This secret Mediterranean gem is like Santorini, but with better prices

Anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting world-famous Santorini knows that it lives up to the hype – at a price.

The price you pay includes the full salary for nightly hotel rates, the hassle of walking in and out of crowds through narrow walkways, and the pain of fighting jet lag by waking up at the crack of dawn for the one time you can truly enjoy Santorini on your own terms.

We at Travel Off Path love Santorini as much as the next person, but we’ve also covered countless alternatives that can usually be found nearby on one of Greece’s beautiful islands.

But in honor of the World Series still just about done, today we’re throwing you a curveball with a Mediterranean gem that’s a spitting image of Santorini, yet located on a different continent.

That’s right – despite looking like it, it’s not another Greek island, or even neighboring Turkiye or Cyprus.

If you’re craving a fall or winter adventure in the coming months, prepare to take the road less traveled to a hidden paradise in Tunisia.

Sidi Bou Saïd: the best kept secret of the Mediterranean

There are numerous recent studies showing that travelers around the world are growing tired of following the same itineraries in the world’s most popular destinations, and are instead replacing them with the lesser-known ones.

That’s where places like Sidi Bou Said come into play.

Although you won’t find sensational gyros and locals shouting “Grandpa!” shouts, there’s no denying Santorini’s striking, near-identical aesthetic here in Tunisia’s coastal paradise.

The village of Sidi Bou Saïd gleams with white and blue facades, just like Greece, and has a very similar atmosphere, perched high along the azure waters of the Gulf of Tunis.

The main difference upon arrival is the lack of crowds. If you’re comparing apples to apples in Santorini, Sidi Bou Saïd takes the cake because it’s so much more fun to explore the timeless cobbled streets and snap photos of bougainvillea-wrapped wrought-iron balconies that make you feel like you’re in Oia until you hear the local accents and read the restaurant menus.

Perhaps most importantly, this time of year Sidi Bou Saïd has beautiful weather all year round, even in winter (expect temperatures to hover around the 60s from November through April).

In other words, there are still plenty of days to enjoy the sun-drenched shores of Marsa Beach.

These savings will make you forget all about Santorini

Don’t get me wrong: I’m glad I visited Santorini years ago. But I have to say, it’s not the end of the world to visit the next best thing.

The fact is that “Santorini” and “Savings” do not belong in the same sentence, but that couldn’t be further from the truth for Sidi Bou Saïd.

Since there are strong French roots throughout Tunisia and Sidi Bou Saïd, it’s safe to say you can make it beaucoup of money here.

To start with, it was the French artist Rodolphe d’Erlanger who transformed this coastal enchanter into a lifelike postcard and now you can visit his villa (Ennejma Ezzahra Palace) for just $3.50.

It’s easy to get here. You’ll probably arrive in Tunisia’s sprawling capital, Tunis, and it will only cost you money 30 cents by train to reach Sidi Bou Saïd.

Street food can cost less than $2 and the average sit-down meal will only cost you a few dollars more. Even the fresh “catch of the day” is available less than $10.

Of course, we all know that hotels are the bank robbers of Santorini, where it’s not uncommon to see boutique villas with nightly rates that cost more than an Uber driver makes in a week.

But Sidi Bou Said? No problem. Book the traditional Bou Fares Hotela true taste of Tunisian hospitality for $98 a night this fall.

Is Tunisia safe to visit?

The word “Africa” ​​can really deter travelers from visiting some truly bucket list-worthy vacation destinations, and this is certainly one of them.

Africa offers so much more diversity than safari tours, but given the reputation of the continent as a whole, it’s understandable to feel uneasy about piercing the veil of its crime-ridden, downtrodden perception.

That is not the case for North Africa. Are there cultural differences? Naturally.

But take it from me, as someone who visited Morocco last fall, not to let “Africa” ​​be a trigger word; it is culturally a phenomenal experience and as breathtaking as anywhere I have been.

However, the US State Department carries a little more weight than I do. They say Tunisia is currently a ‘Tier 2’ destination and are urging visitors to “exercise greater caution” due to concerns about terrorism.

As for falling in love and ending up 90 Day Fiancé? That’s a whole different conversation…

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.