Attractions of Tunisia

To help inspire or plan your trip to Tunisia, some of its major attractions for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country. These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Tunisia which represent the best of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
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Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Tunis
Tunis The Medina of Tunis is the largest in North Africa, covering 2.7 km² and containing most of the city's 700 historic monuments, including mosques, mausoleums, palaces and fountains. Elsewhere the Bardo Museum, set in the former palace of the Husseinite beys, is one of the best archaeological museums in the region, particularly its collection of Roman and Byzantine mosaics as well as Greek bronze statuary and Islamic artefacts. Nearby, Sidi Bou Said is an attractive town of narrow streets, whitewashed buildings and numerous art galleries and shops selling pottery, jewellery and carpets. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Medina of Tunis

Tunis

Tunis

The Medina of Tunis is the largest in North Africa, covering 2.7 km² and containing most of the city's 700 historic monuments, including mosques, mausoleums, palaces and fountains. Elsewhere the Bardo Museum, set in the former palace of the Husseinite beys, is one of the best archaeological museums in the region, particularly its collection of Roman and Byzantine mosaics as well as Greek bronze statuary and Islamic artefacts. Nearby, Sidi Bou Said is an attractive town of narrow streets, whitewashed buildings and numerous art galleries and shops selling pottery, jewellery and carpets.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Medina of Tunis

Carthage
Carthage Carthage was one of the great cities of the ancient world and home to one of its great civilisations. Founded in the 9th century BC by Phoenicians from Tyre in Lebanon, Carthage soon developed a powerful and wealthy empire across North Africa and the southern Mediterranean. This was based on its expertise in shipbuilding and sailing, using Carthage's excellent harbours, and trade in gold, silver, lead, ivory, African wild animals and other goods. Carthage soon came into conflict with other regional powers - it emerged triumphant from a 200 year war with Greece but was defeated by Rome after the Third Punic War in 146 BC. Much of the city was destroyed but a new Roman city was built at the site in the 1st century AD. Much of the ruins at the site today are from the Roman period such as the Antonine baths and Roman amphitheatre but the Punic ports are reminders of this lost empire. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Site of Carthage

Carthage

Carthage was one of the great cities of the ancient world and home to one of its great civilisations. Founded in the 9th century BC by Phoenicians from Tyre in Lebanon, Carthage soon developed a powerful and wealthy empire across North Africa and the southern Mediterranean. This was based on its expertise in shipbuilding and sailing, using Carthage's excellent harbours, and trade in gold, silver, lead, ivory, African wild animals and other goods. Carthage soon came into conflict with other regional powers - it emerged triumphant from a 200 year war with Greece but was defeated by Rome after the Third Punic War in 146 BC. Much of the city was destroyed but a new Roman city was built at the site in the 1st century AD. Much of the ruins at the site today are from the Roman period such as the Antonine baths and Roman amphitheatre but the Punic ports are reminders of this lost empire.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Site of Carthage

Roman ruins of Dougga
Roman ruins of Dougga Dougga was an important Punic city prior to Rome's annexation of Numidia in 46 BC but flourished under Roman and then Byzantine control. The ruins today form the most impressive Roman site in Tunisia. These include the capitolium dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva (one of the finest Roman monuments in North Africa), the forum surrounded by a marble colonnade, the amphitheatre, circus and public baths. The mausoleum in the southern part of town is the only surviving major Punic monument in Tunisia. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Dougga / Thugga

Roman ruins of Dougga

Dougga was an important Punic city prior to Rome's annexation of Numidia in 46 BC but flourished under Roman and then Byzantine control. The ruins today form the most impressive Roman site in Tunisia. These include the capitolium dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva (one of the finest Roman monuments in North Africa), the forum surrounded by a marble colonnade, the amphitheatre, circus and public baths. The mausoleum in the southern part of town is the only surviving major Punic monument in Tunisia.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Dougga / Thugga

Tozeur
Tozeur The oasis town of Tozeur is capital of the south of Tunisia, a busy market town with its extensive palm grove covering over 10 km². In town, the Dar Charait Folklore Museum has treasures from the Arab world and scenes of simple Tunisian life. Outside of the town, the sand dunes of Neflayet were used in the filming of 'Star Wars' while the desert area of Ong Jmal contains stunning scenery used in the film 'The English Patient'.

Tozeur

Tozeur

The oasis town of Tozeur is capital of the south of Tunisia, a busy market town with its extensive palm grove covering over 10 km². In town, the Dar Charait Folklore Museum has treasures from the Arab world and scenes of simple Tunisian life. Outside of the town, the sand dunes of Neflayet were used in the filming of 'Star Wars' while the desert area of Ong Jmal contains stunning scenery used in the film 'The English Patient'.

Red Lizard Train
The Red Lizard Train is an old wooden train given to the former king of Tunisia by the French protectorate. Today, it runs through the spectacular Selja river canyons.

Douz
The oasis town of Douz is known as a gateway to the Sahara Desert and is the location of the Festival of the Sahara. The souks, camel market and the Sahara Museum in town are worth a visit but the main attraction here is to take a camel trek into the rolling sand dunes of the desert, watch the sunset and camp under the desert stars in a Bedouin tent.

Matmata Troglodyte Dwellings
Matmata Troglodyte Dwellings Matmata is a Berber village famous for its troglodyte underground dwellings. Their homes have been carved out of the sandstone around a circular sunken courtyard, protecting the inhabitants from the harsh climate by providing an environment with a relatively constant temperature. The village was first noted by the Roman historian Herodotus in the 4th century BC and is most famous today for being the setting for Luke Skywalker's home in 'Star Wars'.

