Gränder och basarer i Tunis - shopping och folkliv

We are still on the ground in Tunisia, but our journey is coming to an end. Here is a first report on our experiences in the alleys and bazaars of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

Table of contents

Tunis in Tunisia

Tunis is the capital of Tunisia. There is an old part of the city, the so-called medina, and a newer part. The medina is one of the largest in North Africa and offers a maze of narrow alleys, large bazaars, mosques and churches. This old neighbourhood has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Tunis is located in the northern part of Tunisia, just off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Walk along "Les champs Elysées de Tunis".

The big avenue in Tunis is actually called Avenue Habib Bourguiba, but is sometimes referred to as "Les champs Elysées de Tunis", to remind you of the parade street in Paris. We took a stroll here, before it was time to find the alleys and bazaars of the Tunisian capital.

First, we peeked into a shop that we found at one end of the avenue. Here, artisans from different parts of the country displayed their crafts, ranging from clothes and carpets to baskets and ceramics.

Marché Central de Tunis - food market in Tunis

We then moved on to a food market called Marché Central de Tunis (Municipal Market). Here you can look around all the stalls selling mainly vegetables and fruit, as well as fish and seafood. We really like to look around food markets and see what products are available in different countries.

We saw plenty of seabream, but also swordfish, squid, giant shrimp and some fish we don't know the name of. There were also lots of live snails crawling around in plastic tubs.

Fruit and vegetables abound, including clementines, plums, pomegranates and - of course - dates. If there is any fruit we have enjoyed during this trip in Tunisia, it is precisely dates. There are lots of date palms here and it's also the season for harvesting the fruit.

Bazaars in Tunis Medina

Last but not least, we looked around the bazaars in the medina of Tunis (médina de Tunis). There is a myriad of narrow alleys that constantly turn off in all directions. If you're not careful, it's easy to get lost, or perhaps lose your travelling companion ... But above all, it's fun to look at all the things in the shops, or just soak up the atmosphere and the people.

What to find in the bazaars in Tunis medina? All kinds of things! You can shop for traditional or modern clothes, shoes, jewellery, scarves, hand-woven carpets, baskets, ceramics, souvenirs or spices.

In some alleys you can see that the shops specialise in certain types of goods. For example, we entered a street where almost all the shops seemed to specialise in traditional weddings, with everything needed for them.

Among the bazaars in the medina of Tunis - The Ed Dar shop

One shop in Tunis medina that we have to mention specifically is a shop called Ed Dar (8 Rue Sidi Ben Arous / 7 Ettrouk). This is a traditional old house from the 17th century, and just looking around the building is fascinating. The house also serves as both a shop and an exhibition, with a large selection of products for sale, but some that you can only look at. Many of the gadgets here are antique, and carry a lot of history.

There are also plenty of beautiful hand-woven carpets, in different price ranges.

We were also invited to take a look at the house's roof terrace, which offers a great view of this part of the city. Here are some photos!

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Not too far from Tunis is the charming blue and white city. Sidi Bou Said, with cosy alleys, cafés, galleries and boutique hotels. It's also not far from archaeological sites to see ruins of the ancient city. Carthage. For those who want to experience sun and sea, there are of course also places like Hammamet, Sousse and Monastir. Also don't miss out on try Tunisian food!

Have you visited Tunis?

Have you visited Tunisia, and have you perhaps also looked around the bazaars in Tunis? How was your experience? Please tell us!

10 Comments

Add yours →

bmlarsreseblogg says:

How wonderful to stroll around in oriental bazaars, I can't wait! It brings back such wonderful memories from our trip to Jordan, already two years ago, just this time when the bazaars in Amman were overflowing with freshly harvested pomegranates and olives.

02 November 2021 - 12:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Surely it is special in some way! We are also curious about Jordan, seems to be an exciting country!
  
  03 November 2021 - 7:38
  
Bosse says:

Hope you have a nice experience. Was there myself in the mid 70s. It was by far the worst country I have visited and I have travelled in over 60 countries and visited 6 continents. Sure there were some cool things to see and experience but otherwise the overall impression was terrible.

02 November 2021 - 15:03

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you, we have had a very nice and interesting tour! Oh, how sad that you had such a boring experience!!! What was not good during your trip?
  
  03 November 2021 - 7:39
  
BP says:

The market is absolutely marvellous! And big! I mostly like the vegetables (coriander - yummy) and fruit that costs nothing there compared to here. Clothes are not something you buy at home, not carpets either I guess, although the sellers can be quite pushy. At least they were in Morocco.
Absolutely wonderful pictures:-)

02 November 2021 - 17:46

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We also like markets! And we actually buy clothes sometimes, in Tunisia it was one pair of shoes each 😉 I would probably not buy a carpet on a trip ... (but if you want one, they can actually send to Sweden for a reasonable amount of money;)) The sellers? Yes, they shout of course, that it is cheap and that you should look in their particular store 😉 The woman who had the shoe store (where we shopped), on the other hand, let us look in peace and quiet, so a praise for that 😉
  
  03 November 2021 - 7:43
  
Marias memoarer says:

So wonderfully oriental 😍

03 November 2021 - 18:50

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Lovely atmosphere! 🙂
  
  03 November 2021 - 19:08
  
Lena+i+Wales+och+Spanien says:

Tunisia, a country I know very little about and have never visited.
Love these bazaars and food markets, wonderful.

03 November 2021 - 18:51

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  A completely new country for us! Exciting and interesting, we were pleasantly surprised!
  
  03 November 2021 - 19:08

Alleys and bazaars in Tunis - shopping and people watching

Tunis in Tunisia

Walk along "Les champs Elysées de Tunis".

Marché Central de Tunis - food market in Tunis

Bazaars in Tunis Medina

Among the bazaars in the medina of Tunis - The Ed Dar shop

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Have you visited Tunis?

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10 Comments

bmlarsreseblogg says:

Helena says:

Bosse says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Marias memoarer says:

Helena says:

Lena+i+Wales+och+Spanien says:

Helena says:

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