Things to do in Douz
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Top 10 attractions in Douz
Chott el Djerid
Chott el Djerid is located on the edge of the Sahara Desert in south-central Tunisia and is one of the largest salt lakes in the Sahara region. For most of the year, it does not look like a rippling blue lake: the water evaporates under the scorching sun, revealing an endless expanse of white salt crust that looks like a frozen snowfield from afar. In the cooler seasons, a shallow layer of brine collects in the low-lying areas, with a salt content far exceeding that of seawater, shimmering in different shades of pink, orange, green, and purple under the sunlight, like a palette spread across the earth. Traveling from Douz, known as the "Gateway to the Sahara," to the oasis city of Tozeur, the road cuts straight across the lake, a stretch often considered by travelers to be the highlight of the entire journey: outside the car window, the salt flats extend to the horizon, and when summer heat waves rise, mirages often appear on the lake surface, where the water in the distance turns out to be just the reflection of salt crystals upon closer approach.Faouar · 68.4 km from Douz
Ksar Ghilane
Douz · 77.9 km from downtown
Amphitheatre of El Jem
Amphitheatre of El Jem is located in the town of El Jem in eastern Tunisia. It was built in the 3rd century AD, is grand in scale and magnificent in presence, and even after nearly 2,000 years of weathering, it still stands tall on the open plains. The entire structure is primarily built with massive stone blocks. Supported by layers of arches and a sturdy stone structure, it features a towering three-story facade reaching a height of over 30 m. The amphitheatre's long axis is nearly 150 m, and its short axis exceeds 120 m. It is estimated to have been able to accommodate over 30,000 spectators. Standing in front of the building and looking up, rows of stone arches unfold layer by layer, appearing both solemn and majestic while reflecting the rigorous and precise structural design of ancient Roman architecture. Stepping inside the amphitheatre, visitors can more vividly experience the scenes of ancient competitive events.Tunisia · El Jem
Great Mosque of Kairouan
Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as the Mosque of Uqba, is located in the northeast corner of the old city of Kairouan, a holy city in Tunisia. In 670 AD, the Arab general and founder of Kairouan, Uqba ibn Nafi, ordered the construction of this mosque at the beginning of the city's founding and planned it together with the governor's palace in the city center; after nearly two centuries, especially the large-scale expansion during the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century, it took on its current layout. It is one of the oldest surviving places of worship in the Islamic world and provided a model for later mosque architecture in North Africa. The exterior of the mosque resembles a heavy fortress, but stepping inside reveals a different world: a spacious courtyard paved with marble is surrounded by double-arched arcades on all four sides. The columns are mostly made of marble and granite salvaged from Roman and Byzantine buildings, many of which came from Carthage. In the center of the courtyard lies a sundial used to determine prayer times, and not far away is a rainwater collection basin carved in the shape of a horseshoe arch, where rainwater is filtered before flowing into an underground cistern. The three-story square minaret in the center of the north side is over 30m high, and Roman stones with Latin inscriptions are still embedded in its base. This tower is considered the prototype for minarets in North Africa and Spain and is the highest point in the old city, visible from far outside the city walls. The prayer hall on the south side is entered through several carved wooden doors. Inside, the hall is filled with a forest of stone columns and crisscrossing corridors, and the early use of horseshoe arches influenced later North African mosque architecture. ${S2}Tunisia · Kairouan
Hotel Sidi Idriss
