Hostel El Medina

Location: 25 Rue Saida Ajoula kasba, La Medina, Tunis, 1006, Tunis, TN

Star Rating: 1 Stars

Property Type: Hostel/Backpacker accommodation

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Instructions: This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). To arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests will receive an email 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Express check-out
• Free WiFi
• 24-hour front desk
• Luggage storage
• Express check-in/check-out
• Designated smoking area
• Television in common areas
• Free breakfast
• Safe-deposit box at front desk
• Multilingual staff
• Express check-out
• Tours/ticket assistance
• Rooftop terrace
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Free buffet breakfast
• Water dispenser

Rooms Available

• Basic Shared Dormitory, Men only

  2 Twin Bunk Beds

  Overlooking the courtyard

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - 2 bathrooms, towels, and a shower

  Practical - Laptop workspace

  Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating

  Non-Smoking

  Room is accessed via exterior corridors

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • Portable fan
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Laptop-friendly workspace

• Basic Shared Dormitory, Women only

  2 Twin Bunk Beds

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - 2 bathrooms, towels, and a shower

  Practical - Laptop workspace

  Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating

  Need to Know - No cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Room is accessed via exterior corridors

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Portable fan
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Laptop-friendly workspace

Guest Reviews

• Verified traveler (10/5): Recommended hostel in Tunis Media - In the middle of Tunis Media, you can find most warm and caring hotel here. Also you may meet many travellers from all over the world, then get to know each other easily. This is such a lovely place!
• Moritz Casper (10/5): - Meine Ankunft in Tunis war stark verspätet und doch hat der Besitzer des Hostels noch bis nach Mitternacht auf mich gewartet. Da das Hostel im Februar relativ leer war, habe ich statt einem 4-Bett-Zimmer ein 2-Bett-Zimmer für mich allein erhalten – ohne Preisaufschlag. Das Hostel ist schön eingerichtet, ruhig und liegt inmitten der Medina. Besonders dankbar bin ich für die ausgesprochen hilfsbereite Art des Inhabers, u.a. für einen Ausflug nach Dougga. Vielen Dank für die großartige Zeit, ich werde wiederkommen!
• Valeria (10/5): - L'ostello è in un Antico edificio della Medina di Tunisi c'è davvero tanta storia e tanta cultura tunisina. è davvero stato affascinante poter dormire in una struttura tipica del paese. La Medina è tranquilla, ma dopo le 7:00 di sera iniziano a chiudere tutti i negozi compresi i ristoranti, ma ti puoi facilmente spostare prendendo un taxi con l'applicazione Bolt dalla casbah. fantastico!
• Kübra beren (10/5): - Müthiş bir kahvaltı beklemeyin ama kek ve birkaç meyve servisi var kahveyle birlikte. Otantik bir mekan, odalar küçük ve penceler iç alana bakıyor. arkadaş edinmek için güzel bir hostel, benim çok tatlı oda arkadaşlarım oldu ancak güvenilir insanlar olmasaydı eşyalarınızı koyup kilitleyebileceğiniz bir alan da yok. Bunları gözeterek gelmenizi tavsiye ederim
• geelongexpat (6/5): Comfortable Enough - Staff here were friendly especially the woman working. Beds are just bunk beds in a room. No privacy curtains. They were comfortable though. There are lockers in the dorms. Some of the toilets were not supplied with toilet paper at all times. The decor is very eclectic. It's one of the most attractive hostels I've been to.
• ToruO (8/5): Good place for a budget - Located in a quaint part of the Medina and not far from government buildings located northwest to the Medina. There’s a cafe next door and a wraps shop nearby for added value. Towels are offered for an additional 3 TND, but what’s the complain of you got a deal for an accommodation? Note that there are no lockers for storing valuables so watch out for them!
• F_Moneh (10/5): Sooo nice. Came for a night, stayed for a week - I absolutely loved this place. The location is perfect, in the charming streets of the Medina but out of the hubbub. The place itself is stunning - I felt like I was in a 5-star hotel - and I was warmly looked after by Munir and the rest of the staff from the moment I arrived. Everyone was chilled and interesting, and respected the peaceful atmosphere of the hostel. I'm sure I'll be back, and in the meantime, am glad to recommend this as highly as I can. Thank you Munir and everyone!
