Morning (8am-12pm): Start at the Medina of Tunis before crowds arrive. Enter through Bab Bhar, visit Ez-Zitouna Mosque exterior, explore souks (perfume, textiles, spices). Visit Tourbet el Bey mausoleum. Stop at traditional café for mint tea.
Lunch (12-1:30pm): Try authentic couscous or brik at Medina restaurant.
Afternoon (from 2pm): Take metro Line 4 to Bardo National Museum (closes 5pm in summer, 4:30pm in winter; closed Mondays). Spend 2-3 hours admiring world-class Roman mosaics. Return to Avenue Habib Bourguiba for evening stroll, coffee at sidewalk café.
Evening: Dinner at restaurant near Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Try ojja, fricassee, or grilled fish.
Morning (8am-1pm): Take TGM train to Carthage. Visit Byrsa Hill for panoramic views (the Carthage Museum is closed for renovation). Explore Antonine Baths, then Punic Ports area. See Roman Villas with mosaics.
Lunch (1-2:30pm): Fresh seafood at La Goulette port or continue to Sidi Bou Said.
Afternoon (3-7pm): TGM to Sidi Bou Said. Wander blue-and-white streets, visit Dar El Annabi Museum (with mint tea!), browse art galleries. Stop at Café des Délices for spectacular sea views and traditional tea. Watch sunset over Mediterranean.
Evening: Return to Tunis or dine at Sidi Bou Said's restaurants with sea views.
Early Departure (7-8am): Book private tour or join group tour. 2-hour drive south.
Kairouan (10am-1pm): Visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan (4th holiest site in Islam, founded 670 AD), magnificent Aghlabid Basins (9th-century water reservoirs), Sidi Sahbi mausoleum with stunning tilework. Walk through Medina's carpet souks.
Lunch (1-2pm): Traditional restaurant in Kairouan or en route to El Jem.
El Jem (2:30-4:30pm): Marvel at the Roman Amphitheater world's 3rd largest and best-preserved. Climb to upper levels for views. Visit El Jem Museum with exceptional mosaics.
Return (5-7pm): Drive back to Tunis with Tunisian countryside views.
Alternative: Add Sousse Medina if time permits (coastal city between El Jem and Tunis).
Departure (7:30am): Private tour recommended. 2.5-hour drive southwest.
Dougga (10am-1pm): Explore Tunisia's best-preserved Roman city (UNESCO site). See the magnificent Theater (seats 3,500), Capitolium Temple dedicated to Jupiter/Juno/Minerva, Licinian Baths, residential quarter, stunning hillside setting. This remote site offers authentic Roman ruins without crowds.
Lunch (1-2:30pm): Local restaurant or stop in Testour (optional: visit Great Mosque with reversed clock).
Bulla Regia (3-5pm): Unique Roman site where villas had underground floors to escape heat seven excavated so far with beautiful mosaics naming each villa. Underground architecture preserved due to innovative design.
Return (5:30-8pm): Scenic drive through Tunisia's green countryside.
Morning (9am-12pm): Explore neighborhoods you missed La Marsa for upscale vibe, local markets. Visit Belvedere Park for gardens and zoo, or revisit favorite Medina souks for final shopping.
Lunch (12-2pm): Beachfront restaurant at La Marsa Beach. Try couscous with fish or grilled seafood.
Afternoon (2-6pm): Relax at La Marsa or Carthage beaches. Swim in Mediterranean, sunbathe, enjoy beach cafés. Walk the natural sand dunes behind La Marsa Beach.
Evening (6-9pm): Return to Sidi Bou Said for golden hour photography and farewell dinner at restaurant with sea view terrace. Traditional mint tea ceremony and bambaloni (honey donuts) for dessert.
Alternative: Visit Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul, explore modern Tunis neighborhoods, or enjoy hammam (traditional bath) experience.
Pro Tips: Tours for Kairouan/El Jem and Dougga/Bulla Regia should be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Prices typically 80-150 TND per person including transport, guide, and sometimes lunch. Private tours cost more but offer flexibility.