Kairouan, Tunisia: travel guide
Holy city of the Great Mosque, carpets and ancient water basins
Islam's fourth-holiest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, centred on the monumental 9th-century Great Mosque of Uqba, the Aghlabid water basins and a maze-like medina famed for carpets.
About Kairouan
Kairouan is a historic city in central Tunisia and one of the most important holy cities of Islam, with a medina that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its centrepiece is the Great Mosque of Kairouan, founded in the seventh century and largely rebuilt in the ninth, with a thick-walled square minaret and a vast courtyard.
The medina rewards wandering: carpet shops and craft workshops fill its lanes, and sweet makroudh pastries are a local speciality. The Aghlabid Basins, large ninth-century water reservoirs, and the Zaouia of Sidi Sahbi, a richly decorated shrine, are other highlights.
Kairouan is an inland city, hot in summer, and suits travellers interested in Islamic history and crafts. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to visit, and it is often combined with a trip from the coast.
- Country
- Tunisia
- Currency
- TND
- Time zone
- Africa/Tunis
Last updated
Top places to visit in Kairouan
Great Mosque of Kairouan
great mosque · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Mosque of Uqba, founded in 670 CE, is the oldest and most prestigious mosque in the Maghreb, its vast marble courtyard and three-tiered minaret a model for North African architecture.
Medina of Kairouan
old town · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A UNESCO-listed walled medina of narrow whitewashed lanes, famed for its knotted carpets, sweets (makroudh) and a wealth of early Islamic monuments.
Aghlabid Basins
hydraulic works · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Monumental open-air water reservoirs built by the Aghlabids in the 9th century to supply Kairouan, an engineering marvel of the medieval Islamic world.
Zaouia of Sidi Sahbi
mausoleum · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The "Mosque of the Barber", a lavishly tiled 17th-century mausoleum-complex holding the tomb of a companion of the Prophet, and a major pilgrimage shrine.
Bir Barouta
sacred well · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A first-floor sacred well in the medina, its water — said to spring from Mecca's Zamzam — traditionally drawn by a blindfolded camel turning a wheel.
Zaouia of Sidi Abid el Ghariani
zaouia · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A 14th-century zaouia in the medina with exquisite carved stucco, painted ceilings and Andalusian tilework surrounding the saint's mausoleum.
Things to do
- Kairouan Holy City Guided Tour Tour · 3 h · from TND 60 per person
- Carpet-Weaving Workshop & Souk Visit Cultural · 2 h · from TND 40 per person
- Makroudh & Tunisian Sweets Tasting Food · 1.3 h · from TND 30 per person
Where to stay in Kairouan
- Medina of Kairouan about TND 130 per night
Inside or beside the walled holy city, within walking distance of the Great Mosque and souks.
Hotels
- Dar Hassine Allani 3-star · TND 130 to TND 260 per night
- Hôtel La Kasbah 5-star · TND 240 to TND 480 per night
- Hôtel Amina 3-star · TND 110 to TND 200 per night
- Hôtel Continental 3-star · TND 120 to TND 220 per night
- Hôtel Splendid 2-star · TND 70 to TND 130 per night
- Hôtel Sabra 1-star · TND 55 to TND 100 per night
Where to eat
- El Brija Tunisian, International · about TND 32 per person
- Piccolo Mondo Italian, Pizza · about TND 20 per person
- Restaurant Sabra Tunisian · about TND 16 per person
- La Terrasse Tunisian, Cafe · about TND 15 per person
Getting to Kairouan
Nearest airport: Enfidha (NBE), about 54 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Shared Taxi
- Taxi
- Walking
More in Tunisia
Frequently asked questions about Kairouan
- What are the main places to visit in Kairouan?
- Places covered in our Kairouan guide include Great Mosque of Kairouan, Medina of Kairouan, Aghlabid Basins, Zaouia of Sidi Sahbi, Bir Barouta.
- Where should I stay in Kairouan?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Kairouan: Medina of Kairouan.
- How do I get around Kairouan?
- Ways to get around Kairouan covered in our guide: Shared taxi, Taxi, Walking.