Tunisia has been one of the most popular Africa-based countries to visit over the years, with its climate, tourist-friendly nature and value being just several of the elements that entice visitors.

With travel companies aiming to maximise their profits through the avalanche of visitors that make the trip to Tunisia, it won’t be surprising to here that there are countless hotels of exceptional quality. Taking this into account, here are the top five hotels that are based in the country, ranked in no particular order.

 

Riu Palace, Hammamet Marhaba

The fact that this hotel is based in Hammamet makes it enticing in the first place, with this being a location that holds many attractions for visitors. From an internal perspective, Riu Palace has everything a guest could wish for with the hotel situated right beside one of the sandiest beaches in the region.

There are three swimming pools based on the resort and with one of these being indoor and another being saltwater, it would be fair to say that visitors have the best of both worlds. Additionally, tourists have access to a gym, various sports facilities as well as several dining rooms that serve the very best Tunisian cuisine.

 

Movenpick Resort and Marine Spa, Sousse

This is another hotel in a popular location, with Sousse holding a fantastic nightlife as well as an array of activities during the day. It could be said that the swimming pool is the primary feature of this resort, with some describing it as a lagoon as it surrounds the whole of the accommodation.

Furthermore, the architects behind the design of the Movenpick resort have been quite strategic with their placement of the pool, with this overlooking the nearby beach and sea. As well as the pool, guests have many indoor and outdoor sporting options, while some visitors may wish to take advantage of one of the fifty luxurious suites that surround the hotel.

 

Royal Thalassa, Monastir

This is another hotel that benefits from superb beach views, with the sand in Monastir being located right beside Royal Thalassa. Again, the developers have made the swimming pools real features of the external areas of the resort, with several of them resembling small islands that make the whole plan very picturesque.

Royal Thalassa is also blessed with several restaurants and with one of these being a Moorsh cafe, visitors can even sample the local cuisine. The whole hotel is decked out in a Greek-Roman style, while the rooms can be classed as nothing other than luxurious.

 

Hasdrubal Thalassa and Spa, Yasmine Hammamet

Hasdrubal Thalassa and Spa is another luxurious offering in Tunisia, with the entrance to this hotel being one of the most prestigious in the country. Upon arriving at the establishment, guests will feel they are entering a palace with the grand architecture being obvious from the start.

Such style runs throughout the hotel, with the 211 suites all being of exceptional quality. There are various swimming pools located on site, with the developers installing sea-water pools both indoors and outdoors. The resort contains countless fountains and other pleasant scenery, making it one of the most decorated hotels in Tunisia.

 

The Residence, Tunis

While the other four hotels are regarded as some of the best in the country, few people would disagree that The Residence is the best.

The architecture of this resort is very much Tunisian, with the decorations in particular being very cultural. Guests have access to a private beach and golf course and unsurprisingly, the hotel also has its own spa which really is second to none. The swimming pool that is part of the complex is widely viewed as one of the best in Tunis and is suitable for both adults and children, while these facilities are surrounded by various restaurants that cater for several cuisines.

Tunisian History
Independent as the republic of Tunisia since 1956 the cultural influences in Tunisia include French, Arabic, Berber, Vandal, Ottoman, Roman and Punic though the Arabic and French are the biggest influencers on modern Tunisian culture and society.

Punic era
Under the Carthaginians, a republic that grew out of a Phoenician settlement at Carthage, the area became a major Mediterranean trading centre before rising to control much of North Africa as well as parts of Spain, Scilly and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.

The Punic wars between Carthage and Rome almost saw an end to the burgeoning civilisation in the area that is modern Tunisia but a few centuries after the Romans had destroyed Carthage and Tunis, following their victory at the end of the third Punic war, both cities were rebuilt and became important Roman cities. Other major modern Tunisian cities such as Tozeur were established by the Romans as well, Tozeur having been an important Roman Outpost on the edge of the desert.

Roman Tunisia
The area around Lake Tunis remained important after the Romans had gone and Tunis and Carthage remained important trading ports but then things changed when Muslim invaders took over the area: destroying Carthage and making Tunis their capital.

Later Tunisian history
Tunisia was later ruled by the Ottomans and following their fall became an imperial protectorate of France, which it remained until 1956. Since 1956 Tunisia has remained virtually a one party state, up until 2011 when President Ben Ali abdicated, in December 2011 free and fair elections confirmed Tunisia as a true democracy.

The Tunisian Culture
Tunisian culture has many influences and the country still has close relations with France, at the same time its culture is unique and as you will find if you visit the country there is a lot of it to take in.

Food and Drink
Tunisian food is fantastic with staple dishes often including lamb, potatoes and cous cous. Other popular dishes may include camel and traditional Tunisian pastries are a must have,
Few in Tunisia drink alcohol but in the larger tourist focused cities there are some bars, you are likely to have more luck in hotel bars finding alcoholic drinks though. Non-alcoholic beers are surprisingly popular but tea is the drink of choice though primarily mint and fruit teas.

