Where to Stay in Tunis ✔️ 6 Best Areas for Tourists in 2024

Hello reader, heading to Tunis, Tunisia? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, I help you decide where to stay in Tunis.

I researched all the best areas in the city (and those nearby), hand-picked the top-rated accommodation in each for all budget categories, chatted to dear friends of mine who recently visited, and presented everything nicely in this easy-to-follow guide!

Medina is the best area to stay for first-timers interested in history, but seaside neighborhoods like La Marsa and Sidi Bou Said cater to a broader audience. Stay tuned to learn all about these and other popular districts for tourists!

Before we start, a friendly reminder to book your stay in advance. I noticed that most of the places in Tunis have really poor ratings, so the good spots are hard to find. Best to book them while they’re still available!

Quick picks for your stay

These are the best hotels in Medina, Tunis’s Old Town, to book right away:

This map will help you visualize all the districts of Tunis I’ll talk about in this post:

Types of Accommodation in Tunis

Tunis has a diverse accommodation offer. The type of your stay can affect the overall vibe of your holiday. To help you understand the vast offer, I included a short list of most common accommodation types in Tunis:

• Hotels: many popular hotels are available in Tunis, incluIding chains like Carlton, Sheraton, Novotel, and ibis
• Traditional (riad or dar): traditional accommodation available in the Old Town and various seaside neighborhoods, my favorite option; they usually have the best rating
• Vacation rentals: private accommodation may work better for long stays, but you must be careful and only book quality options; rentals mostly include apartments or houses
• Resorts: often found in coastal towns, featuring all-inclusive packages and private beach access
• Hostels: there are quite a few good ones in Tunis, ideal for backpackers and budget travelers
• Boutique hotels: plenty of charming options inside old buildings (think ex-British embassy)
• Villas: best for luxury travelers, families, or large groups

NOTE: Never book accommodation in Tunis that has a poor rating on Booking.com. Anything lower than 8.0 is unacceptable. I often see places rated 5/10 or 6/10, and this is a disaster. I’ll need you to trust me on this one. In most cases, the crucial thing when booking your stay in Tunis in terms of quality is not the accommodation type but its rating.

1. Medina – where to stay in Tunis for first-timers

Medina is the Old Town of Tunis, and it’s the historic and cultural heart of the city. From the 12th to 16th centuries, this was one of the wealthiest cities in the whole Islamic world.

Medina of Tunis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and hides over 700 historic monuments that testify to its glorious past!

If you’re a history nerd like me, you’ll want to stay here! Most tourists start their visit from Bab el Bahr (also known as the Gate of France), the main gate of Medina (map). Originally, the Old Town had 12 gates, but today, only 5 remain visible, with Bob Mnara (map) being the second most popular one.

Once inside the gates, you’ll find the iconic Zitouna Mosque (map), which is the central mosque around which the city was founded in 698. From souks specializing in jewelry and medicinal herbs, to mosques, churches, mausoleums, and traditional homes, everything about Medina screams charm and history.

NOTE: I chatted to my best friend who was in Tunis on her honeymoon, and she told me she and her husband kept getting approached by some weird people claiming they have the best spots to eat and shop to show them and were really aggressive about it. This is a scam. Don’t talk to strangers on the streets of Tunis. Check out my article on how to avoid travel scams just to be on the safe side!

Of course, you’ll find plenty of eateries and cute shops in Medina. I recommend eating in traditional dars (like this one). Most of them have restaurants you can visit even if you don’t actually sleep there, much like with any hotel.

FUN FACT: Not far from Medina, in the Bardo district, you’ll find The Bardo National Museum. This is a true treasure for Tunisia. It’s the 2nd largest museum in Africa by collection richness (after the Museum of Cairo), and one of Mediterranean’s most important museums. Here, you can see some of the largest Roman mosaics and artifacts from Carthage.

Other accommodation options in Medina

Things to do in Medina

• Go on a walking tour of Medina with a knowledgeable local
• Roam around Souk el Berka (map), Souk el Bey (map), and Souk el Belat (map)
• Visit the 8th-century Zitouna Mosque
• Escape the street noise in Sainte-Croix Church of Tunis (map)
• Try local food at Fondouk El Attarine (map)

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2. Downtown Tunis – where to stay in Tunis like a local

Downtown Tunis is the perfect place to base yourself to get a glimpse of the modern daily life of the locals. It’s the mix of the old and new, beautiful and, yes, ugly, and has something to offer to all travelers.

