Boutique hotels in Tunisia

Tunisia is compact and varied: Roman and Phoenician sites, blue-and-white seaside villages, island beaches and a desert that begins just a day south of the capital. Its boutique hotels are often restored dars, traditional courtyard houses, with tiled patios, carved plaster and a small number of rooms.

Tunis and the north coast

The medina of Tunis holds several beautifully restored palaces turned guesthouses, while Sidi Bou Said, perched above the Bay of Tunis, is the most photographed village in the country. Gammarth and Carthage offer seaside stays, and Bizerte, to the northwest, is a quieter harbor town.

Beaches and islands

Hammamet, Sousse, Mahdia and Monastir are the main seaside resorts, though each still has smaller traditional houses. Djerba, an island off the south coast, mixes whitewashed villages, a synagogue and long beaches.

The south and the desert

Tozeur, Nefta and Douz are gateways to the Sahara, with palm oases, salt lakes and dunes. Matmata's underground houses and the fortified granaries of Tataouine appear in Star Wars and in real Berber history. Kairouan, one of Islam's holiest cities, lies in the interior.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Summers are very hot inland and in the south, while winter nights in the desert are cold.