I recently visited Tunisia to discover the best things to do in Tunisia. I found a country that was bright and colourful, friendly and welcoming and full of so many places to visit that I can’t wait to return. There are so many beautiful cities in the country and Tunisia for tourists really is a welcoming place. If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Tunisia or trying to work out whether a holiday in Tunisia is for you then read on for some colourful inspiration. The best places in Tunisia include history, music, food and beaches. I’ve pulled together my top 10 reasons to visit Tunisia.
*AD / This post is a from a press trip in association with the Tunisian Tourist Board but all opinions are my own. It contains affiliate links.To read more please see my Disclosure Policy.
Table of Contents
1. The history is amazing – The best things to do in Tunisia
I love history and was so pleased to find so many sites to visit and explore. My favourite has to be the Roman Amphitheatre El Jem.
The third largest amphitheatre in the world (after the Colosseum in Rome and Capua also in Italy) El Jem is a stunning place to visit.
This is somewhere to explore unrestricted. Walking the seating area, hands trailing over ancient walls.
You can also wander underneath the huge arena and see the various holding pens for the wild animals, slaves, professional gladiators and finally the bodies of those brought down.
It is such an atmospheric place and so much more accessible than its counterpart in Rome.
I imagined returning here with the children, somewhere they could run around and really feel the events of so long ago. Without the crowds of the Colosseum it’s possible to really feel the history here, imagine it and relish in it.
There are plenty of other places to visit. On our short trip we could only touch upon a few.
From the impressive stronghold of the Ribat of Monastir which looks as fierce and as indomitable now as it must have when it was built in 796, to the sweet Fort Ottoman Borj El Kebir of Mahdia, which dates from the 16th century and occupies a prime position looking out to sea.
Tunisia has history in abundance. There’s so much to explore and take in.
2. Tunisia for tourists – why visit? It’s one of the happiest places
We were lucky enough to be in the country on a Sunday which completely changed the whole vibe of the country. Catching Tunisia on a weekend it is the happiest, most vibrant place to be.
Everywhere we went people had brought out their instruments and set up impromptu bands from drums and guitars to the traditional mizwad (a bagpipe-like instrument).
People clapped and danced, joining in with songs and everyone was welcome.
People dance, everyone dances. It doesn’t matter what age you are the rhythmic, almost hypnotic beat of Tunisian tunes had people up on their feet in all the towns we visited on a sunny spring Sunday.
Hands were clapped, feet stamped and everyone urging us to join in, to be part of the impromptu party.
It was beautiful and life affirming and just so happy.
We stopped off for some more history at the 2nd century Water Temple in Zaghouan which supplied water to Carthage (the ruins of the ancient aqueduct is still spectacularly visible on the road in).
Here, the music of drums and trumpets as people played their happy tunes competed with the grandness of the history for attention.
It was impossible not to smile as teenagers jumped to the beat alongside older women, dressed in traditional clothes. The happiness was infectious.
We then made a stop at Zriba El Alia. An abandoned Berber village where wild flowers bounced alongside dwellings that had long been deserted.
Goats clambered around the rocky terrain and school children visited alongside. It was such a unique place, hidden away in the craggy mountaintops and well worth a trip if you’re in the area.
As we picked our way through the ruins, with spectacular views across the countryside we were drawn to a small cafe set up in one of the once deserted dwellings which now rocked to the beat of another happy Sunday, where everyone danced and sang.
There’s nowhere I’d rather be than in Tunisia on a weekend.
3. Enjoy the emerging eco tourism culture as one of the best things to do in Tunisia
The country is somewhere very different from what it was ten years ago. There’s a renewed energy about it. A belief that it has something special to offer people.
This is particularly true in its emerging eco tourism culture.
We stopped for lunch at Dar Zaghouan. Tunisia’s first eco friendly farmhouse (which even has its own solar powered hammam).
Here we feasted on plates of salads and spicy pickled vegetables before big bowls of rice and vegetable kebabs left us completely full.
The grounds here were beautiful with flowers everywhere and a feeling that you were lost in some magical gardens.
Dar Zaghouan have chalets and villas you can rent out and so much going on from swimming pools to ice cream stalls.
I particularly loved all the bread demonstrations including a Turkish flat bread, tabouna – a round bread made in a traditional clay cooking pot (also called a tabouna).
We also tried some delicious pastries made with the eglantine flower water which is found throughout the region and combined with almond paste to create a real delicacy.
It’s such a fascinating place to explore and I would love to come back and stay for a few days.
4. Take in a spa – a perfect activity in Tunisia for tourists
Whether you’re looking for a traditional hammam experience to a modern spa treatment Tunisia has it all.
All the little towns we visited on our trip had local hammams (often used by men in the morning and evening and women during the day) which anyone can pay to enter.
They cost only a couple of pounds and you can indulge in the steam rooms and have scrubs and massages. The perfect way to enjoy a traditional spa experience.
There are also some modern spa facilities including the Royal Thalassa Monastir where we loved spending time in the waters (thalassa use sea water).
There are also a range of treatments available here.