Hotel Sidi Idriss not only boasts magnificent Sahara Desert scenery but also hides many familiar movie scenes. This unique underground structure combines traditional local dwellings with classic memories of science fiction films, making it a highly distinctive film tourism destination in Tunisia. This filming location was created by digging deep pits into the loess, then carving rooms along the pit walls and connecting the various spaces through tunnels and passageways. The courtyards are sunken underground, which reduces direct sunlight and helps keep indoor temperatures relatively stable, giving them the characteristic of being warm in winter and cool in summer. Visitors can walk into the underground space, sit at the same tables seen in the movie, and take photos from familiar angles, as if briefly stepping into Luke Skywalker's childhood life. For fans, this is not just a visit, but a close-up reunion with a classic movie scene.Matmatat-Al-Qadimal · 87.4 km from Douz
Medina of Kairouan
Located in Tunisia, Kairouan Old Town is an ancient city full of history and culture, and is listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. As the fourth holiest city in Islam, Kairouan attracts many tourists with its rich religious and architectural heritage. The most famous landmark in the Old Town is the Great Mosque, which is an important pilgrimage site for Muslims with its magnificent architecture and exquisite decoration. Walking through the narrow streets of the Old Town, visitors can admire the traditional Arabic architectural style and experience the local atmosphere. The market here is an ideal place to buy handicrafts and traditional goods, where visitors can find specialty goods such as carpets, copperware and ceramics. When visiting the Old Town of Kairouan, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for walking on the stone slabs. The attractions in the Old Town are relatively concentrated and can be easily visited on foot. Visitors can take a long-distance bus or rent a car from Tunis to Kairouan, and the journey takes about two hours. The Old Town of Kairouan is not only a must-visit for history lovers, but also an ideal window to experience Tunisian culture.Tunisia · Kairouan
Matmata
Mat Mata is the general name for the Berber tribe of the indigenous North African people, this charming village showcases the unique architecture of desert cave dwellings to outsiders. Because the area is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, the temperature is very high. Many cave houses were dug by the locals to hide from the sun, which has become a feature of Matmata. Today, most of the aborigines have moved to modern buildings, and the vacated caves have been slightly transformed to serve as hotels to receive people from afar. In the south of Matmata, there are mountains up to 800 meters high. The brownstones on the mountains are exposed, the ravines are crisscrossed, and the palm trees are struggling to grow upwards. It is said that the scene of the fight in the movie "Star Wars" was filmed here.Matmata · 68.5 km from Douz
Tozeur Market
Tozeur is the transportation hub of the Jared region, which is known as the "Land of Palms", the main tourist area of the Sahara, and one of the world-renowned oases. Tozeur has 1,000 hectares of date palm groves with a total of 200,000 date palm trees. Tozeur is very famous for its dates, the most famous of which are the translucent, amber-colored dates that feel like honey is about to pour out when you touch your fingers. It has a nice name called "Light Fingers". Dates have a very sweet taste and must be placed after desserts when serving, otherwise the strong sweetness will overshadow the desserts. Dates are harvested in October and November each year.Tozeur · 97.2 km from Douz
Djerba
Djerba is an island in the Gulf of Gabes in southeastern Tunisia. It is one of the larger islands in North Africa, with an area of 514 square kilometers. The island is covered with date palms and olive trees, forming a unique natural landscape. Famous for its rich historical sites and beautiful beaches, Djerba Island is an important tourist destination in Tunisia. In 2021, the 18th Summit of the International Organization of la Francophonie was held here, further enhancing its international visibility. In 2023, Djerba was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, highlighting its cultural and historical value. The coastline of Djerba Island is 30 kilometers long. The beaches on the west side are famous for their fine sand, while the beaches on the east side are suitable for family trips. There is an airport on Djerba Island, which provides tourists with convenient transportation connections and makes it more convenient to visit the island.Tunisia · Houmt Arbah
Basins of Aghlabides
