TN
Kairouan
Tunisia’s holy city, with the Great Mosque, a walled medina and famous carpets
Tunisia’s holy city, with the Great Mosque, a walled medina and famous carpets
Largely rebuilt in the 9th century, the mosque has a vast marble courtyard and one of the oldest minarets in the world. Non-Muslims may enter the courtyard and look into the prayer hall through its doors.
Usually open to visitors in the morning; dress modestly.
Photo: Mohamed Amine ABASSI, CC BY 2.0
Brick walls enclose a maze of whitewashed lanes, souks and small mosques. Bir Barouta, a well worked by a camel, is said to be linked to the Zamzam well in Mecca.
Photo: damian entwistle, CC BY-SA 2.0
These 9th-century reservoirs stored water brought by aqueduct from the hills. The largest basin is about 128m across.
Photo: Alan Lew, CC BY-SA 2.0
This shrine honours Abu Zama’a al-Balawi, a companion of the Prophet. It is known for its tiles and carved plaster.
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kairouan is famous for knotted carpets, graded by knots per square metre. It is also the home of makroudh, a date-filled semolina pastry.
Ask for the official quality label when buying a carpet.
Photo: Yamen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try makroudh, couscous, ojja (eggs in spicy tomato sauce) and mint tea.
Simple restaurants are around the medina gates; alcohol is rare.
Louages (shared minibuses) and buses run from Tunis in about 2–2.5 hours, and from Sousse in about 1 hour. There is no train station.
A combined ticket covers several sites, including the Great Mosque and the Aghlabid Basins; check the current price at the tourist office.
Tunisia uses the dinar (TND), which cannot legally be taken out of the country.
Most sites are within walking distance.
Visit the Great Mosque early, then walk through the medina to Bir Barouta.
See the Mosque of the Barber and the Aghlabid Basins.
Shop for carpets and buy a box of makroudh.
Cover shoulders and knees; women may be offered a robe.
Mosques close to visitors during prayers, especially on Fridays.
Take your time and ignore touts.
Check your government’s travel advice for Tunisia; the UK advises against travel to some border and mountain areas.
Quick answers for planning time in Kairouan.
Yes, the courtyard, usually in the morning. The prayer hall is for Muslims only.
By louage or bus from Tunis or Sousse; there is no train.
Its Great Mosque, carpets and makroudh pastries.
Yes, since 1988.
March to May and October to November.
Planning a wider trip? Our Tunisia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.