18 Most Stunning Locations To Go to In Tunisia

Though it’s well-known for its heat winter solar, dunes and glorious spas, the smallest nation in North Africa isn’t all the time identified for its magnificence. Though I believe it’s vastly underrated and Tunisia is house to some significantly beautiful locations. From magical mountain oases to attractive seashore resorts, listed here are my favorite spots…

1. Hammamet

I personally assume that is the jewel of Tunisia! As soon as a humble fishing village surrounded by lemon groves, Hammamet is now a thriving seashore resort city stuffed with lodging from upscale spa resorts and distinctive boutique lodges to reasonably priced visitor homes.

Sharing the identical Mediterranean shoreline as Egypt, this is without doubt one of the nation’s first vacationer locations attributable to being house to the nation’s most attractive sandy seashores and heat waters that are good for water sports activities – jet snowboarding, parasailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and diving are all in style right here! 

I like that it mixes conventional native appeal and trendy luxurious and on my journey I noticed that it presents one thing for everybody from {couples} in search of romance, artistic sorts searching for an arty retreat, households searching for a peaceable break and vacationers in search of vibrant nightlife. 

Seashores apart, on my journey I additionally liked exploring the picturesque historic centre crisscrossed with slim alleyways, the engaging medina, the sq. fortress (often known as kasbah), the spectacular George Sebastian Vill and taking an unimaginable boat journey on a felucca (a shocking conventional boat with an enormous white sail).

My favourite highlights… 

• Exploring the winding streets within the atmospheric medina housed in a big whitewashed constructing, I like seeing all the standard outlets promoting unimaginable spices and colourful crafts! I particularly liked the jasmine perfumes, the utensils made of gorgeous olive wooden and the Moorish-style steel lanterns! 
• Stress-free on the Hammamet South Seaside (Yasmine Hammamet), I liked the large stretch of golden sand, the attractive marina and the upmarket resorts positioned right here! 
• Indulging within the thalassotherapy within the well-known and splendid Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa Yasmine Hammamet the place you too can keep. I liked stress-free of their jacuzzis (there have been six to select from!) and their heated seawater pool afterwards!

2. Sidi Bou Stated

That is my second favourite place! I personally assume it’s one of many prettiest cities within the nation perched in a beautiful place on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

I like its effectively preserved historic options and though it’s a peaceable, intimate spot it’s nonetheless vibrant! Right here cobbled streets are lined with fairly conventional white-and-blue homes, eating places, cafes and aromatic flowers. There’s a sandy seashore within the city nevertheless it’s small.

With a robust inventive heritage, a group of artwork galleries, artisan outlets and artistic boutique lodges, it’s also referred to as being a bohemian sanctuary. It’s additionally now attracting extra a extra well-heeled crowd searching for extra of a singular stick with intimate lodging resembling visitor homes and historic villas.

On my journey I liked sipping on mint tea on the many alfresco cafes, lazing on the attractive close by seashores of La Marsa and Gammarth Seaside, discovering the ornate Ennejma Ezzahra Palace and the attention-grabbing historic Dar El Annabi (which even had figures fabricated from wax)! 

My favourite highlights… 

• Sipping on a mint tea at sundown on the Café des Délices which is positioned excessive on a cliff – the views from right here have been the most effective sea views on the town!
• Exploring the close by UNESCO World Heritage Website of the Roman ruins of Carthage – it was unimaginable to see the previous historic Roman baths and amphitheaters, and study all about its attention-grabbing historical past within the Carthage Museum.
• Eating on at vegetable tagine and couscous at Au Bon Vieux Temps restaurant – I liked the stylish, gentle decor, the upscale vibe and the unimaginable sea views. 

3. Sousse

It is a one other attractive gem! I might advocate this former navy port as a extra budget-friendly various to Hammamet.

It could additionally attraction to vacationers who take pleasure in historical past and tradition as I believe it’s a fantastic and well-preserved instance of city courting from the primary centuries of Islam.

Situated proper on the coast, on my journey I discovered stunning sandy seashores, souks, a fortified eighth century monastery with their unique ramparts (Ribat) and the Nice Mosque which dates from 851, and its unimaginable Previous city and Medina which is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Website.

I additionally discovered that it supplied vary of lodges possibility from all-inclusives and family-friendly resorts to personal leases and distinctive heritage lodges.

My private highlights… 

• Stress-free on Boujaffar Seaside which is the primary seashore in Sousse I liked watching the folks jet-ski, parasail, windsurf and kitesurf right here!
• Hanging out on the cosmopolitan space of Port El Kantaoui with had extra of an upscale vibe – I liked the fashionable eating places and the yacht-lined harbor.

4. Port El Kantaoui 

This place is a bit of totally different because it’s a function constructed vacationer vacation spot! It lacks historical past and genuine native tradition however its the place to go for those who’re curious about a contemporary resort full with a group of chic-looking luxurious lodges.

I discovered that this place has all the things you want for a calming vacation – enormous sprawling upscale resorts, a restaurant-lined marina spas, golf programs, parasol-dotted nice sandy seashores, and a wide variety of water sports activities from jet-skiing to scuba diving. Boats excursions are additionally actually in style right here and included glass-bottom boat rides and sundown day cruises.

