Can you visit the Sahara and the coast in one week in Tunisia?

Yes. By taking an internal flight or overnight louage between Tozeur and the coast, you can combine two days in the Sahara with time in Sousse, Hammamet, or both. The key is starting in Tunis and working south before looping back to the coast for the final stretch.

How much does one week in Tunisia cost?

A mid-range week in Tunisia typically costs approximately 1,800–3,500 TND (roughly 550–1,100 USD) per person, covering accommodation, meals, transport, and entry fees as of 2026. Budget travellers staying in hostels and using louages can manage on less, while luxury options with boutique riads and private 4x4 tours cost more.

What is the best time of year for this itinerary?

March to May and September to November are ideal. Summer (June to August) is very hot in the south — daytime temperatures in Tozeur regularly exceed 40°C — and winter can bring cooler conditions on the coast. Spring and autumn give comfortable temperatures across all stops on this route.

Do I need a car for this 1 week itinerary?

A car is helpful but not essential. Trains connect Tunis to Sousse and El Jem, louages cover most intercity routes, and the Sahara section is best done with a local guide or organised 4x4 tour regardless. A hire car adds flexibility for the Dougga day trip and coastal driving but creates parking challenges in Tunis and Sousse medinas.

7-Day Tunisia Itinerary 2026 | The Tunisia Guide

This itinerary covers Tunisia from north to south and back again in seven days: the capital and its Roman-era suburbs, the UNESCO ruins at Dougga, the coastal heritage corridor from Sousse to El Jem, two days in the Saharan south around Tozeur, and a final day on the coast at Hammamet. It is designed to move efficiently without feeling rushed, and every stop adds a different layer to the trip.

All prices listed are approximate as of 2026 and are subject to change. Check current rates before you travel.

Before you go, read our guides to flights to Tunisia and getting around Tunisia. An Airalo eSIM for Tunisia gives you data from the moment you land.

Days 1–2: Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said

Day 1 — Tunis Medina and Bardo Museum

Arrive at Tunis-Carthage Airport (TUN). A taxi to the city centre costs approximately 10–15 TND (around 3–5 USD). Check in, then head to the Bardo National Museum in the morning — one of the world’s finest collections of Roman mosaics, housed in a former Ottoman palace. Plan 2–3 hours.

Bardo Museum entry: approximately 12 TND
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:00 (closed Mondays)
Getting there: Metro Line 4 to Le Bardo, or taxi approximately 5–10 TND from Avenue Habib Bourguiba

Spend the afternoon exploring the Tunis medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk to the Zitouna Great Mosque at its heart (exterior free; interior approximately 3 TND for non-Muslims), then browse Souk El Attarine and Souk El Leffa.

Lunch: Café M’Rabet inside the medina — a historic teahouse with tiled courtyard. Main dishes approximately 15–30 TND.

Dinner: Fondouk El Attarine on Rue des Teinturiers — traditional Tunisian cuisine in a converted caravanserai. Expect approximately 40–70 TND per person.

Day 2 — Carthage and Sidi Bou Said

Take the TGM commuter train from Tunis Marine station to Carthage — approximately 1 TND per trip, trains run every 10–15 minutes. Spend the morning at the Carthage archaeological sites: the Antonine Baths, Byrsa Hill, and the Tophet sanctuary. A combined ticket covering all Carthage sites costs approximately 12 TND.

Carthage sites hours: 08:00–17:00 daily (summer hours may extend to 19:00)

After lunch, continue one stop on the TGM to Sidi Bou Said. Walk the blue-and-white streets, visit the Dar El Annabi museum (approximately 5 TND entry), and stop at Café des Délices for mint tea with views over the Gulf of Tunis (approximately 8–12 TND per drink).

Dinner: Dar Zarrouk in Sidi Bou Said — a clifftop restaurant with panoramic sea views. Main courses approximately 45–80 TND.

