Tunisia has so much more to offer beyond its well known beach resorts. It surprised me in many ways: We explored the surroundings of Tunis to find some picturesque towns, breathtaking landscapes and a good glimpse of local life. These were my favourites:
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1. Menzel Bourguiba
Not many tourists will find their way to Menzel Bourguiba – a charming but mostly quiet, industrial town. The highlight is waiting outside the town limits: Lake Ichkeul is one of Tunisia’s most praised national parks and undoubtedly offers an idyllic scenery.
2. Bizerte
A lot more is going on in Bizerte (also known to be the northernmost town in Africa), where you’ll find everything you’d expect from a seaside town: A beautiful harbour, a palm-fringed promenade and a thriving fish market, where you can get the freshest catch of the day and get it grilled in front of your eyes.
3. Carthage/Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said, an upscale suburb of Tunis – is a postcard-perfectly manicured village where tangerines grow on the street, artists sell their handicrafts and the white-and-blue architecture offer too many pretty corners to count…
The sunny weather was perfect for a coffee/tea break in Sidi Bou Said’s photogenic Café des Delices: Sitting on the terrace, overlooking the sea and soaking up the sun was was a great way to start the new year. The drinks are way above Tunisian average prices but we happily paid for that amazing view!
Where to stay:
Bizerte and Sidi Bou Said are easy day trips by train from Tunis. We stayed at two wonderful B&B’s in the Medina of Tunis. Dar Traki and Dar Ben Gacem are both excellent choices if you’re looking for traditional Tunisian accommodation.
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24 Comments
das foto von euch beiden ist der hammer. aber auch sonst, ganz tolle eindrücke von tunesien, die man sonst nicht zu gesicht bekommt. ein toller post, der mich euch um diesen trip beneiden lässt. ich könnte mir vorstellen, grade ein land wie dieses bereist sich besser, wenn man locals kennt.
Dankeschön <3 Einen Ortskundigen zu haben ist immer Gold wert! Wir hätten sonst vieles nicht mitbekommen...
Wonderful photos!
All this blue and white is so pretty, looks very much like Santorini!
Ciao Markus
http://www.markusjerko.at/photos/inverno-della-liberta/
You’re right, it does look like Santorini! Luckily with less tourists 😉
so much shades of blueeeeeeeee. and i too would totally pay extra for that view hehe 🙂 thanks for sharing these photos. it was so healing!
Thanks so much Annie! During those grey winter days going through the photos was kind of healing for me too 🙂
Love this post. What a magnificent place to visit. I love the thought of proper cous cous and mint tea. And as for that scenery…absolutely stunning. I love that blue colour especially the vibrant bright blue door. Gorgeous!!!
There were so many pretty doors, I stopped taking photos of them at some point 😛
The food, the blue waters, the minimalistic lifestyle there, I would love to visit one day and just be in the presence of all that goodness!! Thanks for sharing this! 🙂 xo~ Lena
http://www.thewanderliste.com
Aww thanks Lena for your lovely comment! It certainly was a nice change to my everyday grind 😉
Great place to unwind 😊
It really is 🙂
wow, everything looks so amazing! it is great that you got to see the country from an insider’s perspective! the food looks so delicious and I am getting really hungry now… thanks a lot 😛 oh and I also never thought that Tunisia is so green! thanks for sharing 🙂
Yeah the green scenery was totally unexpected! For a moment I thought I’m in Ireland or so 😀
Ok, I thought there were similarities to Santorini? As always lovely photos. And did you eat those small grilled fish?? Yum! So mouthwatering for a seafood lover like me. I hope you jived with the boys with your tea. 🙂 Any reason why it’s dominated by men? It could have been fun if it’s families…
It’s a cultural thing that mostly men hang around at the cafés. I think the girls do their own thing, but in bigger cities like Tunis, it’s more mixed. However they were very friendly and I didn’t feel uncomfortable. Oh yes – the grilled fish was a feast!!
White facades and blue, blue, blue. Some of the pics are reminding me Game of Thrones scenes 😉 Breathtaking!
Oh yeah, it definitely could be a movie set too 😉
I had no idea that Tunisia was so beautiful. The colours are just beautiful.It’s been winter in Scotland for so long that I’ve forgotten what blue skies look like. Roll on summer x
Haha, I feel the same… It’s been miserable here in Vienna too! I’m so ready for spring and summer 😉
Wow, you’re right! The colors, especially the blues, of Tunisia do seem much more vivid. Looks like you guys really enjoyed the picturesque scenery and some great local eats. Mmm, couscous!
Oh yes, I was quite amazed by the change of scenery within such a short flight!
Oh, wow. Absolutely love your photography here. I feel like I walked in Tunisia with you. Those doors! That food! Nice post.
Thanks so much!