etunisie
Bizerte, Tunisia
North coast

Visit Bizerte, Tunisia

Tunisia's northernmost port — Old Port, Andalusian medina, pine-forest beaches.

Tunis–Carthage (TUN)Best: May–October1–2 nights (or day trip from Tunis)
Quick answerUpdated Reviewed by eTunisie editors (Tunis)

Bizerte is Tunisia's northernmost city — a French-colonial port 65 km north-west of Tunis, with a small fortified medina, the photogenic Old Port quarter, and a string of pine-backed Mediterranean beaches stretching west to the Cap Serrat headland.

  • 65 km / 1 hour by car from Tunis — easy day trip or overnight.
  • The Vieux Port (Old Port) is the photogenic heart — colourful boats, café terraces, the kasbah above.
  • Ichkeul National Park (UNESCO) is 25 km west — wetlands and a salt lake for birdwatching.
  • Pine-forested beaches stretch west — Raf Raf and Cap Serrat among the prettiest.
  • Quieter than the Sahel; mostly French/Italian visitors plus weekenders from Tunis.
Region
North coast
Airport
Tunis–Carthage (TUN)
Best time
May–October
Stay
1–2 nights (or day trip from Tunis)

Overview of Bizerte

Bizerte sits at the entrance of a 13-km lagoon channel connecting Lake Bizerte to the Mediterranean. It's been a strategic port since Punic times — the Phoenicians, Romans, Andalusians (after their expulsion from Spain in 1610), Ottomans and French all left layers on top of each other. The old town and Vieux Port form one of the most photogenic urban scenes on the Tunisian coast.

The Old Port is a small triangular harbour squeezed between the Kasbah (Ottoman fort, 17th century) and the old medina — café terraces wrap around three sides with brightly painted fishing boats moored in front. From the kasbah ramparts you get the postcard view: terracotta-tiled medina roofs, the Mediterranean beyond, and the Cap Blanc headland on the horizon.

Beyond the city, the Bizerte coast stretches west toward Cap Serrat through pine forest and clifftop beaches (Raf Raf, Sidi El Barrak). 25 km west, Ichkeul National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is one of the most important wintering wetlands for European migratory birds in North Africa.

What to see

Top attractions in Bizerte

  • Vieux Port (Old Port)

    Photogenic triangular harbour ringed by cafés, with the kasbah above and the medina behind.

  • Kasbah of Bizerte

    17th-century Ottoman fort — climb the ramparts for the panoramic view.

  • Spanish Fort

    Ksiba — 16th-century fort on the south side of the Old Port channel, smaller museum inside.

  • Ichkeul National Park (UNESCO)

    25 km west — wetlands and salt lake, peak birdwatching November–February.

  • Andalusian medina

    Small but atmospheric old quarter with a Great Mosque (17th c.) and a covered souk.

Things to do

Best things to do in Bizerte

  • Bizerte diving

    Several PADI centres — wreck dives off Cap Blanc and reefs around Cani Islands.

  • Raf Raf beach day

    30 minutes east — pine-backed cove with a fish-restaurant strip.

  • Café on the Vieux Port

    Sunset at one of the harbour cafés is the Bizerte experience.

  • Ichkeul birdwatching

    Day trip with a local guide — flamingos, geese, herons (best November–February).

  • Drive Cap Serrat

    Wild coastal headland 60 km north-west — fishing village, lighthouse, basic beach restaurants.

Where to stay

Best neighbourhoods to stay in Bizerte

  • Corniche / new town

    Standard 3–4★ hotels along the seafront — Andalucia, Le Petit Mousse.

  • Vieux Port

    Smaller boutique dar conversions — atmospheric, walkable.

  • Day trip from Tunis

    Most international visitors come as a day trip rather than overnight.

What to eat

What to eat in Bizerte

  • Poisson au sel

    Salt-baked sea bream — a north-coast classic, best at Le Petit Mousse.

  • Caponata bizertine

    Andalusian-Tunisian fried aubergine, tomato and caper stew.

  • Bouza

    Cold sorghum-cream pudding — Bizerte breakfast specialty.

How to get to Bizerte

Bizerte has no airport — fly into Tunis (TUN) and drive 1 hour (65 km) on the A4. Louages from Tunis Bab Saadoun station take 1h15 and cost around 6 TND. No train.

Day trips

Day trips from Bizerte

  • Ichkeul (UNESCO)

    25 km west — birdwatching wetland park.

  • Utique (Phoenician/Roman ruins)

    40 minutes south-west — older than Carthage, less-visited.

  • Tabarka

    2h drive west — Tunisia's north-west coast diving and Genoese fortress.

Practical tips

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about visiting Bizerte

Is Bizerte worth visiting?
Yes for a day or two — especially if you've already covered Tunis and want a different coast. Vieux Port + kasbah + Ichkeul together make a great north-coast loop.
How do I get from Tunis to Bizerte?
1-hour drive on the A4 motorway, or 1h15 by louage from Bab Saadoun station (~6 TND). Day trips from Tunis are easy.
What's special about Ichkeul National Park?
It's one of three sites worldwide on both UNESCO's World Heritage and Wetlands of International Importance lists — a critical stopover for European birds migrating to/from Africa.
Is Bizerte good for swimming?
The city beach is OK but the better swimming is on the corniche west — Raf Raf, Sidi El Barrak, Cap Serrat. Pine-backed and quieter.

Plan your trip to Bizerte