Sfax is Tunisia’s second-largest city and it operates on a different register from the resort towns of the north. There is no beach, no package-holiday strip, and very little tourist infrastructure. What it does have is one of the most complete walled medinas in North Africa, a commercial port with genuine working energy, and a position as the main gateway to the Kerkennah Islands.
For travellers who want to see how a Tunisian city actually functions - markets, craftsmen, merchants, daily life - Sfax is more instructive than anywhere on the coastal tourist circuit.
The Sfax Medina
The medina at Sfax is enclosed by 9th-century walls that are largely intact — one of the best-preserved in North Africa. The main entry is Bab Diwan, the ornamental gate on the western side, from where covered souks lead toward the Great Mosque. Unlike Tunis or Sousse, the Sfax medina functions primarily as a working commercial space for locals, which gives prices and atmosphere a different character from the main tourist circuits.
For a full breakdown of the medina’s attractions, individual sites, and how to approach each one, see our things to do in Sfax guide, which covers the ramparts walk, Great Mosque, Dar Jellouli Museum, kasbah, and port in detail.
The Port and New Town
Beyond the medina, Sfax has a functional city centre with French colonial-era avenues, a corniche along the coast, and a large commercial port. The port handles agricultural exports (olive oil from the Sfax region accounts for a significant share of Tunisia’s total production), fishing, and ferry traffic to the Kerkennah Islands.
The central market on Avenue de la République is worth visiting for the produce section alone - olives, dates, preserved lemons, and spices laid out in the North African market style. The fish market adjacent to the port is one of the best in Tunisia given the city’s position between the Mediterranean and the Kerkennah fishing grounds.
For the best hotels near the medina and port area, see our where to stay in Sfax guide.
Getting to Sfax
By train: SNCFT runs several services daily between Tunis and Sfax. Journey time is approximately 3.5 hours; fares start at around 18 TND in second class as of 2026. The station is centrally located on Avenue Farhat Hached, within walking distance of both the medina and the port.
By louage: Shared taxis from Tunis Bab Alioua station take around 3 hours and cost approximately 15–17 TND per seat. Louages from Sousse to Sfax take around 1.5 hours. The louage station in Sfax is on Avenue Commandant Béjaoui, about 15 minutes’ walk from the medina.
By car: The A1 motorway connects Tunis and Sfax in approximately 3 hours. Driving gives more flexibility for the onward journey south toward Gabès or Djerba.
Getting Around Sfax
Within the city, yellow metered taxis are the most practical option. A journey from the train station to the medina costs approximately 3–5 TND; from the medina to the port area (for the Kerkennah ferry) is around 5–8 TND. Uber does not operate in Sfax — use licensed metered taxis, or agree a price before getting in an unmarked vehicle.
The city has a local SRTG bus network but routes are not well signed for visitors. Most independent travellers find taxis more efficient, especially given the distance between the medina, port, and louage station. A short city taxi ride should cost no more than 8 TND in the daytime.
For regional journeys, the louage station on Avenue Commandant Béjaoui is central and well-connected. Shared taxis depart throughout the day toward Tunis, Sousse, Mahdia, Gabès, and Djerba — usually as soon as a full car is assembled (no fixed timetable).
Where to Stay in Sfax
Sfax has limited tourist accommodation compared to the coast, but several good options exist in the city centre.
Search hotels in Sfax on Booking.com
Hôtel Thyna (Avenue Habib Maâzoun) is a reliable mid-range option with a central location. Rooms from approximately 120–180 TND per night as of 2026.
Les Oliviers is a business hotel near the train station with comfortable rooms and parking. Rates from approximately 150–220 TND as of 2026. Les Oliviers
For travellers passing through en route to Kerkennah, a single night in Sfax is usually sufficient. Most visitors use it as a base for a medina visit and an onward ferry connection.
Where to Eat in Sfax
The cuisine of Sfax has its own identity within Tunisian cooking. Dishes tend to be more spiced and fish-heavy than in the north, reflecting the city’s position as a fishing port.
