How many days do you need in Tunisia? A week is enough for the classic north and center: Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Dougga, Kairouan, Sousse and the amphitheater of El Jem. With 10 days you can add the Sahara, from Tozeur and the salt lake of Chott el Djerid to the dunes of Douz and the underground houses of Matmata. With two weeks, add Djerba and some time on the beach. Tunisia is compact, and good roads and domestic flights make it easy to combine regions. This guide gives day-by-day itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days, plus driving times and tips.
Planning a trip? See our complete Tunisia travel guide, the best time to visit Tunisia and our Tunisia visa guide.
The short answer
- 3–4 days: Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, plus Dougga or Kairouan.
- 7 days: Tunis, Carthage, Dougga, Kairouan, Sousse, El Jem and Monastir.
- 10 days: add Tozeur, Chott el Djerid, Douz and Matmata.
- 14 days: add Djerba and beach days.
- Getting around: car with driver, rental car, trains on the coast and domestic flights.
Tunisia in 7 days: the north and the Sahel
Seven days is enough for Tunisia’s classic route through the capital, the Roman sites and the Sahel coast.
| Day | Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Tunis | Avenue Habib Bourguiba and the medina |
| 2 | Tunis | The medina, the Zitouna Mosque and the Bardo Museum |
| 3 | Carthage and Sidi Bou Said | Antonine Baths, Byrsa Hill, sunset in Sidi Bou Said |
| 4 | Day trip to Dougga | The best-preserved Roman town in North Africa |
| 5 | Tunis to Kairouan to Sousse | The Great Mosque of Kairouan, then the Sousse medina |
| 6 | El Jem | The Roman amphitheater and museum; evening in Sousse |
| 7 | Monastir | The Ribat and the Bourguiba Mausoleum; fly home from Monastir or Enfidha |
Read more: things to do in Tunis, things to do in Sousse and Roman ruins in Tunisia.
Tunisia in 10 days: add the Sahara
With 10 days, follow the first six days above, then head south into the desert.
| Day | Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | As above | Tunis, Carthage, Dougga, Kairouan, Sousse, El Jem |
| 7 | Sousse or El Jem to Tozeur | A long drive west; the palm grove at sunset |
| 8 | Tozeur | The mountain oases of Chebika and Tamerza, Ong Jemel and the Mos Espa set |
| 9 | Tozeur to Douz across Chott el Djerid | The salt lake, a camel ride in the dunes and a desert camp |
| 10 | Douz to Matmata, then Djerba | Troglodyte houses; fly home from Djerba or back to Tunis |
Read more in our guide to the Tunisian Sahara.
Tunisia in 14 days: add Djerba
With two weeks, follow the 10-day route and add a night at Ksar Ghilane and a few days on Djerba.
- Day 10: Douz to Ksar Ghilane for the hot spring and a night in the dunes.
- Day 11: Ksar Ghilane to Matmata and on to Djerba.
- Days 12–13: Djerba: Houmt Souk, the El Ghriba synagogue, Erriadh’s street art, Guellala and the beaches.
- Day 14: fly home from Djerba or connect via Tunis.
Read our Djerba guide.
A beach week from Sousse or Monastir
If you are staying at a resort on the Sahel coast, you can still see a lot on day trips.
- Sousse medina with a local guide, and a sunset boat cruise.
- El Jem as a half day.
- Monastir’s Ribat and the Bourguiba Mausoleum.
- Kairouan and its Great Mosque.
- Dougga and Bulla Regia as a full day.
Read our Monastir guide.
Driving times
Driving times in Tunisia are short on the coast and longer to the desert.
| Route | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Tunis to Sousse | About 2 hours |
| Tunis to Dougga | About 2 hours |
| Sousse to Kairouan | About 1 hour |
| Sousse to El Jem | About 1 hour |
| El Jem to Tozeur | About 4–5 hours |
| Tozeur to Douz | About 2 hours |
| Douz to Matmata | About 1.5 hours |
| Matmata to Djerba | About 2 hours |
Planning tips
- Fly in to Tunis and out of Djerba (or the reverse) to avoid backtracking.
- Use a driver or tour for the Roman sites and the desert, where public transport is limited.
- Trains are good between Tunis, Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia.
- Avoid driving at night on long routes.
- Check the safety advice if your route goes near the Algerian or Libyan borders. See is Tunisia safe?
Travel with a local guide
Simsem’s Tunisia host, Mohamed Ben Naceur, runs tours from Sousse and Monastir that fit into all of these routes:
Sousse Medina Walking Tour
A walk with Mohamed through the UNESCO-listed medina of Sousse, its souks, the Ribat and the Great Mosque.
El Jem Amphitheater Private Tour
A private trip from Sousse or Monastir to the great Roman amphitheater of El Jem, a UNESCO site.
Dougga, Bulla Regia and Testour
A full day to the Roman city of Dougga, the underground villas of Bulla Regia and Andalusian Testour.
Monastir: History, Medina and Coastal Walk
The Ribat of Monastir, the Bourguiba Mausoleum, the medina and the seafront with a local guide.
See all Tunisia experiences on Simsem.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Tunisia?
Seven days for Tunis, the Roman sites and the Sahel coast; 10 days to add the Sahara; 14 days to add Djerba.
What is the best Tunisia itinerary for one week?
Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, Dougga, Kairouan, Sousse, El Jem and Monastir.
Can you visit the Sahara on a short trip to Tunisia?
Yes. Allow at least three or four days to reach Tozeur and Douz and return, or fly into Tozeur or Djerba.
Is it easy to travel around Tunisia?
Yes. Roads are good, trains run along the coast and domestic flights link Tunis with Djerba and Tozeur.
Should I base myself in Sousse or Tunis?
Tunis for Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and Dougga; Sousse for El Jem, Monastir, Kairouan and the beaches.
Can you combine Tunisia with Algeria?
Yes. Land borders with Algeria are open, and there are flights between Tunis and Algiers. See our Algeria travel guide.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Tunisia
- SNCFT — Tunisian National Railways
- Tunisair (domestic flights)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Tunisia travel advice
- Wikimedia Commons — photographs credited in each caption
