Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said is a blue and white village on a steep cliff above the Mediterranean, with architecture inspired by its Andalusian settlers. UNESCO inscribed it in July 2026, the tenth Tunisian property on the World Heritage List. Its cafés, the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace and its lighthouse are the landmarks.
- Time on our journeys
- A short visit
- Region
- Tunis and Carthage
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2026 as the Village of Sidi Bou Saïd.
- On our journeys
- Five of our six private journeys
Visiting Sidi Bou Said
The village sits on a steep cliff above the Mediterranean. The sheets date its architecture to the 16th century and say it was inspired by Andalusian settlers. What you notice first is the colour: cobalt blue doors, window frames and wrought-iron railings against white walls. Artists, musicians and writers have been drawn to it for centuries, and there are galleries, workshops and cafés along the narrow streets.
Much of a visit is spent in the cafés. The Café des Nattes and the Café Sidi Chabaane both look over the sea, and the cafés in general serve traditional mint tea and sweet pastries, often on terraces. Beyond them are the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace, the Dar el-Annabi museum, the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, the lighthouse and the artisans' shops. The view over the sea is at its best at sunset.
Several programmes begin here. On the seven and ten day journeys the first evening is a visit to the village before the welcome dinner. Dar Said, the guest house named on five of the sheets, is in Sidi Bou Said itself, so on those programmes this is where you sleep.
What to see
- The Café des Nattes
- The Café Sidi Chabaane and its view
- The Ennejma Ezzahra Palace
- The Dar el-Annabi museum
- The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions
- The lighthouse
- The artisans' shops
- Sunset over the sea
Journeys that include Sidi Bou Said
Six of our seven journeys visit Sidi Bou Said. The day by day, the hotels and the price are on each journey's own page.
- Carthage, Kairouan and the Coast7 days, 6 nights. Reached on day 1.$1,950 a person, double occupancy
- The Splendors of Tunisia8 days, 7 nights. Reached on day 2.$2,190 a person, double occupancy
- Tunisia's Marvels10 days, 9 nights. Reached on day 1.$2,550 a person, double occupancy
- The Wonders of Tunisia11 days, 10 nights. Reached on day 2.$3,150 a person, double occupancy
- Tunisia's Mediterranean Treasures12 days, 11 nights. Reached on day 2.$3,690 a person, double occupancy
- Students Fun Tour7 days, 6 nights. Reached on day 2.Group programme
Along the way in Tunis and Carthage
The capital, the Punic and Roman ruins on the gulf, and the blue and white village above them.
- TunisTwo or three nights
- CarthageHalf a day
Sidi Bou SaidYou are here. A short visit.
- The Bardo MuseumHalf a day
- The Medina of TunisHalf a day
Start with Sidi Bou Said.
Tell us it belongs on your route and we shape the rest around your dates. We reply within one business day, US Eastern time. After a twenty minute call, a day by day proposal follows within 48 hours, with the hotels named and a firm price per person.
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