Start Driving in SfaxSfax, Tunisia’s bustling port city on the eastern coast, stretches along the Gulf of Gabès as a historic commercial hub of roughly 400,000 residents whose sun baked streets, white washed medina, and palm fringed coastline glow under 35°C hot summers and 12°C mild winters, shaped by Phoenician trading roots, Roman es Salammone, and Ottoman‑era urban planning since the 9th century founding of the city as a key Mediterranean gateway. Must sees include the imposing Sfax Medina with its labyrinthine alleys, massive stone walls, and bustling souks selling spices, textiles, and traditional ceramics, the lively Port of Sfax waterfront with fishing boats and cargo ships, the nearby village of Sidi Kacem El Jellizi and the historic El Ksar fort‑like structures, the scenic beaches and the Gulf of Gabes shoreline perfect for day trips, and the city‑centered modern markets and religious sites anchoring daily life. Culture blends Arab Berber traditions with a Mediterranean trading‑city rhythm, visible in the heartfelt religious festivals, market‑centred social life, traditional music echoing in the medina’s narrow lanes, and the city’s role as a resilient industrial and agricultural‑belt hub. Cuisine delights with rich couscous topped with lamb and vegetables, fragrant fish chermoula brochettes, spicy tajine stews, flaky brik style pastries filled with egg and tuna, hot harissa flecked salads, and sweet orange and almond desserts, often washed down with strong mint scented tea or local white wine style drinks in seaside cafés and family‑run restaurants.
