This small North African country (pop. 12.3 million) is perhaps most famous as home in classical antiquity to the capital and heartland of the Phoenician-founded Carthaginian Empire, which lasted some 670 years until razed by Rome, and at its height ruled all of coastal North Africa as well as large swaths of present-day Spain and southern Italy. Today, however, it´s only as big as Florida and about two-thirds the size of England
After 75 years under French colonial rule, Tunisia gained independence in 1956 and became known as one of the Muslim world´s more outward looking and progressive societies, Although from 1987 to 2011 it chafed under dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the “Arab Spring” of 2011brought hope for democracy and change. That´s been tempered under current president Kais Saied, who has restricted civil liberties and centralized authority, but socially Tunisia remains relatively liberal compared with many Arab countries, often compared to Morocco and generally less conservative than Egypt. Women participate widely in public life, and dress varies from Western clothing to traditional apparel, with headscarves common but full-face veils rare. Alcohol is legal and widely available in tourist zones, hotels, restaurants, and licensed shops, though consumption is typically moderate and more restricted during Ramadan.
Speaking of tourism – around ten percent of the Tunisian economy – here it´s built on the twin pillars of relatively cheap Mediterranean beach resorts (which especially dominated from the 1970s to the mid-2010s) and the remarkable cultural legacy dating back to the Carthaginians. And here are a half dozen highlights of what this small but rich country has to offer visitors:
Capital Tunis
Located near the ruins of ancient Carthage and with approximately 2.7 million residents in its metropolitan area, this coastal city (above and top) grew into a major Islamic and Ottoman administrative center before serving as the capital during French colonial rule. And it blends eras seamlessly. Its medieval, UNESCO-World-Heritage Medina (market quarter, top) contains narrow alleys filled with mosques, traditional markets, and artisan workshops. Modern Tunis, meanwhile, expands outward with French-influenced boulevards such as Avenue Habib Bourguiba, lined with cafés, theaters, and government buildings. Dining ranges from traditional couscous and seafood to French-inspired cuisine, while nightlife remains understated but lively in hotel lounges, beach clubs, and urban cafés.
Highlights include the National Bardo Museum, with a rich collection of art and artifacts from classical antiquity as well as the Islamic period, and especially notable for one of the world’s most important collections of Roman mosaics; the Medina´s Zitouna (al-Zaytuna) Mosque, dating back to the early 8th century; the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul, built by the French in 1897 in a mix of Moorish, Gothic, and Neo-Byzantine styles; and various Medina souks (markets) such as el Attarine (the most famous), el Trouk, and Chéchias.
The Ruins of Carthage
Once Rome’s greatest rival, today it´s a 793-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site 20 minutes from Tunis, making it one of North Africa´s most accessible archaeological experiences. Highlights include the Antonine Baths, the Amphitheater, Byrsa Hill, the Punic Ports, and the Sanctuary of Tophet. Some actually feel it´s a bit of a letdown – many of its structures were stripped of stone for use in building elsewhere, and what remains are mere fragments. But the sight is inspiring in its own way; the views over Tunis and the coast are impressive; and there´s an excellent museum showcasing finds from the archaeological site and various exhibits to explain the grandeur and importance of this once magnificent city.
Sidi Bou Said
About a half hour up the coast from Tunis, this picturesque seaside village of about 6,000. Is famous for its blue-and-white architecture and stunning Mediterranean views and attracts visitors seeking charm, culture, and relaxation. Major landmarks include the hilltop Café des Delices, known for panoramic vistas out over the Med, and Dar Ennejma Ezzahra, a neo-Moorish palace built in 1922 for a French painter and musicologist (appropriately, it´s now a museum showcasing Arab-Andalusian music). Cobblestone streets, art galleries, and scenic cliffs make Sidi Bou Said one of Tunisia’s most enchanting destinations.
Hammamet
This city of 100,000 around an hour´s drive from Tunis is known for its relaxed charm, whitewashed medina, and jasmine-scented breezes, and long sandy beaches with calm, swimmable waters. The modern Yasmine Hammamet area features large resorts and a marina, while the historic medina dates back to the 15th century, when its fortified walls were built to defend the coast from pirate raids and invasions. Compact and atmospheric, it remains one of Tunisia’s best-preserved seaside old towns, with winding lanes, small souks, whitewashed houses with blue doors; major landmarks are the Kasbah, a doughty 15th-century fortress overlooking the Mediterranean, and the Great Mosque with its simple minaret and traditional architecture.
Sousse
Even larger than Hammamet, with about 270,000 residents and roughly two hours’ drive (140 km) from Tunis, Sousse blends a lively urban atmosphere with long, wide, resort beaches extending out to nearby Port El Kantaoui with its yachting marina, cafés, and vibrant nightlife, But the heart of the city is its Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 8th–9th centuries when Sousse was an important trading port. Enclosed by well-preserved defensive walls, it´s packed with narrow alleys, traditional souks, and major monuments such as the imposing Ribat (above), one of North Africa’s oldest Islamic fortresses, and the austere Great Mosque.
