Sfax is Tunisia’s second city and has a very different character from the resort towns on the east coast. It is primarily a commercial and agricultural centre - Tunisia’s olive oil capital - with one of the largest and best-preserved medieval medinas in North Africa. For travellers, it functions best as either a standalone city visit focused on the medina and central market, or as a base for reaching the Kerkennah Islands. Accommodation is functional rather than resort-oriented, with the best options clustered around the medina walls and the Avenue Habib Bourguiba.
Quick comparison
| Hotel | Best for | Area | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hôtel Les Oliviers | Three-star, central | New town | 100–160 TND |
Best areas to stay in Sfax
New town (Ville Nouvelle)
The French-era new town south and west of the medina is where most of Sfax’s better hotels are located. Wide boulevards, cafés, and administrative buildings characterise this area. It is a 10–15 minute walk to the medina gates from most hotels, and the central market (Marché Centrale) is accessible on foot.
Notable hotels in the new town:
- Hôtel Les Oliviers - a three-star in a central new town location with decent rooms, a restaurant, and parking. A good all-round choice for independent travellers. Rooms from approximately 100–160 TND per night. Hôtel Les Oliviers
Search hotels in Sfax on Booking.com
Near the medina walls
The medina of Sfax is enclosed by walls and gates that date largely to the 9th–11th centuries. A cluster of smaller hotels on the streets just outside the walls puts you within a minute of the main entrance gates and the covered souk.
Notable options:
The Sfax medina
The medina of Sfax is one of the most authentic in Tunisia precisely because it sees far fewer tourists than Tunis, Sousse, or Kairouan. The covered souk (Souk des Étoffes, Souk des Orfèvres) and the central mosque (Great Mosque of Sfax, 9th century) are open to visitors outside prayer times. Unlike some Tunisian medinas, Sfax’s remains genuinely functional - small workshops producing olive-wood crafts, blacksmiths, spice sellers - rather than being largely converted to tourist retail.
Key medina entry points:
- Bab Diwan - the main south gate, nearest to the new town hotels and the central market
- Bab el Jebli - the north gate, connecting the medina to the harbour direction
- Bab Gharbi - the west gate
The medina walls (approximately 2.5 km of intact wall) can be walked along the outside in under an hour and give a good sense of the city’s scale.
Kerkennah Islands access
The Kerkennah Islands are the main reason many visitors base themselves in Sfax rather than passing through. The ferry departs from Sfax port (Gare Maritime), approximately 2 km east of the medina - walkable in 20 minutes or a short taxi ride. Boats run several times daily (more frequent in summer); the crossing takes approximately 1.5 hours to the main island (Chergui).
The Kerkennah Islands offer a very different pace from mainland Tunisia - flat, quiet, with simple fishing villages, flamingo-watching opportunities, and limited tourist infrastructure. Day trips from Sfax are feasible, but an overnight stay on the islands is worth considering if you want to see the fishing nets set at dawn.
Eating out in Sfax
Sfax has a strong local restaurant culture, with most of the good options concentrated near the central market and in the new town:
- Restaurant Le Bagdad - a well-regarded Tunisian restaurant near the central market with good couscous, grilled fish, and local specialities. Mains from approximately 15–25 TND as of 2026.
- Restaurant Le Corail - a solid seafood restaurant in the new town serving the local catch, including the Kerkennah Islands’ speciality fish traps (charfia). Mains from approximately 20–35 TND.
- Marché Centrale - the central market is the best spot for lunch from market stalls and small local cafés. Sandwiches and brik from approximately 3–6 TND.
- Café-pâtisseries on Avenue Habib Bourguiba - Sfax has a stronger coffee and pastry culture than many Tunisian cities. Several good cafés along the main boulevard serve espresso and French-style patisserie.
What to look for when booking
Business vs leisure rates
Sfax is primarily a business city. Hotels fill up during the week with business travellers and have more availability at weekends, sometimes at better rates. If flexibility allows, booking for a Saturday–Monday stay can mean better room rates at the better hotels.
Proximity to the ferry terminal
If the Kerkennah Islands are your main reason for being in Sfax, choose a hotel in the new town or medina perimeter rather than the far west of the city - it makes the morning ferry walk or taxi significantly shorter.
Getting to Sfax
- By air: International arrivals use Tunis–Carthage (TUN, 270 km north) or Monastir (MIR, 120 km north). Sfax–Thyna airport handles domestic and charter flights only. Search flights to Tunisia.
- From Tunis by train: SNCFT intercity trains from Tunis Ville to Sfax take approximately 3–3.5 hours. Several departures daily. Fares from approximately 15–22 TND as of 2026. One of the most comfortable ways to arrive.
- From Tunis by car: approximately 270 km on the A1 motorway south via Enfidha and Sousse. Journey approximately 2.5–3 hours.
- From Sousse: approximately 135 km south, around 1.5 hours by car or louage.
- From Djerba: approximately 170 km north, around 1.5–2 hours by car via Gabes.
- By louage: louages from Sfax to Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, and Gabes depart from the central louage station near the bus terminal.
Car hire in Tunisia is useful for exploring the region around Sfax, including Jebeniana, El Jem (via Mahdia), and the route south to Gabes and Matmata. Travel insurance is recommended before your trip. A Tunisia eSIM keeps you connected for navigation and maps. You can also browse tours and activities in Sfax for medina walks and cooking experiences. Our Sfax tours guide covers guided medina walks, Kerkennah boat trips, El Jem day trips, and Sahara circuits with current prices. For a full guide to the city, see our Sfax travel guide and our things to do in Sfax page.