Getting to know Tunisia and its most famous tourist attractions

Tunisia is located in North Africa along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Special tourist attractions such as sunny golden beaches and international music, film and theater festivals have made this country popular among tourists. In this article, we are going to introduce you to the beautiful country of Tunisia and some of its best tourist attractions.

Where is the country of Tunisia?

Tunisia is located in the north of the African continent; It is bordered by Algeria in the west and southwest and Libya in the southeast and leads to the Mediterranean Sea in the east and northeast. The capital of Tunisia is Tunis, one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world. Part of the country’s history is preserved through its architecture, and another part is preserved by museums located throughout the country. Walking in the cities of Tunisia, you will see markets and mosques with Arabic architecture next to modern buildings.

Culture of Tunisia

The customs and culture of Tunisia are very diverse. This issue is largely due to the rule of different governments over this country throughout history. The official religion of Tunisian people is Islam, and the majority of the country’s population is Muslim. Jews and Christians are religious minorities in this country. The language of Tunisia is Arabic and most of the natives speak Arabic with a Tunisian dialect. Standard and modern Arabic is also taught as the first language in the country’s schools.

The hospitality, kindness and warmth of Tunisian men and women, along with the extraordinary tourist attractions of this country, have made Tunisia an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world.

What is the meaning of Medina in Tunisia?

In North African countries, the old neighborhoods of some cities that have historical importance are called Medina. These neighborhoods have preserved their historical context and have narrow alleys with old architecture and are usually registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the Tunisian cities that have a Medina are Tunis, Sousse, Qirawan and Mahdia.

The weather of Tunisia

The country of Tunisia is located in a warm and temperate region that reaches the Great Sahara from the south. The north of the country has a Mediterranean climate with mild and rainy winters and hot and dry summers. As you go south, the areas become semi-arid and dry.

The coastal areas of Tunisia are more temperate than the southern and central areas. For example, in the city of Sousse, which is one of the coastal cities, the average temperature reaches 7°C in January and 32°C in August.

10 tourist destinations in Tunisia

Although Tunisia is mostly known as a beach destination, the country’s tourist attractions are not limited to its beaches. Alleys full of old houses with pastel colors, beautiful markets, ancient ruins, underground houses, the great African desert in the south and hidden oases full of palm trees are other tourist attractions of Tunisia. The culture and history that the Romans left behind in Tunisia is another reason to visit this beautiful country.

In the following, we will introduce some of the top tourist destinations and places of interest in Tunisia.

1. Amphitheater LCem

If you are interested in the age of gladiators and their fights, your first stop in Tunisia will probably be the city of El Djem. Amphitheater of Al-Jem city is one of the most beautiful buildings left from the Roman Empire in Tunisia. The greatness of the walls of this structure makes the modern city of Al-Jam look like a miniature city.

By visiting the Al-Jam amphitheater, you can walk in the corridors under the fighting arena and step in the footsteps of gladiators or visit the upper floors and sit on the seats that were the seats for spectators of gladiator fights.

2. Great African Sahara

When traveling to Tunisia, be sure to include a visit to the world’s largest desert in your plan. The African Sahara covers a large part of Tunisia and has many wonders in its heart for visitors.

Naftah sand dunes, camel riding tours in the desert, eating traditional food, visiting the Mides Canyon and spending the night in the desert and watching the starry sky are just some of the tourist attractions of the Great Sahara.

Great eastern sandbar (Grand Erg Oriental), which covers a large part of southern Tunisia, is a magical place where many scenes from the movies “Star Wars” and “The English Patient” were filmed. Now some of these filming locations have become hotels where you can relax or visit them.

3. Shatt al-Jarid salt lake

The best word to describe the great salt lake of Chott el Djerid is unique. When visiting this beautiful place in Tunisia, you might think you’ve seen it before, which if you’re a fan of the Star Wars movies, you’re probably right. Many scenes of Tatooine city were filmed here.

Shatt al-Jarid is a salt water lake and the change of season during the year changes the color of the lake water. If you look at the pictures of this lake, you will see that the water has taken on crazy purple, pink and red colors.

4. Tunis city; The capital of Tunisia

The city of Tunis has hosted different civilizations and nations throughout history. This city is now like a bridge between past and present. Street arts, classic architecture next to modern structures, beautiful beaches, Sidi Mahrez Grand Mosque and its wonderful architecture, houses with happy and lively colors and the great Bardo Museum are among the reasons for attracting travelers from all over the world to this city.

The most beautiful part of the city of Tunis is the old quarter or Medina of Tunis, which is like a huge market and seems to take you back in time. Many of the tourist attractions of Tunis are located in its old quarter, so don’t forget to visit this quarter.