Days 1–2 accommodation

Tier	Hotel	Price per night
Budget	Tunis Hostel Medina	from 40 TND (approximately 13 USD)
Mid-range	Hôtel Dar El Medina	from 180 TND (approximately 57 USD)
Luxury	La Maison Bleue	from 450 TND (approximately 143 USD)

Day 3: Dougga Day Trip

Dougga is Tunisia’s most complete Roman city — a UNESCO World Heritage Site approximately 110 km southwest of Tunis. The site sits on a hilltop with views across the Oued Khalled valley and is far less crowded than Carthage.

Getting there: Hire a car (approximately 120–180 TND per day — compare rates on GetRentacar) or book an organised day trip (approximately 80–150 TND per person including transport and guide). By public transport, take a louage from Tunis Bab Saadoun station to Téboursouk (approximately 8–12 TND, 2 hours), then a local taxi to the site (approximately 10 TND).

Dougga entry: approximately 8 TND
Hours: 08:00–17:00 daily (summer to 19:00)

Spend 2–3 hours walking the site: the Capitol temple (one of the best-preserved Roman temples in North Africa), the theatre (still used for summer festivals), the Licinian Baths, and the Libyo-Punic Mausoleum. Bring water and sun protection — there is almost no shade.

Lunch: Restaurant Thugga in the village of Téboursouk — grilled meats and salads for approximately 15–25 TND per person.

Return to Tunis by late afternoon. Take an evening SNCFT train from Tunis to Sousse — departures roughly every 1–2 hours, journey time approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, tickets from 12 TND in second class and from 18 TND in first class (comfort class). Book at the station or online via SNCFT.

Days 4–5: Sousse, El Jem and the Sahel Coast

Day 4 — Sousse

Check in to your Sousse hotel, then explore the Sousse medina — another UNESCO site. Key stops:

Great Mosque of Sousse: free entry to courtyard
Ribat fortress: approximately 8 TND entry, 08:00–17:00. Climb the watchtower for views over the port and medina
Sousse Archaeological Museum: approximately 8 TND entry (housed inside the Kasbah)

Walk the ramparts in the late afternoon when the light is best for photographs.

Lunch: Restaurant Le Bonheur on Rue de France — Tunisian and Mediterranean dishes from approximately 20–35 TND per person.

Dinner: Dar Essid in the medina — a restored 10th-century house with rooftop dining. Main courses approximately 35–60 TND.

Day 5 — El Jem Half-Day + Afternoon in Sousse

Take a morning train from Sousse to El Jem — approximately 1 hour, tickets from 6 TND. The El Jem Amphitheatre is the third-largest Roman amphitheatre in the world, after Rome’s Colosseum and Capua, and it is the best preserved in North Africa.

El Jem Amphitheatre entry: approximately 12 TND (combined ticket with the archaeological museum)
Hours: 07:30–17:30 daily (summer to 19:00)

Spend 1.5–2 hours at the amphitheatre and museum, then take the train back to Sousse for an afternoon at Port El Kantaoui or the Sousse beach.

Days 4–5 accommodation

Tier	Hotel	Price per night
Budget	Hôtel Médina Sousse	from 60 TND (approximately 19 USD)
Mid-range	Hôtel Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa	from 250 TND (approximately 80 USD)
Luxury	The Residence Sousse	from 500 TND (approximately 160 USD)

Days 5–6: Tozeur and the Sahara

Getting to Tozeur

From Sousse, the most practical option is a louage (shared minibus) to Tozeur — approximately 25–35 TND, journey time around 4–5 hours via Gafsa. Alternatively, Tunisair Express operates flights from Tunis to Tozeur-Nefta International Airport (seasonal, approximately 150–250 TND one way). A hire car gives you the most flexibility for the desert routes.

Day 5 (evening) — Tozeur Old Town

Arrive in Tozeur and check in. Walk through the Ouled El Hadef quarter — the old town is built from distinctive yellow brickwork laid in geometric patterns. Visit the Dar Cheraït Museum (approximately 5 TND entry) for a quick introduction to the region’s history and culture.

Dinner: Restaurant Le Petit Prince on Avenue Habib Bourguiba — grilled lamb and couscous from approximately 20–40 TND per person.

