Go to Sidi Bou Mentioned, Tunisia

Sidi Bou Mentioned is undoubtedly one of the vital lovely locations to go to in Tunisia. The charming, shiny city is thought for its white and blue buildings that altogether create a fairytale-like vibe. It was positively one of many highlights of my journey to Tunisia, and I’m very happy that I put Sidi Bou Mentioned on my Tunisia itinerary.

Fortuitously, visiting Sidi Bou Mentioned could be very simple if you wish to do it independently; there are additionally quite a few excursions that cowl the place (along with close by Carthage) that you would be able to take. I compiled this journey information that will help you plan your journey to Sidi Bou Mentioned so you’ll be able to take pleasure in this charming, picturesque city, too.

The place is Sidi Bou Mentioned, Tunisia

Sidi Bou Mentioned, a small city of round six thousand inhabitants, is situated on the peninsula on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea (northern aspect of the Gulf of Tunis), some 20 km away from the middle of Tunis. The shut distance to the nation’s capital makes Sidi Bou Mentioned one of many best and most rewarding day journeys from Tunis.

Why go to Sidi Bou Mentioned

Sidi Bou Mentioned is among the greatest vacationer points of interest in Tunisia, attracting vacationers day-after-day. And it’s no surprise so many individuals wish to go to Sidi Bou Mentioned. The city is the prettiest, with most buildings painted in white and blue, making a fairytale-like look.

Whereas there won’t be that many monuments within the city, it’s price visiting Sidi Bou Mentioned for its cobbled streets and charming corners, vibrant ambiance, and gorgeous views of the Gulf of Tunis.

Finest time to go to Sidi Bou Mentioned

I visited Sidi Bou Mentioned on January 1st. It was a heat and sunny Sunday, and the place was actually crowded. At the least the primary road was; a brief detour to one of many again lanes was sufficient to benefit from the space with out crowds.

Basically, I like to recommend visiting Sidi Bou Mentioned within the morning; the sooner, the higher, so you’ll be able to discover the city peacefully earlier than all of the vacationers arrive. One of the best months to come back listed here are March-early April and late October-November, as that’s when Tunisia isn’t so well-known for package deal holidays; therefore, there are fewer individuals round.

How you can get to Sidi Bou Mentioned

Visiting Sidi Bou Mentioned could be very simple. There are frequent regional trains (TGM line) departing from the Tunis Marine station, close to the Clock Tower, on the fringe of the middle of the capital.

You should buy the ticket from the window on the left when coming into the station; it prices round 1 TND (about €0,30 or $0,33). Even when there was a language barrier, I didn’t have any issues getting the ticket on any station on the TGM line. I clearly mentioned the place I wished to go and gave the cash, normally a bit greater than I used to be anticipating to pay. Every time, I bought a ticket and a change hassle-free. There is no such thing as a have to validate the ticket; you merely board the practice and are able to go.

Sidi Bou Mentioned is the 14th station, counting from Tunis Marine. When you have visited Carthage earlier than (that’s what I did), it’s three extra stations from Carthage Hannibal the place you almost certainly board to Sidi Bou Mentioned.

The trains aren’t very trendy or snug; they’ll additionally get crowded, however general, I felt secure taking the practice solo, and it was a clean experience, which takes round 30-40 minutes.

To get again to Tunis, it is advisable to take the practice from the identical station, from the platform throughout the tracks. There’s a ticket-selling level on the entrance to the platform.

If navigating the general public transport sounds overwhelming, you’ll be able to take excursions from Tunis that cowl Sidi Bou Mentioned and close by Carthage (which is fairly spectacular, too). Listed below are a few of the advisable ones:

Excursions are additionally the best choice for these planning to go to Sidi Bou Mentioned from one other location aside from the capital. Beneath are just a few highly-rated Sidi Bou Mentioned excursions you’ll be able to take:

How you can get round Sidi Bou Mentioned

The city is comparatively compact and never too huge, the touristy half is generally pedestrian, so your only option is to stroll round.

From the practice station, it’s about ten minutes stroll from the a part of the city you wish to see. It’s a straight method, a bit uphill, however you shouldn’t have any issues navigating round.

I like to recommend downloading the offline map (I exploit maps.me) to examine your location in case you get confused.

Issues to do in Sidi Bou Mentioned

One of the best factor to do in Sidi Bou Mentioned is just to wander round, admire the gorgeous, shiny structure, benefit from the vibrant ambiance, and take many photos. In such a surprising place, there is no such thing as a method you’ll be able to take a nasty picture; the city is among the most charming and picturesque locations I’ve ever seen.

Whereas the vast majority of vacationers follow the primary road solely, I like to recommend you enterprise a bit into the backstreets, the place it’s also possible to see some pretty corners however with hardly any individuals round. That is additionally the place the environment get a bit extra gritty and actual; it won’t be as polished, nevertheless it’s nonetheless lovely.

Road artwork followers will certainly admire just a few murals round, too – it’s nothing like Djerbahood, nevertheless it’s positively a pleasant contact to the general vibe and look of the place.

Tunisia is thought for superbly embellished doorways. It’s onerous to stroll previous them and never cease to admire the sweetness and patterns on the colourful wood construction. Of all of the locations I visited in Tunisia, Sidi Bou Mentioned has one of the vital outstanding doorways.

You’ll want to take note of particulars when wandering across the city; you’ll certainly discover a lot of them. It’s yet one more picturesque cause to go to Sidi Bou Mentioned.

With the situation on the highest of the hill, excessive above the waters of the Gulf of Tunis, you’ll be able to certainly discover some unbelievable viewpoints in Sidi Bou Mentioned.

Everybody goes to the one on the finish of the primary road, and it affords some improbable views certainly, however I discovered a pleasant panorama of the city at Rue Taieb Mhiri, solely a brief stroll away from the central a part of the city. There’s additionally a very good view of the Mediterranean from subsequent to the cemetery.

If you need to see a conventional home from the 18th century and be taught extra concerning the life-style of the native aristocracy, you’ll be able to go to Dar El Annabi for just a few {dollars}. Inside, you’ll find some gorgeous interiors in addition to quite a few artifacts and conventional garments typical for that area.

Sidi Bou Mentioned can be an ideal vacation spot for memento buying. The primary road is lined with quite a few outlets providing souvenirs for all tastes and budgets, from magnets and postcards to lovely ceramics or rugs.

The vast majority of vacationers come to Sidi Bou Mentioned just for a brief go to to take just a few photos round earlier than shifting to a different place. I like to recommend spending extra time right here to wander round and get a correct really feel of the place.

When you end all of the Sidi Bou Mentioned sightseeing, you’ll be able to sit in one of many cafes to watch the bustling life round you. Or you’ll be able to head to one of many native eating places (ideally the rooftop one, with the view) and take a look at a few of the scrumptious dishes of Tunisian delicacies.

The place to go subsequent

Solely 3km away from Sidi Bou Mentioned, you’ll be able to go to Carthage. Again within the BC occasions, it was one of the vital spectacular and vital metropolises. Right now, the city is a sleepy upscale suburb of Tunis with quite a few UNESCO-listed ruins from the traditional interval which can be price visiting.

If you end up within the space, you also needs to give an opportunity to Tunis. Many vacationers overlook the capital of Tunisia, nevertheless it’s a surprisingly cool metropolis with vibrant medina and exquisite colonial structure. Tunisia has a lot to supply and is greater than only a stress-free seaside vacation.

Additional studying

I actually loved my time in Tunisia and I can’t advocate sufficient visiting this underrated nation. In case you are planning a visit to Tunisia I wrote just a few articles that you simply may discover helpful:

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