Art and architecture
Art and Architecture are things that Tunisia is famous for and are important to the culture; these can be found together and interwoven into the fabric of the Medinas in Tunisian cities where architecture incorporating Tunisian art is everywhere: in arches, walls and buildings and of course in the country’s many old and often remarkable Mosques.
Religion is of course important in Tunisia with Islam being the main religion and the one that defines daily life and what holidays are celebrated. Family, as in many Islamic cultures, is hugely important in Tunisia including extended family.

Historic Sites of interest in Tunisia
Tunisia though small compared to some of its neighbouring North African nations has more historic and archaeological sites than almost any of them or any other country in Africa in fact..

Medinas
Cities such as Tunis, Tozeur and Kairouan have fantastic old city areas with many narrow alleys, joining on to open squares with a huge variety of businesses and homes fitted into the old buildings and walls that have built up over centuries. Many of the most beautiful mosques are within the medinas; the mosques often have an outer wall with shops and other buildings against it with the main mosque in the centre of a courtyard. Where this is the case you may get the best view from one of the surrounding shops who often invite tourists in to view, and hope you will spot something you’d like to buy. In other case mosques will be hidden amongst stores with entrances that could easily be missed but which have stunning interiors.

Carthage
The ancient city of Carthage is across Lake Tunis from Tunis and is part of the wider metropolitan area of the capital. Carthage though is one of the most famous and important cities of the ancient Mediterranean world and was founded some 3000 years ago. You can still see remains of Punic Carthage but there is more to see of the Roman city including the massive Antonius Bath House. There is also a Roman Amphitheatre at Carthage though an even better example can be visited at El Jem that rivals the coliseum in Rome.

Monastir & Sousse
Along the coast you can visit Monastir, another ancient city and home to a Ribat or fortified Monastery; there is also great museum about the history and cultural history of Tunisia. In nearby Sousse there is also a Ribat though not as impressive as that in Monastir you will though find a well preserved Medina and a fantastic Kasbah itself holding a fantastic Mosaic museum.

When most people think of a holiday somewhere hot and sandy they think of a beach, and Tunisia has plenty of those. Tunisia is also the perfect place from which to take a Saharan adventure holiday though and to find out that the Sahara is more than endless sand and has some of the most fantastic natural features.

Tozeur
Tozeur is perhaps the best city to base yourselves from to explore the Saharan desert. The city itself has a lot to see and a lot of history. Tozeur was in fact established by Roman’s as an outpost at this Oasis, though it may have had settlement here for a long time before. Dates are important produce of Tozeur and the city has a massive number of palm trees.

Tozeur’s Medina is one of the country’s best and most unique, the style is different to elsewhere in Tunisia using a unique style of architecture of small brown and yellow bricks made of local materials.

Near to Tozeur are several villages based around smaller Oases but three abandoned villages showing what village life on the edge of the Sahara was like in a previous time, are the most popular to visit.

Douz

Douz is in fact even further into the desert than Tozeur though smaller and with less to see in the town itself. Known as the gateway to the Sahara you can also base yourselves from the town if getting into the Sahara each day quickly is what you are interested in.

Sahara Museum
Douz is also home to the Sahara Museum with a great range of exhibits about life in the Sahara including the lives and cultures of its nomadic people and the history of trade caravans that passed from Douz as the last major town before entering the dessert.

The Sahara festival
If you can make it to Douz for the Sahara festival then you will have the opportunity to quickly learn a lot more about Saharan life and culture than you ever could from a book or even a museum. At the International festival held over four days each year in November or December you can take in elements of nomadic culture such as poetry, music and dancing that are often surprisingly different to other cultures in North Africa, more Berber influenced than Arabic.

Events at the festival also include camel, horse and dog racing and camel wrestling which is something to behold. This festival is much more than a tourist attraction it is important to understand it as a chance for nomadic tribes people from across the Sahara to come together to meet, exchange stories and knowledge, trade and to take thing less seriously than they have to during their harsh lives in the dessert. Poetry is perhaps the most important part of the festival as a very traditional way for nomads to communicate and keep stories passing between generations.

Natural Features
Natural features around Tozeur and Douz and into the Sahara can be visited on a number of tours from Tozeur or Douz some are coach based while others can be taken on camels.

Natural swimming pools and waterfalls
Where springs come out there are often waterfalls and deep pools of water, these are popular for swimming in so don’t assume that in the dessert you won’t need a swimming costume and towel. Some believe that the water is especially good for you and your skin while others just find the swimming great fun, especially on the way back from a hot dessert tour.

Salt Lakes
Chott el Djerid is a salt lake that can be easily reached from Tozeur, the largest on the Sahara the lake is dry for almost the entire year and this is when it is most magnificent. With a base of salt that shines like crystals the colours vary and may appear green, red, purple and many other colours. The vastness of the 250km long expanse with glistening salt crystals spreading into the distance it what is most breath-taking though.

