7-day itinerary for Northern Tunisia

Landing at Tunis Carthage airport, it's immediately clear that you won't have to drive for hours to get to your destination. That's for later, when we discover the archaeological sites inland. The first two nuggets on the tour are just 20 minutes from the airport.

Sidi Bou Saïd

Located just 17km from the capital Tunis, the charming village of Sidi Bou Saïd is nicknamed the "little white and blue paradise", and it's easy to see why. It's one of Tunisia's postcards, if not THE postcard. Clinging to the top of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the site is splendid, offering a splendid view embracing the Gulf of Tunis as far as Cap Bon. This panorama can be admired over mint tea at the Café des Délices, popularised by Patrick Bruel's song, or from the palace of the Baron, Rodolphe d'Erlanger, painter and musician, who introduced blue and white to Sidi Bou Saïd.

The other address for tasty oriental pastries is the adorable Café des Nattes, at the top of the main street. All that's left to do is get lost in the picturesque narrow streets (don't worry, the village isn't very big), admiring the superb blue (sometimes yellow) doors and the bewitching moucharabiehs. A shopping break in the souk is a must.

Lunch break at Dar Zarrouk

If you're looking for something original and delicious, we recommend a grouper couscous at Dar Zarrouk, the restaurant of the Dar Saïd hotel.

Not much remains of the great city of Carthage, founded in 814 BC by Dido, a Phoenician princess from Tyre. It was completely destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC. But don't worry, there's plenty to keep you busy on this huge 180 m² site! This fascinating tour will take you from cathedral to amphitheatre, from Termes to mysterious sanctuary, from museum to remains of Punic ports.

All in the footsteps of Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Saint Louis, Honoré de Balzac and even Winston Churchill! A mythical place, capital of Carthaginian civilisation, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bordering the sea in the upmarket tourist area of Gammarth, the Regency Tunis is just a 15-minute drive from Sidi Bou Saïd and Carthage. A fairly upmarket hotel with 227 rooms, a 700 m² spa and several themed restaurants. From 77 euros per night.

The medina of Tunis

Half an hour's drive and you're already in the medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's one of the most beautiful in the world, with its superb mosques, sumptuous palaces and picturesque souks lined with narrow, colourful streets. In the heart of the medina, next to the Grand Bazaar, take a lunch break at the Dar El Jeld restaurant. It's best to sit on the rooftop to admire the view over the roofs of the medina!

The Bardo Museum

Just a 10-minute drive from the medina of Tunis, the Bardo Museum is housed in a sumptuous 19th-century palace that is well worth a visit in itself. What's more, it boasts the finest and largest collection of mosaics in the world! These masterpieces retrace the history of Tunisia over an area of 32,000 m².

Dar ben Gacem is hidden away in the heart of the Tunis medina. This traditional Tunisian dar, which offers a breakfast option, is an ideal base for exploring the medina and its souks! It has seven typically decorated rooms and a terrace overlooking the medina, where you can enjoy an excellent breakfast. From €84 per night.

After an hour and 25 minutes on the road, we arrive at Lake Ichkeul.

Ichkeul National Park

Located 25km south-east of Bizerte, the Ichkeul National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Storks, pink flamingos and other migratory birds thrive here, as do visitors who come to admire the last large freshwater lake in North Africa.

Bizerte

After a 30-minute drive, we arrived in Bizerte. It's one of Tunisia's hidden treasures, in the far north of the country, and indeed of Africa! The "Venice of Africa" will win you over with its charming fishing port where colourful boats anchor and its beach lined with quiet hotels. Set between sea and lake, the most European of Tunisian towns remains surprisingly far from the crowds - so much the better for you!

A traditional dar in the heart of Bizerte's medina, yet just a stone's throw from the beach and port. There's even a small swimming pool. From €40 per night.

We get up early to reach Tabarka, which is a 2? hour drive away.

Diving in the Galite archipelago

This archipelago, located 64 km off Tabarka and 4 hours away by boat, is a protected nature reserve. It's a unique place to dive, with nothing to envy the seabeds of Malta or Corsica, where visibility reaches 15 metres! There are around twenty dive sites along the Coral Coast, particularly near the Galite archipelago.

