1 Hotels and Resorts in Tunisia

Just south of Sardinia, Tunisia has been a popular destination for Europeans in search of Mediterranean sun, sea and a little spice for decades. But go inland, past the souqs and medinas, the kasbahs and amphitheatres, and the vastness of the most famous desert in the world, the Sahara, waits.

Tunisia uses the dinar (TND). While credit cards are accepted at larger establishments, cash is still needed for restaurants and small shops. You can withdraw cash at ATMs found in resorts and larger towns.

Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate, with summers that are sunny, winters that are mild with temperatures of 6°C – 16°C, and a few rain showers during the autumn months of September to November.

Tunis-Carthage International Airport is the country’s main port of entry, with flights from around Europe, Africa and the Middle East. There are then smaller airports dotted around, like in Monastir and Tozeur.

Tunisia is the ideal place to combine desert adventures with beach relaxation. Zoom across the Sahara in a 4x4 past blazing dunes, amazing rock formations and shimmering salt flats. Along the way, there’ll be abandoned villages, Roman ruins and oases to explore. Then you can take your pick of beach retreats: we recommend the island of Djerba with its charming white-washed houses, handicraft markets and fresh seafood.

You may not know it, but Tunisia is a popular place to shoot films because of its many striking attractions. Out in the desert is the Mars-like Star Wars planet of Tatooine, near to that in the mountain oasis of Tamerza is the set of The English Patient with all its different backdrops, and the colourful medina of Kairouan can be spotted in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Tunisia’s food is a great blend of Mediterranean and Arab flavours. Healthy, with fresh seafood, vegetables, couscous, olive oil and spices, you can also enjoy hearty Berber-style lamb stews and sausages. Unlike the rest of the Maghreb, Tunisian food is also quite spicy, with fiery-red harissa a staple.

Tunisia’s celebrations really showcase the beauty that can be found across the country. You can enjoy jazz within Roman ruins at the International Festival of Carthage, camel races out in the desert at the International Festival of the Sahara, and the colourful Carnaval d'Aoussou on the beach in coastal Sousse. For more traditional celebrations, the International Oasis Festival in Tozeur brings together music, dance and art, while the Tunisian Medina Festival during the month of Ramadan sees light installations, calligraphy workshops, cultural performances and more all across the capital.

Minor Hotels’ Anantara in Tozeur is your gateway to the Sahara. While only 10 minutes from the local airport, you will be completely surrounded by desert, enjoying authentic experiences like firelight dinners in its souq, hammam rituals at its spa, and all sorts of adventures in the desert.