The Best Hotels to Book in Tunisia’s Historical Cities
Tunisia’s strategic importance has seen it become the object of conquest for many conquering powers; Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Spaniards, Turks, and the French all left an imprint on its storied terrain and well-preserved sites and ruins remain as monuments to this fractious history. This geographical guide includes the best hotels in Tunisia, bookable with Culture Trip.
Tunis
Once one of the Islamic world’s greatest and wealthiest cities, Tunis still contains over 700 monuments, including madrasas, palaces, grand residential quarters, crypts, mosques and fountains. The UNESCO listed area of Tunis is a fine example of an Arabo-Muslim city with its 8th century central medina, 13th century suburbs and imposing military barracks all intact. It is also possible to visit the world’s largest collection of Roman polychrome mosaics at Tunisia’s national museum and archaeological repository, The Bardo Museum.
1. Dar Ben Gacem
Hotel, Riad
2. Dar El Medina
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
Sousse
Sousse is one of the older urban centres in Tunisia and has been described as of the country’s liveliest towns, boasting an authentic medina, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This medina stands in the centre, cordoned off from the rest of town by high, medieval fortifications. It is an hour away from El Jem, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman amphitheatres and is also conveniently located on the coast nearby attractive beaches and a clear turquoise sea.
3. Marhaba Beach
Resort, Hotel
4. Scheherazade Sousse
Hotel
Tozeur
Located in the South West of Tunisia, Tozeur is an oasis known for its beige brick architecture and the 14th-century medina (Ouled El Hwadef) — the old quarter is a small maze of fascinating and intricate brickwork houses, arches and walls. Tozeur is close to the famous salt lake Chott el-Jerid, the largest of Tunisia’s salt lakes which is dry for ten months of the year and has a causeway running over it.
5. Palm Beach
Suite Hotel, Hotel
6. Hotel Ras El Ain
Hotel, Spa Hotel
Kairouan
The many attractions in the Muslim holy city of Kairouan include The Great Mosque, one of the finest Islamic buildings in North Africa, and the Bi’r Barouta Well — the spot where the city was founded which is reputedly linked to the ZamZam Well in Mecca. Kairouan’s grand mosques and cultural history have seen it added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
7. Hotel La Kasbah
Hotel
8. Continental Kairouan
Hotel
Nefta
With its abandoned hilltop villages and berber towns, Nefta has been a popular filming spot (notably for the original Star Wars films) and has recently become a popular destination for tourists. Located southwest of Tozeur, one of its main sights is The Corbeille (Basket) and the oasis.
9. Dar Hi
Eco Hotel, Hotel, Villa
10. The Villa Dar Zargouni
Guesthouse, Villa
Looking for more great hotels in Tunisia? Check out our pick of the top cultural hotels in Hammamet, Tunisia, bookable on Culture Trip.
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