NOTE: When I say “ugly,” I mean the old buildings that look like they’re going to collapse any minute. Tunis is generally a poor country, and many residents live in really old and unsafe homes. You can see them along the streets of Downtown Tunis. Some areas with these streets may seem scary and unsafe, but they’re not. They’re just poor.

The Downtown stretches North to Zoo Tunis (map), South to Sidi Belhassen Chedly Mausoleum (map), and its Western border is Medina. To the East, it lies by Tunis Lake.

The area has large boulevards which are adorned with the big hotel chains, shops, and restaurants. Avenue Habib Bourguiba (map) is the main boulevard close to Medina, and here you’ll find the main square (Place de l’Independance, map). The boulevard is separated from Medina by another beautiful street with French architecture called Avenue de France.

Other highlights of Downtown include a stunning neo-Byzantine church, St. Vincent de Paul (map), local markets selling spices and handicrafts, and the beautiful green oasis of Belvedere Park (map, only visit this one during the day to avoid unpleasant situations).

SAFETY: The main thing you should worry about in Tunis is pickpocketing in crowded areas (notably in Medina). Locals won’t physically touch you like in Egypt because the police will be after them, so this is a safe destination for female travelers. Exercise usual caution, don’t walk alone at night or on empty streets, and you’ll be good to go! Tunis is as safe as it can be! Still, as a female, avoid attractive outfits since this is a Muslim country and definitely cover your arms, legs, and head when visiting mosques.

Other accommodation options in Downtown Tunis

Things to do in Downtown Tunis

• See the highlights of Tunis on a day tour
• Head to Bardo Museum
• Check out the shops and cafés along the main avenue of Habib Bourguiba
• Take a picture in front of the “I love Tunis” sign on the main avenue (map)
• Admire the colonial French architecture of Ville Nouvelle (map)
• Be in awe of the largest Roman amphitheater in Africa on a day tour

3. La Marsa – best place to stay in Tunis for seaside culture

La Marsa is a very interesting neighborhood in the North of Tunis Downtown. Together with Gammarth and Sidi Bou Said, it comprises the so-called “Northern neighborhoods” of Tunis.

The area is located by the Mediterranean Sea and is a 20-minute ride from the center of Tunis. It’s a great spot to base yourself for a mix of culture, seaside vacation, and local life.

One of the main attractions here include the Abdelliya Palace (map) dating from 1500. The palace has rich history and heritage but there’s only 1 person working (and they don’t speak English), so better get informed about the place in advance.

You’ll also find a synagogue (map), a nice promenade by the sea, and a beautiful sandy beach lined with cafés and restaurants. There are supermarkets, souks, and nice shops around as well.

La Marsa has plenty of vacation rentals (not as many hotels), so it’s ideal for families, large groups, or really anyone looking for more flexibility and comfort during their stay in Tunis.

If you want to take day tours to Carthage, the Sahara desert, or visit old Berber villages (think Bulla Regia and Dougga), you can hop on tours from La Marsa. Most tour operators offer hotel pickups and drop-offs!

GASTRONOMY TIP: Tunisia has delicious food. Couscous (semoline with meat and vegetables), brik (tuna and egg pastry), lablabi (chickpea soup), and ojja (spicy egg and tomato stew) are must-try dishes during your stay in Tunis!

Other accommodation options in La Marsa

Things to do in La Marsa

• Walk along Marsa Corniche (map) during the sunset
• Check out the local palace and synagogue for a cultural experience
• Chill at Marsa Beach (map) as long as your heart desires
• Explore local souks and shops to find unique souvenirs
• Go on an archaeological tour of Berber and Roman villages

4. Sidi Bou Said – where to stay for picture-perfect architecture

Sidi Bou Said will win you over from the moment you arrive. This tiny neighborhood is located just South of La Marsa, less than a 10-minute ride from it.

Bou Said is something like Mykonos, but Tunis-style! It has white washed buildings with blue doors and windows, narrow streets, and a fairytale-like vibe. When I was going over my best friend’s photos from Tunis, the most stunning ones she took here!