There’s a medina (however sadly not historic!) to discover which is stuffed with outlets, souvenirs and crafts however I received my historical past and tradition repair in close by Sousse which is barely a 15 minute drive away! 

My highlights.. 

• Staying on the Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa Port El Kantaoui – I liked the wellness focus of this lodge, the spacious visitor rooms and its unimaginable onsite spa providing all types of seawater therapies! I’d advocate reserving a sea view room like I did for those who can!
• Spending a day on the family-friendly Acqua Palace Water Park – I liked the lazy river and the large hair-raising waterslides! 

5. Djerba

I’m a giant fan of this island vacation spot because it presents all the things the mainland resorts do however with a laid again island vibe! Situated off the southeastern coast, I additionally discovered it to be culturally and traditionally very attention-grabbing and I liked the combination of cultures which was evident all over the place!

The island has an attention-grabbing and colourful mixture of Jewish, Muslim, and Berber heritage with souks, well-preserved forts, historic mosques and synagogues and even conventional Berber villages the place I wandered down slim streets of whitewashed homes. The combo of cultures will also be seen in its fusion of scrumptious cuisines and eating places.

Artwork can be essential right here in addition to tourism – there are many attractive lodge resorts, sandy seashores with nice facilities, golf programs, thalassotherapy spas, enjoyable watersports and boat journeys to select from! 

My highlights… 

• Discovering Djerbahood, the road artwork village in Erriadh – I liked gazing on the vibrant murals which adorned the standard white-washed buildings. Look out for the intriguing portray of the ‘Aged Girl with a Wrinkled Face!’
• Exploring Guellala Village often known as the ‘Pottery Village’ and shopping for a fantastically hand-painted tajine! 

6. Nabeul

I’d advocate this place as a extra laid again and domestically genuine various to close by Hammamet. It’s additionally extra extra budget-friendly than its extra in style rival. 

I discovered this place to be much less about enormous upscale resorts and commercialization and extra about artisan tradition and a extra conventional Tunisian lifestyle with souks bustling with native folks, craftspeople working of their studios, quieter and fewer developed (however nonetheless stunning) seashores and pottery and ceramics galore!

My favourite highlights… 

• Stress-free on the peaceable Nabeul Seaside on a rented solar mattress! 
• Trying to find handicrafts and pottery Nabeul Souk which was held each Friday. I liked the colourful ambiance, the way it was divided into sections and the domestically made rugs (kilims). I simply discovered the livestock part to be a bit upsetting so I swerved that bit shortly! 

7. Bizerte

That is one other sensible choice for those who’re searching for one thing much less touristy! It’s an enthralling and genuine coastal metropolis in northern Tunisia is a kind of locations the place I stayed and lived extra like native for some time, removed from the mass worldwide tourism of the opposite resorts. 

There are some vacationer facilities like beachfront cafes, eating places, water sports activities and (largely) mid-range lodges however the entire place is simply much less glossy and commercialized.

Apart from a wonderful lengthy sandy seashore, different causes to go to right here embody the picturesque outdated port with gently bobbing boats, a reasonably shoreline, and an unimaginable highway lower into the coast.

• Location: north
• Location Map
• Who would take pleasure in: vacationers searching for a extra off-the-beaten-path expertise, budget-conscious vacationers.

My favourite highlights… 

• Having fun with mint tea with pine nuts and conventional baklava (aTunisian pastry) at Café Maure whereas folks watching on the Previous Port (Vieux Port). 
• Taking a ship journey tour to the attention-grabbing space of Bizerte lagoon which was stuffed with unspoilt pure surroundings and chook life.

8. Tunis Medina, Tunis 

Situated in northeastern a part of the nation, Tunis is the county’s bustling capital and it’s intriguing place which mixes outdated and new in each buildings and tradition. 

By far my most favourite spot within the metropolis was the traditional walled medina which lies on the heart of town and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Website. The ornate historic structure right here of is actually beautiful and I spent two days exploring in being in awe of it!

It’s winding slim streets are stuffed with a heady combine colourful souks (markets), monuments, delicate wanting fountains, eating places, mosques and extraordinary palaces. All of them date from the Almohad, Hafsid and Ottoman durations.

I actually loved wandering round photographing the hanging structure, haggling with the stall house owners and absorbing the intoxicating ambiance.

I liked that it give me a glimpse into what life was like within the Arabian opulence period, which reigned from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. 

My favourite highlights… 

• Visiting the spectacular Zitouna Mosque – I liked how peaceable it was and the gorgeous courtyard which was surrounded by marble columns.
• Sipping on tea on the rooftop Café des Nattes and gazing on the unimaginable medina views – I might see the Zitouna Mosque and even the extra trendy a part of the capital.

11. Chebika

That is a kind of locations that needs to be seen to be believed! It’s a beautiful and distinctive magnificence spot within the type of a dreamy mountain oasis, though it’s positioned far-off from many of the in style vacationer resorts so it’s a must to make an additional effort to get there! 

