Countries To Travel Travel Tips and Plans
Tunisia has always been a present destination in my future travel schedule, and although I had the opportunity to visit it during a short trip, it has been more recently when I really had the opportunity to discover it.
During the last part of the last century and the beginning of the current one, Tunisia became a very popular tourist destination of the Mediterranean, and a growing competitor of Spain thanks to the attractiveness of its beaches, specifically in Hammamet , Sousa and the island of Djerba .
But beyond the beaches, what really attracted Tunisia was its exotic country character , with the charming medinas of its towns and cities.
This combined with a great architectural heritage from different eras, from the Carthaginians and Romans , to the Arabs with their monumental mosques.
And also with its great oasis landscapes and dunes at the gates of the Sahara desert .
Tourism in Tunisia
But since 2010 the initial destabilization produced in the country by the Arab Spring , together with the economic crisis in European countries such as Spain, led to a very significant drop in the arrival of tourists.
Now Tunisia is trying to recover international tourism , which is key for a country in which this industry, together with agriculture, is the most important engine of its economy.
Before highlighting corners that are really worth discovering, I tell you that, because of the experience of my trip, today Tunisia is a safe country for tourists.
During your trip you will not feel insecure anywhere, which is favored because it is a country where political stability reigns, as well as the special affability of its people.
Of course, with the proviso that it is convenient to make that in these times, to punctual terrorist attack can arise in many parts of the world, including cities as safe as Paris, London, Brussels or Madrid.
In any case, in the face of your future holidays, here are the 24 images taken during my recent trip that surely invite you to travel to Tunisia to know these essential places to see this North African country.
Sidi Bou Said
If there is a typical image of a charming town in Tunisia , you will find it in the village of Andalusian influence Sidi Bou Said .
Very close to the capital, this pretty tourist town is located on top of a hill on the seafront.
During your walk through Sidi Bou Said you will find numerous and colorful corners in which the houses combine the luminous white color of their facades with the blue of doors and windows, style inspired by the towns of the Greek islands.
Great Mosque of Kairouan
If there is a monumental corner with the best expression of Muslim architecture in Tunisia, it is the city of Kairouan , with its 7th century Grand Mosque and its recycled columns from the Byzantine Romans.
Great Mausoleum of Kairouan
In the city of 300 mosques, as Kairouan is known , there are also numerous mausoleums, although the most outstanding one is its Great Mausoleum , also known as the Mausoleum of the Barber .
Oasis of Chebika
From the city of Tozeur , one of the gates of the Sahara desert in Tunisia , you can take a tour of the mountain oasis region where the one of Chebika undoubtedly stands out .
Canyon of Mides
The route of the mountain oases of Tozeur has a little visited corner, just in the border with Algeria, the Canyon of Mides , a beautiful landscape enclave.
Dunes of Tozeur
From Tozeur you can make an excursion to a desert area where you can find some big dunes , and which takes you to the remains of the sets of one of the movies from the Star Wars saga filmed in this country.
Medina de Tozeur
The city of Tozeur contains an interesting medina with a very peculiar architecture in its buildings, based on decorated bricks.
Salt Lake Chott el Jerid
One of the most impressive landscapes you can see on your route through Tunisia is the salt lake Chott el Jerid , a huge flat surface of clay covered with salt where you can see the characteristic mirages of the desert.
This huge surface of an ancient salt lake located below sea level will be crossed on the route between Tozeur and Douz.
Dunes of Douz
Another enclave where you will arrive at the doors of the Sahara desert is Douz , place where you can walk on the back of a dromedary through an area of dunes , or if you prefer, go on a horse buggy or drive a quad .
Matmata, troglodyte village
In the mountain route that crosses several Berber villages, an essential stage is Matmata , where you can see troglodyte houses carved in caves.
Star Wars in Matmata
In Matmata you can stay at the Sidi Idriss hotel , whose rooms are caves, a corner that was used by George Lucas for scenes from the first installment of the Star Wars saga .
Tamezret, Berber village
On the route of the Berber villages , you can walk through the corners of the old Tamezret that unfolds on a hill pierced by numerous caves.
Medina of Djerba
During your holiday on the island of Djerba, you will surely stroll through the streets of the main city of this tourist enclave, where you can see souks, markets and several beautiful spots.
Jewish Synagogue of Djerba
In Djerba you should not miss the synagogue, meeting point of the Jewish community that lives in this tourist island, and whose interior shows a nice and colorful decoration.
Pottery crafts in Djerba
The island of Djerba is the main potter’s center of Tunisia , where eight families are currently engaged in this craft activity following the most traditional method, removing the mud by hand from deep caves.
Fishing port of Djerba
In the port of Djerba Marina , in the framework of the traditional fishing activity you will see the jars that are used as a traditional system for the capture of octopus.
Medina of Hammamet
The very vacation town of Hammamet has a small but very beautiful walled residential medina by the sea, where you can see some artists and souvenir shops .
Coffee in Hammamet
The Sidi Bouhdid Café is a classic medina of Hammamet , and its terrace at the foot of the wall of the old fortifications of the Spaniards and the sea is an essential step for tourists.
Hotel Le Royal Hammamet
The hotel Le Royal Hammamet of the BlueBay chain , pioneer of the Yasmine Hammamet tourist complex , is a five star hotel with truly spectacular facilities, where the large marble staircases of its entrance lobby stand out .
