Did you know that much of the original STAR WARS movie was filmed in Tunisia? In 1976, a young George Lucas came to Tunisia to film a movie that many expected to be a flop. Instead, it turned out to spawn one of the biggest film franchises ever!
Luke Skywalker’s home planet was named Tatooine, after the town of Tataouine, in the southern desert area of Tunisia.
We spent around eight weeks travelling through Tunisia in our campervan. One of the things we were most excited about was visiting the Star Wars filming locations. So buckle up as we take you to Tatooine… and may the force be with you!
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Why did Tunisia become Tatooine?
It quickly became clear to us why Tunisia was chosen as the location for Tatooine. The variety of landscapes from vast sand dunes, rocky canyons, really resemble what George Lucas had in mind.
Apparently originally he had planned to film in Morocco, but felt that the architecture there was “too Moroccan”. In Tunisia he found traditional domed houses, and the Ksour around Tataouine, which really felt otherworldly.
There’s also a lot of wide open space here, with the huge salt lake of Chott El Jerid. All these Star Wars filming locations are in a relatively small area, meaning it was accessible for the film crew too.
Star Wars Filming Locations in Tunisia
Djerba Island
We begin our Star Wars Filming Locations tour on the Island of Djerba. Djerba is one of the more unexpected Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia. Its better known for it’s beaches.
What makes Djerba interesting is how ordinary it feels. Locals walk past these places every day. Many of them have never heard of Star Wars. There are three filming locations on the island.
Ben Kenobi’s house
The first is the exterior of Old Ben Kenobi’s house. It was used for scenes in the original Star Wars film (Episode 4 – A New Hope), although today it is very easy to pass without noticing. It’s basically a small hut that fishermen use for storage (and, sadly, sometimes as a toilet!)
The hut is right on the coast, so you have to get down close to the ground for your photo to avoid having the water in shot. A bit of imagination (or green screen) was undoubtedly used here.
Mos Eisley Cantina (Ajim Bakery)
The exterior of the Mos Eisley Cantina is at an old Bakery in the town of Ajim. Very few tourists seem to come here, and sadly, the Cantina (I mean bakery) is in a sorry state.
Surely this would be a great business opportunity for someone to open up a bar in here.
On both Old Ben’s house and the Mos Eisley Cantina, you’ll see these Star Wars mosaics, pretty cool hey?
Tosche Station (Sidi Jemour Mosque)
Also on the west coast of Djerba, you’ll find Tosche Station. The Sidi Jemour Mosque is feels more like a local landmark than a film location. There is no formal setup or interpretation here (not even a mosaic), just a simple structure in a quiet setting that was briefly part of the Star Wars universe.
If this location doesn’t seem that familiar, that’s probably because most of what was shot here was deleted. But, the deleted scene made it’s way to YouTube, and it helps explain why Luke and Biggs are excited to see one another later in the film.
Matmata – Interior of the Lars Homestead
The set at Matmata is the one we were probably most excited to visit. The area is known for its troglodyte homes, where rooms are carved directly into the ground to protect against extreme heat.
The most famous filming location here is the interior of Luke Skywalker’s home, which was shot at Hotel Sidi Idriss. This working hotel uses the original underground rooms that appeared in the film as a kind of Star Wars Museum, so you are quite literally walking through the same spaces used on screen.
They are really cashing in on the Star Wars connection here. There’s Star Wars music playing, souvenirs for sale, and the hotel rooms are named after characters from the movie (although some of them are interesting… Dark Vador?)
It was VERY cool to sit in the room at the table where Luke had dinner with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Although, the hotel should probably sell blue milk. There is a small “entry fee” if you’re just visiting the set, 2 Dinar. However, we ate lunch here (a delicious set menu for 20 Dinar per person) so we weren’t charged the entry fee.
