Tunisia –
Mediterranean & Desert.

Why Tunisia?

Africa's Most Accessible Holiday Destination.

Tunisia is one of Europe's most undervalued holiday destinations. Less than three hours by air from Germany, it offers Mediterranean beaches of a quality to rival Spain, Roman ruins that would be headline attractions in any Italian city, a Sahara Desert excursion that feels genuinely remote, and some of the most interesting food in North Africa – all at prices that consistently undercut comparable European destinations. It is also a genuinely safe and welcoming country for tourists.

Hammamet is the classic Tunisian beach resort. The old medina – a fortified white-walled town above the beach – is small but perfectly preserved, with jasmine-covered walls, carpet shops and café terraces overlooking the sea. The beach itself stretches for miles in each direction, white and fine-grained. The resort zone has developed considerably but the old town retains its charm. Sousse and Port El Kantaoui to the north offer similar conditions in a slightly more modern resort setting.

Djerba, Tunisia's largest island, connected to the mainland by a causeway, has a distinct character shaped by its Berber, Arab and Jewish heritage. The island is flat, the beaches are excellent, the old Jewish quarter of Hara Sghira contains the Ghriba synagogue – one of the oldest in Africa. The medina of Houmt Souk is full of craftsmen producing traditional pottery and textiles. Djerba is particularly well suited to families and to those who want a quieter holiday than the busy mainland resorts.

The Sahara excursion is Tunisia's great adventure. From the desert gateway towns of Tozeur and Douz, 4WD tours head into the erg – the sea of sand dunes – for camel rides, bivouac nights under extraordinary star skies and the surreal experience of watching the sun rise over an ocean of sand. The salt lake of Chott el-Djerid, shimmering with mirages in the heat, was one of the locations for Star Wars – the Lars Homestead scenes were filmed near Matmata, a Berber village whose residents live in underground houses carved from the rock.

Tips for Your Tunisia Trip

• 01Best season: April to June and September to November – warm but not extreme; July and August are very hot inland.
• 02Currency: The Tunisian dinar cannot be taken out of the country. Change only what you need and spend remaining dinars before departure.
• 03Dress code: In medinas and outside tourist areas, modest dress is appreciated. This applies particularly to women; covering shoulders and knees shows respect.
• 04Harissa: Tunisia's national condiment – a hot red pepper paste – is served with almost everything. Start carefully; it varies from mild to incendiary without warning.