Do you want to know the best places to visit in Tunisia?
Tunisia is a small North African country stretching from the Mediterranean to the Sahara. From the historic medina of Tunis, to white sand beaches and blue-and-white coastal villages, ancient Berber fortresses, remarkably well-preserved Roman ruins, and vast desert landscapes of dunes, oases, canyons, and salt lakes – this small country really packs a punch.
We spent eight weeks travelling through Tunisia in our campervan, and we were genuinely surprised by just how diverse this country is. We expected a whole lot of desert. We didn’t expect vast olive groves, rugged mountains, green wheat fields, and really friendly locals.
These are our Top 10 places to see in Tunisia.
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Our Top 10 favourite places to visit in Tunisia
We’ve organised this list as a road trip that you can take from the capital Tunis, through the centre of the country and the Sahara Desert and finishing up at the island of Djerba.
If you’re flying into Tunis and hiring a car, you can do this as a loop, and then return from Djerba to Tunis on the motorway. Or, you could visit the inland places like Dougga and the Sahara first, and then head down to Djerba and visit El Jem, Kairouan and Monastir on the way back.
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of Tunisia. It’s vibrant, historic and full of contrasts. From the maze-like Medina of Tunis to modern boulevards and landmarks like the abandoned Hotel du Lac, this is where old and new meet
The Medina of Tunis is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s the historic heart of the city. It’s a maze of narrow alleyways, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old buildings. Parts of it are very touristy, and other parts feel very local, where you can watch artisans at work.
The Cathedral of St Vincent du Paul was built during the French colonial days. You can enter the cathedral to view the mosaics of various popes.
Outside the cathedral is a statue of Ibn Khaldoun, a 14th century Arab scholar and writer. We were surprised to see how heavily guarded this area is. There is razor wire all around the statue, and two armoured vehicles and soldiers with machine guns!
The main mosque in Tunis is the Zaituna mosque. As non-Muslims we could only enter the courtyard. Women need to wear a long skirt and have their head covered. Men need to wear long pants. There are scarves and skirts available at the gate.
Visit a rooftop café for views over the city. The most Instagrammable rooftop view of Tunis is from the rooftop of the Panorama Café. We should have read the Google reviews before we came up here as the “tourist tax” is very high. Two cups of almond tea cost us 30 dinar, that’s about 4x what we would normally pay for tea.
Carthage
Carthage was once one of the most powerful cities in the ancient world, rivalling Rome itself. The city was founded by the Phoenicians in the 3rd century BC. It was from here that the legendary general, Hannibal, set out to cross the Alps with his war elephants to take on Rome in the Punic Wars.
Carthage was eventually defeated by Rome, and the city was rebuilt by the Romans in their own style. Carthage isn’t as well preserved as some of the other Roman sites in Tunisia, but its setting and historical significance still make it an important stop.
Our highlight was the Antonine Baths, which give you a real sense of the scale of Roman engineering. You can walk among the remains of what was once a vast bathing complex, right on the edge of the sea.
There are also Roman villas, an amphitheatre (albeit rebuilt – we didn’t rate it), and various archaeological sites scattered throughout the area. It’s worth allowing half a day here to walk amongst the various complexes.
To be honest, we felt the ruins at Carthage were a bit of a let down compared to other archaeological sites in Tunisia, but their proximity to Tunis makes them an obvious contender for the list of best places to visit in Tunisia.
Entry is 12 TD per person, which includes entry to all the archaeological sites.
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said is one of the most recognisable places in Tunisia, known for its whitewashed houses, ornate blue (and yellow!) doors, and views over the Mediterranean. It’s a great place to just wander around but make sure you head down some of the narrow back streets, that’s where you’ll find the best photos.
The main street can get busy, especially with tour groups and day-trippers from Tunis, but the hustle bustle is part of the charm, with restaurant touts trying to encourage you in, and souvenir sellers asking you to come into their stores “just to look.”
It’s not a large village, so you don’t need a lot of time here, but it’s definitely worth including, especially if you’re already visiting Tunis or Carthage. If you’re driving, there is parking up in the village. We parked our campervan down at the beach and caught a taxi up (which cost us 10 Dinar) and walked back down the pedestrian path.
You can get to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said easily from Tunis, either by train, louage, or even on a guided day trip.
Kairouan
Kairouan is one of the most important religious cities in Tunisia, and a UNESCO World Heritage site with a long and significant history. It has a very different feel to coastal cities, with a quieter, more traditional atmosphere.
The main highlight is the Great Mosque of Kairouan, one of the oldest mosques in North Africa and regarded as one of the holiest sites in Islam. Its vast courtyard, arches, and stone columns make it an impressive place to visit.
Take the time to check out the columns, both in the prayer hall and around the courtyard. You’ll notice they don’t match. These columns were brought from various ancient sites and used to build the mosque. We were fascinated!
You’ll also see a couple of repurposed stones at the bottom of the minaret that have Latin inscriptions – clearly these have also come from an ancient Roman building.
As non-Muslims, we couldn’t enter the prayer hall of the mosque, but we can see inside very clearly from the doorway.
Entry to the mosque complex is 12 Dinar.
Monastir
Monastir is right on the coast, and it’s an important city for several reasons.
The highlight here is the Ribat of Monastir, the best-preserved fortress that was originally built to defend the coastline. You can explore inside and climb up the tower, which gives you great views over the sea and the city.
Quite a few of the scenes from Monty Python’s Life of Brian were filmed here and we had a lot of fun acting out those scenes. Other visitors probably thought we were mad…
Monastir was the birthplace of Habib Bourguiba, the first president of the Tunisian Republic. He was the man responsible for bringing about Tunisia’s independence from France, back in the 1950s. He served as President for 30 years, and died in 2000.
