Sidi Bou Saïd is probably Tunisia's most photographed village, perched on its cliff, white houses with cobalt blue doors and windows, cobblestone streets drowned in bougainvilleas. We pair it with the UNESCO-listed Medina of Tunis and the historic district of the capital, which together make for a really satisfying cultural day.
We pick you up from your hotel after breakfast. First stop in Tunis: the Medina, a labyrinth of artisans and souks listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You walk through the covered souks, see workshops for copper, leather, weaving, discover authentic Tunisian spices, not the ones at tourist bazaars. Our guide knows the right artisans, the ones still working by hand.
Lunch is at a traditional restaurant in the Medina: couscous, brick, Tunisian tajine (different from Moroccan), mechouia salad. Family cooking, not a tourist menu.
In the afternoon, we drive to Sidi Bou Saïd. The light at 4pm is something else: the white walls take a golden hue, the cobalt blue doors stand out against them. You explore the village at your own pace, have coffee at the legendary Café des Délices with views over the Tunis bay (where Bourguiba liked to sit), and at Café Sidi Chebaâne, perched on the cliff with panoramic views.
We bring you back to your hotel in early evening, after sunset over the bay.
The schedule
Pick-up at your hotel
Private air-conditioned minivan, departure for Tunis.
Tunis Medina (UNESCO)
Guided visit of souks, artisans, traditional workshops, Zitouna mosque from outside.
Lunch in the Medina
Traditional restaurant, authentic Tunisian cuisine.
Drive to Sidi Bou Saïd
30-minute drive along the coast.
Sidi Bou Saïd
Discovery of the village, blue and white streets, bay views.
Café des Délices
Legendary coffee break with panoramic views over the Mediterranean.
Free time
Artisan shops, photos, free exploration of the village.
Return
Departure toward your hotel.
Drop-off at your hotel
Return in evening.