Tunisia blends ancient history with Mediterranean charm, from the ruins of Carthage to the blue-and-white streets of Sidi Bou Said. Explore Roman amphitheaters, Saharan oases, and pristine coastal beaches in North Africa's most accessible destination.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Nabeul Hand-Painted Pottery
Vibrant blue-and-green painted ceramics from Tunisia's pottery capital Nabeul. Each piece hand-painted by local artisans with geometric and floral motifs passed down through generations.
Price: $5-50
Where: Nabeul market, Tunis Medina souks
Berber Carpet (Mergoum)
Flat-woven wool carpets in geometric patterns made by Berber women. Each region has distinct patterns and colors, making them truly unique. Perfect wall hangings or floor pieces.
Price: $50-500
Where: Kairouan carpet market, medina souks throughout Tunisia
Silver Berber Jewelry
Hand-crafted silver jewelry with Berber symbols including the Hand of Fatima (khamsa) and eye motifs. Necklaces, bangles, and earrings with turquoise and coral inlay.
Price: $15-150
Where: Sfax medina, Tunis souk des orfèvres
Harissa Paste
Tunisia's beloved hot chili paste, sold in tins or tubes. Made from roasted peppers, garlic, cumin, and coriander, it's essential to Tunisian cooking and a perfect edible souvenir.
Price: $3-12
Where: Supermarkets, Tunis Marché Central, all food markets
Medjool Dates from Tozeur
Prized Deglet Nour dates from Tozeur oasis, considered among the world's finest. Beautifully packaged in decorative boxes, they make elegant gifts.
Price: $8-30
Where: Tozeur date market, airports, large supermarkets
Rose Water (Eau de Rose)
Zaghouan and Nabeul are famous for rose water distillation. Pure rose water used in cooking and beauty routines, sold in decorative glass bottles.
Price: $5-20
Where: Nabeul perfume shops, Tunis medina spice souks
Hand-Tooled Leather Goods
Slippers (babouche), bags, and belts crafted from local leather in Tunis's Souk des Chaudronniers. Natural colors or dyed in traditional Tunisian hues.
Price: $20-100
Where: Tunis Medina leather souk, Sousse medina
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Marché Central de Tunis
Tunis's main covered market overflowing with fresh produce, seafood, spices, olives, and local delicacies. A sensory feast with vendors haggling and the aroma of freshly ground cumin filling the air.
Where: Rue Charles de Gaulle, Tunis 1000
Hours: 7AM-2PM daily, closed Sunday afternoon
Nabeul Friday Market (Marché du Vendredi)
Tunisia's most famous weekly market attracting visitors from across the country. Hundreds of stalls selling pottery, spices, local crafts, animals, and produce. An unmissable cultural spectacle.
Where: Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Nabeul 8000
Hours: 8AM-3PM Fridays only
Souk El Attarine (Spice Market)
Ancient perfume and spice market within Tunis Medina where merchants have traded aromatic treasures for centuries. Buy cumin, coriander, rose water, jasmine perfume, and traditional incense.
Where: Medina of Tunis, near Zitouna Mosque
Hours: 9AM-6PM Mon-Sat
Kairouan Carpet Market
Kairouan is UNESCO-recognized as a carpet-weaving capital. This market has dozens of workshops and showrooms where you can watch artisans work and buy directly at workshop prices.
Where: Rue de la Medina, Kairouan 3100
Hours: 8AM-6PM daily
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Tunis Medina Souks
Over 700 years old, the Tunis medina contains a labyrinth of specialized souks: gold jewelers, perfumers, carpet sellers, leather workers, tailors, and coppersmith workshops. Shopping here is an immersive cultural experience.
Best for: Authentic crafts, carpets, spices, jewelry
Avenue Habib Bourguiba
Tunis's Champs-Élysées lined with French colonial buildings, international brand stores, patisseries, and pharmacies. Great for everyday shopping with a European-Tunisian feel.
Best for: International brands, cafes, electronics, fashion
Les Berges du Lac Shopping District
Modern upscale shopping district around Lake Tunis with international brands, restaurants, and contemporary retail stores. Popular with affluent Tunisians and business travelers.
Best for: International brands, boutiques, restaurants
Hammamet Medina
Compact medina with artisan shops, carpet dealers, and souvenir stalls in a less intense atmosphere than Tunis. Good for craft shopping with beach nearby.
Best for: Ceramics, textiles, leather goods, beach souvenirs
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Tunis City Mall
Tunisia's largest shopping mall in Les Berges du Lac district with international and local brands, hypermarket, food court, cinema, and entertainment center. Modern air-conditioned respite from the city heat.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Lac Palace Shopping Center
Well-established mall in the Lac district with fashion brands, electronics, cafes, and restaurants. Popular weekend destination for Tunis families with ample parking and full-service facilities.
Hours: 10AM-9PM daily
Géant Casino Hypermarket (La Marsa)
Large French hypermarket chain with extensive grocery, household goods, electronics, and clothing sections. Great for stocking up on local food products to take home at supermarket prices.
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected in medina souks and markets but not in fixed-price stores or supermarkets. Start at 40-50% of the asking price and negotiate respectfully
Begin with genuine interest and politeness - aggressive bargaining is seen as rude. Drink tea offered by vendors (it creates goodwill and is not an obligation to buy)
Know the value before bargaining - check similar items in multiple stalls before committing. Walking away often results in the vendor calling you back with a better price
Small items under $10 are usually already priced close to final; save negotiating energy for larger carpets, jewelry, and leather goods where margins are higher
Pay in Tunisian dinars (TND) rather than euros for better prices. Vendors may quote in euros at inflated rates
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Antiques and archaeological items cannot be exported without official permit from the National Heritage Institute. Alcohol limited to 1 bottle duty-free on import.
Tax Refund: VAT refund available for purchases over 200 TND at participating stores. Request detaxe form at point of purchase and stamp at airport customs.
Duty Free: Visitors can import 200 cigarettes, 1L spirits, 2L wine duty-free. Export of dinars limited to 30 TND.
Shipping: International shipping available from main post offices (PTT) and private couriers (DHL, FedEx in Tunis). Fragile pottery and carpets can be shipped safely if properly packaged by the seller.