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Djerba
For a more laid-back beach/cultural experience, hop on an hour-long flight from Tunis to this island of around 160,000 inhabitants known for its wide white-sand beaches and shallow turquoise waters. Djerba The main town, Houmt Souk, has whitewashed buildings, lively markets, and centuries-old mosques, while along the northeastern coast you´ll find beach areas which mix quiet, relatively unspoiled stretches with resort strips including large hotels, spas, and golf courses. The island attracts a mix of European package tourists, Tunisian families, and independent travelers seeking sunshine without the bustle of mainland cities like Sousse and Hammamet. Overall, the vibe here feels a gentle blend of traditional and modern, relaxed and sun-focused—more about slow days by the sea than nightlife or urban energy.
Kairouan
Roughly a 2½-hour drive inland from Tunis on the central Tunisian plain, this city of around 140,000 and is revered as one of Islam’s holiest, often considered the fourth most sacred after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Kairouan´s spiritual heart is the Great Mosque (above, aka the Mosque of Uqba), founded in 670 CE and one of North Africa´s oldest and most important mosques, which was a major center of Islamic scholarship and helped spread the religion across the Maghreb. The UNESCO-listed medina feels a bit like a living museum, known for its traditional carpet workshops, narrow lanes, whitewashed buildings, and landmarks such as the Aghlabid Basins, a pair of 9th-century reservoirs. In many ways I see Kairouan as a bit akin to Fez in Morocco, and furthermore, while it has plenty of tourism infrastructure, it´s refreshingly not overrun with tourists.
El Djem Amphitheater
About three hours south of Tunis near the modern town of El Djem, this vast Roman arena is one of North Africa’s most extraordinary monuments. Built around 230–238 CE, it could hold an estimated 35,000 spectators—rivaling Rome’s Colosseum in scale and ambition, and was located in the prosperous Roman city of Thysdrus, enriched by trade and olive oil production and part of the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis, which included present-day Tunisia and was one of the empire’s most important and fertile territories. Remarkably well preserved, the amphitheater preserves its towering outer walls, tiered seating, and underground corridors where gladiators and animals once awaited combat.
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Dougga
Set on a dramatic hillside near the modern town of Teboursouk, about two hours southwest of Tunis (and by the way around three hours from El Djem), this 190-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site (which the Romans called Thugga) is one of the Mediterranean´s most remarkably preserved example of a Roman provincial town of the 2nd century CE. You´ll see paved streets, houses, triumphal arches, and landmarks such as the Capitol, a temple with towering Corinthian columns; a 3,500-spectator amphitheater (above): and expansive public baths. There´s also a modest interpretive museum at the site, although many artifacts from here are at the Bardo Museum in Tunis.
For Film Buffs, Especially Star Wars Fans
George Lucas famously relied heavily on Tunisia´s atmospheric towns for many filming locations, and they´re mostly cluster in the deep south and on Djerba Island. What you'll see is a mix of actual backdrops and leftover film sets.
The most atmospheric base is Tozeur (pop. 41,000), about seven hours southwest of Tunis. From here you reach the salt flats of Chott el-Djerid, where the Lars Homestead exterior was filmed for A New Hope and revisited in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The dramatic nearby canyon of Sidi Bouhlel appeared as the Jundland Wastes. In The Phantom Menace and A New Hope. Beyond Star Wars, Tozeur is known for its distinctive brick medina Ouled el-Hadef and nearby mountain oases of Chebika and Tamerza.
Just west, Nefta (pop. 23,000), sits beside the Eriguet dunes where the main Mos Espa set was built for The Phantom Menace and partially reused for Attack of the Clones. Its signature natural sight is the lush “Corbeille” oasis depression.
Farther southeast in Matmata (pop. 2,000), about 5½ hours from Tunis, its troglodyte courtyard houses are the main draw—and one of them, the Hôtel Sidi Idriss (above) served as the interior of Luke Skywalker’s home in A New Hope and again in Attack of the Clones. Even without the film connection, Matmata’s underground architecture is unique in North Africa.
Continuing south, Tataouine (pop. 70,000), just under seven hours from Tunis, has ksour (fortified granaries), especially Ksar Hadada, which feature in The Phantom Menace as parts of Mos Espa’s slave quarters. The wider Tataouine region is dotted with spectacular Berber hilltop villages and desert landscapes. (And yes, this is where the name of Luke and Anakin´s home planet Tatooine comes from.)
Northwest of Tataouine, Medenine (pop. 79,000), roughly six hours from Tunis, has Ksar Ommarsia, which also appeared in The Phantom Menace, as part of Anakin’s neighborhood. Otherwise there’s not all that much to see here, but it is strategically located en route to Djerba.
Speaking of which, Djerba´s fishing town of Ajim (pop. 24,000) doubled as Mos Eisley in A New Hope, including exterior shots of the cantina and docking-bay streets.
May the road trip be with you!
More info: DiscoverTunisia.com.
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