The centre of Zarzis is walkable and compact, with a small medina and a daily market that serves the local population. The market is best in the morning. Olives and olive oil from the surrounding groves are the main local produce — Tunisia is one of the world's largest olive oil producers, and Zarzis is surrounded by olive groves. You can buy good local oil directly from small producers in the market for prices that bear no relation to what the same product costs in Europe.
Zarzis Medina and Market
A story
Zarzis's medina is small and unpolished by the standards of Tunisia's more famous historic towns, but it functions as a genuine neighbourhood rather than a tourist destination. The daily market sells vegetables, spices, olives in many varieties, fresh dates when in season, and the cheap plastic goods that every Tunisian market sells. A handful of cafes serve mint tea and espresso to men who have been sitting at the same tables for years. The bougainvillea growing over the walls is not decorative — it just grows there.