EL JEM

Listed by UNESCO since 1979 as a World Heritage Site, the impressive ruins of the largest colosseum in North Africa, a huge amphitheatre which could hold up to 35,000 spectators, are found in the small village of El Jem. This 3rd-century monument illustrates the grandeur and extent of Imperial Rome.

From Mahdia: 29 km / 45 minutes by car.

MONASTIR

Monastir is set along a superb coastline with a blue sea and long golden sandy beaches. It’s a pleasant seaside resort as well as historical town full of traditions.

Monastir out under the protection of its ribat, one of the most impressive fortresses of Tunisia, its medina, its fishing port, its marina and its background of villages and orchards make it a lively and welcoming destination.

From Mahdia: 45 km / 50 minutes by car.

SOUSSE

Located in the Tunisian Sahel, the Medina of Sousse constitutes a harmonious archaeological complex that reflects Arabo-Muslim urbanism applied to a coastal town exposed through its history to piracy and dangers from the sea. With the Medina of Monastir, it constitutes the unique prototype of military coastal architecture of the first centuries of Islam that has been passed down to us. Several monuments of the medina bear witness to this robust, ascetic and imposing architecture, notably the Ribat, the Great Mosque, the Bou Ftata Mosque, the Kasbah and the ramparts.

From Mahdia: 60 km / 60 minutes by car

KAIROUAN

The first historical center of North Africa, Kairouan is without precedent a cultural and spiritual center of interest due to its walls, several mosques and its “zaouias” mausoleums. Kairouan magnificence reached its apogee during the Aghlabit period in the XI century. Nowadays, Kariouan is known throughout the world to be the dignified heiress of ancestral customs reproduced on each carpet.

From Mahdia: 146 km / 2H30 by car

TUNIS

Tunisia’s laid-back capital has two distinct urban-planning personalities. The new city, created by French colonials in the 19th century, is an orderly European grid, with wrought-iron balconies, cafes and patisseries bordering the palm-lined boulevards. Passing through Port de France, leave the European side behind and enter the labyrinth of the medina, dotted with old palaces and antique shops.

However urban Tunis might feel compared with the rest of the country, you are never far from the beach. The suburbs stretch endlessly out along deep-blue seafronts, an eclectic mix of Carthaginian ruins, stunning villas, beach bars and fishing ports. These areas surrounding the city centre are some of Tunis’ crown jewels and where in summer everyone walks in search of a breeze. The Medina and the Bardo Museums are not to miss.

From Mahdia: 208 km / 2H45 by car

CARTHAGE

This Punic and Roman site lies northeast of Tunis and is easily reached by the suburban train from Tunis Marine TGM station. Get off at Carthage Hannibal station and wander up to the top of Byrsa Hill for a fine view across the site. You’ll have to use a bit of historical sixth sense, as the ruins are scant and scattered over a wide area, but they include impressive Roman baths, houses, cisterns, basilicas and streets. The Carthage Museum backs up imaginings of the site’s former glories with material finds, including such wonders as monumental statuary, mosaics and extraordinary everyday stuff, including razors and kohl pots. The Byrsa Quarter, an excavated quarter of the Punic city, once home to 400,000 people and surrounded by 13m-high walls, is also in the grounds of the museum.

From Mahdia: 237 km / 3H10 by car

SIDI BOU SAID

Approximately 20 kilometers north of Tunis lies the idyllic seaside town of Sidi Bou Said. Perched on top of a steep cliff and surrounded by breathtaking Mediterranean views, it’s the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the Tunisian capital — and a favored getaway destination for locals and visitors alike. The town’s cobbled streets are lined with art shops, souvenir stalls and quaint cafés. Brilliant blue-painted doors and trellises contrast beautifully with the pure white of Sidi Bou Said’s grecian buildings, and the air is scented with trailing bougainvillea.

From Mahdia: 235 km / 3H10 by car

HAMMAMET

Hammamet is the oldest touristic center in the country.  All resorts in Tunis have wonderful parks but even among them Hammamet stands out with its luxurious gardens. The main principle of town planning here – houses must not be higher than cypresses. The city is founded about 5 centuries ago. There are the fortress walls and the Big Mosque still preserved in it. The city keeps its one-floor image. Tourists are waited here by wide sand beaches, modern hotels with high level of service, a plenty of bars, restaurants, stores, markets.

From Mahdia: 172 km / 2H15 by car

MATMATA

A lot of communities around the world, particularly those in hot climates, traditionally live in caves to escape the heat. The Berbers of Matmata, a small village in southern Tunisia, do so too. However, unlike most underground dwellings, the homes in Matmata are not built on the side of the mountains. Instead, they are created by digging a large pit in the ground, and then around the sides of the pit caves are dug to be used as rooms. The open pit functions as a courtyard, and are sometimes connected to other “pit” courtyards nearby through trench-like passageways forming a large underground maze. Today, these cave dwellings are a major tourist attraction.

Matmata has another claim to fame—it was one of the location for the filming of Star Wars. The home of Luke Skywalker is actually an underground hotel named Sidi Driss.

From Mahdia: 322 km / Matmata is in the south of Tunisia – you can get there by taking a 1H plane from Monastir or you could get a cab but expect a 5H + drive

TOZEUR

This charming city in the south of Tunisia is based around a large Oasis famous for its palm trees and production of dates. The city is a good place to glimpse the Sahara from and take in traditional Tunisian culture including a wide range of architectural styles.

The Medina of Tozeur is where you will find the most historic and beautiful buildings, some are magnificent in their detail but most are more humble but still stand distinctive and proud: integral parts of the city that have stood for hundred of years.

From Mahdia: 385 km / Best way to get there is by car and you should expect a 5H30 drive.

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