Tunisia's deserts, ksour and Roman ruins doubled for Tatooine, Cairo and wartime Libya. Here is what was filmed where, and how to see it.
Tunisia hosted Star Wars (1977, 1999, 2002, 2005), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The English Patient (1996) and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979). Headliners include the Mos Espa set near Tozeur, the Hotel Sidi Driss cave hotel in Matmata, Sidi Bouhlel canyon and the troglodyte ksour of Tataouine. Guided tours run from Tunis, Gabes, Djerba and Matmata.
Few countries have shaped the look of cinema the way Tunisia has. Its Sahara dunes, salt flats, cave villages and fortified granaries became Tatooine, the planet at the heart of the original Star Wars trilogy and its prequels. George Lucas's crews shot here in 1977 and returned in 1999, 2002 and 2005, and much of what they built still stands in the desert.
Tunisia's screen credits stretch well beyond Star Wars. Steven Spielberg turned the Kairouan medina into 1930s Cairo for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Anthony Minghella used the oases near Tozeur for The English Patient, and Monty Python shot Life of Brian at the Ribat of Monastir and Roman sites including Carthage. More recently, Surviving Black Hawk Down (2025) filmed near Chebika in the Tozeur region.
Star Wars anchors Tunisia's screen tourism, but the country's filmography is broader and older than many travellers realise. Below are the productions that used Tunisian locations, and what each one filmed here.
| Title | Year | Type | What was filmed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope | 1977 | Film | Tatooine desert scenes including Lars homestead exterior at Chott el-Jerid, Sidi Bouhlel canyon (Jawa and Tusken Raider scenes), Matmata troglodyte homes, Djerba island sites |
| Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | 1999 | Film | Mos Espa set near Tozeur/Ong Jmal, slave quarters at ksour in Tataouine region (Ksar Hadada, Ksar Ouled Soltane, Ksar Medenine), additional Tatooine scenes |
| Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones | 2002 | Film | Lars homestead exterior at Chott el-Jerid, Mos Espa and Tatooine scenes |
| Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith | 2005 | Film | Final Lars homestead scene at Chott el-Jerid |
| The English Patient | 1996 | Film | Sahara desert, oases near Tozeur and Nefta, Sidi Bouhlel canyon, Chott el-Jerid salt flats standing in for Libyan desert |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark | 1981 | Film | Kairouan medina as 1930s Cairo, Sidi Bouhlel canyon for Tanis dig and Ark sequences |
| Monty Python’s Life of Brian | 1979 | Film | Ribat of Monastir as Jerusalem, Kasbah of Sousse, Roman amphitheatre at Carthage |
| The English Patient | 1996 | Film | Mahdia for Tobruk scenes |
| Surviving Black Hawk Down | 2025 | TV | Locations doubling for Somalia near Chebika in Tozeur region |
| Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark | 1981 | Film | Additional Tunisian desert and medina scenes |
12 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Gabès Governorate, Matmata Ticketed
Filmed here: Lars homestead interior scenes
A working cave hotel in Matmata that served as the Lars homestead interior in A New Hope (1977) and Attack of the Clones (2002). It is a rarity among film locations: visitors can walk the set, book Star Wars themed rooms and stay overnight. Entry is ticketed and the hotel remains open to visitors as of 2026.
Tozeur Governorate, Nefta Free to see
Filmed here: Mos Espa town and pod race areas; Ong Jmal rock formation
The purpose-built Mos Espa town from The Phantom Menace still stands on the desert flats near Ong Jmal, west of Nefta and Tozeur. Entry is free but dunes are slowly burying the set, a reason many fans visit sooner rather than later. Access is by 4x4 from Tozeur, and guided tours are the usual way in.
Tozeur Governorate, Tozeur Free to see
Filmed here: Multiple Tatooine scenes including Tusken Raiders and Jawa capture; canyon sequences
A short canyon near Tozeur that appears in A New Hope as Tusken Raider and Jawa territory, and doubled for desert sequences in Raiders of the Lost Ark and The English Patient. It is a short walk from the road with no facilities, and photographers favour the morning light on the rock walls.
Tozeur Governorate, Near Nefta Free to see
Filmed here: Lars homestead exterior and Tatooine landscapes; salt flats
A vast salt flat crossed by a causeway road, famous as the exterior of the Lars homestead in three Star Wars films, plus Tatooine landscapes in The English Patient. The igloo dome sits away from the road, so a 4x4 or a walk is needed. Avoid driving off-road without a suitable vehicle.
Tataouine Governorate, Tataouine Free to see
Filmed here: Slave quarters in Mos Espa
One of the best preserved fortified granaries in the Tataouine region, its ghorfa courtyards appeared as Mos Espa slave quarters in The Phantom Menace. Access is free and the stacked stone chambers are among the most photogenic Star Warssites in the country.
Monastir Governorate, Monastir Ticketed
Filmed here: Jerusalem scenes including stoning and tower sequences
This well maintained coastal fortress stood in for Jerusalem in Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), including the stoning and tower sequences. Entry is ticketed. It sits beside Monastir's medina and cemetery, making it an easy half day from Sousse or a stop en route to the south.
