# A week in Tunisia > Set off to discover Tunisia's hidden treasures! This North African country is waiting for you. Source: https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/blog/a-week-in-tunisia/ Published on 19 May 2023 **Our second time in Tunisia within just a few months!** We'll remember 2023 as the year we discovered North Africa and this gorgeous country. Those of you who follow us on Instagram know that this trip to Tunisia wasn't planned at all originally. We were supposed to spend a week in the north of Italy, but the bad weather hitting the country made us cancel our trip just days before departure. So we decided to head back to Tunisia, a destination that's affordable budget-wise, especially at the last minute, and where the weather would be better than in Europe. Tunisia, here we come! We decided to fly into **Monastir** so we could easily branch out and discover the **east coast** and part of the **centre** of the country, then fly back out of **Tunis**, which would take us up to the **north** of Tunisia. A week paced just right, letting us combine all these regions without rushing, taking our time and resting along the way. _We put together our one-week itinerary largely thanks to two guidebooks, the Routard and the Petit Futé on Tunisia. We'd also recommend checking out the_ [_Discover Tunisia_](https://www.discovertunisia.com/) _website._ ## Good to know before you go **1. Currency** the local currency is the Tunisian dinar (1 TND = 0.30€). Plan on **withdrawing cash from an ATM**, as almost everything is paid for in cash in Tunisia (cafés, guides, visits…). We weren't charged any withdrawal fees at the ATM at Monastir airport. The handiest option is a fee-free international card like Boursorama. \*\*_Our Boursorama referral code gets you 80€ for any first account opened with an Ultim card: MADA2922_\*\* **2. Internet** Tunisia is rarely included in phone operators' plans. We'd recommend buying a **local SIM card** once you get there. We went to the Orange shop in downtown Monastir, for example, and got a 10GB SIM card for 23 TND (6.95€). **3. Weather** we travelled from 12 to 19 May and had fairly mild weather. That said, temperatures were unusually low for that time of year; we had between 20 and 28 degrees, depending on the town and the day, but it can usually climb much higher. **4. Insurance** as with all our trips outside Europe, we recommend taking out travel insurance, which will save you a lot of hassle if anything goes wrong! We'd suggest [**Heymondo**](https://heymondo.fr/?utm_medium=Afiliado&utm_source=VOYAGESURLACOMETE&utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&cod_descuento=VOYAGESURLACOMETE&ag_campaign=ARTICLESEMAINETUNISIE&agencia=wNmhSP8dCunKduWagRFjCauF3mjpgWXw8kGCra5p&redirect=TEMPORAL) (paid partner link), a trusted travel insurance provider offering cover for any type of trip, shorter or longer, and above all for every budget with different options (Tranquilité, Top, Premium). Everything happens through the app, where (French) teams answer 24/7. If anything goes wrong, **there's nothing to pay upfront and no costs to advance**: Heymondo handles everything from A to Z, from finding the nearest medical centre to paying the bill. Flight delays and cancellations are covered too. [**Get 5% off your Heymondo insurance through our link**](https://heymondo.fr/?utm_medium=Afiliado&utm_source=VOYAGESURLACOMETE&utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&cod_descuento=VOYAGESURLACOMETE&ag_campaign=ARTICLESEMAINETUNISIE&agencia=wNmhSP8dCunKduWagRFjCauF3mjpgWXw8kGCra5p&redirect=TEMPORAL) (paid partner link) **!