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Voykit pocket guide · Tunisia
Kairouan
القيروان
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Kairouan; arrive by louage from Sousse or Tunis (≈2 h) and focus on the Great Mosque and Aghlabid Basins.
Kairouan, Tunisia's fourth holiest Islamic city, fits into a short stop. A 2‑hour bus from Sousse or Tunis drops you near the Medina gate; the compact historic centre is best explored on foot. One half‑day covers the Great Mosque, Aghlabid Basins and a quick carpet shop visit; add another few hours for a tea house or the Bi'r Barouta well.
- Country
- Tunisia
- Local name
- القيروان
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heat)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TND
- Money
- Currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND). Cards work in larger hotels and some restaurants; louages, taxis, markets and cafés are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget 30–45 DT excl. bed · Mid 45–70 DT excl. bed · High 70 DT+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Ooredoo, Orange and Tunisie Telecom sell SIMs at airports and shops with a passport; 10–20 GB for about TND 20–40 — check.
- Emergency
- Police 197 · Ambulance 190 · Fire 198
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · European plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Leave small coins.; Restaurant: About 10%.; Guide, full day: TND 20–40.; Porter: TND 2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is treated but tastes of chlorine; most drink bottled.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels; squat in older cafés; carry tissue.
Get in
By air
- TUN · Tunis‑Carthage International
- Main international airport, about 2 h by bus or louage
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The Medina is best explored on foot; use the main north‑west bus/louage stop and walk the main street between the Gate of Martyrs and the Gate of Tunis.
See and do
Known for
- Great Mosque of Kairouan
- Aghlabid Basins
- Carpet weaving
- Makroudh pastry
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sousse | Louage or bus from Kairouan station, about 1 h 45 min | ≈4 h round‑trip |
| El Jem | Louage to Sousse (≈1 h 45 min), then bus to El Jem (≈45 min) | ≈3 h round‑trip (check) |
| Raqqada National Museum of Islamic Art | Taxi or private hire, about 20 min each way | ≈40 min total |
Sleep
- Hotel Splendid
- 5 min walk from Porte des Martyrs, basic but air‑con and hot water.
- Hotel Continental
- 10‑15 min walk from Aghlabid Basins, 67 DT single (72 DT with dinner, 2016).
- Hôtel Amina
- Near Route de Tunis GP 2, modest rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | سلامsalaam |
| Thank you | شكراshukran |
| How much does this cost? | بكم هذا؟bikam hatha? |
| Where is the bathroom? | أين الحمام؟ayn al‑hammam? |
| I would like a tea, please | أريد شاي من فضلكureed shay min fadlak |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'aslema' or 'bonjour'; avoid: Kissing on the cheek unless offered
- Dress: Covered shoulders and knees in towns; avoid: Swimwear off the beach
- Bargaining: Friendly haggling in souks; avoid: Haggling in fixed-price shops
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Police and military
Scams and watch-outs
- No train service; rely on buses or louages.
- Mosques restrict entry to prayer halls for non‑muslims; dress modestly.
- Bus schedules can vary; confirm times in advance.
Kairouan is generally safe for tourists; respect mosque dress codes, keep valuables concealed, and avoid isolated streets after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kairouan yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Great Mosque of Kairouan
- Aghlabid Basins
- Carpet weaving
- Makroudh pastry
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kairouan, revision 5237629 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5237629
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kairouan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.