Thing to do
Souks of the Tunis Medina
A walk through the covered market streets around the Zitouna Mosque, from the thirteenth-century perfume souk to lanes of craftsmen and textile sellers.
Belvédère Park
Tunis's large hillside park, planted in the 1890s, with a zoo, a seventeenth-century pavilion with city views, a lake and the modern art museum at its entrance.
At a glance
- Type
- Park and zoo
- Area
- Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
Good to know
- Zoo
- Lake
- Children's play areas
- Café
Why we recommend it
Belvédère Park is the green lung of central Tunis and a welcome break from the medina's lanes. It occupies a hillside north of the city centre that was once an olive grove, and was laid out from 1892 to designs by Joseph Laforcade, then head gardener of the city of Paris. Planting was completed in 1897, after which the park was kept closed to the public for more than a decade so that the trees could mature.
The main entrance, shaded by mature trees, is at Place Pasteur. Paths wind uphill through woodland and lawns to the Koubba, also known as Kobbet El Haoua, a seventeenth-century Andalusian-style pavilion that was moved here from a palace at La Manouba. From the top of the park you get a view over the rooftops of the city towards the lake. Lower down there is an artificial lake with ducks, an Andalusian-style café and attractions for children, and the Museum of Modern Art of Tunis sits near the entrance.
The park also contains the city zoo, built between 1963 and 1969 to a design by landscape architects from Cologne. It covers around 13 hectares, with roughly 155 species, a pond, play areas and a café, and it is one of the most visited places in the capital, with about a million visitors a year. A neo-Moorish casino building, where Édith Piaf and Dalida once performed, stands in the grounds but is now used as a club for military officers.
Allow two hours for a walk to the pavilion and back, or half a day with the zoo. Weekends and public holidays are busy with local families, so a weekday morning is quieter. The paths are steep in places, so wear comfortable shoes, and bring water and sun protection in summer. The zoo was briefly closed for maintenance in the past, so check it is open before planning a visit around it.
The park suits families above all, and also anyone who wants to see a more everyday side of Tunis. It is a short taxi ride from Avenue Habib Bourguiba, and Dar El Jeld's own visitor notes list it among the sights of the European city, within reach of a walk from the centre.
Belvédère Park FAQs
What is there to do in Belvédère Park?
Walk up to the seventeenth-century Koubba pavilion for city views, visit the zoo, sit by the lake or let children use the play areas.
When was the park created?
Work began in 1892 to a design by Joseph Laforcade, and planting was completed in 1897.
Where is the entrance?
The main shaded entrance is at Place Pasteur, north of the city centre.
How big is the zoo?
It covers about 13 hectares and has around 155 species.
Is the park good for children?
Yes, with the zoo, the lake, play areas and a café it is a popular family outing.
When is it busiest?
Weekends and public holidays, when local families visit, so weekday mornings are quieter.
What is the building in the park?
A neo-Moorish former casino, where Édith Piaf and Dalida performed, now used as an officers' club.
Is there a museum nearby?
Yes, the Museum of Modern Art of Tunis is near the park entrance.