Last Updated on: 19th June 2023, 06:40 pm
Tunisian history is long. The Greeks claim the country was founded by the mythical Dido-that’s how old the country is. For a history chaser, you get to explore the ruins of Carthage, see amazing Roman temples, Islamic palaces and mosques, and Ottoman fortresses. I had a fabulous time traveling around seeing Tunisia’s historical sites.
My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023
These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.
Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing
Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viator.
Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com.
For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.
For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars.
Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.
For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon.
Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).
For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.
Photos of Tunisia Historical Sites
My favorite historical places in Tunisia, in no particular order…
Tunis
I started my trip in Tunis, the packed-but-not-crowded capital city. Founded by the Libyans in the 9th century BC, it has been traded back forth for millennia among the Carthaginians, Romans, Aghlabids, Ottomans, French, and finally the Tunisians with their independence in 1956.
One of the main highlights for me was the phenomenal Bardo Museum, which is basically a history lover’s dream. It has relics from Carthage, amazing Roman and Byzantine mosaics, and its building is a former palace complete with stunning palatial architecture.
The Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of several historic medinas in the country. You can see UNESCO’s description here, but note that this was only the 36th place put on the list! Of the 1072 (and counting) places under UNESCO protection, Tunis’s medina was recognized earlier than places far more famous.
Dougga
Another one of Tunisia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Dougga is a preserved ancient Roman town and a great day trip from Tunis. While the site features Roman temples, arches, and other obviously Roman ruins, there is also a beautiful Numidian Mausoleum.
I visited the city as a day trip from Tunis, and I hate to say that I didn’t give myself nearly enough time to roam around. While there are tons historical places in Tunisia to pick from, I didn’t realize how quickly I’d fall in love with Dougga.
Sidi Bou Said
As beautiful as Santorini, but less famous, Sidi Bou Said is a blue and white Andalusian seaside town a short train ride from Carthage. The town dates back to at least the 1300s, but the emphasis on preserving its gorgeous color scheme dates to the 1920s.
I originally had planned to use the city as a base only, and I hadn’t scheduled any time to wander around the town during the day. However, when I got there I quickly realized my mistake and rearranged my schedule so I could spend more time walking through the charming town.
Carthage
These ruins were the main reason I chose Tunisia and seeing Carthage shook me. While most of what’s in this UNESCO World Heritage Site is actually Roman from after Rome conquered Carthage, the Tophet of Carthage is a uniquely Punic site.
One thing I did not expect about visiting Carthage was falling in love with the gorgeous Saint Louis Cathedral. From the outside, you can tell immediately that this is a French building, but on the inside, the artwork is a mix of European and North African style.
It can be hard to set aside enough time since you’ll so many of the best Tunisia historical places are located right here. But do give yourself enough time to see the cathedral after (or before) you visit Carthage! You won’t regret it since it’s one of the most famous buildings in Tunisia and a true architectural gem.
Bizerte
Bizerte surprised me. First, it wasn’t on my itinerary for the day, but my tour guide brought me here to eat lunch before we started the long drive to Kelibia. Sitting next to the harbor, it’s easy to see why this should have been on my itinerary in the first place. Even though I only spent a few hours here, I got to see the medina, enjoy the harbor, and take in the fish market.
Utica
Utica was another Punic city like Carthage, although they turned against Carthage when the Romans came to Africa. During its time as part of the Roman empire, it was located on the shores of the Mediterranean, but now it is further inland.
Lake Ichkeul
Tunisia’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lake Ichkeul is an important stop for thousands of migratory birds from Europe, who come to winter here and avoid the European cold. The lake is great for hiking and birdwatching. I skipped the hiking and instead went to find a herd of African buffalo.
Cape Angela
Cape Angela (Cap Engela) is the northernmost point in Africa. Even though getting there was a bit of a drive, it was worth it to stand on the edge of the continent.
The sculpture of Africa here is one of my favorite historical monuments in Tunisia, since most of the places you see are archealogical sites rather than stautues or monuments.
Kerkouane
Kerkouane on Cap Bon is another of Tunisia’s UNESCO sites, but this one is special. While Carthage and Utica are both Phonecian cities, they are mostly covered in Roman and Roman-era ruins. However, Kerkouane was abandoned by the Carthaginians after the first Punic War, so what’s left behind are only Carthaginian ruins.
Sousse
Sousse is one of Tunisia’s most touristed areas, as Europeans use it as a beach escape. However, it’s actually a great place for history lovers to visit as well. Its Medina is another UNESCO site, and its museum is chock-full of Roman and Byzantine mosaics.
El Jem
The city of El Jem houses one of North Africa’s treasures-the second largest and best preserved ancient Roman amphitheater after the Coliseum. I visited as a day trip from Sousse and made sure to also see the archaeological museum a few blocks away.
Kairouan
The city of Kairouan is the fourth holiest city in Islam. Muslims can make seven pilgrimages to Kairouan in place of a pilgrimage to Mecca. The city’s Great Mosque is magnificent, although it’s the only mosque I visited where I couldn’t go inside (I could only go into the courtyard). The Medina in less touristy than the ones I visited in Tunis and Sousse.
I visited Kairouan as a day trip from Sousse on my final day in the country. I nearly skipped it, since by the end of two weeks I was a bit overwhelmed with seeing so much. I’m glad I didn’t, as it was an easy city to visit and very different than I expected.
Read: 33 of the Most Beautiful Mosques in the World and the Pictures to Prove It
5 Things to Bring with You to Tunisia
I am working on a separate packing list for Tunisia, but in the meantime don’t forget these five items:
- Lonely Planet Tunisia which is available as a paper copy or in a Kindle edition.
- Full Sized Travel Towel This is the best travel towel in the world. It’s pretty enough for the beach, large enough that you forget it’s a microfibre towel, and quick-drying so you only need to have one beach or hostel towel for the trip.
- Sunscreen so that you don’t have to worry about finding it for one of the first few days of your trip. I found it to be more expensive in Tunisia than at home.
- A GoPro for underwater and action photography. Why go all the way to Tunisia and not be able to capture some of the most exciting parts of your beach trip?
- An unlocked Smart Phone (I used my iPhone for my trip to Tunisia, but I’ve switched to a Samsung8 last year).
Don’t Forget about Travel Insurance!
It’s a good idea to always have a valid travel insurance policy before you travel someplace like Tunisia where you’ll be doing activities and spending time outside. It’s just a fact that accidents can happen on the road, and you don’t want them to ruin your trip!
I pay for World Nomads, and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to consider getting travel insurance when you’ll be doing any outdoor activities (like…ahem…going to the beach…).
I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for travel insurance for three years, and I happily recommend them. It’s an especially good idea to consider getting travel insurance when participating in outdoor activities in foreign countries. Even in the cities, though, you’ll be happy if you’re able to replace your stuff if it’s lost or stolen or have help with any medical bills.
>>Get a travel insurance quote for your trip.<<
Tunisia Travel Resources
I’m working on several Tunisia travel resources, but right now you can start with my Tunisia Instagram guide and my Tunisia beaches guide.
Final Thoughts
Tunisian history is long, full of twists and turns, wars and conquests. But it’s also a stunning country, with picturesque cities and ruins wherever I went. I hope you enjoyed these photographs as much as I enjoyed editing them!
Which Tunisia historical site are you the most curious about? Let me know below!
Pin This Guide to Tunisia’s Historical Sites for Your Trip
Yeah!! Tunisia is a treasure!! Such a beautiful place! I need to go back!