Restaurant Le Corail near the port area serves strong Sfaxian fish dishes - grilled sea bream, swordfish, and the local speciality of poisson au four (oven-baked fish with olives and capers). A main course costs approximately 15–30 TND as of 2026.
Restaurant La Médina (inside the medina walls) offers a more traditional Tunisian menu including couscous and lamb dishes at local prices, typically 8–15 TND per person.
The covered market on Avenue de la République has cheap sandwich stalls and brik vendors for a fast lunch.
Day Trips from Sfax
Sfax makes a reasonable hub for central and southern Tunisia. Common day trips:
Kerkennah Islands — The ferry (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes) is the most popular excursion from Sfax. Arrive early to catch the first or second sailing and return on the evening departure. The islands have minimal development; the main draw is the flat, quiet cycling on sand tracks between fishing villages and the local seafood restaurants at Sidi Youssef and El Attaya. Hire a bicycle at the ferry port for around 10–15 TND per day.
Mahdia — 55 kilometres north of Sfax, Mahdia is one of Tunisia’s most striking medieval coastal towns. The medina occupies a narrow promontory with the Cap Afrique headland at its tip. Journey time by car is around 50 minutes; a louage from Sfax to Mahdia costs approximately 6–8 TND per seat.
El Jem — The Roman amphitheatre at El Jem is approximately 60 kilometres north of Sfax. It is among the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world; entry costs approximately 12 TND as of 2026. A louage from Sfax runs on the Sousse route and passes through El Jem — journey around 45 minutes.
Gabès — 130 kilometres south of Sfax, Gabès contains a coastal oasis and the historic Chenini village. A half-day trip by car or louage combines a palmerie walk and a visit to the old medina. Journey time by road: approximately 1.5 hours.
The Kerkennah Islands Ferry
The main practical reason many visitors stop in Sfax is to catch the ferry to Kerkennah. The SONOTRAK ferry terminal is at the commercial port, approximately 2 kilometres from the city centre. Taxis from the medina to the port take around 10 minutes and cost approximately 4–6 TND.
Several sailings run daily, increasing to roughly 8–10 departures in summer. The crossing takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to Sidi Youssef, the arrival point on the main Kerkennah island. The ferry also carries vehicles - useful if you want to explore the islands by car or motorbike rather than relying on the limited local transport.
Sfax as a Southern Tunisia Base
Sfax is also a useful staging point for journeys further south. The city is 130 kilometres from Gabès and around 200 kilometres from Djerba - manageable distances for travellers working down the Tunisian coast rather than flying direct to Djerba airport.
The Sfax region itself produces around 35% of Tunisia’s olive oil, and the surrounding countryside - though not dramatic - shows the agricultural heart of the country in a way that the northern coast and Sahara south do not.
Best Time to Visit Sfax
Sfax’s main attractions function year-round, but the practical window is narrowest in the heat of summer.
Spring (March–May): The best season for Sfax. Temperatures sit between 17°C and 26°C, the medina souks are active, and the Kerkennah ferry runs regular services. April and May are the ideal months to combine a city visit with a Kerkennah stay before peak summer pricing.
Autumn (September–November): A close second. Sea temperatures are still warm for Kerkennah swimming through September, the air is cooler than summer, and hotel rates drop from their July–August peak. October is particularly comfortable.
Summer (June–August): Temperatures regularly exceed 35°C; the medina is best explored before 10am. The Kerkennah ferry runs more frequent services in summer, which is useful. Evenings are pleasant along the port corniche when the heat drops.
Winter (December–February): Mild (13–18°C) and very quiet. Some smaller restaurants run reduced hours. A practical time for a city-only visit if avoiding crowds is a priority.
For a practical city visit combined with access to the quietest major island in Tunisia, Sfax and the Kerkennah Islands together form one of the most distinctive and least-touristed itinerary combinations in the country. El Jem is an easy side trip - the Roman amphitheatre is approximately 60 km north and well worth a visit en route from Sousse. For guided options, our Sfax tours guide covers medina walks, Kerkennah boat trips, and day-trip circuits with verified operators and current prices. Before you travel, make sure you have travel insurance for Tunisia in place - useful cover for medical costs and trip disruptions.
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