By air
Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport (NBE), ~1 h by road
Africa · Tunisia
Kairouan, Tunisia
An ancient holy city of mosques and carpets
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to April — mild days for walking the medina
Don't miss
The Great Mosque of Kairouan
The Aghlabid Basins
The Mosque of the Barber
The Medina of Kairouan
Things to do
Visiting the Great Mosque
Walking the medina walls
Watching carpet weaving
Tasting makroud
Where to eat
What to pack
Modest clothing, a scarf, sunscreen, comfortable shoes
A quieter corner
Bir Barouta, an old well inside the medina where a camel turns the waterwheel
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kairouan?
October to April — mild days for walking the medina. What to pack: Modest clothing, a scarf, sunscreen, comfortable shoes.
How do I get to Kairouan?
Fly into Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport (NBE), ~1 h by road.
What is there to do in Kairouan?
Visiting the Great Mosque, walking the medina walls, watching carpet weaving, tasting makroud. A quieter find: Bir Barouta, an old well inside the medina where a camel turns the waterwheel.
What should I eat in Kairouan?
Makroud, semolina pastries filled with dates and soaked in honey, couscous and grilled lamb.
About Kairouan
- Inland
Where it is
Kairouan is a historic city on the plains of central Tunisia, about halfway between the coast at Sousse and the mountains to the west.
History
Kairouan was founded around 670 by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi and became the first great Islamic city of the Maghreb. Under the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century it was a centre of learning and religion, and the Great Mosque was rebuilt in the form seen today. The city was listed by UNESCO in 1988.
People
The people of Kairouan speak Tunisian Arabic, and the city is known for its family carpet workshops and pastry makers who keep up crafts handed down over generations.
Known for
- The Great Mosque of Kairouan
- Handwoven Kairouan carpets
- Makroud pastries
- Whitewashed medina walls
Did you know?
Kairouan is often described as one of the holiest cities in Islam, and the Great Mosque is among the oldest mosques in North Africa.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.