** Now for our itinerary, our trip budget, our accommodation and our favourite spots… everything you need to plan your own week-long trip to Tunisia, covering the north, the east coast and the centre! ![Map of our week in Tunisia: La Marsa, Monastir, Sousse, Kairouan and El Jem](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-02-0e98ca9f.webp) ## Our itinerary for 7 days in Tunisia **Day 1** 12 May - Arrival at Monastir airport - Night at Dar Benti **Day 2** 13 May - Pool morning at Dar Benti - Monastir: visit to the Ribat - Night at Dar Benti **Day 3** 14 May - Sousse: archaeological museum and medina - Port El Kantaoui - Night at Dar Benti **Day 4** 15 May - Monastir: visit to the Bourguiba Mausoleum - Mahdia - Night at Dar Benti **Day 5** 16 May - Kairouan - El Jem: amphitheatre, micro-mosaic workshop and archaeological museum - Night at Dar Benti **Day 6** 17 May - Pool morning at Dar Benti - Afternoon travelling by train to the north of Tunisia - Night in La Marsa **Day 7** 18 May - Carthage: archaeological sites - Sidi Bou Said - Night in La Marsa **Day 8** 19 May - Sidi Bou Said - Heading back to Paris - - **[Find our whole road trip in detail on our Instagram account in a highlighted story!](https://www.instagram.com/voyagesurlacomete/)** ## Our budget for 7 days in Tunisia - **Flights**: Paris-Monastir with Nouvel Air (167€ for two) and Tunis-Paris return with Tunisair (141€ for two), 308€ for two, so 154€ per person return - **Accommodation**: 522€ for the 7 nights (including 5 nights with breakfast) - **Internet**: 6.95€ (23 TND) for 1 Orange SIM card with 10GB - **Meals** (street food, pastries and cafés): 46€ for two 🥳 - **Transport** (train, bus): 43€ for two - **Visits and activities**: 110€ for two (including one day with a private driver at 75€) A total of **1,040€ (roughly) for 7 days for two** (that's 520€ per person). ## Our accommodation in southern Tunisia For this 7-day trip, we decided to stay in two different places, both on the coast in Monastir and in the north of Tunisia, in La Marsa. The idea is to be able to easily branch out by public transport from these two towns, which are both pretty lively and have a wide enough range of restaurants for dinner in the evening. We deliberately skipped Tunis, as we didn't want to stay in a very big city and wanted to be close to the sea. > **Good to know** > > _Our tip_: book directly with the owner by email, WhatsApp or through their website to avoid the fees charged by booking sites like Airbnb, whenever you can! ### **❤️** Dar Benti (5 nights) [Dar Benti](https://www.darbenti.com/) is a lovely place to stay in Monastir, right in the heart of the medina. We fell head over heels for this guesthouse run by Sarah, an architect by trade who fully renovated and designed this dar herself. We stayed in the spacious Emilie room, which opens straight onto the terrace and the pool while still being quiet. Breakfasts are really generous and homemade, with a sweet and savoury spread that keeps you going all day (no need for lunch). And special mention for the gorgeous outdoor spaces, and especially the pool, which we made the most of. We highly recommend this place! **455€ for the 5 nights for two, so 89€ a night with breakfast (297 TND a night in low season)**. ![White lane in Monastir's medina decorated with blue pots, in front of the Dar Benti guesthouse](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-03-dd4ba2e4.webp) ![Marie by the pool on the terrace of Dar Benti, in Monastir](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-04-5d2a7273.webp) ![Homemade pumpkin seed tart served at breakfast at Dar Benti](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-05-d8c9741c.webp) ![Lit-up pool and cacti on the terrace of Dar Benti, at night, in Monastir](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-06-2f0ce4d6.webp) ![Shaded terrace at Dar Benti, big wooden table and wicker pendant lights](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-07-1167b7e3.webp) ![Breakfast room at Dar Benti, homemade jams and pastries on the table](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-08-817b2c88.webp) ![Marie and Romain in the Dar Benti pool under Monastir's blue sky](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-09-81a0cdd7.webp) ![Columned, arcaded patio at the Dar Benti guesthouse, in Monastir's medina](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-10-0b4d4721.webp) ### Studio in La Marsa (2 nights) We stayed in La Marsa in a [studio we found on Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/29434124?source_impression_id=p3_1685353913_Mn1ku2fDi%2Btx3T2d) at the last minute. The little flat is well placed for easily visiting Carthage and Sidi Bou Said thanks to the nearby train station. Good value for money for this fairly simple place