Posts by Faiyech

Hi, I’ve always been used to exchanging my money (€) in town no matter the country (with a "mini exchange" at the airport if needed). I can’t find any recent posts on this topic from the last few years. Does anyone have any insights on this? Intrinsic benefits, best places to exchange, etc.? I arrive at Tokyo Haneda on a Friday around 12:30 PM, and my first night is very close to Shinjuku. Thanks.

Hi, I’m just starting to plan a potential first trip to Japan in October, for 4 weeks. 1. On the topic of reservations, what do you mean by "booking in advance"? Is 2 or 3 days ahead enough, generally? Because it seems impossible to pin down an exact schedule for such a long trip... Just to clarify, I’ll be staying in youth hostels. 2. Otherwise, I’m roughly planning 8 days for Tokyo and the surrounding area (probably with one night in Nikko), 6 days for Kyoto and Osaka (including Nara), and 6 days for the Alps. Does that sound reasonable (without a car, theme parks, or onsens)? That leaves me with about 8 days: what would you suggest? I enjoy both serious museums and little streets with character, markets, or temples (as long as they don’t all look the same), and I’m up for hikes. I also love tea. Thanks.

Thanks. Weirdly, your second link is related to Hawaii... I’ll note the one about boats between the Egadi Islands. For Enna, I’ll have to go from Syracuse to Agrigento, so that could split the trip... I’ll see if there are any affordable places to stay (doesn’t look like it at first glance!). Otherwise, I think it’d take up almost a whole day just getting around unless everything lines up perfectly.

Good evening, Thanks for the comments. I tend to want to "cram" too much in, but maybe I’ve erred on the side of caution for fear of being too rushed. - For Taormina, I had the impression there was enough to do based on sites like voyagetips, which suggests 1 to 3 days... But maybe their list of things to see is padded with stuff that’s only so-so... - For Noto, noted, but are Ragusa and Modica more spread out and/or interesting? - I’ll add Castelammare del Golfo, and Monreale—if it’s quick, I’ll expand my Palermo visit (for example, with your suggestions).

Hi everyone,

I’d love to get your thoughts on the following itinerary (late May). I like to take my time in ruins and museums, and beaches don’t interest me. I’ll be staying in hostels and using public transport. Do you see any major omissions or things that aren’t worth it? Thanks!

Day 1: Arrival in CATANIA Day 2: Catania – visit (fish market, cathedral, Biscarri Palace, etc.) Day 3: Mount Etna (day trip)

Day 4: Morning trip to TAORMINA, visit the town Day 5: Alcantara Gorge (day trip) + more time in Taormina

Day 6: Trip to SYRACUSE, visit Ortigia Day 7: Ortigia Day 8: NOTO (day trip) (or another Baroque town?) Day 9: Syracuse Archaeological Park + more time in Ortigia (or leave for Enna?)

Day 10: Transport via Enna? TO BE RESOLVED (long, 2 or 3 changes, limited accommodation in Enna...)

Day 11: AGRIGENTO: town and Scala dei Turchi (optional) Day 12: Valley of the Temples + archaeological museum

Day 13: Departure for TRAPANI (4h), afternoon: town (+ salt flats?) Day 14: Segesta (day trip) + town/Erice Day 15: Monte Cofano Nature Reserve (hike + summit) (day trip) Day 16: Zingaro Nature Park (coastal route out, ridge route back) (day trip)

Day 17: Departure for the AEGADIAN ISLANDS: Levanzo and Favignana (bike), overnight if possible Day 18: Egadi Islands

Day 19: Departure for PALERMO + first visits Day 20: The city Day 21: The city (Monreale?) Day 22: Options: - Capo Gallo hike (3.5h round trip) (via Mondello) - Cefalù (45 min by train) Day 23: Return flight

Yeah, but that’s normal—there’s bound to be a bit of adjustment over such a long trip. But I can confirm I took my time with the visits, whether it was museums, archaeological sites, or even wandering around the medinas on a whim (both day and night to catch the lighting effects). Otherwise, yes, I did all the visits listed in my program, plus a few extras (I had the *Routard* guide).

For Tozeur, I had no idea about the gorges without the little train... I skipped the small medina museum (though I visited the medina itself twice), but I went to Dar Cheraiet (there are now only two sections, so two ticket options—the one the *Routard* says is better for kids isn’t available anymore). I also went to the palm museum in the palm grove (I forgot its name) and, to wrap up the day, the belvedere with the giant molded faces on the promontory. It’s a tourist nightmare: hordes of ATVs zigzagging between visitors and camels, (local) tourists shouting, buses honking—almost a caricature of the worst tourism can offer. In a way, it’s interesting to see from the belvedere, but the most surprising part is that all the chaos dies down (a bit) BEFORE sunset, so you can actually watch it from above without too much disturbance. For my part, I was chatting with a friendly old camel driver who organizes bivouac excursions in the desert, so I actually have good memories of the whole thing and went back twice!