In the 9th century AD, the Kairouan area suffered severe water shortages. The drought and lack of rain at the time, coupled with the fact that the area was below sea level, made it extremely difficult to use water. The locals built 15 cisterns for drinking water. Only two of the imprints left by the Agrabit dynasty are now left for tourists to visit. Standing on the high platform where he specialized in cultivation, he could see the wisdom of Kairouwan at a glance. The small pool is used to store the water drained from the mountain. After the sand and gravel are filtered out through the filter arch with a certain height, it flows into the large pool. At this time, the water can basically be used for production and life, and people will take water along the rectangular embankment. It is cooler here in summer nights, and many people will relax here to enjoy the coolness.Tunisia · Kairouan
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Free things to do in Douz
Chott el Djerid
Faouar · 68.4 km from DouzKsar Ghilane
Douz · 77.9 km from downtownAmphitheatre of El Jem
Tunisia · El JemGreat Mosque of Kairouan
Tunisia · KairouanHotel Sidi Idriss
Matmatat-Al-Qadimal · 87.4 km from DouzMedina of Kairouan
Tunisia · KairouanMatmata
Matmata · 68.5 km from DouzTozeur Market
Tozeur · 97.2 km from DouzDjerba
Tunisia · Houmt ArbahBasins of Aghlabides
Tunisia · Kairouan
What travelers say about Douz
想飞的鱼06273 October 2020
4.0
Gilit Salt Lake is the largest desert salt lake in the world. Although it is called a lake, due to the huge evaporation, the actual water content of Gilit Salt Lake is very low and the salt content is very high. It is even known as the lake with the highest salt content in the world. The salt content is even comparable to that of the Dead Sea. If you are lucky, you can see mirages in the desert when the weather is clear and the sun is strong.
Chott el Djerid
M32***233 December 2019
5.0
The type of desert you see in the movies is right here at Ksar Ghillane. Two minutes walk from the camp and it''s endless sand dunes.
The thermal spring in the oasis is refreshing but warm to swim in. Perhaps inevitably the spring is at the centre of half a dozen shops and cafes so it doesn''t exactly feel like you''re in the middle of the desert. Since the spring is part of a semi-commercial set up it might be nice if it were cleaned a bit more.
Overall an amazing place to go. Not somewhere you''ll ever forget.
Ksar Ghilane
老少皆宜（）15 November 2022
5.0
We visited the El Jem Colosseum in Tunisia, which was even more spectacular than the one in Italy. For centuries, the El Jem Colosseum has conquered all visitors with its grandeur, magnificence, scientific layout, and perfect harmony of structure, just like the pyramids in Egypt.
Amphitheatre of El Jem
yccui27 April 2025
5.0
One of the must-see attractions in Tunisia, the entire building is very majestic, and the environment in the desert also brings a different style here.
Both the chandelier inside the main tower and the building outside are very interesting.
Great Mosque of Kairouan
juki23518 April 2020
5.0
In the desert of Maitemat, there is a man-made scenic spot, which was the location for the filming of Star Wars. The buildings here are all made of loess, and the desert scene feels like being in outer space. Recalling the scenes of Star Wars, it was really filmed here. You may as well come and visit.
Hotel Sidi Idriss
🎀彡🐾25 October 2019
5.0
Matmata is a small town in the desert, where many shepherds live. They work from sunrise to sunset and live a poor but free life. The scenery here is also very beautiful, especially the sunset in the Gobi, which is gorgeous and intoxicating.
Matmata
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26 October 2014
5.0
The city of Tozeur itself is situated in an oasis, and several other "mountain oases" atop the high mountains of the surrounding desert offer unique and stunning landscapes. Chebika is the most spectacular of these, followed by Tamerza and Mides oases.
Tozeur Market
Todemmy1 December 2019
5.0
There are horse riding and camel riding activities on the hotel beach in Djerba Island, each lasting 15 minutes, and the total cost of both is 25 dinars (RMB 80). Overall it is quite good and worth a visit. The scenery is very good
Djerba
E50***896 January 2020
4.0
Agrabit Cistern. It is a special device made by Arabs to collect water in the desert. To visit the Agrabit Cistern, you need to climb the castle and overlook the cistern. The cistern is divided into two pools, the small one is used to collect rainwater, and the large one is used to precipitate impurities to form clean water. Because Kairouan is a water-scarce area, the locals built 15 cisterns in 862 AD, which is a symbol of the wisdom of the people living in the desert.
Basins of Aghlabides