Things to Do in Sfax

A 9th-century mosque with a squat, nearly windowless exterior and a beautiful courtyard of grey stone arches. Non-Muslims can't enter, but can view from the square.

🕐 Exterior visible 24/7; interior closed to non-Muslims

💡 Best seen from the adjacent Dar Jallouli rooftop (free sometimes, small donation). Go late afternoon for the best light on the minaret.

A small public park just outside the medina walls, with palm trees, benches, and a bandstand. Popular with families, not usually busy midday.

🕐 Open 7am–10pm daily

💡 Free toilets nearby inside the municipal building. Bring a picnic from the medina bread market—it's a rare calm spot in a busy city.

The southern gate of the medina, a massive arched double portal from the 14th century. It's still a bustling entry point, not a sanitised tourist spot.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Stand under the arch at around 5pm when locals stream through. There's a free public garden just outside on the left, good for a shady sit.

One of the best-preserved medinas in Tunisia, with 9th-century walls, Bab Diwan gate, and narrow souks selling local crafts and spices.

🕐 Open 24 hours; shops typically 8am–6pm, closed Friday afternoons

💡 Visit early morning (around 8am) to watch the bread market come alive. Try a cheap mint tea at a rooftop café near Bab El Kasbah for the view.

A restored 17th-century palace house with painted wood ceilings, carved stucco, and traditional Sfaxian furniture. Small but packed with detail.

🕐 9am–4pm, closed Fridays

💡 Entry is about 3 TND (under £1). Ask the guardian to show you the rooftop for a panorama of the medina. Allow 30 minutes.