A country with a fascinating history, Tunisia has plenty to offer in the way of interesting attractions. Tunis, the capital city is home to an excellent selection of sights worth visiting with the old town yielding its fair share and the Bardo Museum certainly worthy of mention. Dougga, Bulla Regia and Sbeitla are the places to head if the country’s ancient history is of interest to you.
 The Bardo Museum
One of the country’s most significant museum facilities, the Bardo Museum is home to one of the biggest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. The museum is housed in a palace that was once the residence of Husaynid beys who was the country’s ruler for a period spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. Besides the mosaic collection, there is also a collection of archaeological treasures with artefacts originating from the Roman, Carthaginian, early Christian and Islamic eras
 The National Museum of Carthage
Located on the Byrsa Hill, The National Museum of Carthage is home to a fascinating collection of Punic and Roman artefacts including elaborate items such as marble sarcophagi and more basic ones such as every day tools and household items. Fine collections of jewellery as well as various unusual Punic masks are among some of the more interesting exhibits on show.
 Kerbouane
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Kerbouane gives visitors the chance to learn something of the ancient Punic civilisation which originated from the Middle East and built an empire that stretched from Africa to Sardinia and Spain. The remains of what was once an entire Punic city can be found at Kerbouane making it one of Tunisia’s most significant sites of historical interest.
 The Museum of Traditional Arts and Customs
Situated on the ground floor of the Dar Ben Abdallah (an 18th century palace), the Museum of Traditional Arts and Customs in Tunis contains a collection that introduces visitors to some of the more significant cultural and historical aspects of life past and present in the country’s capital city. The palace is split into three sections: the master’s house which includes the museum, the guest’s house where the museum administration is based and the common rooms.
 Dougga and Bulla Regia
Dougga and Bulla Regia are both sites of Numidian origin and are noted as the finest examples of areas representing the Romano-African civilizations. In Dougga, visitors will find a Libyco-Punic mausoleum, a theatre, monumental arches, temples, thermal baths and some exceptionally well preserved houses. In Bulla Regia meanwhile, there’s a collection of Roman houses as well as some classic and faithfully preserved thermal baths
 Sbeitla
Sbeitla is one of the country’s most significant sites in terms of its historical relationship with Christianity featuring seven buildings of religious significance that consolidate the importance of the religion from the period covering the 4th and 5th centuries. Remains of Christian buildings can also be seen in Makthar while at the nearby Enfidha museum, there’s an interesting mosaic collection.
Top Things to Do
 Visit the hot springs at Hamman Mellegue
The hot springs at Hamman Mellegue date back to the Roman era and while these are an entirely natural phenomenon, the Romans were strong believers in the healing powers of water and utilised the natural warm pools for the purpose of bathing. The pools, which vary in heat intensity depending on how far they are from the point of origin, can be bathed in comfortably by visitors.
 Check out the Medina in Tunis
Constructed in the 7th century, the Medina is Tunis’ old town and is the main hub for history and culture in the country’s capital city. Tours of both the northern and southern parts of the city are available, taking in key historical buildings that tell of the country’s most significant historical eras such as those of the Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals and Ottomans. Northern tours start from Place Bab Souika while Southern tours start from Place Bab el Jazira.
 Relax on the beach at Mahdia
Mahdia is one of the newer destinations for tourists in Tunisia and is home to Tunisia’s last unspoiled beach. This well kept secret won’t stay a secret forever and development will inevitably hit the area but until then, you can relax in the tranquil environment offered by Mahdia beach. Take a book and read, lie back and catch a few rays or take a cooling swim in the ocean.
 Play water-sports in Tabarka
Tabarka, in the north of Tunisia, holds the reputation for offering some of the best water sports opportunities in the country. Fishing, sailing and windsurfing are all popular however scuba diving is perhaps the area’s real highlight as the crystal clear waters provide perfect conditions for divers to check out the diverse collection of flora and fauna living in the waters off this coastal area. The sea bed is rich in coral which can also be viewed easily given the clarity of the ocean.
 Take a camel ride in Douz
Access the Sahara desert at Douz and you can take a thrilling trek across the sandy plains on the back of one of nature’s most amazing creatures. Treks last about 30 minutes and you will generally ride in a large group, taking in some of the more interesting sights of the desert in the immediate vicinity.
 Visit the locations of the Star Wars movies
Extensive filming for Star Wars episodes I and IV was shot in the desert areas of Tunisia and if you are a fan of the classic sci-fi movie series then you might wish to take a trip out to the desert to see the areas that were used for the majority of the Tatooine scenes. Chott El Gharsa, Sidi Bouhlel, Ajim, La Grande Dune, Matmata, Chott El Jerid and Ksar Hadada are the chief locations which were used and are all easily reachable from the capital city of Tunis. Additionally, a small town called Tataouine, which was not actually used in the movie, is also of interest since George Lucas borrowed the name for the home planet of the Skywalker family – a sign at the town’s limits reads Welcome to Tataouine is a great photo opportunity for fans of the movie.
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