Sidi Bouhlel canyon

The canyon is famously used in many films including Star Wars: A new hope, you will have seen in the film Sandpeople hiding behind the rocks here. The sheer majesty of the canyon though is far more incredible in real life than on the silver screen and you can spend most of a day on a tour exploring the canyon and getting magnificent shots.

Other sites of interest

Though the Sahara is thought of as barren it has some incredible animals living there, these as well as animals from elsewhere in north Africa and also sub Saharan Africa can be found at the zoo in Tozeur.

The Belverdere rocks at Tozeur are most famous for the carving into them of the face of Abdulkacem Chebbi, a Tunisian poet whose words were the basis for the Tunisian national anthem. The rocks though are best enjoyed as a viewing point: looking out at a sunset over the oasis with the dessert in the distance.

Tunisian Beach resorts
Tunisia has a good range of beach resorts, this means that no single resort gets too over crowded; some are more unspoilt than others though.

Monastir
Monastir is a historic Phoenician city that dates from pre-Punic times in Tunisia, it also has great beaches and so is ideal for anyone keen to take a holiday where they can relax but take in some history as well.

The Ribat in Monastir is a big draw for tourists, the ruined fortified monastery is mostly open to explore and there is a lot of it still here and in-tact. The Ribat was in fact used in the film Monty Python’s Life of Brian for scenes set in Jerusalem.

Monastir’s beaches are generally very clean, sandy and with crystal clear water, great for families and individuals the number of watersports on offer is fantastic.

Sousse
Sousse also has a Ribat though not in such good condition, it is close enough to Monastirr that you can visit the Ribat there though and Sousse makes up the deficit it has on Monastir with a far better preserved Medina and a fantastic Souk in which to do your shopping, the Medina is a world heritage site and very photogenic.

The beaches at Sousse are also great with long white strips of sand that are shallow for some distance making them safe for families and a good range of activities are available. Watersports are popular here and many hire shops are available so you can try water-skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing and windsurfing and paragliding, the wind for which is ideal.

Djerba

Djerba is in fact an island and so has beaches all the way around and all sandy. This island paradise has great hotels but isn’t as built up as some of the mainland beach resorts, There are watersports available but also boat trips to take in the beauty of the Ras Rmel peninsula with its flamingos and unspoilt nature.

Tunisian Spas and other treatment centres
Tunisians regularly enjoy Hammams which are similar to Turkish Baths but you will find these and other spas and treatments in Tunisia’s beach resorts either in your hotel or separately for more traditional facilities

Hammams
One of Tunisia’s best Hammams is Le Grand Bain Maure Sidi Bouraoui, a large baths where you can experience some of the best massages. Have dead skin and dirt scrubbed away with a traditional massage using coarse gloves. Hammams though also include hot and cold rooms and steam rooms and though during the summer months a steam room may sound unappealing the whole process will leave you feeling very refreshed and your pores able to breath so you feel cooler for the rest of your trip.

Spa breaks
Though usually in beach resorts, spa hotels in Tunisia have enough treatments to take that you could spend your entire break there and not bother with the beach.

Massages, herbal and aromatherapy treatments, holistic therapy, seawater treatments and hot stone therapy are all popular in the large luxury spa hotels that can be found in places such as Sousse, Hammamet and Monastir.

The Thasalla hotel in Sousse has its own Hamman as well as beauty salons and various treatment rooms including for manicures and pedicures.

Mud and seaweed therapy
Mud baths are popular in Tunisia as is seaweed therapy: due to the quantity and quality of each along the coast.

Mud therapy is usually done using marine mud full of minerals, salt and trace elements: the body is able to absorb these and it can therefore not only improve the skin but boost the immune system as well.

Tunisia’s choices of Luxury Hotels
Tunisia has a huge number of luxury five star hotels considering its size, many who holiday here can afford it though. A 5 star may in some case be more what those from Europe would expect from a four star though so five star hotels can vary and you should check the details.

At beach resorts many of the best hotels have a great range of facilities including indoor and outdoor pools and great bars. Because there are few bars outside of hotels in many Tunisian towns and cities the hotels have sometimes quite impressive bars for visitors who do drink.

As well as traditional luxury hotels you will also find some luxury boutique hotels that may be a little different a little more quirky and often a little smaller. Some boutique hotels are down out to use traditional Tunisian design, art and furniture whereas some take a modernist approach.

Perhaps the best beach resort luxury hotel in Tunisia is the Thalassa at Monastir, with a Greco-Roman style this large and spacious hotel gives fantastic access to a private beach. Rooms are luxurious and there are also a large number of impressive suites available. A Marine Spa has recently been added where seawater therapy and mud therapy are offered and this compliments the existing spa facilities, treatments rooms and Hammam; sports and entertainments facilities are also provided.