Backpacking itinerary in Tunisia (page 3 of 3)

Hi Mraissa,

I’m getting back to you to ask if you have any idea about the taxi fare from Tunis Airport to the Medina (I haven’t booked my hotel yet, but I’m thinking of staying in that area—anywhere nearby, really).

Do you need to negotiate the price, or is there a fixed rate from the airport? Also, do the taxis have meters?

I had a really bad experience in Warsaw, so now I’d rather know how things work beforehand.

Thanks in advance.

Hi there, Generally, it's around 20 dinars for 15/20 minutes. But to avoid any nasty surprises, make sure to agree on a price before you set off. Prices are often 50% higher at night. Taxis do have meters, but they only use them if they feel like it... Otherwise, there are also buses 35 and 635 that go from the airport to Tunis Marine station, which is at the bottom of Avenue Bourguiba. I don’t know if you’ve been following the recent weather events that have hit Tunisia, but places like Sidi Bou Said, for example, have experienced severe flooding that might affect your trip. Outside of Tunis, many towns in Cap Bon and the Sahel region have suffered from flooding and rough waves, and the seafronts have been badly damaged. I’m currently in Mahdia, and the temperatures are cold and it’s very humid. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or a rain poncho in your luggage—it doesn’t take up much space... When you book a hotel, don’t forget to ask if there’s heating. Interiors without heating can be freezing. When are you leaving?

Hi there,

Thanks for the info about taxis—I’ll make sure to ask for the price before we leave.

I’m leaving on February 15th.

Since you mentioned it could be cold, I’ve made sure to book hotels with heating and pack warm clothes!

While looking into what to expect during Ramadan, I saw some reports in the Tunisian press about bad weather, but I didn’t realize it was that serious.

For now, my route looks like this: Tunis (with Carthage and Sidi Bou Said), Hammamet, Sousse, and Kairouan. I haven’t really "planned" the areas around Hammamet and Sousse yet or my exact stops.

Thanks again for all the great tips!

Hi there,

In the Tunisian press, I saw that even today Tunisia is on alert for violent winds and heavy rainfall. They really haven’t been lucky—going from drought to destructive floods. With climate change, this is unfortunately the case in many countries. I hope these new storms won’t cause too much human or material damage (buildings, agriculture, etc.).

Hi there, The climate situation is indeed quite worrying. Here in the east-central region, it's still very windy but no rain yet today—unlike the past few days. I took a little walk on the beach this morning and noticed that, on top of the piles of seaweed, the sea is washing up some of the trash that’s been dumped in it. It’s not a pretty sight—all the little beach huts used as cafés and the permanent structures have been devastated, along with the walls along the corniches that protect against the sand. There are also storm warnings in the south, but I imagine the temperatures are milder down there...

Here in the eastern center, still a lot of wind but no rain yet today

Storm warnings in the south too

I’d read that all of Tunisia was on orange alert today—the bad weather is also hitting parts of Morocco and Algeria.

Last night, I was watching an ARTE show on YouTube about Tunisian cuisine (specifically from Cap Bon), and they showed a family harvesting bitter orange flowers. They were complaining because the flowers were yellow due to the drought, and they were really worried about the groundwater levels. One family member had given up growing these flowers to switch to strawberries, but with the drought, the strawberries weren’t very big. This was near Nabeul, and I think this region has been one of the hardest hit by the recent floods...

Hopefully, for Tunisians, the situation will improve quickly so they can get everything back on track for the high season.

Otherwise, yes—depending on the season, the sea and the streams flowing into it leave a lot of waste on the beach. I noticed this in Central America too; it was also "winter" there. Lots of plastic straws, plastic bottles, toys, etc., and a strong sewage smell where the streams emptied out.

Hi Mraissa,

Are you still in Tunisia? I saw that the bad weather just won’t let up—heavy rain was forecast for the South today.

I read that it’s a disaster for agriculture, especially citrus fruits, strawberries, and potatoes. A lot of sheep have died too. It’s unprecedented in 70 years.

In the French online press, there are articles about Sidi Bou Said saying these storms have put the village in danger (they mention it was already at risk before), with rocks breaking off cliffs and falling into the streets, shops closed, etc. I had no idea things were this bad.

It’s the whole Mediterranean basin that’s affected—today there are floods in southern Spain, Morocco too, and we don’t know when it’s going to stop....

Hi there! Yes, we’re still in Tunisia, and we’re supporting the local economy—cough syrup, throat lozenges, Doliprane, emergency doctor visits, and even a specialist for my husband... 😷 The weather still isn’t great, but it’s a bit more normal today—mild and humid. A friend told me yesterday that Djerba is actually quite pleasant. As I mentioned before, February is really a good time to visit the south, but not the north. For us, we’ll be leaving on the 20th, at the start of Ramadan, because for us, this period has more downsides than advantages. In Mahdia, there are few festivities during this time, and if there’s any entertainment, it’s usually in the last few days before it ends. As for Sidi Bou Said, the village is built on a fragile hillside. Building permits are more or less processed, and it’s clear that construction or expanding existing buildings—like we’ve seen recently—should no longer be allowed. Tourists will also need to learn to walk a bit more, and buses shouldn’t be allowed to drive up and park at the top of the village. Even the placement of small shops around that famous parking lot needs rethinking. We didn’t go this time, so I can’t really say what it’s like now. Let us know what you find if you go! Don’t hesitate to ask if you need tips or info.

Hi Michèle,

Thanks for asking about Tunisia!

At the moment, I know I’ll be landing in Tunis on Sunday, February 15th, and I’m supposed to leave on the 19th or 20th to continue my trip—but where to? It’ll depend on the weather. If it’s really bad, I’ll grab a flight ticket to Djerba or take a bus to Tozeur.

In Tunis on the 16th, I’m planning to visit the medina. The next day, I’ll check out the Bardo before Ramadan starts (officially on February 19th, I think), though museums might have reduced hours. Before leaving Tunis, I’d also love to see the medina at night during Ramadan, after the fast breaks.

I’ve been looking for info on Ramadan nights in Tunis but can’t find anything for 2026. For previous years, I saw that there’s a cultural center dedicated to stambali that hosted special Ramadan evenings—I’d be interested in that, but I haven’t found anything for this year yet.

Finally, I was planning to skip Sidi Bou Saïd because of the damage from the bad weather (I’m really disappointed), but I’ll see what people say on the ground to decide if I can still go.

I wish I’d taken your advice to land in Djerba and spend my time there, especially since I think the bad weather isn’t over yet....

Hi, I still think you should visit Sidi Bou Said, even though there’s been some damage. It seems the Baron’s Palace is open. You won’t have anything to compare it to, but Sidi Bou Said will surely still have a lot of charm despite the scars. And it’s not far from Tunis, so you’re not taking any risks. For the rest, museums are usually closed on Mondays. Markets also tend to have little activity on Mondays, and none on Friday afternoons. During Ramadan, life slows down a lot—especially transportation—and many shopkeepers and restaurant owners take time off. If you’re planning to fly here, it’s probably because your tickets aren’t changeable—too bad! There are no charter flights here, which makes domestic flights relatively expensive. Information about events is usually only available at the last minute. Yesterday, it rained for most of the day; today, no rain yet, but it’s gray and windy.

Hi there,

I didn’t know that markets have less activity on Mondays and no activity on Friday afternoons—I’ll keep that in mind.

Yes, I’ll try to visit Sidi Bou Saïd. Today, while looking for info online, I came across two articles that listed this village as one of the must-see places in 2026, so it’s probably best to go before it gets even more crowded with tourists...

I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again for all your tips! !