Tunisia or Morocco: which North African nation is right for you?
On the face of it, Tunisia and Morocco have a lot in common. Sharing a similar geographical location, near identical flight times and a heritage, which also unites more than it divides, you might think that both nations offer up the same when it comes to holidays.
In fact, Tunisia and Morocco are as different as the UK and France. Whether you plump for one or the other will largely depend on what you want from a holiday. Here we share our expert knowledge to guide you into making the right decision for you.
Getting there: browse a range of great value holidays to Tunisia* and Morocco* with TUI.
Best of the beaches
It may be the smallest nation in North Africa, but Tunisia is big on beach escapes. The country's main resort town is Hammamet*, boasting a long list of big brand hotels alongside its own international airport with an impressive roster of direct flights from the UK and Europe.
Logistics aside, the purpose-built neighbourhood of Yasmine Hammamet is just one of several dedicated to all things coastal, and stretches along a 4 km ribbon of soft golden sand on the partially protected waters of Hammamet Bay.
On the southern side of the bay lie Sousse* and Monastir, which are also blessed with impressive family-friendly beaches.
The pick in Sousse includes Bou Jaffar, consisting of the city's longest unfurnished beachfront. The near-white sands of the incongrously-named Las Vegas Beach further north are dominated by the umbrellas of hotels just metres away.
Monastir Beach is just one of a cluster of excellent options on the northern shores of this city's broad peninsula. Others include Plage de Falaise, known for its sunsets, and Plage les Palmiers, which tends to be quieter because it's further from the centre of town.
In comparison, Morocco's beach resorts are perhaps less developed overall, although Agadir* immediately comes to mind for anyone seeking a broad sweep of level orange sand.
Situated on the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean Sea, water temperatures tend to be cooler in Agadir than Tunisia's main beach resorts, but Agadir does have plenty to recommend it as we will see.
Watersports galore
Its vast length means you can be pretty sure of finding a spot on the sands of Tunisia's Hammamet Beach, and makes it ideal for combining time on a sun lounger with a refreshing dip in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. There's also plenty of opportunity to try the range of water sports on offer, whether motorised or muscle-powered.
For anyone keen on water sports reliant on a constant breeze, the winds tend to be steadier and more predictable on Morocco's Atlantic coast, making Taghazout*, less than 20km away from Agadir, one of the country's many leading spots for sailing and kite surfing enthusiasts.
Already a firm favourite among the surfing fraternity is Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki. Taking advantage of trade winds that blow in almost constantly from the Atlantic, Essaouira has developed from a hippy hangout to a destination which many surf clubs, trendy restaurants and cool riads, boutique hotels and guest houses call home.
The protected bay makes it a great place to learn to surf, before moving on to the beach and reef breaks at Sidi Kaouki. If it's Mediterranean temperatures you're after, head to laidback El Hoceima on Morocco's north coast instead, or stick to Tunisia's excellent resorts.
The kids are all right
Family is incredibly important to the culture of Tunisia and Morocco*. No surprise then that both nations are well set up for welcoming younger visitors.
Anyone keen to go beyond the lapping waves of Tunisia's beaches can head to Port El Kantaoui*, from where a reimagined galleon flying the Jolly Roger sails out on piratical adventures children will just love.
Slipping beneath the waves is similarly easy thanks to snorkelling and scuba rentals close to the marina at Sousse. To get wet without even leaving shore, there is no shortage of aquaparks and theme parks sure to get the adrenaline flowing.
Totally suited to families with children in tow, Morocco's Agadir has a wealth of attractions that will keep the smaller members of the family happy.
In addition to its sands, complete with nearby children's playgrounds, Agadir has a small bird park called Bird Valley caring for a range of tropical species, and Crocopark, combining a botanical garden with no fewer than 325 Nile crocodiles of all different ages and sizes.
Medina marvels
Although the medinas (old towns) of Tunis, the Tunisian capital, and Hammamet struggle to compete with those in Morocco, there are a huge array of Game of Thrones style relicts to get the senses tingling, such as the ribat fortifications of Sousse and Monastir.
The first is important enough to have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the second has cemented itself in film history as a location in Monty Python's Life of Brian.
Heading back even further in time, El Jem consists of the ruins of the largest amphitheatre constructed by the Romans anywhere in North Africa, and Carthage (just outside of Tunis and easy to combine with a trip to the blue and white artist's haven of Sidi Bou Said) uncovers the history of a city that's as much legend as reality.
Although not immediately thought of as a family destination, Marrakech* is a city which is sure to start the synapses firing. The cobblestone alleyways of its ancient medina are alive with stalls selling exotic spices, gently fading architectural masterpieces and hammering artisans.
No one who has ever visited can forget the sights, sounds and smells of the famous Bab Debbagh tanneries, looking for all the world like the mixing palette of a child's painting set.
Other sights worth considering are the tranquil pathways of Jardin Majorelle and the treasures hung within the Museum of Moroccan Arts.
Desert versus mountain
Tunisia* and Morocco share southern reaches stretching into the Sahara, the world's largest desert outside the poles.
The landscapes of southern Tunisia can appear so otherworldly that it doubled as Luke Skywalker's home of Tatooine in the original Star Wars film. Tours based out of similarly sounding (and very real) Tataouine take in the filming locations of many of the franchise's best-known scenes.
Meanwhile, Morocco provides the easiest way to roam the giant sand dunes of the Sahara. Head to Zagora, a gateway to the Sahara for centuries, and you can camp beneath the extraordinary nightly canopy of stars with local Berber guides.
Beyond the desert, the area around Jebel Zaghouan is making a name for itself among Tunisia's rock climbing community, and offers a dazzling array of vistas sure to keep even amateur photographers busy.
Hikers and those with a sense of adventure should look no further than Morocco's Atlas Mountains, whose snowy peaks include Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest point.
Just one alternative is Todra Gorge, formed by adjoining river canyons with limestone walls that provide a rare chance to explore an alternative part of Morocco.
Compare weather
Use the graphs below to compare the weather in both destinations. Find out more about the climate in Tunisia and the climate in Morocco as well as conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in North Africa.
Tunisia vs Morocco
Maximum daytime temperature (°C)
Hours of sunshine per day
Days with some rainfall
Monthly rainfall (mm)
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