to stay! **77€ for the 2 nights** ## Our favourite spots in Tunisia - **[Twenty 3](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Twenty3/@35.772053,10.8252694,17.99z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x130213d5e21921ef:0x6852264f1f12b2f8!8m2!3d35.7719346!4d10.8262283!16s%2Fg%2F11str0b78p?entry=ttu) in Monastir**: a good place on Avenue des Martyrs between the medina and the train station, where we went two evenings in a row – 5.5 TND (1.5€) for the savoury mlaoui, 7 TND (2.10€) for the chocolate crêpe - **[Bazgoût](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/bazgo%C3%B9t+pizza/@35.7692021,10.8221129,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x130213036ec08b71:0x5cec15df0d8fe6a4!8m2!3d35.7691978!4d10.8246878!16s%2Fg%2F11tg6g1kjs?entry=ttu)** **in Monastir**: a new place near the train station – 11 TND (3.45€) for the panozzo - **[Raffino's](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Raffino's/@35.7709249,10.8151589,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x130213f0a23996bb:0x325a3125f8c7eaf4!8m2!3d35.7709206!4d10.8177338!16s%2Fg%2F11jtwsbq2g?entry=ttu) in Monastir**: a bakery serving up good "European"-style cakes for not much money – 5 TND (1.5€) for the entremet - **[Salambouf](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Salambouf/@36.8403278,10.3188613,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12fd4b31321accbd:0x6f343ced29f8ab98!8m2!3d36.8403235!4d10.3214362!16s%2Fg%2F11d_8rqmjf?entry=ttu) in Carthage**: a good street food spot near the Tophet of Salambô – 15.5 TND (4.65€) for 2 makloub (homemade bread stuffed with meat or tuna, with salad and fries) - **[Art Café](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Art+Caf%C3%A9/@36.8707671,10.3449991,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12e2b49900000001:0x19683b4bb4e8777f!8m2!3d36.8707628!4d10.347574!16s%2Fg%2F11by_dnq1c?entry=ttu) in Sidi Bou Saïd**: a lovely rooftop with a great view – 21 TND (6.3€) for 2 almond teas and a lemonade - **[Oueld El Bey](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Oueld+El+Bey/@36.8798245,10.3250616,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12e2b48d4dd01ee5:0x2b53746a98ec8d1d!8m2!3d36.8798202!4d10.3276365!16s%2Fg%2F11b75k9jp1?entry=ttu) in La Marsa**: a traditional sandwich shop – 13.5 TND (4€) for 2 sandwiches with tabouna (Tunisian bread) - **[Boulevard des capucines](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Boulevard+des+capucines/@36.8805158,10.3302685,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12e2b51c5394cd7b:0xee2459c804a9830!8m2!3d36.8805115!4d10.3328434!16s%2Fg%2F11t3fjsld5?entry=ttu) in La Marsa**: a bakery serving entremets and pastries – 2 TND (0.6€) for a croissant, 9 TND (3€) for a cake ## What we thought of Tunisia This trip to Tunisia proved to us once again that this country has so much to offer in terms of scenery, culture and history. In a week, we were able to discover both coastal towns with their medinas and forts, like Monastir, Sousse and Mahdia; the holy city of Kairouan and its exceptional heritage; the archaeological sites of El Jem and Carthage; and the very picturesque Sidi Bou Said. One thing's for sure: there's plenty to do and see in Tunisia! And just like in March, we were struck by the fact that we were often (almost) alone at gorgeous sites or in the little streets of the towns... are the tourists all camped out in their all-inclusive hotels? Either way, we had these places to ourselves and got to make the most of every spot! **So if you're looking for a destination for a week, or even just a few days in the sun, with beautiful archaeological sites and medinas to see, consider the Tunisian coast or the north of Tunisia!** **A budget-friendly trip, guaranteed.** ![Marie and Romain in the Roman amphitheatre of El Jem, in Tunisia](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/une-semaine-en-tunisie-11-bd6bb45a.webp) ## 2 comments - **Sophie**, 25 March 2025 Merci pour toutes ces informations ! - **mehri**, 14 September 2025 Super article 👏 Ça me rappelle mon propre séjour en Tunisie. J’ai adoré Mahdia et la médina de Kairouan ! Voyager en indépendant, c’est vraiment la meilleure option.