For Monastir, I left Sousse early in the morning. I didn’t go to the presidential palace, but I don’t remember why (did I completely forget about it, wasn’t it in the guide, or was it too far?). On the other hand, I did visit the mausoleum, then the cemetery, then the marina (and its pile of out-of-service boats in a corner—so strange!), then the tip of the peninsula behind the marina, with its former tennis courts (on a wind-swept plot!), and the ribat for sunset. As for Sayada, I went there after lunch when I wasn’t sure what else to visit. After passing an uninteresting (and closed) site listed in the *Routard*, I lucked out by continuing randomly toward the coast and following it to the fishing port, which was pretty nice with its colorful boats. They even took some photos of me (I looped around by arriving at one station and leaving from another).

Hi Mraissa,

I followed the exact route I posted earlier, with one change to the schedule: I had planned an extra day in Tunis (my whole itinerary was actually quite flexible), so I ended up with an extra day in Tozeur, which was really too much, especially since the Metlaoui train is closed due to a change in operator.

My absolute favorite was probably the medina of Kairouan (and I loved the mosque in the same city, Dougga, the tip of Mahdia with a stunning stormy sky, the Bardo Museum, Sidi Bou Said, Chebika, and the hike in Zaghouan was really refreshing).

As for disappointments, Monastir (let’s just say the fortress is nice, but that’s about it—I even went to Sayada to fill the day), and Carthage wasn’t very interesting either (I think you can stick to the area around the museum (closed) and its view, plus the Antonine Baths, all in half a day)...

Hi there, Yes, I’ve done it, and no, it’s not difficult. I’d suggest taking advantage of being near bus stations (like when you arrive!) to check the schedules for your next leg. My hotels weren’t always well-informed, and not all companies have websites. And of course, if buses are scarce, there are always *louages* (get there early to wait less).

The only slightly tricky spot was Tozeur: to visit the mountain oases without spending the night (because in that case, there’s a bus that returns to Tozeur in the morning, I think), you *must* take a *louage*, and there’s only one per day that leaves around 7 AM and returns around 11 AM–12 PM. Plus, it doesn’t go to Midès (but mine took me there alone with an extra 20 dinars, including a one-hour wait). So it’s impossible to do all three visits in one day by *louage*. That said, the tourist office, like other locals, told me hitchhiking on this road was doable. Note that you can also walk in the canyon between Midès and Tamerza. So between *louage*, walking, and hitchhiking, you should be able to do everything in a day. For my part, I passed through Tamerza but didn’t visit it.

Finally, the little "Lézard rouge" train wasn’t running due to a transfer of operations from one company to another.

Happy travels!

Hi there, Here’s the latest version of my independent 15-day itinerary (it’s a bit tight since I added Zaghouan for variety, but I’ll drop Monastir if needed). Any comments, warnings, clarifications, or suggestions are welcome!

TUNIS Sat 1: arrival around 1 PM, visit the medina and/or colonial city Sun 2: Carthage (open daily 8:30 AM–5 PM) Mon 3: Zitouna Mosque, Tourbet El Bey Mausoleum, Dar Bach Hamba + medina and/or colonial city Tue 4: Bardo Museum all day Wed 5: Round-trip to Dougga (2-hour bus to Tebersouk + taxi) – pack a picnic Thu 6: Hike in Zaghouan (4–5 hours round-trip), check bus schedule to Zaghouan (Bab Alioua) Fri 7: Sidi Bou Said, including Maison du Baron d’Erlanger (Ennejma Ezzhara) & Dar El Annabi (Train at 5:20 PM or bus at 4 PM to Sousse.)

SOUSSE Sat 8: medina, archaeological museum (9 AM–5 PM, closed Mon) Sun 9: The Ribat (fortress), Dar Am Taïeb Contemporary Art Museum, Dar Essid (17th-century traditional house) Mon 10: Mahdia (1h40 min by Métro du Sahel): Ottoman fort, marine cemetery, wander around Tue 11: Round-trip to Monastir (30 min by Métro du Sahel): ribat, Bourguiba Mausoleum, mosque, presidential palace if accessible Wed 12: El Jem + museum (60 km away: 1h30 by bus or louage, last return at 5 PM)

(Bus to Kairouan, 1 hour)

KAIROUAN Thu 13: Great Mosque, medina, Three Doors Mosque, medieval cemetery, Sidi Sahbi Mosque... Fri 14: Finish visits and/or bus to Tozeur at 2 PM or 4 PM (4–5 hours)

TOZEUR Sat 15: Chebika oasis by louage (confirm return, with the same driver or by flagging a regular bus?), then medina Sun 16: Little train from Metlaoui at 10 AM or 10:30 AM, then return: palm grove, Museum of Traditions Mon 17: Morning flight.

