The attractive coastal city of Sidi Bou Stated is a should go to vacation spot in Tunisia.
Famed for its historic streets and beautiful white and blue buildings, Sidi Bou Stated is about as picturesque spot as they arrive, with its sea views and bougainvillea-laiden frontages.
Crammed with cafes, photographic corners and exquisite rooftops, quaint Sidi Bou Stated shouldn’t be missed off your Tunisia itinerary and right here’s every part it is advisable to learn about visiting it, together with prime issues to do there, the place to remain and the perfect locations to eat!
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The place is Sidi Bou Stated?
Sidi Bou Stated is positioned simply exterior the capital of Tunisia, Tunis.
It’s positioned in a area referred to as Carthage, this was the previous capital of the nation and an vital buying and selling publish in Roman occasions.
Located on a coastal cliff, Sidi Bou Stated nonetheless boasts a wonderful sea city ambiance and maintains a quaint, historic appeal.
Frequented by rich Tunisians, many who come right here on the weekend to flee the capital’s suburbs, Sidi Bou Stated is quiet and peaceable – the right place to base your self when first arriving in Tunisia.
The truth is, I like to recommend heading right here over the capital, as you’ll be able to simply discover Tunis from Sidi Bou Stated if you want.
Sidi Bou Stated supplies a a lot calmer ambiance than bustling Tunis, is small and simple to get round and is without doubt one of the most touristy locations in Tunisia, which makes it a fairly delicate touchdown.
However don’t be postpone by me calling in touristy. Give that is Tunisia, the vacationer crowds as actually fairly low and most guests listed below are locals, which solely provides to the enchantment of this gorgeous seaside spot.
Why Go to Sidi Bou Stated?
If I haven’t already spelled it out, Sidi Bou Stated is a wonderful, peaceable coastal city that exudes vacation vibes.
Crammed with cute café, gorgeous streets in addition to conventional Tunisian life, it’s a secure and simple place to endure be that chilling a the coast, sipping espresso with locals, snapping the historic doorways or visiting lots of the historic websites round.
Fairly frankly, it’s appeal ranges are off the dimensions!
The right place to ease into Tunisia, I felt completely secure wandering round right here as a solo feminine and beloved discovering the hidden corners and exquisite photographic moments it offered.
Should you loved Chefchaouen in Morocco, you’re going to like Sidi Bou Stated, which I contemplate much more enchanting… not least as a result of it’s far much less well-known.
Now within the means of turning into UNESCO listed, I extremely advocate visiting this beautiful spot earlier than everybody else discovers it too!
Temporary Historical past of Sidi Bou Stated
Proof of a settlement on this a part of Tunisia dates again to Roman occasions, in addition to the Phoenician rule – a seafaring civilisation that settled different components of the south Mediterranean corresponding to Lebanon too.
The city was expanded within the 11th century by the Almoravids, however didn’t grow to be any just like the city we recognise at the moment till the seventeenth century, when the Tunisian bourgeois, attracted by the clear sea air, constructed a lot of the attractive conventional Arab-Andalusian homes you’ll be able to nonetheless snap (and keep in) at the moment.
Since 1915, it’s been essential for all these homes to strict to the blue and white colouring, which helps give Sidi Bou Stated an attract that continues to be to at the moment.
Impressed by its gorgeous design and enchanting setting, Sidi Bou Stated attracted artists and radical thinkers from throughout North Africa and Europe (together with Simone de Beauvoir, Matisse, André Gide and Michel de Foucault) and developed a bohemian appeal that also persists within the café, retailers and really feel of the place.
High Issues to Do in Sidi Bou Stated
In relation to the highest issues to do in Sidi Bou Sadi, then severely wandering across the streets right here soaking all of it in needs to be my prime choose.
Whereas not an exercise in and of itself, Sidi Bou Stated, is the type of place you’ll be able to simply lose your self in and not using a plan.