Day 6 — Mountain Oases and Chott el Jerid

Book a half-day 4x4 excursion to the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza, and Mides — approximately 80–150 TND per person through local operators or your hotel. These three canyon oases along the Algerian border feature waterfalls, palm groves, and abandoned Berber villages. Each takes 30–60 minutes to explore.

In the afternoon, drive across the Chott el Jerid salt lake — a surreal, shimmering flat stretching 250 km². The crossing takes approximately 1 hour by car. Stop for photographs at the roadside salt formations.

If time allows, continue to Douz (approximately 1.5 hours from Tozeur) for a sunset camel trek at the edge of the Grand Erg Oriental. Short treks of 1–2 hours cost approximately 40–80 TND per person.

Days 5–6 accommodation

Tier	Hotel	Price per night
Budget	Résidence Warda	from 50 TND (approximately 16 USD)
Mid-range	Dar Horchani	from 160 TND (approximately 51 USD)
Luxury	Anantara Tozeur Resort	from 600 TND (approximately 190 USD)

Day 7: Hammamet

Getting to Hammamet

From Tozeur, take a louage to Tunis (approximately 30–40 TND, 5–6 hours) and change for a louage or train to Hammamet (approximately 5–8 TND, 1 hour from Tunis). With a hire car, the direct route is approximately 450 km via the A1 motorway (5–6 hours). Alternatively, fly Tozeur to Tunis and taxi to Hammamet.

Hammamet

Spend your final day on the coast. Hammamet offers wide sandy beaches, a compact medina with a 15th-century Kasbah (approximately 5 TND entry), and a more relaxed pace than Sousse.

Walk through the medina in the morning, visit the Kasbah for views over the bay, then spend the afternoon at the beach or at one of the resort pools.

Lunch: Restaurant La Bella Marina on the beach promenade — fresh seafood and grilled fish from approximately 25–45 TND per person.

Dinner: Sidi Bouhdid in the medina — Tunisian-Italian fusion in a courtyard setting. Main courses approximately 30–55 TND.

Day 7 accommodation

Tier	Hotel	Price per night
Budget	Hôtel Sahbi	from 55 TND (approximately 18 USD)
Mid-range	La Badira	from 300 TND (approximately 95 USD)
Luxury	Four Seasons Resort Hammamet (Yasmine Hammamet)	from 700 TND (approximately 223 USD)

Budget Summary

Category	Budget tier	Mid-range tier	Luxury tier
Accommodation (7 nights)	from 350 TND (111 USD)	from 1,400 TND (445 USD)	from 3,500 TND (1,113 USD)
Meals (7 days)	from 350 TND (111 USD)	from 700 TND (223 USD)	from 1,400 TND (445 USD)
Transport	from 150 TND (48 USD)	from 300 TND (95 USD)	from 600 TND (191 USD)
Entry fees & activities	from 100 TND (32 USD)	from 200 TND (64 USD)	from 350 TND (111 USD)
Total per person	from 950 TND (302 USD)	from 2,600 TND (827 USD)	from 5,850 TND (1,860 USD)

All figures are approximate as of 2026.

Practical Tips

Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TND). ATMs are widely available in Tunis, Sousse, and Hammamet; less reliable in Tozeur and Douz — withdraw enough cash before heading south.
SIM card: An Airalo eSIM activates on arrival. Ooredoo and Tunisie Telecom also sell local SIMs at the airport from approximately 20 TND.
Sahara heat: If travelling June–August, the southern leg of this itinerary will see temperatures above 40°C. Start early, carry 2–3 litres of water per person, and avoid midday exposure.
Ramadan: During Ramadan, many restaurants close during daylight hours. Hotels and tourist-facing restaurants usually remain open, but street food options reduce significantly.

For more route ideas, see our 7-day Tunisia itinerary for a flexible overview or our 3-day Tunisia itinerary if you have less time. Our Sahara desert tour goes deeper into the southern leg of this route.

7-Day Tunisia Itinerary 2026: Tunis, Sahara & the Coast

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