Ah, I think seeing all these excursions, shared taxis, mentions of *louage*, etc., I assumed there weren’t any buses! The SNTRI does list "Tamerghza"... But like in other countries, can you flag down a bus on the road in Tunisia (in Chebika, for example) and buy your ticket from the driver?

Thanks to Calaf and you. I looked into it, and sure enough, some sites mention it reopening in May 2025. However, there’s no official site anymore. I found phone numbers, opening hours, and days that vary slightly depending on the sources (pre-2025), so I think I’ll have to ask once I’m there to be sure. Just in case, here’s the info for anyone interested or who wants to try: "Information and reservation Tel: + 216 76 241 469 Fax: + 216 76 241 604 Email: lezardrouge@topnet.tn"

Otherwise, I’ll ask again upthread in case Calaf has an idea: "If I start with Chebika (by louage), does anyone know if you can get to Tamerza by hitchhiking or taxi afterward, or if there are many louages passing through in the morning from Tozeur?" I’ll add: for the return from Tamerza, are there louages without any problem if it’s not too late, like after lunch? Thanks.

I'm thinking of heading there from Kairouan (4-5 hours by road, depending on sources, on the bus coming from Tunis).

Hi there,

My main constraint is the return flights from Tozeur, three days apart...

The *Routard* guide says that Tozeur itself is worth visiting, but it also mentions the three oases. The first two seem doable by *louage*: the one to Tamerza stops at Chebika on the way (last return from Tamerza around 3 PM). So I could plan them for Day 15 in the version without Monastir.

Question 1: If I start with Chebika, does anyone know if you can get to Tamerza afterward by hitchhiking or taxi, or if there are many *louages* passing through in the morning from Tozeur? Question 2: What’s the price for a round-trip taxi to visit all three oases from Tozeur? Is it common to share with other travelers?

If I’m going for 17 days, I still don’t know where to add an extra night since I feel like I’m already spending enough time everywhere... And I have this little uncertainty—I sometimes end up ahead of schedule when I realize I’ve seen all the planned sights at a stop earlier than expected...

Has anyone who’s been to Tozeur tell me if it’s a nice town to wander around aimlessly if I have "extra" days?

Thanks.

Bonus problem: returns from Tozeur don’t run every day, so either: - I do it in 15 days instead of 16, cutting out, say, the day in Monastir - I do it in 17 or 18 days, but then what should I add? Thanks.

Hi, I haven’t looked at flights yet, so the duration might change a bit, but here’s a slightly more detailed version. I ended up adding Tozeur to vary the environments and because there’s an airport (and the Routard guide says the town itself is worth a visit). As for Djerba, I skipped it because I had to make choices and Tozeur seems more "different" from the rest of my trip (and also because I get the impression Djerba requires a car or taxis).

TUNIS Day 1: arrival, and depending on the schedule, visit the medina and/or colonial city Day 2: Zitouna Mosque, Tourbet El Bey Mausoleum, Dar Bach Hamba + medina and/or colonial city Day 5: Carthage (open daily 8:30 AM–5 PM) Day 3: Bardo Museum (closed Mondays) Day 4: Sidi Bou Said in the morning, incl. Dar El Annabi (half-day) & Maison du Baron d'Erlanger (Ennejma Ezzhara) + extra time in Tunis’ souk/medina on the way back Day 6: Round-trip to Dougga (bus to Tebersouk 2h + taxi) – bring a picnic Option: Zaghouan hike (750m+, 10km round-trip) – is it worth it? Doable solo?

SOUSSE (From Tunis: shared taxi 1h30, bus 3h) Day 7: medina, archaeological museum (9 AM–5 PM, closed Mon) Day 8: the Ribat (fortress), Dar Am Taïeb Contemporary Art Museum, Dar Essid (17th-century traditional house) Day 9: El Jem + museum (60km away: 1h by train, 1h30 by bus, 1h30 by shared taxi, last return at 5 PM) Day 10: Round-trip to Monastir (30 min on the Sahel metro): ribat, mausoleum, mosque, presidential palace if accessible Day 11: Round-trip to Mahdia (1h40 on the Sahel metro): Ottoman fort, marine cemetery, stroll

KAIROUAN (2 hotels at 60 DT in the Routard guide) Day 12: Great Mosque, medina, Three Doors Mosque, medieval cemetery, Sidi Sahbi Mosque... Day 13: Finish visits and/or bus to Tozeur (5h)

TOZEUR (3 hotels at 40–50 DT according to the Routard guide) (Bus from Kairouan if not on Day 13) Day 14: palm grove, Museum of Traditions Day 15: old quarter; Nefta (25km)? Option: visit something outside the city by taxi or public transport (but what?) Day 16: flight

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Hi there, and thanks for all this info. I think I’ll have more specific questions later, actually.

