Sidi Bou Said

سيدي بو سعيد

A blue-and-white town on a clifftop, with white walls, blue doors, and bougainvillea against the Mediterranean. It is Tunisia's most photogenic spot and is often called the 'Santorini of Tunisia.'

Sidi Bou Said sits on a headland north of Carthage. The town takes its name from the 13th-century Sufi saint Abu Said, who meditated here. Since 1915, regulations have required all buildings in the town to have white walls and blue doors and windows, which created the uniform blue-and-white look you see today. Carved blue wooden doors, iron window grilles, and pink bougainvillea are the photo highlights. The main street through the center is lined with handicraft shops selling birdcages, ceramics, and perfume. At the top of the main street stairs, the historic Café des Nattes serves pine-nut mint tea. The Café des Délices, on the cliff edge, is known for its terrace overlooking the bay. Also worth visiting is Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. Built by the French baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger, it blends Arab-Andalusian architecture and is now a center for Arab and Mediterranean music. Below the town, there is a small yacht harbor and a beach. Take the TGM light rail to Sidi Bou Said Station and walk uphill for about 10 minutes. Weekends and summer evenings are very crowded, so it is best to arrive early in the morning.

Sidi Bou Said

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