"What's not to like?" Sfax by TheLongTone

Sfax Travel Guide: 25 reviews and 53 photos

I wouldn't go as far as Ronald Firbank and call Sfax the mostt beautiful city in the world, but as far as the center goes I thought it most attractive. The suburbs may be ugly and it may be surrounded by industry but show me a major city anywhere in the world of which this is not true.
Essentially the centre consists of the medina, secure inside it's immaculately restored walls, and a fairly small French new town occupying the area between the medina and the sea.
The medina is fairly compact and easily navigable without too much fear of getting lost, and is both bustling with life and, in sharp contrast to Tunis, almost devoid of shops selling tourist knicknacks. What it does have in unnatural abundance is shoe shops: the main street leading up towards the Great Mosque from Bab al Diwan is almost entirely devoted to them. Not because the people of Sfax are avid shoe consumers but because Sfax is the centre of the Tunisian shoe industry: most of the shops are in fact more like wholesale showrooms.

Exterior wall of the great mosque.

Last visit to Sfax: Dec 2006
Intro Updated Jan 5, 2007
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Reviews (7)

Late late orders Restaurants (2)

I suppose I didn't choose the best time to visit La Perla, and with good reason. I was catching the 01.15 night train to... more travel advice

Hunt the mosque Things to Do (3)

The Great Mosque of Sfax is not difficult to find: it is in the middle of the medina, not quite on the main thoroughfare... more travel advice

Museum of Popular Arts Things to Do (3)

Another first-rate museum. The name is a bit of a misnomer, since most of the exhibits here reflect the life of a member... more travel advice

Look sharp Shopping (1)

The fondouk de forgerons (metalworkers souk) itself is closed at the moment (I assume for restoration)and it's entrance... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (1)
Don't photograph the synagogue!

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Comments (5)

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amalzaher Jun 15, 2009 at 3:25 PM

during my trip to sfax i have tried LE PRINTEMPS really its very fun and warfull restaurant i remmember the waiter sousou very cute person and he propose me very nice meals i choose octopus salad but mine salad was very deleciouse
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mvtouring Dec 13, 2007 at 9:09 PM

Definately some interesting architecture here ;-)
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PierreZA Nov 18, 2007 at 1:39 AM

Nice page and usefull tips,thank you
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angiebabe Oct 25, 2007 at 4:35 PM

I unfortunately didnt make it to Sfax.thanx for interesting tips of things i'd be particularly interested to see.tho i dont know about that purple shirt.&nearly shot for taking a photo of xlnt artdeco synagog at Tunis,i obviously dont look like a tourist.
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craic Jul 3, 2007 at 5:18 AM

Doesn't the longtone have a longlens?