Toubkal Trekking

Day Trip to Testour Dougga Zaghouane from Tunis

If you ever find yourself in Tunis, and you’re thinking, “Hey, I’ve had enough couscous and medina strolls for one trip,” congratulations—you’re ripe for a day trip. And not just any day trip. We’re talking Testour, Dougga, and Zaghouane—a trio of destinations that will leave you wondering how so much charm, ancient stone, and weirdly beautiful goat sightings can fit into one day. Day Trip to Testour Dougga Zaghouane from Tunis is worth it!

First Stop: Testour – Where Time Froze in Andalusian Style

Imagine a town that looks like it was plucked out of a 17th-century Spanish fairytale, kissed by North Africa, and dropped gently into the Tunisian hills. That’s Testour.

The clock tower is the first thing people notice. It ticks backwards. Yep, backwards. Locals will tell you it’s either a genius metaphor for nostalgia, or just an elaborate prank that’s gone on way too long. But hey, it works.

Wander the cobbled streets, and you’ll bump into goats (actual ones) and warm, sleepy bakeries serving up makroud and bambalouni that taste like they were handcrafted by sugar-dusted angels. Testour’s Andalusian Great Mosque? An architectural mood. The kind of place you go silent—not from reverence, but because you’re trying to find the right Instagram filter for that stunning horseshoe arch.

Second Stop: Dougga – Roman Ruins With No Tour Bus Elbowing

Cue the dramatic music. Dougga is the grand diva of Roman ruins in Tunisia—and possibly North Africa’s most underrated ancient city.

It’s like someone built a Roman city, forgot about it for 2,000 years, and now you get to wander around without a single rope or “Do Not Touch” sign. Dougga is glorious, sprawling, and slightly surreal.

The Capitol? Majestic. The theater? Surprisingly intact (and 100% selfie-approved). The views? Panoramic enough to inspire spontaneous poetry or at least a dramatic sigh. It’s easy to imagine toga-wearing senators arguing about olive taxes here while you climb over columns like a curious archaeologist with a fanny pack.

Bonus: There are usually more wildflowers than people. So if you’ve ever wanted to feel like the last person alive in an ancient Roman soap opera, this is your moment.

Last Stop: Zaghouane – Where Water, Mountains, and Serenity Collide

By now, you’re probably stuffed with ruins and rustic charm, so Zaghouane arrives like a breath of eucalyptus-scented air.

Nestled in the foothills of the Dorsale Mountains, Zaghouane is the spiritual exhale of this day trip. It’s green, it’s fresh, and it’s home to the Temple of Water—basically an ancient Roman hydration station. This was where aqueducts began their long, thirsty march to Carthage.

People don’t just visit Zaghouane. They stroll through it and They meander. They pause mid-sentence because a butterfly landed on their sandwich. It’s that kind of place.

Local artisans still make pottery and cheese the old-fashioned way, meaning your souvenir could smell slightly like goat but in a very artisanal, boutique way.

The Final Stretch – Road Trip Tales and Mint Tea Dreams

As the van heads back to Tunis, legs tired and hearts full, there’s usually a moment of quiet reflection—or loud snoring. This day trip isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about tumbling headfirst into Tunisia’s kaleidoscope of culture, history, and charm.

Because in one single day, you’ll have traveled from Andalusian lanes to Roman splendor to mountain serenity. And no, it’s not too much. It’s just Tunisia doing what it does best—blending the unexpected into one unforgettable road trip.