Peruse the retailers, cease for a tea, gaze over the ocean and snap 1,000,000 photographers actually is an exercise right here and personally, I can’t consider any higher option to spend a day!
The highest streets for snaps for my part are on Rue Taieb Mhiri and it adjoining alleys, the place attractive blue picket doorways meet whitewashed partitions that stream with bougainvillea and tales!
There’s additionally town panorama platform additional up this avenue and, not too distant the Sidi Bou Stated Lighthouse.
Should you’re additionally into the stress-free feels, then heading the Sidi Bou Stated seashore positioned subsequent to the harbour – it’s accessed by way of steep small street, is an ideal option to proceed the chilled vibes.
Right here the seashore is free, however you’ll be able to lease loungers and parasols if you want.
There’s additionally water sports activities gear for lease right here in the event you do really feel like me a bit extra lively.
Apart from the stress-free and soaking all of it in, there are a few historic websites to go to in Sidi Bou Stated, with Museum Dar el-Annabi, Palace Dar Nejma Ezzhar and Palais Dar Turki.
The latter of those doubles as a guesthouse and wedding ceremony venue, however normally you’ll be able to wander the gardens and peep contained in the historic home and courtyard, which is completed within the basic Arab-Andalusian type widespread throughout Tunisia.
Should you’re not staying in a standard Dar in Sidi Bou Stated, then this one offers you a sneak peek into what they seem like.
One other custom house is Marsaoui Hammam – in the event you’re eager to get a standard bathtub expertise in Sidi Bou Stated, then that is the place!
Together with the genuine sauna and scrub expertise, this can be a tourist-friendly hammam with clear costs and clear surrounds, that additionally feels very real and it’s an incredible Tunisian expertise.
It’s open to ladies between 10am and 6pm, whereas males can go to between 7pm and 10pm.
Marsaoui Hammam is open daily besides Tuesday.
And at last, you’ll be able to miss visiting the well-known Carthage ruins and Punic Harbour simply exterior Sidi Bou Stated.
2 crucial historic websites (the ruins are even UNESCO listed), Carthage was the capital of the African province of the Roman Empire and was an enormous Mediterranean buying and selling port and extremely prosperous metropolis in consequence.
This historic website at the moment is comprised of town ruins, in addition to the battle websites, monuments and museums regarding the traditional empire which are dotted round it.
Included on this are the Carthage Punic Port and Museum, that are different should visits, together with the Carthage Nationwide Museum.
You’ll be able to wander the websites independently, however my advice is admittedly to take a information so you’ll be able to perceive extra about what you might be seeing.
This nice half day strolling tour is a brilliant possibility, or why not add in an lively aspect with this good guided biking tour.
The place to Keep?
The very best lodging in Sidi Bou Stated are native flats or guesthouse referred to as Dar.
These present fashionable comforts amidst conventional décor and fantastically impart the sensation of Sidi Bou Stated.
Dar Fatma supplies good worth double rooms with lovely views over the coast from its rooftop terrace.
Dar Stated a mixture of rooms from deluxe doubles to straightforward singles. Brilliantly positioned within the coronary heart of Sidi Bou Stated, it’s clear and cozy with a implausible welcome!
La Villa Bleue affords an incredible location with parking and scrumptious breakfasts too. The views are beautiful and it has a pool!
The place to Eat?
Café des Nattes and the are 2 of the basic cafes in Sidi Bou Stated you need to go to.
As soon as frequented by the nice artists and thinkers of the 18th and early 19th century, they survive to today, remaining virtually unchanged.
Sipping a espresso or mint tea right here, you’ll be able to simply think about the conversations that may have taken place right here in occasions passed by.
Should you’ve been to Tangier in Morocco, you then’ll know what I imply!
For the Instagrammers and photographers amongst you, it’s all about heading for a drink or chew to eat with the perfect view on the town at Café des Delices (additionally know as Café Sidi Chaabane).
