Bizerte

This quiet north coast seaside resort area is not so heavily populated with tourist and offers pleasant beaches and fantastic seafood. For a taste of the exotic visit the Moorish Old Port, with its narrow alleyways, arches and dimly lit shops. World War II aficionados will be interested to know that Bizerte is near one of the final battlefields of the Afrika Korps. Lake Ichkeul, a wetlands sanctuary for migrating birds and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also nearby.

Bulla Regia

Bulla Regia

Bulla Regia is one of the more interesting Roman sites in the country. It is partly subterranean, built below the ground in an effort to keep cool. Sites of interest include the ruins of the Forum, the Memmian Baths, the Palace of Fishing (containing a fountain in the basement) and the House of Amphitrite. Mosaics are a major feature of these sites and, unfortunately, the buildings housing mosaics are normally kept locked, so you may need to look around for a caretaker to open them.

Carthage

Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC, was the dominant city-state in the area for nearly 700 years. After the Romans conquered the city in 146 BC they destroyed it. Thus, most of the ruins present today date from the period of Roman rule. As the archaeological zone is spread out over a large area, at least half a day is required to cover the entire area. The National Museum of Carthage on Byrsa Hill is a great starting point. The museum's exhibits and the panoramic view from the hill provide a good orientation. Be sure to visit the Roman baths, the amphitheatre, the Antiquarium, the Punic port and the Tophet of Salammbo.

Dougga

Extremely well-preserved and one of the most impressive Roman ruins in Tunisia are found at Dougga. Highlights of a visit to Dougga include the theatre where classical dramas are performed in July and August during the Dougga Festival, the Punic mausoleum which is one of only a few remaining examples of pre-Roman architecture in Tunisia. The capitol, temples, baths and arches round out the offerings.

El Jem

A Roman coliseum in excellent condition is the major drawing card for El Jem. Most visitors will stop here to climb to the top rows of the coliseum as well as walk through underground passages where gladiators and animals were kept before they entered the arena. The local museum provides another interesting stop, particularly the mosaics that were unearthed from local villas.

Ghomrassen

Near to Chenini, you will find this sparsely populated Berber village famous for its weaving. Attractions include camels, the little Sidi Arfa Mosque and the local housing novelty where homes are crammed in between huge rocks.

Hammamet

This coastal resort is one of the most popular destinations in Tunisia. The town was first popularized in the late 1800s by European painters Paul Klee and August Macke, who found the climate to their liking. Beaches, of course, are the main draw, but there are also a few sightseeing options such as the walled medina, the casbah and the souk. The International Cultural Center, a converted 1920s villa, is a popular performing-arts venue. The nearby town of Nabeul hosts a popular Friday market where ceramics, pottery and embroidery are easily found (prices tend to be higher on market day).

Jerba Island

Popular myth has it that this island, off the coast of southern Tunisia, was the Island of the Lotus Eaters referred to in Homer's Odyssey. Today, it is a very popular tourist destination evidenced by its north eastern coast which is the most densely developed tourist zone in the country. The island has plenty of quiet spots and some interesting architecture and traditions and is therefore a good base for exploring other areas in southern Tunisia. Jerba is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Africa, dating back to the sixth century BC. Just south of the town of Hara Seghira is the El Ghriba synagogue. Although the present structure was built in the 1920s, it is nevertheless a beautiful building and contains an ancient Torah. (Only a few hundred Jews reside on Jerba today. El Ghriba is the site of an annual pilgrimage for thousands of Jews every Passover.) You can also take excursions to the mainland via the causeway. The Ksour district and Matmata are popular day trips. Trips to Douz and Tozeur and treks into the desert require more than a day.

Tunisia Camel

Kairouan

Kairouan was one of the first cities founded by Muslims in North Africa and its most important monument, the 9th-century Great Mosque, is one of the oldest surviving mosques in the world. The square, three-tier minaret is really quite remarkable, but also look for smaller details such as the ornate drainage hole at the center of the courtyard and the different columns and capitals salvaged from Roman sites. Non-Muslims are only allowed into the courtyard, but they can get a glimpse inside the prayer hall through the doors, which are usually open. Next to the tourist office, is a pair of restored water reservoirs, which were originally constructed and connected to aqueducts in the 9th century ? worth a look. Those interested in Islamic architecture will want to see the several shrines and mosques in the medina. (A special ticket allows entry into several monuments, including the courtyard of the Great Mosque.) The markets are also worth a visit, particularly if you want to buy a rug since Kairouan has the reputation of producing the best carpets in the country.

Ksour District

In Tunisia, you will find an interesting Berber structure called a ksar (plural, ksour). These fortified complexes are actually granaries and can be found in many areas of the country, but the highest concentration of them, and the best preserved, are in and around the towns of Medenine and Tataouine. Local tours in four-wheel-drive vehicles can be arranged in either town, and day trips from Jerba Island are very popular. Most tours take you to several ksour. The most-visited ones include Chenini, Douiret, Ghomrassen, Guermessa, Haddada, Joumma, Ouled Debbab and Ouled Soltane. Some of them have even been converted into inns.

