La Goulette Tunis

La Goulette port is roughly nine miles from central Tunis. A fleet of 350 taxis serves the best-known destinations, backed by a displayed tariff and guaranteed service standard. Most drivers will attempt to sell additional tours during the journey, so expect to negotiate.

There are 2 cruise terminals. One is a small, tour-only building that seemingly contains little beyond immigration desks leading participants towards the coach park. The attractively designed principal terminal resembles an old medina and has a few shops, but is not an attraction by itself.

A Tunisian band and real camels greet arriving passengers, and camel rides are offered.

La Goulette and its 16th-century fortress provide the starting point for memorable visits to Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. In Tunis, broad boulevards of cafés and flower stalls contrast with an unchanged Old Town filled with living stone and concealed treasures.

Tunis was a lively capital where modern life and tradition met in appealing disorder. Beside the colonial city, the Medina of Tunis ranks among the Arab world's most sumptuous, with labyrinthine lanes, souks, gates and a distinctive architectural mixture.

Recent political upheaval has nevertheless left visible scars. Ave Habib Bourguiba crosses the newer city between the clock tower and Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul. Many businesses are closed, while widespread barbed wire, dirt and poor repair now make Tunis less enjoyable to visit.

Explore Tunis's medina, or old quarter, where mosques and palaces compete for attention. A tour can follow Mohamed V Avenue towards Bardo Museum. Admission is 11 Tunisian Dinar (5 euros), photography costs 1 TND, and the Museum has a currency-exchange booth.

These are approximate taxi-tour prices at the port:

For Tour 1, Port- Medina - Port, prices are 40 euros/4-seater, 60 euros/6-seater and 80 euros/8-seater.

For Tour 2, Port - Carthage - Sidi Bou Said - Port, prices are 40 euros/4-seater, 60 euros/6-seater and 80 euros/8-seater.

For Tour 3, Port - Medina - Carthage - Sidi Bou Said - Port, prices are 60 euros/4-seater, 80 euros/6-seater and 100 euros/8-seater.

Tours last no more than 5 hours; additional time costs 20 euros extra per taxi. Routes are negotiable, so Sidi bou Said and the Medina can, for example, be combined at the same price. Spending 5 hours in either Sidi bou Said or Tunis is excessive, so combine the two towns. Negotiate firmly with the taxi driver rather than the dispatcher.

A small train to Tunis runs very close to the terminal, but unfortunately is difficult to reach on foot. Its station in the city is also inconveniently placed.

Carthage delights enthusiasts for mythology and history. This ancient imperial capital once challenged Rome for control of the Mediterranean world, and its remains host a cultural festival each summer. A visit pairs well with renowned Bardo Museum, located in the former home of the Bey of Tunis.

One ticket covers 8 places: Amphithéatre, Villas Romaines, Theâtre Romain, Musée Paléo chrétien, Musée de Carthage, Tophet de Salambo, Thermes D’antonin and Quartier Magon. Admission is 10 Tunisian Dinar (5 euros), and photography costs 1 TND. Currency-exchange booths operate in the Museum of Carthage and Thermes of Antonin.

Above the Gulf of Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is a village of narrow lanes, blue-and-white houses and surrounding flower gardens. Its house doors are among the country's finest. Pause for mint tea on a sea-view café terrace to appreciate why the village has attracted such praise and so many famous visitors.

The number of new "friends" approaching visitors in Tunis can become irritating. Tunisians are friendly and curious towards strangers, but be cautious around anyone who seems excessively familiar.

Medina shops sell a broad assortment of local crafts and souvenirs, including carpets, copper and brass ware, gold and silver jewellery, leather products and traditional red felt hats called chechia. Haggling is normal, and sellers tend to be very persistent.

Duty-free goods are sold at the port, although their prices do not appear particularly competitive with those onboard.

Restaurants serve international dishes and centuries-old local favourites such as brick, couscous, tajines, pastries and mint tea. Some accompany meals with popular 'malouf' music, a distinctive and captivating blend of lute, violin and tambourine.

The dinar is the local currency, but Euros are accepted almost everywhere.

Port-village cafés and restaurants provide a free WiFi hotspot with a drink or another order. They often shut early, well before the ship leaves, which can bring the connection to a sudden end.

Most shops, including those in the Medina, close on Sunday afternoon, although some larger stores remain open. In Sidi bou Said, most shops trade 7 days per week.