5. Find the prettiest towns and locations
Tunisia is a photographer’s dream. It really is just so picturesque with beautiful towns and villages dotted throughout. And with the Best eSIM for Tunisia you can easily send your favourite pictures home to friends and family, or post them to social media on your travels.
We stopped in Sidi Bou Saïd, just outside of the capital Tunis and with spectacular views in every direction of gorgeous sparkling seas.
Sidi Bou Saïd is just so picture perfect and pretty with deep turquoise colours everywhere you look. In fact you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled across a Greek island village.
Doors with studded details and blue and white that bounced the sunbeams around perfectly.
We stopped for bambalouni. Scalding hot ring doughnuts cooked up and liberally sprinkled with sugar which was a perfect mid morning snack.
Sidi Bou Saïd is made for wandering and every corner and alleyway demands to be photographed. It’s got to be the most picturesque town in the country.
Another gem was Mahdia which is a very sweet little city (with the best beach in Tunisia we were reliably informed) and with its sparkling turquoise waters surrounding it.
It was another of those locations I wished I had hours to just lose myself in the back streets and take it all in.
6. Enjoy the souks as one of the best things to do in Tunisia
I do love a bit of souvenir shopping and the country certainly doesn’t disappoint here.
Mahdia (mentioned above) was perfect for picking up some little treats of silverware, couscous pots and I couldn’t resist a pretty basket bag with a hand of Fatima detail.
My favourite stop was Monastir where pyramids of spices left pungent trails and couscous and dried beans spilled out of barrels in the local souk.
The hustle and bustle of the morning was captured here perfectly and it was a wonderful place to take it all in with all the colour and vibrancy that a modern supermarket fails so spectacularly at.
Check out our top souvenirs to buy in Tunisia for more inspiration.
7. It’s so quiet
Tunisia was so quiet when we visited, we didn’t queue to get in anywhere.
Visiting El Jem, one of the spectacular sights of the Roman World we joined perhaps ten other people exploring it that day.
It was wonderful to visit it and feel as though we had it to ourselves but sad to see how hard the lack of tourism has hit.
For my part I felt considerably less safe on a trip to London, stood outside the tourist hotspot of Buckingham Palace with the throngs of tourists than I ever felt here.
I walked barefoot on my own, feeling the sand beneath my feet on the beach at Côtes de Carthage, watching the waves crash and not a single person in sight.
I don’t think there could be a better time to visit the country.
8. From the UK it’s so easy
We boarded a Tunisair flight from Heathrow and in less than three hours we were in Tunisia, the warmth of the country immediate after another cold snap in our UK spring.
The contrast was distinct. Fields were awash with the colours of a spring in full swing with yellows, oranges and pinks, the landscape already bursting with life and almost as happy as the people.
9. There are some great places to stay
There are some fantastic places to stay in Tunisia and it’s a great time to snap up a bargain. We were really shocked by the cost of five star, luxury places in the country, so affordable and perfect for a family trip.
We stayed in the Ramada Plaza Gammarth at Côtes de Carthage beach which was a lovely location (easy to get in to explore Tunis but also perfectly situated to relax by the sea).
There were pools, a lovely sandy stretch of beach and relaxed ambiance.
I loved the breakfast of freshly squeezed Tunisian oranges and pancakes from the dedicated pancake chef. Their sweet, sticky dates were also amazing.
We also stayed in the beautiful five star Royal Thalassa Monastir which was just stunning. Waking up each morning to views of the sea and a suite that was nothing short of wonderful.
This is somewhere I would love to return with kids. I think they would adore the grounds with the swimming pools and gorgeous beach and a chance for all of us to really relax.
As I just adore Sidi Bou Saïd I would also love to stay in one of the little boutique hotels here. Tucked away behind more of those beautiful studded doors.
10. You’ll receive the friendliest of welcomes – Tunisia for tourists
Tunisia is a beautiful country and I spent four days being welcomed with warm smiles and happy greetings.
I wouldn’t hesitate to bring the children here. I feel as a family we would be embraced by a country that was so keen to let us know, whenever they could, that they were so pleased we were there. There’s so much to do and explore and I’m excited to see more.
Read More about the best things to do in Tunisia and Tunisia for tourists here
I took this press trip with Gretta from Mums Do Travel and Cathy from MummyTravels. You can read what they thought about the trips below – See what Gretta from Mums Do Travel thought about the trip to Tunisia here. And what Cathy from Mummy Travels thought here.
We also have our posts on a weekend in Tunisia meeting the people that make it shine and a feature on the best souvenirs in Tunisia. Also what to do in Tunis (with a free E book).
I’d love to hear what you think…would you like to visit? Or have you been in the past and would like to return?
Local markets are filled with handcrafted treasures, from intricate ceramics to colourful textiles, and even custom keychains featuring traditional Tunisian designs make for a perfect keepsake or gift. These small yet meaningful souvenirs capture the essence of your travels, allowing you to carry a piece of Tunisia with you wherever you go.
Hi, thank you for putting this together! May I ask what month you travelled?
Hello, I was there in April which was a really great temperature. Happy planning!