• Alexander (8/5): orientalisches Schmuckstück - Wunderschönes Hostel in einem Herrenhaus der Stadt. Hervorragender, sehr hilfsbereiter Herbergswirt. Im Hochsommer aber unbedingt 4-Bett-, nicht 2-Bettzimmer buchen, da letztere fensterlos und stickig sind.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Notre chambre était trop petite et collé à une ont entendez les débats amoureux
• Verified traveler (4/5): Pas pour un couple ! - Problème de réservation entre le site et l'hôtel, ce qui nous vaut une nuit en dortoir. Puis 3 nuit dans une "chambre double", qui est en fait un dortoir (avec des lits jumeaux donc) séparé par des paravents.
• Wendy (8/5): Great - THis Hostel is in the heart of the city,s basic but everything is there if needed. Very friendly,it is run by 1 man who will make your stay a success, I was very pleased with my 3 nights stay
• Emele (2/5): Déçu - Pire établissement que j’ai jamais vu J’ai réservé en ligne une nuit pour une escale en Tunis Quand je me suis arrivé vers 18 h j’ai trouvé l’hôtel fermé J’ai appelé le numéro et là ils me disent que je devrais arriver à 15 jet que ils m’ont attendu et après ils a cause de ça j’ai pris un autres hôtel et j’ai passé une nuit terrible
• Bayram (2/5): Nevaae choose - Very bad breakfast No hot water at shower Dirty sheets and room In center but danger area you should be careful at night
• Diego (10/5): - Das Personal der Unterkunft, insbesondere Munir, nimmt seine Aufgabe als Leiter einer Jugendherberge sehr ernst. Man wird in ein nettes Gespräch verwickelt und ein paar gute Tipps für den Aufenthalt.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Great location and building. Wish there’d been more guests to hangout with!
• Verified traveler (6/5): - Die Leute vor Ort sind so liebevoll und freundlich! Ein Zimmer in dem Sinne kann man nicht erwarten, es sind im Grunde Ecken mit Trennwand, sprich keine eigenen Räume. Geschlechtergetrennte Bäder gibts nicht. 1 Dusche/Toilette für alle im oberen Teil des Gebäudes. Nach mir wurde liebevoll gefragt, nachdem ich zum Frühstück nicht erschien weil ich verschlafen hatte aber als ich am nächsten Morgen kam war ich geschockt. Es gab nur Kaffee mit Milch, Zitronen Konfitüre, Butter und abgeschnittene Baguette Stückchen. Mehr nicht. Also für einen Kurzaufenthalt mitten in der Medina von Tunis für Menschen die nichts erwarten ist das vllt was aber für mehr nicht.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - 立地がとてもよくどこへ行くにも歩いて行けました。 設備も清潔でとても良い滞在ができました。
• badreddine (2/5): Abandon - On nous a déconseillé cet hôtel vu son emplacement dangereux
• Naïm (10/5): Immersion dans la Médina de Tunis - Pour celui ou celle qui veut découvrir la vie d'un habitant de la médina de Tunis. Belle bâtisse dans le style andalous, monuments de plus de 700 ans.
• Ashraf (2/5): Thieves - I didn't even stay, when I called after I booked and paid, they told they have no reservations. They very much stole my money because when they hung up on me.
• DreamCatcher7 (6/5): Two night stay - Well.. I picked this Hostel because it was close to a lot of shops. The endless maze of souks and regular shops. You can take a taxi from the airport here easily, and walk for 5 min thru the maze to reach the hostel. The Hostel is clean, very small breakfast provided with that said coffee and a pastry. Great value for the money for sure. One thing I was disappointed with when I went out shopping for the day , that when I got back all my stuff I left in the dorm was gone, thou the owner knew I was staying another night. I got some of my stuff back but not all. Note to self: take your stuff with you when you go out. Other than that , the host was really nice, limited English.
• J_Warfvinge (6/5): Cold in winter - The management is nice, helpful and speaks a little English, but mostly French. There is no heating, room or water, and the dorms are cold (January). WiFi is working nicely and there are a few places to charge your iPad. The coffee for breakfast is good and warm.
