Holding the title of Africa’s northernmost city, Bizerte lies on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia. It was founded by Phoenicians around 1100 BC and is one of the oldest settlements in the country. An important industrial hub and port, it’s home to an atmospheric medina, crumbling forts and a sun-drenched, sandy coastline.
Things to do in Bizerte
Spend an afternoon wandering through Bizerte’s centuries-old medina, where you’ll find narrow alleyways, colourful market stalls and artisan workshops. Most of the streets are named after the craftspeople who work there, with carpenters lining the Rue des Menuisiers and butchers dominating the Rue des Bouchers. A short stroll away is the old harbour where you can watch fishermen bringing in the daily catch.
Forming part of the old port is the Oceanographic Museum, which details the maritime and marine history of Bizerte. Its exhibits range from model boats and historic photographs to seafaring artefacts and aquariums filled with local fish and crustaceans. The Oceanographic Museum lies across the Marsa de Bizerte from the city’s ancient Kasbah with its 17th-century Hanafite mosque.
Overlooking Bizerte Bay is the Corniche, a breezy, beachfront promenade lined with restaurants and bars. In the warmer months, you can refresh with a swim in the Mediterranean Sea before enjoying the nighttime amusement rides of Parc Aladin. At the southeastern end of the Corniche is a stone-built pier, which is popular with local anglers.
Getting around Bizerte
Bizerte is around an hour’s drive from Tunis and Tunis-Carthage International Airport, which has flights to destinations across North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Regular trains connect from the Tunisian capital to the Bizerte railway station and buses travel throughout the city. Bizerte’s historic centre is best explored on foot.