only the base remains, as well as some drawings. You can easily imagine what the city looked like. The location is really quiet facing the sea and only a few people visit.

Spend the night in Kelibia. The next morning, visit the city and its 6th century Byzantine castle. If the weather is nice, you can go to the beach. The most beautiful beach in this region is Mansoura Beach.

Next, head to Nabeul, a popular beach destination. Along the way, don't miss the flamingo barns (in March and April). Nabeul is famous for its handicrafts, especially mats and pottery. You can visit the market and the Quartier des Nattiers to have a look. The Archeology Museum and Neapolis from Roman times are also worth a visit.

Your final stop of the day is Hammamet, where you can enjoy the beach and vibrant nightlife. A must visit is the old town, as well as the 9th century fort and the Dar Khadija museum.

Fifth day - SOUSSE AND EL JEM

The next morning, direction Sousse, the third largest city in Tunisia. Its city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city of Sousse was founded in the 9th century BC by Phoenician sailors. The city was added by the Arabs in the 9th century. While you are there, you must visit the Grand Mosque, Rabat, the Museum of Archeology and Dar Essid.

In the afternoon, visit El Jem, the second largest surviving Roman amphitheater in the world. El Jem was built at the beginning of the 3rd century by the Romans, 150 years after the century in Rome, and used improved construction techniques and a mixture of different architectural styles (Punic, African and Corinthian). It has been well restored and, like many sites in Tunisia, it is not crowded with tourists.

In El Jem, you can also visit the Archeology Museum, which houses artifacts and mosaics excavated from nearby ruins, mostly Roman houses.

You can spend the night in El Jem, there is a hotel near the train station, or you can go directly to Kairouan and spend the night there.

Sixth day - Kairouan

Kairouan is the religious capital of Tunisia. It is also an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims. The city of Kairouan, nicknamed the 300 mosques, was founded in the 7th century when Islam began to spread in North Africa.

There are many mosques and zawiyas (Islamic religious schools and shrines of saints) that can be visited in the city. The medina is one of the cleanest you will see, every building and house is beautiful and typical of the local architecture. Don't miss the wooden doors bearing intricate Islamic symbols.

Kairouan is also famous for making the best makrooud in Tunisia. Makrod is a pastry made with dates, semolina and honey.

Seventh Day - ROMAN RUINS

The next morning, start your day with a visit to Dougga (or Thugga), an ancient Roman city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the finest remaining African Roman sites. They are incredibly well preserved surrounded by nature, untouched for centuries. Allied with Rome during the Carthage war, it is one of the few cities not to have been destroyed. Unlike most sites, which were never abandoned, people continued to live there until the 20th century, when archaeologists evicted them.

Then head to Bulla Regia, another important Roman city. Although the site is smaller than accurate, it is equally impressive. Find the forgotten mosaic, and throw a little water on it to revive the colors. The main interesting feature of Bulla Regia, and what made it famous, are the underground houses. To protect themselves from the summer heat and winter cold, the Romans built their homes underground. Most of them are still intact and can be visited.
In the evening, return to Tunis.

Tips for travelers in Tunisia

Keep ID with you at all times, there are a lot of checkpoints.

Many cafes are for men only.

Tunisia is generally a safe country, avoid areas close to the borders with Algeria and Libya; There are a lot of pickpockets, so be careful with your belongings when you are in crowded places.

Traveling as a solo female is safe, and common sense applies; You can wear a swimsuit on the beach, but avoid tanks and shorts outside the beach.

Most sites and museums are closed on Mondays and opening hours are limited during Ramadan.

In addition to speaking Arabic, most people speak French. Outside the tourism industry, you won't find many native English speakers.

Since the revolution, most mosques have been closed to non-Muslims.