Matmata Troglodyte Dwellings

Matmata Troglodyte Dwellings

Matmata is a Berber village famous for its troglodyte underground dwellings. Their homes have been carved out of the sandstone around a circular sunken courtyard, protecting the inhabitants from the harsh climate by providing an environment with a relatively constant temperature. The village was first noted by the Roman historian Herodotus in the 4th century BC and is most famous today for being the setting for Luke Skywalker's home in 'Star Wars'.

Amphitheatre of El Jem
Amphitheatre of El Jem The small village of El Jem (known in classical times as Thysdrus) contains the impressive ruins of the largest Roman amphitheatre in North Africa, and the third largest in the world after the Colosseum in Rome and Capua near Naples. Built in the 3rd century AD, the amphitheatre was elliptical in form, probably four storeys high and designed to accommodate up to 60,000 spectators. Lack of funds and political rivalries meant the amphitheatre was never finished, but today it remains incredibly well preserved and intact. You can climb several storeys to survey the whole amphitheatre or explore the underground passageways where the gladiators and animals waited before being released into the arena. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Amphitheatre of El Jem

Amphitheatre of El Jem

The small village of El Jem (known in classical times as Thysdrus) contains the impressive ruins of the largest Roman amphitheatre in North Africa, and the third largest in the world after the Colosseum in Rome and Capua near Naples. Built in the 3rd century AD, the amphitheatre was elliptical in form, probably four storeys high and designed to accommodate up to 60,000 spectators. Lack of funds and political rivalries meant the amphitheatre was never finished, but today it remains incredibly well preserved and intact. You can climb several storeys to survey the whole amphitheatre or explore the underground passageways where the gladiators and animals waited before being released into the arena.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Amphitheatre of El Jem

Kairouan
Kairouan Kairouan is Islam's fourth holiest site after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and the holiest in Tunisia and North Africa. It was founded in the 7th century and the first Islamic place of worship in the Maghreb, the Zawiya of Sidi Sahab, was established here just 38 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammed. The medina of Kairouan is surrounded by 3km of walls with 3 gates, and includes markets with traditional crafts such as copper and silver engraving, carpet weaving and saddle making, as well as numerous mosques and zawiyas (or monasteries). The Great Mosque and the Mosque of the Three Gates are both important religious sites and great examples of Islamic architecture. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kairouan

Kairouan

Kairouan

Kairouan is Islam's fourth holiest site after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and the holiest in Tunisia and North Africa. It was founded in the 7th century and the first Islamic place of worship in the Maghreb, the Zawiya of Sidi Sahab, was established here just 38 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammed. The medina of Kairouan is surrounded by 3km of walls with 3 gates, and includes markets with traditional crafts such as copper and silver engraving, carpet weaving and saddle making, as well as numerous mosques and zawiyas (or monasteries). The Great Mosque and the Mosque of the Three Gates are both important religious sites and great examples of Islamic architecture.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kairouan

Medina of Sousse
Medina of Sousse The old medina of Sousse on the Mediterranean coast dates back to the Aghlabid period in the 9th century when it was an important military and commercial port. The ribat is the earliest building, a combined fort and religious building with a square bastion, watchtower, turrets and a single gate, built to defend Sousse from the Byzantines. The Great Mosque, the kasbah (now housing an archaeological museum) and the Mosque of Bu Ftata followed. Today the medina is filled with stalls selling a huge variety of goods and souvenirs. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Medina of Sousse

Medina of Sousse

The old medina of Sousse on the Mediterranean coast dates back to the Aghlabid period in the 9th century when it was an important military and commercial port. The ribat is the earliest building, a combined fort and religious building with a square bastion, watchtower, turrets and a single gate, built to defend Sousse from the Byzantines. The Great Mosque, the kasbah (now housing an archaeological museum) and the Mosque of Bu Ftata followed. Today the medina is filled with stalls selling a huge variety of goods and souvenirs.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Medina of Sousse

Punic Town of Kerkuane
Punic Town of Kerkuane Kerkuane is the site of a Phoenician city on the northeast coast of Tunisia. It was abandoned after the First Punic War in 250 BC and not rebuilt by the Romans, therefore its remains are the only surviving example of a Phoenicio-Punic city, offering important insights into the layout of Punic cities of this era. Its necropolis in the hills surrounding the city contain hundreds of tombs. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis

Punic Town of Kerkuane

Kerkuane is the site of a Phoenician city on the northeast coast of Tunisia. It was abandoned after the First Punic War in 250 BC and not rebuilt by the Romans, therefore its remains are the only surviving example of a Phoenicio-Punic city, offering important insights into the layout of Punic cities of this era. Its necropolis in the hills surrounding the city contain hundreds of tombs.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis

Ichkeul National Park
The Ichkeul lake and wetland area in northern Tunisia is an important ecosystem for migratory birds such as ducks, geese, storks and pink flamingos who feed and nest there. It is an area of high biodiversity due to the wide variety of habitats. Ichkeul is the last remaining lake of a chain that once extended across North Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ichkeul National Park

Ichkeul National Park

The Ichkeul lake and wetland area in northern Tunisia is an important ecosystem for migratory birds such as ducks, geese, storks and pink flamingos who feed and nest there. It is an area of high biodiversity due to the wide variety of habitats. Ichkeul is the last remaining lake of a chain that once extended across North Africa.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ichkeul National Park