Fancy going to a festival but sick of the same old same old in the UK? Why not try a festival with a difference: bet you never considered going to one in Tunisia? Despite being on the continent of Africa, Tunisia is ridiculously easy to get to. Only a two hour flight away and being in the same time zone means no jetlag.
Even the smallest village in Tunisia sets aside a dedicated time period for its own summer festival. It could be to celebrate the changing of the seasons, to honour a local saint or to rejoice in a particularly good harvest or fishing haul.
One that may be of particular interest is the Saharian festival. It is hosted by the village of Douz which is considered to be the gateway to the Sahara. It also acts as the pick up point for safaris to the Sahara and Mehares. You can experience folk art, local customs and desert life.
Another festival of interest is the International Music Festival. This is held at the El Jem Coliseum. What could be better than sitting in an authentic Roman coliseum listening to world renowned music of all types on a beautiful African summers evening.
To find out more, visit the official Tunisian tourism website and to see a complete list of all Tunisian festivals click here.
The North African country of Tunisia feels like a world away from the UK but in fact is one of our closest holiday destinations. With a flight time of only two hours from London and sharing the same time zone Tunisia is a massively accessible yet different destination for us Brits.
We look at the top ten tourist attractions in this jewel of Africa:
1) The ancient city of Carthage is a must for anyone interested in history and the classics.
2) The 15th century Medina at Hammamet
3) The Archaeological Museum at Sousse, housed in a Kasbah
4) The Ribat in Monastir – one of the oldest Arab fortresses in North Africa
5) El Djem Coliseum – the fourth largest Roman coliseum in the Arab world
6) Le Bardo National Museum in Tunis housing the largest collection of Roman mosaics and tiles in the world
7) La Mohammedia – the remains of the Aqueduct of Hadrian stretch for 5km
8) Baths of Antoninus Pius at Carthage and its adjoining archaeological park
9) The Byzantine fortress at Kelibia
10) The Medina at Tunis – the largest in Tunisia
Of course there are many more attractions throughout this amazing country: these are just our top ten. They are all well worth a visit though – take a trip and see!
A holiday in Tunisia will greet you with picturesque sights of golden sand and clear blue seas. But as you explore the stunning beaches, don’t forget to see other tourist spots such as shopping areas and historical sites.
Satisfy the beach bum in you by visiting various resorts in Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet, Nabeul, Djerba, and Tabarka. Splash yourself silly in the crystal clear waters matched with fine sand; but if you ever get bored of swimming, indulge in other water activities such as windsurfing, sailing, underwater sightseeing, fishing, and boat rides. Schedule your visit during summer season to take part in the summer festivals.
Have a taste of Tunisian culture by visiting the town of Carthage, a national monument where Roman and Punic empires, baths, temples, shrines, as well as naval port of Carthaginians can be found. See the finest collection of mosaics, something that’s Tunisia’s famous for, in Bardo Museum, which also houses collections of Prehistoric, Roman, Punic, and Islamic artefacts.
Want to shop? Head to Souks, which offers various products at low prices; scour for good finds through loads of traditional crafts, jewellery, and home products.
After a day of touring and shopping, unwind with good food at Tunisia’s finest restaurants; sample Tunisian cuisine such as baguette (bread), coucha (baked lamb meat with olive oil, salt, mint, cayenne pepper, and turmeric), and Turkish baklava (thin pastry with ground pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, bathed in butter and baked and dipped in honey syrup.