Ksar Hadada & Medenine – Phantom Menace Locations
The area around the town of Tataouine is known for its Ksour (plural of Ksar, which are traditional fortified granaries built from stacked storage rooms. They were originally used by Berber and Amazigh people to store grain and for protection, and you still see them scattered across the region.
Ksar Hadada is one of the better-known examples, and parts of it were used as a filming location in Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. The filming locations are in the grounds of the Hotel Ksar Hadada which is in the ksar. You can walk through the ksar, although this is a working hotel, parts of it have been restored, and parts of the ksar are ruins.
There are several information boards up with stills from the movie, but finding the actual spots is a bit of a treasure hunt. We were lucky as one of the kitchen staff helped us find the exact shooting spot for this image, and even took the photo for us.
Like the Hotel Sidi Idriss, there is a small 2 Dinar entry fee here.
Medenine is the main town in the area and there is a ksar right in the middle of the town. The ksar here is pretty run down though, and luckily we had the exact google maps pin to be able to find this location, where Shmi Skywalker stood looking after little Anakin as he departed with Qui Gon Jin.
There’s also a small local Berber Ethnographic museum in the Ksar which we found really interesting.
Compared to places like Matmata, there is less of a “set” feel here. It is more about the architecture and the scale of these structures, with the Star Wars connection sitting alongside their original purpose rather than dominating the experience
Sidi Bouhlel (Star Wars Canyon)
Sidi Bouhlel is a canyon near Tozeur that has been used in multiple Star Wars scenes. It’s often referred to as “Star Wars Canyon,” and once you’re there, it’s easy to see why. And no, it’s not just because of the mural on the shed.
The landscape is quite different to the open desert. You’re walking through a vast canyon with high rock walls on either side, and it feels a lot more remote and dramatic than some of the other filming locations.
Inside the canyon the two main spots are “Jawa Rock” where the Jawas were hiding when R2D2 came along. They shot him with an electric bolt and carried him away. Later, after R2 escapes, he watches as the Sand People attack Luke and C3PO.
You can also see the spot where Ben Kenobi (soon to be revealed as Obi Wan Kenobi) revives Luke.
It’s a relatively easy stop to visit. You can park nearby and walk straight into the canyon, so it doesn’t take a lot of time to explore. That said, it’s worth spending a bit longer here just to take it in. And if you enjoy hiking, there’s a great loop hike around the canyon you can do.
We may or may not have attempted to re-enact a few scenes while we were here… with very mixed results. You’ll have to watch our Star Wars Filming Locations video to see them. It’s OK to laugh.
Mos Espa film set
This is probably one of the most recognisable Star Wars locations in Tunisia. It was a purpose-built set for The Phantom Menace, designed to represent the town of Mos Espa on Tatooine.
In reality, it doesn’t quite live up to the hype and to be honest, we didn’t really like it.
The set is still standing in the desert near Tozeur, but it’s in pretty rough condition. A lot of it feels run down and weathered, and not in a cinematic way. More like it’s been left to slowly fall apart. There are also LOTS of souvenir stalls set up all around the site, which takes away from the atmosphere, and makes filming and taking photos here difficult.
One of the biggest downsides for us was the hassle from camel handlers. As soon as you arrive, you’ll be approached by people trying to get you onto a camel or take a photo with a camel. It gets tiring pretty quickly but thankfully they left us alone once we actually walked into the set.
You can still wander through the set and recognise parts from the film, but it doesn’t have the same impact as some of the other locations. It’s worth seeing for the sake of it, but it wasn’t a highlight for us.
You can also travel to Ong Jemel from here, this location was used for Darth Maul arriving and following the probe droid to Mos Espa, and also for some Pod Race scenes in The Phantom Menace. You need a 4×4 to get out to Ong Jemel, although the camel herders will offer you to ride a camel. It’s 5km, that’s a LONG ride on a camel!
