Tunisia things to see and do

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of North Africa's best-preserved ancient ruins. Although most of the surviving monuments here are from the Roman period, Dougga's history stretches right back to the 6th century. With its dramatic hilltop position and ample monumental buildings and temples, it is one of Tunisia's most impressive tourist attractions.

Stretching for 5,000 sq m (53,819 sq ft) the salt pan of Chott El Jerid has a mesmerising otherworldliness which was used to great effect in the Star Wars films. In summer, the dry salt crust blisters and shimmers in the heat, while in winter sections of it flood and have to be traversed by boat. To visit the Chott El Jerid, most people stay in Tozeur.

Monastir is famed for its impressive seafront rabat, or fort, which was used in Monty Python's Life of Brian, as well as the sumptuous interior of Habib Bourguiba's mausoleum. But the seaside town now also attracts golf-tourism with championship courses Palm Links, El Kantaoui and the Flamingo Golf Course all in the vicinity.

One of Tunisia's most important museums, Bardo was the target of a terrorist attack in March 2015. It held a reopening ceremony a week later (with beefed-up security) coinciding with a huge solidarity march through Tunis. The museum remains an essential guide to the country's multi-faceted history, with a superlative collection of mosaics and a comprehensive range of artefacts from countless ancient sites.

One of Tunisia's essential experiences is to visit a hammam, a traditional 'Turkish' bath that's a mix between a public bath and a sauna, typically in a lavish, old-tiled setting. The practice dates back to Roman and Punic times, when natural hot springs were much sought. Today there are five-star spa experiences, while traditional hammams such as El-Kachachine endure as dilapidated architectural gems.

Like Bardo, Sousse was subject to a terrorist attack in the summer of 2015. Before then, it was a vibrant seaside town, especially Boujaffar Beach with its long stretch of white sand and lively nightlife strip, but tourism has naturally taken a hit. But Sousse has a long resilient history dating back to the Phoenicians, under whom it was an important coastal town. It will recover.

It seems a shame to come to Tunisia without getting a taste of the dramatic desolate horizons that make up the country’s southern half. A number of companies organise Sahara trips, which range from a couple of hours on a camel to a full-on voyage into the sands.

Due to a prominent role in the first Star Wars film, Matmata's subterranean dwellings, first dug out by the Berbers over 1,000 years ago, attract hundreds of visitors each day. The main attraction here is Hotel Sidi Driss, used as the cantina in Episode IV:A New Hope, and still home to plenty of Star Wars paraphernalia. You can even sleep here, troglodyte style, if the fancy takes you.