Travel guide Tunisia
Top Attractions in Tunisia: Medinas, Ksars, Star Wars Sets & Roman Ruins
Medinas, Berber ksars, Star Wars sets, Roman ruins and desert oases: what to see in Tunisia.
Crown jewel
El Jem
Medinas
Tunis · Sousse
Mosaics
Bardo Museum
Desert gateway
Tozeur
On this page: Medinas · Ksars & villages · Star Wars trail · Roman Tunisia · Museums · Desert & oases
Tunisia is a country where history, culture, and landscapes collide. Roman ruins stand beside mosques, golden deserts stretch into the horizon, and bustling medinas burst with color and spice. Whether you’re here for a week or a whole season, there’s no shortage of things to see and do.
Our kids played gladiators in the amphitheater of El Jem and ran through the stone corridors of the Ribat. Other places on this list are still on our own wish list — Tunisia is a country that keeps unfolding the longer you stay.
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Explore Tunisia’s Historic Medinas
Medina of Tunis
A UNESCO World Heritage Site — a maze of winding alleys, centuries-old mosques, and bustling souks. It’s chaotic, colorful, and atmospheric, where every turn brings another shop selling spices, textiles, or traditional crafts.
Medina of Sousse
More relaxed but no less captivating. Overlooking the sea, it’s ringed by impressive walls and filled with whitewashed houses, small markets, and historic mosques. A great place to wander without the crowds of the capital.
Visit Tunisia’s Ancient Ksars and Villages
The south is dotted with ksars — fortified granaries built by Berber communities. These honeycomb-like structures are both beautiful and functional, offering a glimpse into Tunisia’s desert traditions.
Chenini
Perched dramatically on a hilltop, Chenini is a Berber village where crumbling stone houses blend seamlessly into the landscape. It feels frozen in time, with breathtaking views over the surrounding valleys.
Takrouna
Another village clinging to a hill, known for its Amazigh heritage and its peaceful atmosphere. From the top, you can see both the mountains and the sea.
Douiret
Largely abandoned but hauntingly beautiful, Douiret is a village of stone houses and cave dwellings, perfect for exploring if you want to feel Tunisia’s ancient soul.
Matmata
Famous for its troglodyte homes dug into the earth, Matmata keeps cool in summer and warm in winter. It’s also known worldwide as Luke Skywalker’s childhood home in Star Wars.
Follow the Star Wars Trail
Luke Skywalker’s Home
Fans will recognize Matmata’s troglodyte dwellings as Luke’s home on Tatooine. You can even visit the actual site, now functioning as the Hotel Sidi Driss.
Mos Espa
Near Tozeur, you’ll find Mos Espa, one of the largest surviving Star Wars sets. Walking among the domed buildings and streets feels like stepping straight onto a movie set.
Discover Ancient Roman Tunisia
El Jem
The Amphitheater of El Jem is Tunisia’s crown jewel — the third-largest Roman amphitheater in the world. You can climb the stands, wander the tunnels, and imagine gladiator battles of 2,000 years ago.
Carthage
Once Rome’s great rival, Carthage now offers sprawling ruins overlooking the Mediterranean. From the Antonine Baths to ancient villas, it’s a site full of history and myth.
Dougga
Often called the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa, Dougga has everything: a theater, temples, baths, and incredible countryside views.
Bulla Regia
Famous for its underground villas, Bulla Regia reveals how the Romans adapted to Tunisia’s heat. Mosaic floors and columns are still remarkably intact.
Subaytilah (Sbeitla)
Less visited but no less impressive, a Roman city with beautifully preserved temples, arches, and forums. An open-air museum without the crowds.
Museums Worth Visiting
Bardo Museum (Tunis)
World-famous for its mosaics — some of the finest Roman and Byzantine examples anywhere. Housed in a former palace, it’s a must for history lovers.
Sousse Archaeological Museum
Located inside a former kasbah, the museum houses an impressive collection of mosaics, giving a vivid picture of Tunisia’s Roman past.
Experience the Desert and Oases
Tozeur
Known as the gateway to the Sahara, Tozeur is an oasis town with thousands of palm trees, distinctive brick architecture, and easy access to desert adventures.
Visit Oases
From Tozeur, you can reach the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza, and Mides. Waterfalls, date palms, and dramatic canyons create a striking contrast with the desert beyond.
Ride a Camel
For the classic desert experience, saddle up on a camel and trek into the dunes. It’s slow, swaying, and unforgettable — like stepping back in time.
Ride an ATV
For more speed, ATV tours let you race across the sand, climb dunes, and feel the vastness of the Sahara in a more adrenaline-fueled way.
Still on Our List
And yet, even after months of living here, there’s so much we still haven’t seen. We’ve heard about the Sahara, where camel caravans still cross golden dunes and nights are spent under endless starlit skies. Friends told us about the troglodyte homes of Matmata, carved into the earth like something from another world, and the holy city of Kairouan with its ancient mosques and carpets dyed in brilliant colors. The north, too, calls with its Roman ruins at Dougga and Bulla Regia, olive groves stretching to the horizon, and the turquoise coastline around Bizerte. Tunisia feels like a country that keeps unfolding the longer you stay — and knowing how much we’ve yet to explore is exactly why we’re already planning our return.
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