The neighborhood lies on a hilltop that overlooks the Gulf of Tunis, so it is ideal for watching the sunset. Choose one from various viewpoints in town and admire what many travel guides call the best sunset views in Tunis!

But this area also has plenty of historic attractions. It’s located right by the historic ruins of Carthage (map), a must-visit for all travelers to Tunis.

Carthage city-state was founded in 814 BC as a Phoenician colony and has quickly evolved into a major trading hub in ancient times. Their state spread across North Africa, Sicily, and Spain, but its capital was in today’s Tunisia, just by Sidi Bou Said.

INFO FOR CARTHAGE VISIT: It takes (at least!) 3-4 hours to visit the main archaeological sites in Carthage. Don’t miss the Byrsa Hill, Antonine Baths, Punic Ports, and Roman Villas and amphitheater. You can hire a guide or visit independently, but I’d definitely go with a guide since they’re more knowledgeable and not all sites have explanations in English, but only in Arabic (Egypt’s official language).

NOTE: Make sure you have enough storage on your phone before visiting Sidi Bou Said and Carthage! Don’t be like my friend who ran out of storage while staying here and had to spend hours uploading old photos to the cloud instead of enjoying the moment.

Other accommodation options in Sidi Bou Said

Things to do in Sidi Bou Said

• Catch a sunset from one of the many viewpoints
• Book a guided bike tour of Carthage Archaeological Site
• Walk the tiny streets and take Insta-perfect pictures with blue-and-white homes
• Visit Carthage and admire the Roman Theater (map)
• Explore the stunning Ennejma Ezzahra Palace (map)
• Book a day tour of the main tourist spots of Tunis

5. Gammarth – where to stay in Tunis for luxury

Gammarth is the Northernmost Tunis neighborhood just North of La Marsa (some 5.5 km or 3.4 miles from it).

First of all, Gammarth is an affluent neighborhood with stunning coastal beauty. Its beach stretches for 19 km (12 miles), and you can even go jet skiing or sailing here. You’ll find plenty of cafés and places to eat along the coast. A great plus is that the beaches here are less crowded and commercialized than those at Hammamet further South, so you won’t have to fight for your place under the sun.

If you’re into active vacation, there’s plenty to do here. Enjoy local golf courses, go hiking in nearby hills, or even go shopping in the nearby mall.

Many Redditers, especially locals, say that Gammarth is best for nightlife. Indeed, there are plenty of late-night bars and clubs, but you should be really careful when choosing where to party.

PRO TIP: Only eat and drink in bars, clubs, and restaurants with a good rating (at least 4 out of 5 stars on Google). Most places that have a lower rating or tons of 1-star reviews take advantage of foreigners and overcharge services, don’t return change, or have untrained personnel. Ideally, visit nightclubs with a local.

While I did my research, I was stunned by the sheer volume of 5-star resorts available in this district! If you’re a luxury traveler, you’ll have plenty of options here (but don’t worry, I included 2 top-rated ones to help you pick faster!)

Other accommodation options in Gammarth

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NOTE: The Residence Tunis is another fabulous luxury stay in Gammarth that’s more affordable than Four Seasons.

Things to do in Gammarth

• Walk along the long coast to admire the views
• Catch a break or sip cocktails at the Soulwhen bar (map)
• Go sunbathing and swimming at Gammarth Beach (map)
• Play golf at the local Golf Academy (map)
• Embark on an off-road 4×4 adventure along Avenue Mer Mediterranée (map)

6. Berges du Lac 1 & 2 – where to stay in Tunis with family

Berges du Lac 1 & 2 are the relatively new districts built on the shores of Lake Tunis and just South of the international airport. Popular with expats, families, and business travelers, this area has so much to offer.

Berges du Lac 1 was built in the 1980s, while the Berges du Lac 2 dates from the 2000s. The Berges du Lac 2 has more accommodation and corporate offices, and it’s the more modern part. Still, both are considered upscale and are less than a 10-minute drive from each other.

“Berge” means “waterfront” in French. Basically, this area is called “Lake Waterfront” because of its location by the Lake of Tunis.

You can enjoy a magical waterfront with beautiful views, ideal for long walks. This is also a very safe area, so it’s perfect to base yourself here if you’re traveling with kids. You’ll love the quiet and peaceful vibe which is so different from the hustle and bustle of Downtown and seaside districts.