Tataouine Governorate, Tataouine area Free to see
Filmed here: Slave quarters street and backyards
An abandoned ksar near Tataouine whose street and backyards played the Mos Espa slave quarters in The Phantom Menace. Visitors can wander the courtyards freely. Its striking architecture also appears in numerous other productions, and it pairs naturally with Ksar Ouled Soltane on a southern loop.
Medenine Governorate, Djerba Free to see
Filmed here: Mos Eisley exteriors and cantina doorway
A fishing village on Djerba island where A New Hope filmed its Mos Eisley exteriors, including the cantina doorway. The buildings are still used by local fishermen, which gives the site a lived-in feel rather than a polished attraction. Combine it with Djerba's other Star Wars sites for an easy island day.
Kairouan Governorate, Kairouan Free to see
Filmed here: 1930s Cairo streets
Spielberg's 1930s Cairo street scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark were shot in this UNESCO listed medina. It remains a vibrant historic quarter of souks and mosques, best explored on foot at an unhurried pace. Kairouan also makes a practical stop between Tunis and the southern desert locations.
Mahdia Governorate, El Djem Ticketed
Filmed here: People’s Front of Judea scenes
One of the largest Roman amphitheatres in the world, used for the People's Front of Judea scenes in Life of Brian. Entry is ticketed, the site is open to the public, and visitors can climb through the tiers and underground passages. It stands directly in the town of El Djem, an easy train stop between Tunis and Sousse.
Tunis Governorate, Carthage Ticketed
Filmed here: Children’s Matinee scene
The Roman theatre at Carthage hosted the Children's Matinee scene in Life of Brian. It sits within the wider UNESCO listed archaeological park on the edge of Tunis, with accessible ruins and views over the Gulf of Tunis. A short suburban train or taxi ride makes it a simple half day from the capital.
Tunis Governorate, Tunis Free to see
Filmed here: Cairo flashback architecture and ambassador home
The historic medina of Tunis and its colonial villas provided Cairo flashback architecture and the ambassador's home in The English Patient. The medina is free to explore on foot, and its lanes, zellige-tiled courtyards and café terraces reward slow wandering.
Tunisia has no large working studio complex open to the public, but the desert holds something rarer: a standing set. Mos Espa, built for The Phantom Menace near Ong Jmal, survives in the Sahara and draws fans from around the world, though encroaching dunes make its long-term future uncertain. The national film body, the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image, supports international productions with permits and tax exemptions, while the Ciné Trip Tunisia initiative promotes a route linking 12 filming sites across 9 regions, covering Star Wars, The English Patient, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Life of Brian locations.
Most film-focused tours concentrate on Star Wars, since the key sites cluster in the south around Tozeur, Matmata and Tataouine. Options range from a budget day trip with lunch to a private five day circuit from Djerba, and multi day itineraries make sense because distances between sets and ksour are long and desert driving rewards an experienced local driver.
Star Wars Iconic Filming Locations Exclusive Tatooine Tour
An exclusive private itinerary starting in Gabes, the practical gateway to Matmata, rated 5 stars from 34 reviews.
Star Wars Iconic Filming Locations Exclusive Tatooine Tour
The same five star Tatooine itinerary from a Tunisia-wide start point, with a considerably lower price of $341.47.
Southern Tunisia Tour with Star Wars Cave Village and Lunch
An $87 day tour taking in the Star Wars cave village of Matmata with lunch included, a low-commitment introduction to the southern sites.
3 day Star Wars shooting locations tour
A three day, $844 circuit from Matmata that strings together the major shooting locations at a relaxed pace.
From Tunis: 2-Day Star Wars Sights Tatooine & Chenini
A two day trip from Tunis covering Tatooine sites and the hilltop village of Chenini, ideal for travellers short on time.
From Djerba : Private 5-Day Star Wars Tour
A private five day tour from Djerba with time to reach the desert sets and the ksour of the deep south in comfort.
Yes. The Phantom Menace set near Ong Jmal remains standing and entry is free, though the dunes are gradually burying parts of it. Access is by 4x4 from Tozeur, and guided tours are the most practical way to reach it.
Across several Tunisian sites: the Lars homestead exterior at Chott el-Jerid, the homestead interior at the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, canyon scenes at Sidi Bouhlel, and Mos Eisley exteriors at Ajim on Djerba island.
Yes. Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, the Lars homestead interior set, is a working hotel with Star Wars themed rooms. Day visits are ticketed and overnight stays were available as of 2026.
Partly. The Kairouan medina stood in for 1930s Cairo, and Sidi Bouhlel canyon near Tozeur was used for the Tanis dig and Ark sequences.
The key locations spread across Tozeur, Matmata, Tataouine and Djerba, so two to three days is a realistic minimum from Tunis. Booked tours run from two to five days, and the five day private option from Djerba covers the deep south most comfortably.
Yes. Ksar Ouled Soltane and Ksar Hadada are remarkable examples of fortified Berber granary architecture in their own right, with free access and photogenic stacked courtyards.
Tunisia offers something most screen destinations cannot: sets you can walk through, a hotel you can sleep in, and deserts that look on screen exactly as they do in person. Travel soon for Mos Espa before the dunes take it, allow enough days for the distances involved, and pair the Star Wars trail with the country's Roman and medina sites for a trip that stands on its own beyond the films.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for Tunisia.
