Kairouan

Founded in 670, Kairouan is the first holy city of the Maghreb and one of the most important in the history of Islam. Its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the Great Mosque, whose massive minaret and vast courtyard are among the oldest in the Muslim world. The city is also renowned for its hand-knotted carpets and its pastries, the date makroudhs.

Things to see and do

• The Great Mosque (Okba Ibn Nafaa mosque): courtyard, prayer hall seen from the threshold, minaret.
• The Mosque of the Barber (Sidi Sahbi zaouia) and its tiles.
• The Aghlabid basins, 9th-century reservoirs.
• The medina: ramparts, souks, Bir Barouta and the carpet workshops.
• Taste a warm makroudh at a medina pastry shop.

How to get there from Djerba

Kairouan is about 350 km from Djerba, 4.5 to 5 hours by road via Gabès and Sfax, then inland. The city is visited in a day from Sousse or Tunis, or as a stop on a tour between Djerba and the capital. By air, fly to Tunis then allow 2.5 hours by road. We arrange transfers and visits on request.

When to go

Spring and autumn offer the best temperatures for exploring the medina. Summer is very hot inland: visit early in the morning. Winter is cool but sunny. The Mouled (the Prophet’s birthday) brings major celebrations to Kairouan; the date changes each year.