The 6 best medinas in Tunisia are Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, Sfax, Mahdia and Hammamet. Tunis is the largest, Kairouan the holiest, and Sousse the easiest to reach from the beach resorts. Three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Each can be seen in a few hours.
A medina is the walled old town at the centre of a Tunisian city, a tangle of souks, mosques, workshops and houses behind a studded door. They are the best places to see how Tunisians actually live and shop, and they are cheaper and quieter than the resort strips. Here is how we rank the six.
1. Medina of Tunis: the biggest and most varied
The Tunis medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with roughly 700 monuments packed into a few square kilometres. Start at Bab el Bahr (the Sea Gate), walk up Rue Jemaa Zitouna to the Zitouna Mosque, and wander the covered souks for chechias, perfume, leather and brass. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque but can view it from the rooftop cafes along the street.
Entry: free to walk. Some palaces and museums charge a few dinars. Time needed: half a day. Best time: morning, before the crowds. Our Tunis medina guide maps the best routes, and the Tunis city guide covers the rest of the capital. For a guided walk, see tours in Tunis, or where to stay in Tunis if you want a base inside the old town.
2. Medina of Sousse: the easiest to combine with the coast
Sousse’s medina is compact, walled and sits right by the sea, a short taxi ride from the Port El Kantaoui and Hammam Sousse resort strips. It is UNESCO listed and is anchored by the 9th-century Ribat fortress, the Great Mosque and the Kalaa Kebira museum. Climb the Ribat tower for views over the roofs and the harbour.
Entry: free to walk, with a small fee for the Ribat and museums. Time needed: 2 to 3 hours. Best time: weekday mornings, when the souk stalls are fully open. Read the Sousse guide, or see Sousse tours. To sleep close to the walls, our best hotels in Sousse page lists areas by budget.
3. Medina of Kairouan: the holiest city in the Maghreb
Kairouan is the fourth holy city of Islam for many Tunisians, and its medina feels more devout and less commercial than the coastal ones. The Great Mosque of Uqba, founded in the 7th century, is the centrepiece. The old town is UNESCO listed and is known for carpet workshops and the sweet pastry called makroudh.
Time needed: half a day. Dress: cover shoulders and knees, and expect to remove shoes at religious sites. Getting there: about 2 hours from Tunis and 1 hour from Sousse. See the Kairouan guide, Kairouan tours, and where to stay in Kairouan. For transport, our Sousse to Kairouan louage guide gives the shared-taxi details.
4. Medina of Sfax: the working one
Sfax is Tunisia’s second city and its medina is the least touristy on the list. It is still ringed by 9th-century walls, and the souks sell goods to locals rather than to visitors, so prices are honest and hassle is low. Look for the Great Mosque, the traditional house museum and the stalls selling olive-oil products and fabrics.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours. Best time: morning, since many shops close by mid-afternoon. It works well as a stop between Sousse and the south. See the Sfax guide and places to stay in Sfax.
5. Medina of Mahdia: the quiet coastal one
Mahdia’s old town sits on a narrow peninsula, entered through the massive Skifa el Kahla gate built by the Fatimids in the 10th century. The lanes are quiet, the fishing port is below and the town feels slower than the big cities. It is a good option for a half-day from Monastir or Sousse and for travellers who dislike crowds.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours. Best time: late afternoon, when the light falls on the harbour. Our Mahdia guide covers the peninsula, and where to stay in Mahdia lists the hotels.
6. Medina of Hammamet: the small seaside fortress
Hammamet’s medina is small, whitewashed and sits above the beach, with a 15th-century kasbah at the corner. It is the most visited medina after Tunis because of the resort strip next to it, so expect more souvenir stalls and bargaining. Climb the kasbah for sea views and sunset.
Entry: a small fee for the kasbah. Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours. See the Hammamet guide for the wider town and Hammamet day trip options.
Tips for any medina
Go early, wear flat shoes for cobbles, and carry small notes for tips and purchases. Agree a price before accepting a guide or a taxi. Prices in souks are approximate starting points, and a counter-offer of about half is normal. For souvenir ideas, see our best souvenirs to buy in Tunisia, and for scams to watch for read our Tunisia safety and scams guide.
Photo: Poliphilo / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.