Holiday in Sidi Bou Said

What makes Sidi Bou Said special as a destination?

Sidi Bou Said is arguably the most photogenic village in the entire Mediterranean - a blue-and-white jewel perched on a cliff high above the Gulf of Tunis, captivating every visitor with its picturesque alleys, artistic doors, and spectacular sea views. The village was named in the 13th century after the Sufi saint Abou Said el Beji and developed from the early 20th century into a meeting point for artists and intellectuals drawn by the special light, architecture, and bohemian atmosphere. The famous white-and-blue color scheme dates back to a decree by the French Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger, who built his palace here in the early 20th century (now the Ennejma Ezzahra Museum of Arab Music) and mandated that all buildings be painted white and that doors and window frames be in a specific shade of blue. The result is a village backdrop of unreal beauty, where every alley, every ornate door with its iron nails, and every blooming bougainvillea bush looks like a painting. The Café des Nattes in the main square has been the meeting point for writers, painters, and travelers for over a hundred years - André Gide, Paul Klee, August Macke, and Simone de Beauvoir sat here sipping mint tea and Turkish coffee while overlooking the village. From the Café Sidi Chabaane, built into the cliff, one has one of the most breathtaking views in the entire Mediterranean over the Gulf of Tunis to Cape Bon. For German visitors, Sidi Bou Said is a perfect half-day trip from Tunis or the beach resorts of the northern coast, combinable with a visit to the ancient ruins of Carthage, which are only three kilometers away. The TGM suburban train conveniently and affordably connects Tunis, Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said.