Should you’ve seen some wonderful pictures of Sidi Bou Stated, with sweeping elevated coastal views, it’s most likely from right here.
Restaurant Chargui is a prime place to get dinner within the centre of Sidi Bou Stated.
The skin terrace will get a beautiful breeze and so they serve up conventional Tunisian meals with a relaxed native really feel. Head as much as the highest terrace for the perfect sea views.
When to Go to?
The very best time to go to Sidi Bou Stated is throughout the spring and autumn months, when the nice and cozy temperatures and low rainfall making visiting north Tunisia a delight.
Might, June and September are the perfect months for my part when clear skies days with lengthy daytime are perfect for sightseeing and sunbathing.
How Lengthy to Spend There?
I like to recommend 2 days for Sidi Bou Stated, which is able to let you discover this attractive city to its fullest in addition to take pleasure in a day journey out to the close by Carthage ruins and Punic harbour.
Find out how to Get There?
Sidi Bou Stated is extremely shut the Tunisia’s most important worldwide airport – Tunis-Carthage Airport – which is why many individuals head there after they first arrive into Tunisia.
The right place to acclimatise to a brand new nation, Sidi Bou Stated is simply a couple of 20 minute drive from the airport and may simply be made in a taxi.
I like to recommend the rideshare app Bolt for this to make sure assured costs and keep away from any potential language boundaries.
Flights into Tunis-Carthage Airport arrive from round Europe and the Center East.
As all the time I take advantage of Skyscanner to seek out the perfect flight costs.
Find out how to Get Round?
It’s straightforward to stroll round Sidi Bou Stated because the centre is compact and cobbled – in reality most of it’s pedestrianised, so vehicles a no-go!
In relation to exploring past the city to close by points of interest such because the Carthage ruins, I like to recommend both utilizing public transport or a tour.
Public transport is clearly cheaper, and you should utilize each the practice or the bus to get round Carthage or into Tunis from Sidi Bou Stated.
The TGM suburban railway operated by Transtu is the rail service you want. Line 1 operates to Carthage.
A bus service can also be accessible – I like to recommend asking locals for the newest updates.
Alternatively, and particularly in the event you’re into historical past, chances are you’ll recognize taking a day your from Sidi Bu Stated, specifically to the Carthage ruins, to be able to be taught extra about this UNESCO historic website.
Try these prime day journeys for some concepts.
High Packing Objects for Sidi Bou Stated
For a full record of what I like to recommend you pack for Tunisia and what to put on on this nation, particularly as a feminine traveller, try this text I write.
In any other case, right here’s a listing of my prime 5 packing objects for Sidi Bou Stated specifically.
#1 Good Digital camera – You’ll positively need to do some snapping right here!
#2 Respectable Daypack – Wanted to hold every part with you on day journeys
#2 Water To Go Bottle – Ultimate for ingesting the faucet water secure right here
#4 Cozy Strolling Footwear – Key for sightseeing in consolation
#5 Moveable Charger – A should for making certain your cellphone and digicam keep charged all day
Journey Insurance coverage for Tunisia
World Nomads affords easy and versatile journey insurance coverage. Purchase at dwelling or whereas travelling and declare on-line from wherever on the earth.
Alternatively, in the event you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent distant employee searching for journey well being cowl, try Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance coverage insurance policies.
Journey Cash for Tunisia
The simple option to spend overseas with actual change charges, no markups and no sneaky transaction charges, you should utilize your Smart card identical to a debit card right here… and it hyperlinks simply with Google and Apple pay – bought! Seize yours right here.
Advisable Tunisia Excursions
Alternatively, in the event you’d moderately not journey Tunisia independently, these prime Tunisia excursions are one other nice option to expertise an journey right here.
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And there you will have it, the whole journey information to Sidi Bou Stated in Tunisia.
Hopefully this text will assist you plan and revel in a tremendous time on this gorgeous Tunisian city.
It truly is a should go to!
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