• sadeeyor (6/5): An OK Foot in the Door - Arriving after dark at Place de la Victoire, ask a resident policeman to point out Rue de la Ka(t)sbah. You have now entered the ghost of the medina. Keep plodding along the alley of dingy cobbles, skittering skranky mogs, for several hundred signless yards. When the way starts to climb, you're nearly there. Pass Rue des Tamis marked on the left, and our Rue Saida Ajoula is only a few paces more on the right. A minute or two and you're looking for a large door with the hostel sign in a darkened area on the right. The large high attractively tiled courtyard is the main feature, with side alcove-like rooms leading off. The toilets were not filthy but most definitely cracked and shabby. In the dorm with two bunk beds I was to meet two of only three other travellers (Japanese & Silesian, good folks all) during my fortnight backpacking round the country. Not the done thing, and I've found this sweeping generalisation applies to most of the vast continent; at least here you are not looked on as a renegade from UN/Peace Corps/Foreign Legion/Charity Organisation. "Just looking is free" pestering is only to be expected in tourist-oriented parts of souks or places with camels and caleches, but it's pretty low-key, and it must be hard going for these guys in today's politically twitchy climate. They need fewer knee-jerkers and more visitors. I've found most Tunisians to be reasonable, often welcoming, never threatening. Hostels are thin on the ground, but there are some Maisons des Jeunes scattered about, which can be handy for a budget night in, say, Bizerte or Ain Draham: two attractive places in the north. Expect, however, to feel like a post holocaust kid waking up in the schoolyard to assume your mates have left for summer camp. Ironically, the one in Hammamet was no-room-at-the-inn. So, we'll take this one while we can, and not expect bar, social shenanigans nor pool table. It's in a quiet area, plumb in the middle of the medina, ideal for crack-of-dawn meandering to clear the head of last night's shared duty free.
• Dexter333 (10/5): A welcome above and beyond - Hospitality first. I arrived later than planned to find the hostel closed. Owing to the travel ban the owner/manger Mounir, has presumed that I would not be travelling. I called the mobile number on the door and Mounir drove 45 minutes to open the hostel for me and brought an electric fan and a chilled bottle of water, which was very welcome in 29 degrees of heat, at 2am. An impressive older building, with large rooms, high ceilings and Zelig tiles. Perfectly fine accommodation and a comfortable stay. Overwhelming hospitality. Very good value. Thank you, Mounir
• K3135VFfrancescof (8/5): Good Youth Hostel in Tunis' Medina - i arrived to this hostel on daylight and without reservation. The hostel is perfectly decent, rooms have 4 beds, perhaps the bathroom was not that clean and you have to clean it yourself with a tissue (if you understand me....) showers have hot water, but there are time showers restrictions. I however woke up my 2 days early and took my showers on time. i do not know if they enforce a fee is you shower off schedule. rooms big and clean and you have 2 pairs of heavy blankets. pillow was not that comfortable. price was "fine", 15 dinars or 7.5 euros. you can find A1 hostels in spain for that same price though. The building is very pretty. the owner is nice and helpful, i spoke in spanish with him, i do not know if he speaks english too. The location is inside the medina, where most of attractions are located (there are not that many anyway), closer to the upper/ministers zone than from that gate near the french embassy. there is nothing to do at night near the medina, everything inside closes at 19h and everything turns dark. however i never felt scared or unsecured while returning from a restaurant at night or walking there at night. The owner has 2 employees. one looks like from India/pakistan. i had difficulties communicating with him. the other is african (not arab) communication with him was better but not perfect. He gave me the key to open the hostel door after i returned at night, as i went to a "fancy" bar with a girl and her friends i met on tinder (lots of pretty girls on tinder btw). My first night i was the only guest, the second night, after one night i was in sousse, there were 2 more, a guy from sfax and 1 from Madrid. very different from morocco, where you can meet a lot of people in your room or hostel. I do recommend this hostel ( it is the only one). Breakfast was not that good, just some bread butter and mermalade, better have something in one of the restaurants on the main street if you are hungry. My experience there was ok.
