Suburbs of Tunis by brazwhazz
Tunis has two very interesting, and very well-known, suburbs: Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd. Both are worth the detour and can be visited as a day trip from the city.Carthage was the capital city of the powerful Phoenician empire. The Romans razed it following the Punic Wars, but Carthage enjoys such an ideal location, they rebuilt it a century later. Nowadays, it is home to many archeological sites that only hint at its former glory.
Sidi Bou Saïd's claim to fame is much more recent. People visit this idyllic artists' town for its unique white-and-blue houses, which were painted as such back in the 1920s, and unreal views of the Mediterranean Sea.
The best way to visit these two suburbs is to set out early and take the TGM (surburban train line, around 1 dinar) from Tunis Marine station (Avenue Habib Bourguiba, some 10-15 minutes east of the Ville Nouvelle on foot), get off at Carthage Hannibal station and spend the first part of your day exploring the ruins in Carthage. Then take a taxi to Sidi Bou Saïd (a short drive away, only 2-3 dinars), where you can end the day lazing in one of the town's many cafes. FInally, return to Tunis with the TGM from Sidi Bou Saïd station.
You can check out my Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd pages for more information.
