La Marsa & La Goulette
★★ La Marsa
The most elegant suburb of Tunis is at the end of the TGM line right by the sea. La Marsa is where wealthy Tunisians live and go out. The beach of La Marsa is not the prettiest (rather urban), but the café culture is legendary: Along the beach promenade and in the side streets, cafés and restaurants line up.
- Café Saf Saf — The oldest café in the district under a massive tree, with narguile (water pipe) and traditional pastries. A must for the atmosphere.
- Beach of Marsa Plage: Urban, but in summer the meeting point of Tunisian youth. Beach bars and restaurants.
- Gammarth: The neighboring town (5 min. by taxi) has the nicer beaches and luxury hotels (Four Seasons, The Residence).
★★ La Goulette (Halq el-Wadi)
The port suburb of Tunis has a fascinating history: Until the 1960s, Tunisians, Italians, Maltese, and Sephardic Jews lived here peacefully together — a mosaic of cultures immortalized in the film "Un été à La Goulette".
Today, La Goulette is famous for its fish restaurants. Along Avenue Roosevelt, dozens of eateries line up, serving freshly caught fish, shrimp, and mussels — significantly cheaper than in the city center. On weekends, Tunisians come in families for fish meals.
Worth seeing: The Kasbah of La Goulette, a Spanish fortress from the 16th century, and the cruise port, from which you can enjoy the view over the entire Gulf of Tunis.
TGM Station: La Goulette. 15 min. from Tunis Marine.