NOTE: Since this district is a bit separated from Downtown and the Northern neighborhoods, I recommend renting a car if you plan on moving around a lot. Public transport isn’t the most reliable (more on getting around below).

If you’re traveling for business, chances are, you’ll be moving around this area a lot since it’s home to corporate offices and embassies. Also, couples will enjoy the romantic setting and plenty of upscale restaurants all while being just a short ride from the main attractions of Tunis.

Other accommodation options in Berges du Lac

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BONUS: Mövenpick Hotel du Lac Tunis is another iconic luxury option with an indoor pool, a spa and wellness center, 2 restaurants, and a gym.

Things to do in Berges du Lac

• Stroll along Perle du Lac (map), Corniche 1 (map), and Corniche 2 (map) promenades
• Shop in the local Tunisia Mall (map)
• Take the kids to Carthage Land water park (map)
• Go on a day trip to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said
• Try delicious food at Zanzibar Café (map)

👑 Luxury price:	US$120
💵 Mid-range:	US$80
🛏️ Budget:	US$50
📍 Best area:	Medina
🛎️ Best luxury hotel:	Dar El Jeld
🧳 Best mid-range hotel:	Dar Ben Gacem
👛 Best budget hotel:	El Patio Courtyard House

Important: Getting around Tunis

Unless you book a private transfer, you’ll likely take a taxi to get from the airport to the city center. Make sure the driver has the meter turned on (be aggressive about it if need be) and agree on price beforehand. Real price is around 10 TND (US$3.30), but the drivers will never agree to it. 30 TND (US$10) is fair and you shouldn’t pay more than that.

You can also walk outside the parking lot of the airport and book a Bolt, which is more reliable than taxis but it doesn’t operate at the airport.

Buses are not reliable at all, and I don’t recommend them.

For street rides in town, always use Bolt. It’s best to get a Tunisian eSIM card and register an account with it to book your ride. You can use Airalo’s eSIM plans for Tunisia, they’re cheap and never disappoint.

For trips to other cities (Sousse, El Jem, etc.), it’s best to use louages (unless you rent a car, of course). These are shared mini buses that depart once they’re full and are really cheap. Trains are below average in comfort and most locals prefer louages.

NOTE ON CAR RENTAL: It’s safe to drive around Tunisia and you can do this for comfort. However, only book cars from airport rental agencies. They are more expensive but their cars are in a good condition. Driving around Tunisia is safer and less hecitc than Egypt, but still be cautious as people can make U turns on highways or you may see animals crossing roads.

BONUS: Best places to visit in Tunisia

Have more time in the country and want to see more of Tunisia? These are the best tourist spots in the country apart from Tunis and its surroundings:

• Sousse – an important coastal city with a historic Old Town, rich history, and a large archaeological museum
• Hammamet – the most popular resort town with the best beaches and a vibrant nightlife, ideal for tourists seeking seaside relaxation
• El Jem – known for the biggest Roman amphitheater in Africa that’s also one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture in the world
• Dougga – an ancient Roman city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 6th century BC
• Djerba – a Berber and Arab village with picture-perfect beaches
• Kairouan – The 4th holiest city in islam with the largest mosque in Africa that’s also oldest mosque in Tunis
• Chott el Djerid – the largest salt lake in Africa with unforgettable sunset views
• Matmata – a Berber town in the Sahara that was a shooting location for Star Wars movies

FAQs about where to stay in Tunis

Final thoughts on where to stay in Tunis

That’s about it, deal traveler. You’ve reached the end of our guide on where to stay in Tunis. Hopefully, it helped you pick the best area and hotel for your budget and interests!

I know I’ve given you a lot of options, so just in case you’re still feeling picky, here are my 2 absolute favorite places to stay in Tunis:

• Dar El Jeld – I’m all about history and tradition when traveling, and this place makes you live it with style
• Hôtel Suisse – both the location (just outside of Medina in Downtown Tunis) and amenities make this my favorite mid-range hotel

Now before I let you go, a gentle reminder to please book your hotel in Tunis in advance! I don’t want you to stay in poor accommodation just because the top-rated ones got sold fast.

And if you have any questions about your upcoming trip to Tunis, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

Enjoy Tunis,

Darija

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