Sfax

A working city inside some of the country's finest ramparts.

Sfax doesn't perform for visitors, which is exactly its charm. The country's second-largest city is a place of trade and industry, and its medina, still wrapped in complete stone ramparts, is one of the most authentic in Tunisia: a market quarter that exists for the people who live there.

Enter through Bab Diwan, wander the souks, and visit Dar Jellouli, a merchant's house turned museum of traditional arts. Sfax is also the departure point for the ferry to the Kerkennah Islands.

Highlights

• The medina ramparts and Bab Diwan

• Dar Jellouli museum

• Ferry to Kerkennah

Best for: City life, markets, authenticity

Photo: Taha Loukil / Unsplash