About Tunisia - Tunisia Guide & Information

Markets

Today, traditional markets still play an important role in Tunisian life. Shops and stalls normally stay open until about 6pm -7pm, but the main tourist alleys, like the Rue Jamaa Zitouna in Tunis’s main souk, stay open longer. To provide shade from the sun many markets are often covered with roofs, with air-conditioning in the more exclusive shops. There are also many small restaurants and cafes tucked away in the Medinas where everyone stops to catch up with the day’s news and enjoy a glass of tea. If you are shopping for something specific, it’s a good idea to find where the appropriate souk is before you set out, though exploring is half the fun!

To see all of Tunisia's markets plotted on the map of Tunisia click here

 

Medinas

A town’s walled old quarter with shady and narrow streets that are full of interesting sights.

Tunis Medina

The 12th century old town of Tunis Medina is a site not to be missed. It is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and home to bustling souks and a maze of colourful streets, as well as the revered Zitouna Mosque, where worshippers have been called to prayer for more than one thousand years.

Ramparts enclose the town, with gates to allow communication with the outside. It is entirely self-sufficient, with its own houses, palaces, cemeteries, hammams, schools, bakeries, handicraft workshops, courtyards and gardens. Each street in the Medina represents a different trade. The noble trades such as jewellers, silk-merchants, perfumers and booksellers are located around the central mosque and the less refined trades are pushed towards the outskirts of the city.

To see all of Tunisia's medinas plotted on the map of Tunisia click here