Nefta – Lars Homestead Exterior
The exterior of Luke Skywalker’s home was filmed on a purpose built set out in the salt lake Chott el Jered near Nefta. It’s one of those places that feels familiar straight away, even though there isn’t much actually there.
The small “igloo” has been rebuilt and maintained over the years by Star Wars fans, so what you see today is a restored version rather than the original set. It’s not perfect, but it does give you a much better sense of what it would have looked like on screen.
It’s a relatively easy place to visit, just a short drive out of Nefta. However, you do have to drive (or walk) a couple of kilometres across the salt lake. It can be rather soft, and we read about someone who got stuck. We parked on the main road, (there’s a pull off here) and walked right up to the set.
There isn’t much else around except an unmanned souvenir stand, which adds to the atmosphere. If you can, try to time your visit for late afternoon or sunset. The light out here really changes the feel of the place, and it looks much closer to how you remember it from the films. Even if there is only one sun!
Star Wars House
Tataouine is the town that inspired the planet name Tatooine, so of course we had to stop.
There’s no actual Star Wars filming location here, but there is something known locally as the “Star Wars House.” It’s an unofficial attempt at a Star Wars museum, complete with homemade character statues around the site.
The effort is clearly there but the resemblance is… Not. Let’s just say the Force is working overtime on imagination here.
When we visited it was closed, so we could only “admire” it from the outside. Which may or may not have improved the experience. We ended up laughing more than anything else, and also feeling slightly bad for how much work must have gone into it.
It’s a quick stop if you’re passing through Tataouine, but definitely not exactly a galactic highlight.
Essential Information for Visiting Star Wars Locations in Tunisia
The Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia are spread across quite a large area, so you’ll need to plan your trip, especially if you’re travelling independently. This isn’t a compact sightseeing route that you can cover in a day. You’re visiting desert towns, remote canyons, islands, and scattered rural sites, often with long drives in between.
Where to stay when visiting Star Wars Locations
Most people base themselves in a few key places rather than trying to stay in one spot and driving to all the locations. Tozeur is the main base for the western desert locations, including Mos Espa, Nefta and Sidi Bouhlel.
Matmata or Tataouine work well for the underground troglodyte homes and surrounding ksour. You can stay at the Hotel Sidi Idris in Matmata – you might even get Luke Skywalker’s room!
Djerba is the easiest base for the island locations like Ben’s house and nearby sites. We camped on the west coast near Chech Yahya, and there is a guesthouse here which is close to all three sites.
Otherwise, there is a lot of accommodation along the north-east side of the island, and around the town of Houmt Souk.
Driving between Star Wars locations
Distances can be longer than they look on a map. Even relatively close sites can take a couple of hours to reach due to road conditions and speed limits. Roads are generally straightforward, but expect slower travel once you leave the main highways.
We often found sand on the road, which slowed us down, and then there are the ubiquitous speed humps. Around Tozeur we once crossed over 40 in one day!
Guided tours to the Star Wars Locations
Self-driving is very doable and gives you the most flexibility, especially if you are travelling by campervan like we did. It also allows you to stop at smaller, less obvious locations along the way.
If you’d rather not drive, you can join a guided tour from Tozeur and Djerba, or even from Tunis. An organised tour makes sense if you are short on time or not comfortable driving in more remote areas. However, they tend to follow set routes with less flexibility.
You’ll find a lot of tours available locally, and even a few on the booking platforms like Get Your Guide. Do make sure you read (recent) reviews. We didn’t take any tours, but our research tells us that the best company to go with is Galaxy Tours. You’ll need to book directly with them.
Even if you are self-driving, you’ll probably find people offering their services as a guide in some of the locations. We were surprised there was nobody at Sidi Bouhlel, and we never saw a group tour there even though we stayed for several days.
There were a lot of people offering us transport out to Ong Jemel from Mos Espa.
Heat, terrain, and other considerations
Much of this region is hot and exposed, especially outside of winter months. Shade is limited at most filming locations, particularly Mos Espa and Sidi Bouhlel. Early morning or late afternoon is usually the most comfortable time to visit, and will also give you better light for photography.
