Often overlooked as a Mediterranean destination, Tunisia is a country with one of the most diverse landscapes in North Africa, featuring Roman amphitheaters, Islamic holy cities, crystal-blue-water beaches, and Sahara dunes.
During my road trip across the country, I explored Tunisia’s many landscapes and cultural centers, from the chaotic towns and markets to the empty dunes of the Sahara that stretched for miles. Here are my favorite stops:
1. Sousse & Hammamet
Our journey began in the town of Sousse, a coastal city located on the Mediterranean with a famed maze-like medina (historic center) and many shops and restaurants. Staying in a small apartment right near the coast, the water and sand made it feel as though we had stepped right into a Greek island. Indeed, much of Tunisia bears aesthetic and architectural resemblance to Greece, with Tunisians also painting their homes white and blue and using light colors to reflect the sun.
The first day trip of the adventure was to Hammamet, a nearby village with a 15th-century fortress (kasbah). In every town, there was a strong historical presence, with Tunisia being the heart of the Phoenician empire before being conquered by the Roman Empire and later by the Islamic caliphates. The fortress was at the heart of the city, looking out directly over the harbour as a means to protect it from naval invasion.
Standing on the parapets of the kasbah, it was fascinating to see the city life down below. The beaches extended in both directions, with small colorful fishing boats sitting in the sand and families playing in the waves. The kasbah contained an inner courtyard and rooms, a reminder of the warfare and action that once took place here. Today, it remains quiet, with tourists and local families coming to watch the sunset and see the city from above.
2. El Djem Amphitheater
After hours of driving from the coast to the desert climate of the center of the country, we began to pass through local villages with animals sitting outside the butcheries, local people shopping in markets, and children playing on the side of the road. Making a turn toward the amphitheatre in the small town that surrounded it, an astonishing sight came into view. It was a contrast of new and old, with the street lined with cars and modern shops giving way to a horizon of Roman architecture, towering over the whole town.
This incredible amphitheatre was built in the 3rd century CE, when the region was part of the Roman Empire. With a capacity for 35,000 people, this amphitheater was constructed of huge sandstone blocks, with multiple tiers and floors of arches rising high into the sky. Walking through the amphitheatre, it was completely empty, with almost no other visitors. As I strolled under the first level, with towers and ceilings of arches above my head, I could truly imagine what it must have been like to come here when it was a spectacle of power and Roman glory.
Coming out onto a clearing, I saw the entire amphitheater before me, with its many reconstructed seats and high walls, still preserving much of its original shape. And while this site had no other visitors at the time, many around the world have seen it before, as it was the set of a Game of Thrones scene. It was incredible to see an amphitheater as grand as the Roman Colosseum with no one in it, and it reminded me that there are so many incredible places to visit out in the world.
3. Kairouan
As Indiana Jones fans, we were excited to visit the city of Kairouan to see where they filmed the scenes meant to be in Cairo, Egypt, in the first film. With a white-and-blue tone throughout the city, Kairouan is famous for its architecture and holy site, the Great Mosque of Kairouan. The mosque here is the most important in Tunisia and one of the most influential in the Islamic world. The city itself has been around for centuries, founded in 670 CE by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi as a spiritual and political center of the early Islamic world.
The main courtyard of the mosque was made of sandstone, with Islamic archways encircling the entire square. On one side, the minaret rose, decorated with intricate levels in a traditional North African Islamic style. While we were unable to enter the mosque itself, we were able to see some of the prayer rooms, which were ancient and mystical. Large golden lamps hung from the ceilings, with dark walls that appeared at least centuries old, overlooking devotees.
In the narrow streets of the city, we searched for the white alleyways featured in the film, recreating scenes we recognized. The gorgeous blue-painted doors of the city stood out against the light cream of the buildings, with different shades of teal, royal blue, and light blue gracing each doorway.
4. Luke Skywalker’s House and the Traditional Tunisian Underground Architecture
Near the desert town of Matmata, we stepped into another movie set, this time the home of the Skywalkers from the Star Wars franchise. The home is actually a traditional troglodyte dwelling, a type of underground architecture that Berber communities have used for centuries to keep cool in the blistering sun. Throughout North Africa, some communities continue to build such houses, and the film incorporated the architecture to make it look otherworldly.
Entering the house, which sat just outside a small village, I immediately realized how little they changed. Now a small museum, the home still contained most of the original Star Wars props and additions. In the small cafe next to the room where they filmed the “kitchen table scene” in Star Wars: A New Hope, the owner showed us pictures of George Lucas filming there, alongside autographed images from the cast. If you love Star Wars, this is a great place to visit!
5. Douz & Touzer
Traveling further south towards the Sahara Desert, we stopped in the towns of Douz and Touzer. In Douz, we stayed in a luxurious desert resort, surrounded by palm trees along the lake. Taking part in an ATV adventure, we rode through the sand dunes, experiencing the region’s open landscapes.
In Touzer, we went on a desert excursion with a local Berber guide, who explained to us their customs and traditions beyond just seeing the dunes. Traveling in a 4×4 jeep, we went up and down the tall dunes, feeling as though we were on a rollercoaster in the middle of nowhere. It was amazing to imagine where I was geographically, right on the border with Algeria.
Beyond the dunes, we found ourselves in another Star Wars town, this time the set of the fictional city of Mos Espa from The Phantom Menace. The entire town is still there, made out of wood and plaster, giving the appearance of a real city from far away. For Star Wars fans, this is the perfect place to step onto a film set that feels entirely real, with the guide stating that George Lucas built it and then just left it all there without worry.
In the same area, we also visited the desert region where they filmed the racing scenes in The Phantom Menace, as well as a canyon featured in A New Hope when Luke meets the Jawas and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Tunisia is an ideal destination for visitors who are craving a mix of ancient history, North African culture, and gorgeous beaches.
With the country being relatively small, a 2-week road trip is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights. While I never made it to the capital, Tunis, or the ruins of ancient Carthage, I hope to return one day and explore more of the country’s diverse landscape.
<p>The post Tunisia Road Trip: Ancient Cities, Sahara Dunes, and Mediterranean Beaches first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>