• hyls (8/5): Fantastic value for money - A perfectly decent hostel for a great price. The place has gorgeous tiles and high ceilings and is located right in the beautiful medina. The rooms aren't perfectly clean but it's quite manageable. The beds look as good as new after you've dusted them off. The bathrooms are old but clean and work fine. Toilet paper is provided (cf some other reviews). Expect to hear other guests, even from 'private' rooms, although in my experience they aren't very loud. There is no real heating or cooling in the place, but in winter they provide plenty of blankets. The staff have a very basic grasp of English. They won't make a good concierge but they know enough to be able to manage the hostel. They're also very friendly. The hostel provides no real additional services beyond what is barely adequate. Wi-fi is available at a moderate price, but there's a different fast, strong, open connection nearby that everyone uses. Breakfast is available but you're better off just going to a patisserie and/or cafe and get some better (inexpensive) food. Finally, with respect to arriving at night, I think the situation has changed somewhat from what previous reviewers have described. Police with razor wire, balaclavas and semi-automatic guns often stand outside the medina into the evening; it's very secure. I walked around the medina plenty of times at night, and everyone was friendly and offered to show me where to go. At first I was hesitant to go out at night but really it wasn't an issue [women might feel differently though] It may be difficult to find the hostel the first time. There aren't many signs. Tell the taxi driver to stop at Kasbah and walk from there. It will be straightforward if you have a smartphone with GPS. Otherwise, just ask anyone in the medina for the 'auberge'; they all know where it is and are eager to help.
• wingcastles (6/5): Ancient and dirty but good price. - When it was open and during the day it must've been nice. Maybe. The decor inside look(ed) great. Now it's dirty and rundown. But it still hauls the old glory and i'ts cheap. Plus it's in the middle of the medina and it's walking distance from top end restaurants in town.
• rolandmonsegu (4/5): Good but had seen better days - The youth hostel is in the heart of the Medina of Tunis. It is the only YH in Tunis. As per political situation it has seen very few tourist for the past few year, so there is quasi-no maitenance budget. Yes the place is rundown as you can read on other reviews, but still is the only place to meet travellers in the city. Don't expect any luxury, but you will get clean sheets in your bed and hot water for the shower. Staying there is necessary to to make sure it will stay open, to improve when better politics are elected. ;)
• MrHockeyMonkey (6/5): Cheap but not Cheerful - The location (in the heart of the Medina) and price are brilliant. However I was a little let down by the accommodation itself. The private room for two was very much not private. We could clearly hear people in the social area and adjacent rooms which made getting to sleep hard and the beds were not comfortable or cleaned. I would recommend this place only to those travellers quite used to dorms and making do. For the price, location and general atmosphere however this isn't a bad choice for those wanting to explore. (PS bring your own toilet roll)
• kchae (6/5): Good and Bad.. - If you want to be close to the old medina and immerse in its atmosphere, this is one of the best option. The interior is very nice with great Tunisian architecture built into its courtyard and rooms, it really makes you feel that you're in some place different, and the price is very cheap and reasonable. But there are many setbacks as well. First, it's in the middle of the medina, and thus cars can't be stopped in front of it. You have to get off at Kasbah, and make your way into medina to find it. If you have heavy baggages to carry it can be a drag, especially since cobbled stones in the medina makes it difficult to stroll your trolleys. Also, after 6-7pm, it gets dark in the medina and it's not easy to navigate the place, especially if it's your first time. I was ok but some people seemed to have bad stories walking at nights in the medina, so that could be a problem as well if you're arriving at night. Now the rooms are nice, but I stayed in a private room, which wasn't exactly secluded 100%. It was just wooden wall about 2 foot tall standing to divide the rooms, the air and noise from the courtyard all comes inside the rooms. Toilets and showers are all shared, and they're not exactly in clean or mint condition. Though hot waters come out fine, I would say they're just barely clean. The owner at the reception speaks very basic english and nothing else. But worse yet, the woman who's around during the daytime doesn't speak a single word of english, and if you arrive when she's the only one around, you will have trouble. I tried so hard to explain that I already had an reservation but she couldn't understand me at all. Oh and lastly, if you visit in winter, it is freezing cold at night. No heater, and they do give extra blankets but it was still cold. Be aware if you visit during winter time. So in the end, it's all about the price and its atmosphere, and not much else.