It’s positioned in foothills of the Djebel el Negueb mountains within the Tunisian a part of the Sahara Desert, and to achieve it I took a guided jeep tour from town of Nefta (it’s additionally doable to depart from Tozeur) which took an hour and as soon as there we have been explored for 2 hours and hiked the primary Oasis Loop Path. 

The tail took us spherical the most effective elements together with the palm bushes sprouting out of the rocky terrain, the small however breathtaking waterfall, attention-grabbing caverns and the pure swimming pools – to me it regarded like how I imagined Eden would look! It was nice to study that the oasis had been used for scenes in each Star Wars Episode IV and The English Affected person as effectively.

My favourite highlights…

• Studying about the way it was once a Roman outpost often known as “Advert Speculum” on the guided tour!
• Exploring the close by village of ruins of the outdated Berber village – I liked discovering exploring the stays of the previous stone homes and studying all concerning the historical past of the individuals who as soon as lived there, it’s a really fascinating spot!

12. The Sahara

Yep the Sahara Desert is actually as beautiful as I imagined it will be! In Tunisia it truly covers a big space within the southern a part of the nation and I liked my journey exploring it. 

Sure there’s a number of sand dunes (so far as the attention can see!) however there’s additionally rocky plateaus, attractive oases (there’s three in style ones positioned close to the Algerian border – Chebika, Tamerza, and Mides), and oasis cities resembling Nefta and Tozeur surreally stunning locations locations just like the salt flats, Chott el Jerid which was even used as Star Wars movie website location.

Most resort cities supply excursions to the desert and I can extremely advocate taking a visit there. I personally don’t like animals getting used for tourism so I opted for a jeep tour after which staying in a single day keep in a standard Bedouin-tent, which was a really romantic expertise!

My favourite highlights… 

• Exploring the attention-grabbing oasis Ksar Ghilane on a guided 4×4 journey – though it’s fairly touristy I liked taking a dip on in pure sizzling springs right here and staying in a single day in Bedouin-style tents. Though we did get caught in a sandstorm although! 

13. Matmata and the fortified granaries of the Ksour 

These intriguing locations make for glorious day journey excursions! Matmata is a small Berber village within the south, well-known for its distinctive troglodyte (cave-like) houses, whereas the Ksour granaries are conventional Berber grain storage complexes that includes ghorfas (particular person vaulted storage rooms) stacked on prime of one another, giving the buildings an uncommon honeycomb look. To me, it regarded nearly other-worldly!

They’re each comparatively shut to one another (round a two-hour drive), so I organized a visit from Douz to see each in someday. You can too simply prepare excursions from different cities like Tozeur, Gabes, and Tataouine with native tour operators.

• Location: south of the nation
• Location Map
• Greatest time to go to: October to April (the cooler months)

My private highlights… 

• Immediately recognizing the areas, as each have been used as filming websites for the Star Wars motion pictures. Our information talked about that when director George Lucas visited Matmata, he was so captivated by the world that he determined to characteristic it in his now-legendary motion pictures! 

14. Chott el Djerid

This unimaginable spot is positioned in northern fringe of the Sahara Desert! Chott el Djerid is a saltwater lake, and through the winter months it’s house to a shallow lake which – due to the minerals – has all kinds of colours – purple, pink, reds and even greens. Mirages can generally be seen as effectively throughout this time of yr. 

In the course of the hotter months it turns into dry salt lake coated in layer of white salt crust which dazzles within the daylight! On my journey I walked across the edge and was in awe of the surreal magnificence spot! 

It make a singular day journey and you may simply be a part of an tour from close by cities resembling Tozeur, Nefta, Matmata and Tunis. I took a day journey to right here from the city of Douz and it took 45 minutes.

• Location: south of the nation
• Location Map
• Greatest occasions to go to: October to April (the cooler months)

My favourite highlights… 

• I liked studying that it was one other Star Wars location spot as effectively on our guided tour (George Lucas positive liked Tunisia!) and plenty of scenes of the fictional desert planet Tatooine scenes have been shot on this location.

15. Tamerza

That is an intriguing spot! Situated close to the Algerian border close to the west-central a part of the nation it’s a big mountain oasis city.

The city has lengthy been deserted however I discovered it fascinating to stroll across the ruins of the village which I felt had nearly spooky ambiance!

In addition to conventional Berber structure, it’s house thus far palm bushes, two waterfalls and deep gorges and it’s a surreal however spectacular sight positioned within the harsh desert atmosphere.

The city was deserted after the 1962 river floods, however there’s a brand new working village constructed just some kilometres away which additionally has eating places and a visitor home for in a single day keep. Though I opted for a 4×4 guided day journey from Tozeur which additionally included the close by oases of Chebika and Mides.

My highlights… 

• Exploring the native markets which offered conventional handcrafted items within the new working village. 
• Studying about how the Berber folks have tailored and are in a position to stay within the harsh desert environments on our guided tour! 

16. Kairouan

This essential holy metropolis has additionally been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Website. Based in 670, it has a wealthy architectural heritage, a lovely medina, and energetic souqs.

My favourite highlights embody the Nice Mosque of Okba – one of many nation’s largest and oldest mosques and the Ninth-century Mosque of the Three Gates.