His final resting place is the Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum, which is a short stroll from the Ribat. It’s a striking building with golden domes and detailed interiors, and it feels very different in style and atmosphere to the ribat.
Entry to the Mausoleum is free, and you can see his sarcophagus and there’s also a small “museum” about his life, with photos, clothing and some of his personal effects.
We met a couple of young guys outside the mausoleum and had a chat with them about how people feel about Bourguiba. In short – they love him.
El Jem
El Jem is home to one of the most impressive Roman monuments in North Africa, the El Jem Amphitheatre. This is definitely one of the highlights of any Tunisia itinerary.
The amphitheatre was built in the 3rd century and it’s one of the best-preserved Roman arenas in the world. It’s right in the middle of the town, surrounded by shops and markets (and yes, tourist cafes and souvenir stalls).
A friend of ours visited El Jem about 40 years ago and said back then it was just the amphitheatre and a couple of guys with camels! Now it’s a bustling town.
It’s often compared to Rome’s Colosseum, we’re sure you can see why. However the 12 Dinar entry fee is just a fraction of the cost here, there’s almost no crowds, and you can wander all around everywhere, including into the underground tunnels.
TIP: Your entry to the El Jem Amphitheatre also includes entry to the Archaeological Museum of El Jem, which is just a short walk away. This museum has an impressive collection of mosaics that were found in the area, and a reconstructed Roman era villa.
Dougga
Dougga is one of the best preserved Roman towns not just in North Africa, but anywhere! It’s set in the hills by the modern town of Teboursek, surrounded by Olive Groves. It feels very different from El Jem, with a quieter, more open outlook and sweeping views across the surrounding countryside.
The site is spread out, with temples, streets, and public buildings all still clearly visible as you walk through. The well-preserved theatre is a highlight, and we also enjoyed the Capitoline Temple. However, our favourite was probably the public latrines!
Entry to the archaelogical site at Dougga is 8 Dinar.
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is one of Tunisia’s most iconic regions. It’s far more diverse than most people (including us) expect. From desert towns like Douz and Tozeur to mountain oases, rocky canyons, and endless salt flats, this is where your Tunisia adventure really begins.
Douz is often called the “gateway to the Sahara.” There’s actually even an archway at the end of the road, that’s marked as such on Google Maps. It is a small desert town surrounded by dunes. It is a common starting point for trips deeper into the desert, camel treks and 4×4 adventures.
Tozeur is a larger oasis town. It is famous for its 200,000 palm trees and distinctive yellow brick architecture. It’s a good base for nearby sights.
The mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza, and Mides are some of the most dramatic landscapes in the region. You will find waterfalls, canyons, and palm-filled valleys here. All set against a harsh rocky backdrop. There are lots of short hikes (with friendly local guides) that you can do in these areas.
Sidi Bouhlel is a huge canyon often called “Star Wars Canyon.” It was used as a filming location in the first Star Wars movie in 1976. Even without the film connection, it is a stunning landscape and a great place to hike.
We spent two weeks in our campervan in the Sahara, staying in a mix of campsites (Douz and Touzeur) and wild camping at Sidi Bouhlel Canyon.
Check out our Complete Guide to Tunisia’s Sahara for more.
Matmata and the Ksour of Tatouine
One of the most surprising sights in southern Tunisia are the ksour (plural of Ksar). These are ancient Berber fortresses built to store food and protect communities. Some of these, like Ksar Beni Barka and Chenini are built on the hilltops, whereas others are in the middle of towns and villages.
We visited several on our Tunisia Road Trip, and one of our favourites was Ksar Ouled Soltane. The facades of this Ksar were restored in the 1990s, so it gives you a good look at what a ksar would have looked like back in the day.
Matmata is a small town that is known for it’s troglodyte houses, underground homes dug out by the Berber people. Several of these have been converted into hotels. Probably the most famous is the Hotel Sidi Idris, which was used as filming location for the interior of Luke Skywalker’s childhood home in Star Wars.
You can visit the Hotel, even if you’re not staying, to explore the filming location and see the troglodyte houses. You can stay the night in one of these rooms. We didn’t stay, but we did have a traditional Tunisian meal in the restaurant which was very good.
Djerba Island
Djerba is usually seen as a beach island, with 5 star resorts lining the sand but it’s so much more than just beaches.
We loved the quiet wild camping spots on the west coast, and shopping in the local markets.
What we didn’t expect was cultural landmarks like the El Ghriba Synagogue. This is one of the oldest synagogues in the world, there have been Jews in Djerba for over 2000 years. The interior is striking with its blue and white decoration.
Our favourite part of Djerba Island was Djerbahood, a really cool street art project in the streets and alley ways of Erriadh. We visited here a couple of times and each time we found more beautiful art.
Check out our full run down on all the best things to do in Djerba.
Tunisia Travel Guide – Essential Information
For all you need to know about travelling around Tunisia, including how to get there, where to stay and other practical information, check out our main Tunisia Guide. If you’re planning to bring your motorhome or campervan to Tunisia, we’ve written a Vanlife Tunisia post too.
Don’t forget to download our FREE Tunisia Road Trip checklist to help you plan a stress-free, epic trip to Tunisia.
Watch our Tunisia Top 10 Travel Film
We produced a series of Tunisia Travel Films when we visited Tunisia in February – April 2026. Here’s some visual inspiration in our Tunisia Top 10 video.
Where to Next?
Take the quick ferry back to Palermo and explore Sicily! It’s one of our favourite places, and we were so excited to come back here.
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