Discover Kairouan Trip 2026

According to Islamic tradition, seven visits to Kairouan are equivalent to a pilgrimage to Mecca, which is why the city, founded in the 7th century, is considered the fourth-holiest city of Sunni Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

Founded in the year 670 and expanded several times, the mosque ranks among the oldest places of worship in the Islamic world in North Africa, and with its distinctive minaret served as an architectural model for numerous later mosques in the region.

The city is traditionally regarded as the center of Tunisian carpet weaving, and in numerous workshops of the Medina, the skillful knotting of handmade wool carpets according to centuries-old patterns can be observed directly.

The historic old town, surrounded by a massive city wall, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and preserves, with its narrow alleys and traditional craft shops, an exceptionally authentic picture of a founding city of Islam.

From Tunis, Kairouan can be reached by bus or car in about two and a half hours, while the drive from Sousse takes only about an hour.

According to Islamic tradition, seven visits to Kairouan are equivalent to a pilgrimage to Mecca, which is why the city, founded in the 7th century, is considered the fourth-holiest city of Sunni Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

Founded in the year 670 and expanded several times, the mosque ranks among the oldest places of worship in the Islamic world in North Africa, and with its distinctive minaret served as an architectural model for numerous later mosques in the region.

The city is traditionally regarded as the center of Tunisian carpet weaving, and in numerous workshops of the Medina, the skillful knotting of handmade wool carpets according to centuries-old patterns can be observed directly.