If diving isn't your thing, don't panic, there's plenty to keep you busy in Tabarka, renowned for its unspoilt beaches, its Aiguilles promenade, its golf courses and its Genoese fort.

Built in 1895 in the centre of Tabarka, Les Mimosas has 74 rooms, a swimming pool and a Tunisian restaurant. The terrace offers beautiful views of the sea and the town. From €36 per night.

Let's get up early and set off on the route of archaeological sites, which stretches from the Algerian border to Cap Bon! As you already visited the Bardo Museum at the start of your tour, you're now fully equipped to admire these treasures in the best possible conditions! It takes 1h30 to drive from Tabarka to Chemtou.

Chemtou

The small town of Chemtou has been renowned since ancient times for its unique pink, yellow and green marble. For centuries, Chemtou's marble columns have adorned the villas of the wealthiest citizens. Its treasure, a clay vase with 1,648 gold coins, is on display in the museum adjoining the ancient site.

Bulla Regia

A twenty-minute drive and you're already in Bulla Regia, famous for its floors decorated with rich mosaics. The motifs of these mosaics have given their nicknames to the most beautiful residences: the House of the Hunt, the House of Fishing and the House of Amphitrite are the most famous.

Dougga

In the afternoon, it's off to Dougga, a good hour's drive from Tunis. Perched on a 571-metre-high hill, the site is immense and rich in artefacts, many of which are on display at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dougga remains off the tourist map. In short, you won't be disturbed by the crowds!

There aren't really any hotels in the area, so you'll have to return to Tunis (1 hour 50 minutes' drive) to get closer to the other archaeological sites.

For a change from the medina, head to the famous Avenue Habib Bourguiba, to the Hotel El Mouradi Africa Tunis. A modern establishment with 189 rooms and 22 suites, as well as three restaurants, including a buffet and a gourmet restaurant. No swimming pool or spa, but you won't have time to enjoy them anyway, as you'll be arriving late and leaving early... From €53 a night.

A good hour's drive to reach Thuburbo Majus.

Thuburbo Majus

The site of Thuburbo Majus is vast and there are still many treasures to be discovered! The most remarkable discoveries are on display at the Bardo National Museum, including mosaics and the head of a colossal statue of Jupiter.

Kerkouane is really isolated at the very end of the Cap Bon peninsula, and takes more than 3 hours to get to. It's more reasonable to drive straight to Nabeul, which is only 1 hour 40 minutes away.

Nabeul, authentic and unspoilt

Tunisia's pottery capital, Nabeul boasts a superb medina and beaches that are seldom visited, making it a good alternative to Hammamet, which is a little too touristy.

Set on the seafront in a 4-hectare park 1 km from the medina of Nabeul, the multicoloured buildings ofCaribbean World Nabeul stand in stark contrast to the white landscape traditionally found in Tunisia. At this family-friendly club, children are king. With a spa, mini-club, football and tennis pitches and waterslides, there's everything you need for a great holiday at this all-inclusive club.

Hammamet

In just 20 minutes, you'll be in Hammamet, one of the symbols of seaside tourism in Tunisia. Its old medina is quite small, but well worth a visit to admire the splendid Great Mosque, the Kasbah and the ramparts.

Yasmine Hammamet

In just 20 minutes, you'll be in Hammamet, one of the symbols of seaside tourism in Tunisia. Its old medina is quite small, but well worth a visit to admire the splendid Great Mosque, the Kasbah and the ramparts. Find out more about our must-see.

Set back 200 metres from the beach at Yasmine Hammamet, where it has its own private area, the Alhambra Thalasso is a modern, elegant establishment distinguished by its superb Arabo-Andalusian decoration, particularly in its majestic lobby. The comfort and quality of the rooms and restaurants are beyond reproach. As an added bonus, you get to enjoy one of the finest thalassotherapy centres in the region! Finally, the hotel is just 900 metres from the new medina, the Carthage Land theme park and the marina.