For now, still trying to figure out the overall duration and which airports to use. 1. Length of stops: - For Tunis: does 5 days still sound good if we include the central market and the modern city (skipping Zaghouan for now)? - For Kairouan: you suggested one day—got it (maybe arrive at noon and leave the next day at noon). - For Sousse: I’m guessing 3 days is still fine, even without Port El Kantaoui? - For Monastir and Mahdia, I’ll plan at least one day each (if that’s enough), but do you have any suggestions on where to stay? Stay in Sousse and use the "métro du désert" for a round-trip day trip? Or stay in one of the two cities (maybe nicer, but what about prices?)? => Total: around 12–14 days, depending on transport and arrival/departure times.

Finally, about the "desert"—yes, I meant Tozeur and the oases, and probably the other places you mentioned. I was thinking of skipping them for three reasons, but let me know if this makes sense: - Twenty years ago, I did a guided tour with 3–4 days in a 4x4 (canyons, granaries, marabouts, dunes, mountain oases, Tataouine—I don’t remember all the names) and then 3 days at an all-inclusive hotel in Djerba. Well, I don’t travel like that anymore... - It seems like you *need* a guide and/or a car, which I’d rather avoid... - With everything else already planned, I’m not sure I’d have time to add something meaningful in two weeks (hence my mention of Gabès, though I’m not convinced).

Have a great evening.

Yeah, I often adjust as I realize I’ve gone faster (or slower) than planned on certain legs, or even just to follow the weather. But the only thing that bothers me here is that when I check the main accommodation booking sites, places with reasonable rates (10-20 €) seem really rare—or even nonexistent—in most cities! !

Hi there,

I'm urgently planning a trip to Tunisia in November, backpacker-style (no agency, no guide or taxi, public transport, youth hostels or small hotels, local restaurants). I'm not interested in the beach, and I like to take my time at archaeological sites and museums (twice as long as the average visitor). I'm aiming for about two weeks, give or take.

First, I'm trying to roughly outline a route/schedule so I can book my flight as soon as possible (no desert in the south this time—I went there years ago and want to stay independent). I’ve sketched out the following itinerary, knowing that apparently, there are quite a few towns without budget-friendly hotels (even on Airbnb), which means I’ll be staying longer where they’re available. Three questions: 1. Does this seem reasonable overall (time spent in each city)? 2. Should I add other cities, maybe in the northwest? 3. For hotels, in November, is it better to scout options on booking sites first, then book on the spot for cheaper rates (no site commission + possible negotiation)? Also, are hotels not listed online and found randomly on-site much cheaper?

ROUGH ITINERARY (order to be confirmed)

TUNIS 5 days (cheap accommodations: 13 or 19 €) 2 days: Medina, souks, Bardo Museum, Royal Mausoleum of Tourbet El Bey, Zitouna Mosque (exterior) 1 day: Sidi Bou Said 1 day: Carthage 1 day: A-R Dougga (bus to Tebersouk 2h + taxi) – pack a picnic + option: hike to Zaghouan (750m+, 10km round trip) – worth it? Doable alone?

KAIROUAN 2 days (very expensive room: 40-50 €!) Great Mosque, Medina, Three Doors Mosque, medieval cemetery, Sidi Sahbi Mosque...

SOUSSE 3 days (room 15 €) 2 days: Medina, archaeological museum, Port El Kantaoui, the Ribat (fortress), Contemporary Art Museum Dar Am Taïeb, Dar Essid (17th-century traditional house) 1 day: A-R El Jem (60km away) + option: 1 day A-R Monastir? Worth it? + option: 1 day A-R Mahdia (or 2 days sleeping there)?

OPTIONS -> Gabes to mix things up? But is it easy to find cheap lodging and get around/visit alone? -> Other sights or stops to sleep: Sfax, El Kef, others? -> Kerkenna Islands (easy accommodation?)

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions on these options. Once I’ve adjusted the duration, I’ll book my tickets for early November! (By the way, do you think I should arrive and depart from two different airports?)

Hi, Really interesting, thanks! Two other questions: what about the budget per category (knowing, if I understand correctly, that you didn’t use a guide/driver/private taxi service)? And how much time would you recommend for each of your stops? (It does seem smart to book everything in advance to avoid being stuck without internet—even though I get that casa owners can reserve your next stop with their contacts—but you’d still need to estimate how long to spend at each place.)

Hi, Has anyone here had firsthand experiences or updates since the shortages worsened in 2025? I’m hesitating about booking my flight ticket for November... Thanks.