Roaming ruins

Amazing Roman ruins dot the country, so you are never far away from fascinating and atmospheric historic sights. When staying in Tunis or eastern resorts like Hammamet, for instance, take the opportunity to visit the astonishing UNESCO-listed ruins of Dougga in the central northern region. While El Djem, one of the Roman Empire's largest amphitheatres, is easily reached from the popular tourist hub of Sousse or the Mediterranean port of Sfax. The celebrated classical site at Bulla Regia in the north-west, where the Romans built underground settlements to escape the baking desert heat, is most easily accessed from Tabarka.

The idyllic island of Djerba, just off the east coast, fringed by white sand and blessed with Berber culture, is a popular destination for twin-centre holidays to the country mixing beachside relaxation with cultural sights and desert adventure. The island is around a four-hour journey by road and ferry from the desert oasis of Douz and the quirky Berber dwellings and buildings around Tataouine, making it an ideal destination if you want to split your time between the desert and coast.

The southern oasis town of Douz is a fantastic starting point for treks and safaris into the rolling Saharan dunes and the tented camps of Jebil National Park. Sprinkled with more than half a million palms, it is often described as the ultimate palm oasis and was once an important stop-off for trade caravans crossing the Sahara. If you are looking for a good place to stop-over en route to the desert, the four-star Hotel Sahara Douz is one of the best hotels in the area.

Further south, experience the quirkier side of Tunisia with a trip to the unique town of Matmata, featuring a cluster of underground troglodyte dwellings. Built by Berbers who chose to burrow beneath the earth to escape the desert heat, these homes are set in caves carved around open circular pits that form central courtyards. Rounded doorways lead away into cool rooms and passages while carved stairs ascend to surface level. If these unusual houses take your fancy, Hotel Sidi Driss, used as a film set for the classic Star Wars movies, is the ideal place to spend a night.

Mix and match

Depending on the type of activities that interest you, a twin- or multi-centre holiday to Tunisia can be easily arranged. Try combining the capital, Tunis, with a coastal town, or travel to Djerba and then decamp to a southern desert oases.