• Mel_Lin_82 (6/5): Beautiful old building in need of some TLC - This beautiful old building, with it's furnishings and old styled mosiacs and decor gives one a good feel of what it would be like to be living in olden day Tunisia. I agree with the other reviewers though, it is in need of better house keeping and maintainence. Rooms are small and partitioned with a thin wooden wall and we stayed on the ground floor. The heavy curtains and blankets are slightly dusty. The walls and the floor of the room as well as the beds are kept neat and clean though. Also unfortunately, there was an unpleasant odor of cat dropping in the courtyard while we stayed there.
• dadarren (6/5): Great Charm, Holds Possibility, Cheap, But Be Warned... - The hostel itself is completely charming: a gorgeous old building, large main room with skylights, gorgeously tiled walls, and the private rooms connected on the side with the shared rooms on the 2nd floor. With better management this hostel could see better days. Someone in the office generally knows Arabic or French. Sometimes a staff member will speak English. Though it was relatively clean, there was no heat at night (I visited in late December) and the rooms were extremely cold. Breakfast was just stale bread, jam, coffee, and tea. It was not re-filled so I suggest waking early OR simply skipping it as you'll probably need something more substantial to start your day! The hostel occasionally hosts special events in the main room. I understand that it needs the business in the low-seasons, but they hosted a wedding when I was there. Any time I wanted to go to and from the room to get to the bathroom, etc. I had to go through a formal banquet. It was very uncomfortable & I felt trapped in my room. TIP: My largest word of caution: do whatever you can to arrive at this hostel during daylight hours. I don't want to dissuade people from booking this hostel, but I do want to travel safely. The hostel is located within the medina. It is very dark after sunset and not safe. When my travelling parter and I arrived, each guest at the hostel had a story to tell of a mugging, pick-pocket, or (unfortunately) a beating. My friend had arrived the night before and was dropped off by taxi outside the Medina. There are generally police stationed there & they escorted him right to the hostel door. I would highly recommend that if you arrive after dark you seek the same. FINDING THE HOSTEL: The streets of the medina are not well-lit. But if you arrive in the daytime simply keep an eye out. There are two types of signs for the hostel. 1 is a yellow sign advertising the Youth Hostel/Auberge de Jeuness. The other is a blue & white Hostelling International sign. Both are for the same place. The hostel has a very large, yellow door. TIP: IF you're lost, simply ask where the Youth Hostel is or "auberge de jeunesse". Most people in the medina seem to know where it is.
• Travel0wl (6/5): Too HOTT - If you are going to Tunis in the summer, this is NOT the place to stay. It is EXTREMELYYY hot in the country, then you come to this hostel and there is no air circulation, no fan in the rooms, and the ac unit exists only in the common area ONLY during a few hours in the evening. The hostel otherwise is pretty nice. It is an old castle/house. The rooms and decorations are very arabesque plus 1920s. rooms are CHEAP and breakfast is provided. (breakfast = bread, butter, and jam; and tea). Shared bathrooms. (~5 GPB for a room with 2 beds) The location is alright. It is in a narrow street, a little difficult to find at first, but pretty centrally located. It is right next to, basically IN the medina market area. The staff is friendly, they only speak french, tunisian arabic, and a BIT of classical arabic (for all those arabic students taking a trip here). We met a LOT of cool people here though. It seems to be one of the very few hostels in town and many young people stop by here. Great place, minus the AC issue which can really bring the trip down if you are here in the hot season. If going during a better season, this is definitely the place for you!

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