7 experiences in Tunisia I still think about

Writer: Helena Bergström

Tunisia is an amazing country, with so much to offer! Many people travelling to Tunisia do so for the sun, the beaches and the classic resorts. And yes, that's a great reason to visit Tunisia... but there's so much more!

Great memories from Tunisia

When we recently organised our event, FREEDOM Community Event 2026, we once again had reason to think about Tunisia. This country - which is not very big - offers an incredible variety of experiences.

Places like Hammamet, Sousse, Monastir and Djerba attracts a huge number of visitors every year who want to combine warmth, swimming and hotel comfort. And while there is all that, there is so much more to the country.

When you start to move away from the hotel areas, a completely different side of Tunisia opens up: desert landscapes, film sets, art projects and blue and white villages. Here are seven experiences from Tunisia that I still think about.

1. Sidi Bou Said - The blue and white city on the Mediterranean

Not far from the capital is one of the country's most photographed places: Sidi Bou Said. The blue doors, the whitewashed houses and the view of the Mediterranean make the town almost unreal. Small alleys wind between the houses and every corner feels like a postcard picture. It's easy to see why generations of artists and writers have been drawn here. We have incredibly fond memories of this place!

2. Stepping straight into the world of Star Wars

I understand that this may not be a big deal for all, But for me, as a Star Wars fan, it's magical! Southern Tunisia is home to some of the most iconic Star Wars filming locations. In the Matmata area and out in the desert, parts of the sets still stand - worn by sun and sand, but still strangely alive.

There is something special about standing there and realising that a place you have seen on the big screen is actually real. The desert landscape also makes it easy to understand why Tunisia was chosen to represent another planet.

3. Quad biking across the dunes

There's something special about the desert, and one of the most adrenaline-fuelled ways to experience the place is from the saddle of a quad bike. Outside Douz - often referred to as the gateway to the Sahara - sand dunes stretch out in all directions. Riding a quad bike over them is both playful and a little wild: the sand splashes, the horizon keeps shifting and the landscape feels almost endless.

4. A night in a tent in the Sahara

Sleeping in the desert is very different from just going on a day trip. When the sun sets over the Sahara Desert, the atmosphere changes completely. The temperature drops, the silence becomes almost palpable and the starry sky feels bigger than anywhere else. Spending the night in a desert tent - far away from city lights - is an experience that stays with you for a long time.

5. Street art in Djerbahood

The island of Djerba is home to one of North Africa's most exciting street art projects: Djerbahood. In the small village of Erriadh, international artists have transformed walls, doors and alleyways into a huge open-air gallery. The contrast between traditional architecture and modern street art makes the walk through the village something special. It feels like each neighbourhood tells its own story.

6. Thalassotherapy - the sea's own spa tradition

Tunisia is also known for its strong tradition of Thalassotherapy - treatments based on seawater, algae and marine minerals. Many hotels, especially along the coast, have state-of-the-art spa facilities where the sea is used as part of the therapy. After days filled with excursions and desert adventures, a few hours in warm seawater and tranquil treatment rooms can feel like the perfect contrast.

7. Carthage - the history of the Mediterranean

Just outside Tunis lie the ruins of Carthage - one of the most powerful cities of antiquity. Here you literally walk through layers of history. From the Phoenician power that challenged Rome in the Punic Wars, to Roman baths, villas and amphitheatres that still bear witness to the city's heyday.

There's something special about standing there, overlooking the Mediterranean, and trying to imagine the life that once went on right here. A reminder that Tunisia is not just beaches and desert - it's also a place where history is always close by.

Bonus - an unlikely encounter

Some memories from travelling are not only about places but about people. We got to know Micke and Julia through social media, we did an interview with them in our camping magazine (By camel to Tunisia - ”The Swdish Camel Rider”) - and then we travelled around the Philippines together!

After parting ways on an island in the Philippines, we didn't see each other for a very long time - until we happened to end up in Douz, in southern Tunisia, at exactly the same time. There we came together for a lovely meeting in the souk of camel trainer and shopkeeper Ahmed. How unlikely is that?

Tunisia - A country with more layers

The beaches and holiday resorts make Tunisia an accessible destination. But it's often only when you start exploring a little more - from art projects to desert nights - that the country really opens up.

And it's often those unexpected experiences that you still think about long after the trip is over.