Your visit to Tunis will not be complete without going to the Bardo Museum. The Bardo Museum is the world’s largest museum that exhibits ancient Roman mosaics. Even if you are not a fan of visiting the museum, you will surely be amazed by the mosaic paintings and sculptures of the Bardo Museum.

5. The city of Soussee

The city of Sousse is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and is about 2 hours away from the capital. Surrounded by a series of winding lanes, this beautiful city is a shopper’s paradise. In this city, you can buy Tunisian handicrafts, including ceramic, leather and metal works, at the best possible prices. Many traditional markets of this city continue to operate, which will be interesting to visit. After shopping, you can relax on the beautiful beaches of this city and watch the local life or enjoy swimming and diving in the Mediterranean Sea.

Sousse Medina is also one of the best historical attractions in Tunisia. This part of the city, which is surrounded by high walls, used to be a very large military fortress where soldiers and the Islamic army lived. In addition to the extremely beautiful castle of Sousse (Ribat of Sousse), the Archaeological Museum of Sousse, the Grand Mosque of Sousse, the Sousse Medina Municipal Building and the traditional markets of the city are also located in this neighborhood.

6. Hammamet beaches in Tunisia

Hammamet, which was once a small fishing town, has now become a beautiful and lovely resort. This city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tunisia due to its beautiful beaches with warm water. The growth of the tourism industry in this city has led to its significant progress. Now visitors can enjoy modern facilities such as international restaurants, luxury hotels, various shopping centers and various water parks in addition to the wonderful nature of this city.

Of course, beautiful sandy beaches are not the only tourist attractions of Hammamet. In the old quarter of the city, there is an old castle belonging to the 13th century, which we suggest you visit. The view of the sea from the top of the castle walls is an unforgettable image.

7. Al Manstir city

Monastir is located near the city of Sousse and two hours from the capital of Tunisia. This city is one of the quiet coastal cities of Tunisia and one of its most famous tourist attractions is Bourguiba Tomb and Bourguiba Presidential Palace. After the independence of this country, Habib Bourguiba was elected as its first president. He is considered a very important and influential figure in the history of Tunisia. Burqaiba’s tomb is located in the center of the city and access to it is free for everyone. His presidential palace has also become a museum and is now open to the public. While visiting this palace, you can get to know the life of this prominent person.

In al-Manastir, near the beach, there is an old castle belonging to the 9th century, which offers a beautiful view of the sea and the city to its visitors. After visiting the city and its tourist areas, you can go to the beach to relax and walk and visit the beach cafes of the city.

8. Djerba Island

The Island of Djerba is one of the most popular tourist areas in Tunisia with a population of over 170,000 people. But beautiful beaches and special handicrafts are not the main reason for attracting tourists to this island.

When visiting this island, go to Djerbahood, which is almost in the center of the island. The streets of this neighborhood are like an outdoor art exhibition. More than 200 street artists have displayed their works on the walls of this neighborhood, which will entertain you for hours. Guellala Museum is also located in the village of Kalala, where the artistic, historical and modern works of the African continent and the country of Tunisia are exhibited. Many of these works are dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Tunisia and the island of Djerba.

9. Kirwan city

Kairouan is the fourth most important Muslim city with many mosques, schools and tombs. This city is located at a distance of 160 kilometers from the capital of Tunisia and has a very important religious and historical position. Islamic architecture in this city is very magnificent and inspiring, and the skyline of the city is full of narrow and tall minarets and large domes.

The main jewel of this city is its mosque. The construction date of Great Mosque of Kairouan with an area of ​​9000 square meters goes back to 670 AD. This mosque is considered the oldest mosque in the West and the largest mosque in Tunisia and is built in an irregular quadrangular shape. Qairwan Grand Mosque is also called Aqaba Ibn Nafi Grand Mosque. The mosque building looks like a fortress from the outside, and its interior includes a prayer room with parallel columns, a marble-paved courtyard and a large square-shaped garland.

10. City Tabarqa

The city of Tabarka is located 200 kilometers away from Tunis, and because of its mild and moderate weather, it attracts the attention of tourists even in the hot summer months. This city is located on a high plateau and is surrounded by beautiful green trees and forests. Also, this area includes many buildings related to the Phoenician, Roman, Christian, Ottoman and Andalusian governments.

The beaches of Tabarqa are full of amazing and colorful coral reefs, which is why diving in this area is very popular. The largest and best golf course in Tunisia is also located in this city, so if you are a fan of this sport, visiting this course will be very attractive for you.

last word

If you are planning to visit Africa, Tunisia is undoubtedly one of the best possible destinations. By going to this country, you will be able to visit the sea, forest, desert and mountains. You can spend time in modern cities with the best possible facilities and visit historical and natural areas at the same time.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. If you have had the experience of visiting Tunisia, we will be happy to share your memories with us in the comments section.

Other sources: britannica.com and tripadvisor.com