Best Things to Do in Tunisia

Tunisia compresses more per square kilometer than almost any other destination in Africa: a 3,000-year continuum from Phoenician Carthage through Roman occupation (which left the El Jem amphitheatre, Dougga, Bulla Regia, and dozens of other extraordinary sites) through Byzantine, Arab, Berber, Hafsid, Ottoman, and French colonial periods, all within a country the size of Wisconsin. The things to do in Tunisia span the north (Tunis and Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, the northern Tell highlands with Dougga), the coast (Hammamet, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Djerba), and the south (the Saharan gateway towns of Douz and Tozeur, the salt lakes of the Chott el-Jerid, the Berber village of Tataouine famous from Star Wars filming). The country has worked hard to restore tourism confidence following the security incidents of 2015; the main tourist areas are now considered safe.Best time to visitApril through June and September through October are the best months: comfortable temperatures across the country (20-28°C on the coast, 20-30°C in the south), clear skies, and manageable crowds. July and August are the hottest months (35-42°C in the south, 28-32°C on the coast) with the peak European beach tourism season. The Saharan south is best visited October through April when desert temperatures are comfortable for camping and camel trekking (night temperatures can drop below freezing in December-January). Ramadan affects the country significantly (variable dates annually): daytime restaurant closures, traffic peaks at iftar, and the heightened evening atmosphere of a country observing its major religious month.Getting aroundTunis-Carthage Airport (TUN) is the main gateway; Monastir (MIR) and Djerba (DJE) receive European charter flights. Domestic flights connect Tunis to Djerba, Tozeur, and Sfax. The SNCFT train network connects Tunis to Sousse and Sfax along the coast and inland to some cities, though trains are slow. Intercity buses (SNTRI) and shared taxis (louage) are the most practical intercity transport for tourists. A rental car gives maximum flexibility for the archaeological sites and the south. The south (Tozeur, Douz) is best covered on a loop from Tunis by rental car (3-4 days) or by organized 4WD desert tour from Douz.What to eat and drinkTunisian food is the most distinctive in the Maghreb. Harissa (the fiery red pepper and spice paste) is the national condiment. The essential dishes: brik (deep-fried pastry with egg and tuna), lablabi (chickpea soup), couscous (the Friday communal meal with lamb, chicken, or vegetables), merguez (spiced sausage), and the excellent grilled seafood of the coastal towns. Tunisian olive oil (from 33 million olive trees, mainly in the Sfax and Sahel regions) is among the Mediterranean’s finest; extra-virgin is available in every market. The local wine (Coteaux de Carthage and Muscat de Kelibia are the most accessible labels) is better than most expect and inexpensive. Mint tea (chai bel nana, poured from a height to froth) is the national hospitality drink.Top things to doEl Jem Amphitheatre – The best-preserved Roman amphitheatre outside Rome (the Colosseum), built around 238 AD in the prosperous olive-oil city of Thysdrus. It held 35,000 spectators and is extraordinarily intact — the arena floor, the subterranean chambers, and the outer walls all survive. The El Jem Museum across the road has exceptional mosaics from the surrounding Roman villas. El Jem is 2 hours south of Tunis by train or louage.Medina of Kairouan – Tunisia’s holy city (the fourth most sacred city in Islam, after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem) with one of the Muslim world’s oldest mosques (the Great Mosque of Sidi Uqba, 670 AD, rebuilt 9th century) and a completely intact Medina (UNESCO). The mosque’s courtyard with its Byzantine columns is extraordinary; non-Muslims can visit the courtyard but not the prayer hall. The Aghlabid Basins (9th-century Islamic engineering, water storage tanks) are outside the city walls.Sahara desert: Douz and Tozeur – Douz (the gateway to the Grand Erg Oriental) and Tozeur (an oasis city on the edge of the Chott el-Jerid salt lake) are the bases for Saharan exploration: camel trekking at sunrise, 4WD excursions into the sand dunes, and the extraordinary Chott el-Jerid (a vast salt flat that looks like a Martian landscape). The Star Wars filming sites at Mos Espa (near Tozeur) and Tataouine (further south) add a pop-culture pilgrimage dimension.Dougga Roman site – Widely considered the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa, 110km west of Tunis in the Tell highlands. The site includes a spectacular Capitol temple (dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva), a theatre with mountain views, baths, forums, and private houses with intact mosaic floors. Far less visited than Carthage and proportionally more impressive.FAQIs Tunisia safe for tourists?The main tourist areas (Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse, Djerba, El Jem, and the main archaeological sites) are considered safe following security improvements since 2015-2016. Western governments categorize these areas at normal precaution levels. Border regions (Libya border, Algeria remote areas) carry higher advisories. Terrorism remains a theoretical concern (as in many countries) but tourist-targeted incidents have been rare since 2015. Check current government travel advice for your nationality before traveling.Does Tunisia require a visa?Citizens of most EU, UK, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can enter Tunisia visa-free for up to 90 days. Check requirements for your specific nationality. Passports must have at least 6 months validity.