Tunisia is an intriguing and naturally gorgeous country in northern Africa. Teeming with ancient ruins and history, rolling hills, pleasant towns, deserts, and more, Tunisia is an interesting and breathtaking place to make a getaway to. These are a few of the captivating activities to fill your day with.

Going to Africa’s largest street market should be an experience not to miss while visiting Tunisia. Get a silk scarf, a new pan to cook with, spices, couscous, and some chocolate for dessert all at the Nabeul Market. See where the locals stock up on their fresh produce.

Carthage is quite close to the capital of the country and a place where the ancient history buffs flock first. Founded in 814 BC this former Roman city is in a state of ruins. Use your imagine a bit and just picture how it once was so many years ago, a thriving and vast area occupied by many people. The city features a Roman amphitheatre which you can still see the remains of today. The Antonin Baths here are some of the largest Roman-built baths. This UNESCO World Heritage Site also offers great view from the top of Byrsa Hill.

Up for some more spectacular Roman architecture that will take you a thousand step backs in time? Then the El Djem Amphitheatre can be your next spot. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and another impressive structure to admire. This amphitheater was erected around 238 BC and is one of the biggest coliseums built seating over 35,000 people. This amphitheater is the largest in North Africa.

Blue and white, white and blue. Everywhere. A whole town colored in these two simple colors. Sidi Bou Said is a charming and picturesque town with cobblestone streets set on the marina. Have a wander around, grab a coffee with a sea view and enjoy this adorable little town on the cliff overlooking Tunis.

Attention movie buffs, the area around Tozeur might be of interest to you. You might have seen the desert  from up high during your flights to Tunisia, but not like this. The crazy, dry, desert terrains here apparently make it a great spot to film. It’s also pretty deserted, so that’s a good thing too. This spot is famous, you just didn’t realize it. Raiders of the Lost Ark, The English Patient, two Star Wars movies and more have all filmed scenes here. If you’re really adamant about finding the right spot, there some website out there that tell you the spot exactly. So yes, you can stand right where R2D2 got abducted.

Roman history is quite evident in this country and you can see more artifacts, art, and statues from this era. The Bardo Museum in Tunis is an excellent spot to get that history lesson without having to man the heat outside, although the ruins are quite remarkable. This museum is home to a collection of magnificent mosaic tiles from Bulla Regia, Carthage, Dougga, and some churches around the country. The Roman mosaic collections here are revered as one of the best collection in the world.

For those who have never been to the UK, London is merely a façade of afternoon tea and biscuits, the Queen, and iconic red buses and phone boxes. Yes, we have all of those things. But when it comes to the real London, only us Brits know best.

If you’re looking to pitch upresidence in England’s famous capital for a few weeks, there’s a lot to learn about London’s different areas, all of which are completely unique and have something different to offer.  It’s not all tea and cake in this city. In fact, it’s so much more than that.

Unsure of where to stay in London? Here’s a handy little guide on some of the different areas.

London’s West End

If you want to be in the midst of it all, there’s no place like the West End. Near Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, you will find the “typical” London that so many tourists talk about. Surrounded by busy main streets and gleaming with bright lights at night, you will be right in the mix here. For shopping, theatres, cinemas and casinos, bars and restaurants, museums and galleries, you will find everything at your fingertips in the West End.

Chelsea and Fulham

As made famous by the reality TV show, Made in Chelsea, this area of London is home to some of the richest Londoners. If you have a penchant for fine dining (try Marco Pierre White’s restaurant or Gordon Ramsay’s Foxtrot Oscar), designer shopping, and sipping cocktails in the swankiest bars, Chelsea will prove to be the perfect luxury treat.

Shoreditch and East

If posh nosh and designer shopping is a little on the pretentious side for your taste, why not try the arty and eclectic Shoreditch? Famous for its vintage shops, its amazing art and theatres, a fantastically alternative nightlife, Shoreditch is the UK’s answer to Paris’ Montmartre or NYC’s East Village. You can complete your experience with a boutique stay in an alternative hotel.

Camden

Another creative hotspot in London, Camden is famous for Camden Lock Market, an exciting venue not only for shopping throughout the day, but also for late night street markets which serve up the most mouthwatering food and attract people from all over the city. If you’re an adventurous foodie, this is definitely the place to be. Known for its diverse culinary options, including street food from Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, Lebanese, Portuguese, Caribbean, South African and Persian vendors, Camden is a bucket-list location for food lovers.

Author:

This is a guest post by @magstheblogger, a food lover and travel writer over at The Smart Girl’s Travel Guide.

A European road trip is a fun, budget friendly way to see a lot of Europe in a short space of time. The continent is full of picturesque scenery, quirky venues and globally revered historical destinations, making it the perfect place to soak up the sun, and a little bit of culture along the way. To make the most of your journey, plan your itinerary in advance, and make sure that you don’t forget these road trip essentials.

GPS

Maps can seem rather romantic, but they’re just not worth the time it takes to fold and refold them. If you want to enjoy the scenery as you pass, get your hands on a GPS and let it guide you. Not only will a GPS make sure you get where you need to be, but most will warn you of traffic jams and offer alternative routes, so that you don’t spend the majority of your holiday nose-to-tail with the car in front. You can also use them to find the nearest shops, hospitals and historic monuments, making them worth their weight in gold.

Maps

Yes, that’s right, we did just recommend that you get your hands on a GPS and avoid maps at all costs. However, we all know that anything technological can have a tendency to be unreliable. If your GPS loses its signals in the Swiss Alps, a good old-fashioned map can be a godsend.

European Insurance

Your car is unlikely to take your holiday into account: if it’s going to breakdown, it will breakdown. To avoid being stranded at the roadside in a foreign country, European insurance is imperative. Make sure that you check, and if necessary upgrade, your policy before you even think of crossing the sea. It’s a good idea to carry proof of your insurance with you to make sure that you have access to any services you might need.

A Camera

Most phones will have this covered, but whether you prefer to use your mobile or a traditional camera, make sure you can document your travels as you go. Remember to take batteries if you need them, and an in-car charger if you’re using your phone. Memories are all well and good, but your family members and friends are going to want to see evidence of your adventures on Facebook, and in a few years’ time you’ll have great fun looking back over your photos.

A Playlist of Your Favourite Music

Before you even think of leaving the house, make sure that your phone or iPod is fully stocked with all of your desert island tunes. Although you’ll spend most of your time talking, when the conversation runs dry you’ll be glad of your music. If you’re travelling with friends, make sure that you all do the same, so that everybody gets a turn listening to songs that they like. Laptops and portable DVD players are also great for keeping everyone entertained.

Once you’ve got the essentials and loaded everyone into the car, all that’s left to do is have fun.