Makthar

Once called Mactaris, this town is tucked in the foothills of the Dorsale Mountains south of Tunis. Not only is it a place of outstanding scenery, its attractions make for a worthwhile visit. The museum has a good collection of Punic and Roman bronze and marble statues. Makthar features the remains of Numidian fortress walls and various ruined arches, baths, temples and mausoleums. The local market is on Mondays.

Matmata

The main reason to visit Matmata - and lots of tourists do - is to see the underground houses. They are crater-like depressions seen from the surface, but down in the holes (30-40 ft/10-13 m below) you will note windows, doors and ladders - some even have camel-driven oil presses operating down there. (Please be respectful when looking, as these are the people's homes.) There are a few interesting underground hotels in Matmata such as the Hotel Marhala containing the interconnected caves and pits used as the setting for Luke Skywalker's home and the eerie alien disco in the film Star Wars.

About 3 mi/5 km away, in the town of Haddej, you will find more underground dwellings as well as an underground mosque. While it is more difficult to get to, Haddej has fewer tourists and very few aboveground buildings. Haddej is reached on foot from Matmata (arrange for a guide at the tourist office in town).

Monastir

This medieval town has now been developed into a popular resort that boasts about its golden sandy beaches. At the center of town is the impressive 8th-century red-stone ribat (a fortified monastery), which now houses a small museum of Islamic arts. Tunisia's first president after independence, Habib Bourguiba, was born and is buried in Monastir, and there are some attractions related to him and his family, including the Habib Bourguiba Mosque and the gold domes of the Bourguiba family mausoleum. There's also an interesting craft center in town.

Sfax

Tunisia's second-largest city is festooned with old walls and arched gates which are a nice introduction to the medina. The casbah has a museum of architecture, and the view from atop the walls is worth the effort to climb up them. Dar Jellouli is a lovely 17th-century villa with displays of decorative arts and traditions. Sfax's Great Mosque has a three-tier square minaret like the one at Kairouan (non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque). Between sights, shop your way through the souks (markets).

Ferries connect Sfax with the Kerkennah Islands. The chain is made up of several small islands and two large ones, Gharbi and Chargui. Roman ruins, vineyards, fig and palm trees, beaches and fishing characterise the area - a good place to relax.

Sousse

Sousse

Sousse is both a well-developed beach resort and an interesting urban center. The resort accommodations are north of the city, in the beachfront zone, while most of the sights are within the walls of the large medina. A tall, round tower marks the ribat, (a fortified monastery), the city's oldest monument dating back to the 8th century. A walk around its ramparts and a climb up the tower will provide good views of the surrounding old city. From Sousse, which is centrally located, you can make day trips to Monastir, Mahdia, Kairouan and El Jem.

Tozeur

Tozeur is a remote oasis town bustling with activity. Most of the buildings in town are constructed of brick arranged in intricate patterns. The old quarter, called Ouled el-Hadef, is an interesting place for a stroll. The Dar Charait Museum has nice displays of pottery and decorative art, as well as rooms depicting scenes from Tunisian life. Take a caleche (horse-drawn carriage) ride through the dirt lanes of the lush palmeraie, one of the largest oases in Tunisia.

There are several options for day-trips possible from Tozeur. Nefta, with its deep bowl-shaped oasis, white-domed shrines and ornamental brickwork, is a picturesque village west of Tozeur on the road to Algeria. The scenery north of Tozeur is dramatic, with mountains, gorges and spring-fed waterfalls and pools. The oasis villages of Tamerza, Mides and Chebika are worth seeing on an organized four-wheel-drive tour.

Tunis

Tunisia's capital and largest city doesn't offer a beach resort atmosphere, but the cultural attractions warrant a visit nonetheless. Avenue Bourguiba, in the new part of Tunis, boasts the major monuments, but the most interesting sights are in the large and labyrinthine medina. If you want to escape the souvenir and perfume shops and see where some local colour, head to the northern edge of the medina, near Place Bab Souika. Here you can walk along the streets, which are lined with stalls selling everything from camel meat and henna to stereos and dried lizards, and then settle into a cafe and enjoy a glass of coffee or tea.

The Zitouna Mosque (also called the Great Mosque) is the city's main congregational mosque. Non-Muslims may enter the courtyard but not the prayer hall. The medina's many other mosques and medersas (theological schools) serve as local landmarks, and their facades, present visitors with fascinating photo opportunities. The former palaces of Dar Lasram, Dar Ben Abdallah and Dar Othman have been converted into museums or cultural centers - their architectural features are also very interesting. The 15th-century mausoleum complex of Sidi Qasim has been wonderfully restored. The former pilgrims' chambers now contain exhibits of ceramics and calligraphy. The country's most renowned museum, the Bardo Museum, has an excellent collection of mosaics and classical sculpture in addition to other Punic and Roman artefacts ? don?t miss this one.