Some sites involve walking on uneven ground or sand, especially Sidi Bouhlel, so practical footwear helps more than you would expect.
Overall, this is a road trip style experience rather than a standard sightseeing circuit. The more time you give yourself, the better it works. There’s a lot to see in the area other than Star Wars locations. All told we spent several weeks between Djerba, Tataouine and the Sahara, and we absolutely loved it there.
FAQ – Star Wars Filming Locations in Tunisia
Is it worth visiting the Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia?
Yes, but with realistic expectations. These are not polished film sets or theme park attractions. Most are real places that have either been left as they were or have weathered over time.
Some locations are awesome. Matmata is the most impressive, as you can walk through the interior of Luke Skywalker’s home and it’s been really well kept. Sidi Bouhlel is also a highlight for its dramatic landscape. Sunset at the Lars Homestead was epic.
Others are well, not so great. Mos Espa is the most famous set, but it is run down and we didn’t love our experience there. The “Star Wars House” in Tataouine is more of a quirky stop than a must-see.
Overall, visiting the Star Wars locations is best as part of a broader Tunisia road trip rather than a standalone experience – unless you are a superfan.
Do you need a guide to visit the Star Wars locations in Tunisia?
No, you don’t need a guide for most locations. You can self-drive to places like Matmata, Nefta, Tozeur, Sidi Bouhlel, and Tataouine. However, there are a couple of locations that are only reachable with a 4×4 (most notably Ong Jemel). And if you’re short on time, a guided tour is the best way to go.
You will need to walk to several of the locations, but they are all realatively easy to find.
How many days do I need to visit all the Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia?
To see all the main Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia, you should allow at least 5 to 7 days. This gives you enough time to cover the key regions without rushing, including Djerba, Matmata, the southern ksour, and the Tozeur desert area.
It can be done faster, but you will spend a lot of time driving and you will likely miss some of the smaller stops along the way. Most people find it works best as part of a broader Tunisia road trip rather than a standalone itinerary.
Is Mos Espa still intact?
The purpose-built Mos Espa film set still exists in the desert near Tozeur, but it is weathered and partially deteriorated. It is definitely still recognisable, but it does not look like a polished film set anymore. You’ll also find lots of souvenir stalls and camel touts here, which detracts from the authenticity.
Is Matmata still used as a hotel?
Yes. Hotel Sidi Idriss in Matmata is still operating, and you can visit or even stay there. The underground rooms used in Star Wars are still accessible and are part of the hotel experience. The rooms are named after Star Wars characters!
When is the best time to visit the Star Wars locations?
The cooler months from autumn to spring are best. Summer can be extremely hot, especially in desert areas like Tozeur and Mos Espa. Early morning and late afternoon are also better for both comfort and photography.
We visited Tunisia in the late winter – early Spring, and saw most of the Star Wars sets in the first weeks of March. The weather was perfect for sightseeing.
Are these locations suitable for non Star Wars fans?
Yes. The landscapes themselves are often more impressive than the film connection. Places like Sidi Bouhlel, the Sahara Desert, and the Ksour of Tatouine stand out even if you are not interested in Star Wars.
Watch our Star Wars Tunisia Travel Film
This was one of the most fun films we’ve ever produced. We hope you enjoy it!
Final Thoughts
For us, the experience was a mix of highlights and well, not so highlights. Matmata stood out as the most complete location. Sidi Bouhlel was all about the landscape. Others, like Mos Espa and the “Star Wars House,” were more about the story behind them than what you actually see on the ground. But, they were good for a laugh, and we are glad we saw them.
Taken together, they add an interesting layer to travelling through Tunisia, especially if you are exploring the country by road. It is not a polished film trail, but a collection of real places that happen to be part of a very famous galaxy far, far away.
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