From the souks of Tunis and ancient ruins of Carthage to the beaches of Hammamet and cave dwellings of the Sahara, Tunisia is a land of vibrant contrasts. Many visitors to the country don't venture much further than the beaches and markets, and though these have much to recommend them, you would be missing out if you didn't try to see at least some of the other myriad attractions Tunisia has to offer.

Tunisia has been invaded by the Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Turks, Spanish and French, who have all left their mark on the land, creating a rich and diverse cultural heritage. The most famous vestige of these ancient invasions is the city of Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians, under whom it soon became the most powerful city in the Mediterranean. It was conquered and rebuilt by the Romans, and it is their handiwork that is still in evidence today. Roman remains still litter the entire country from the enormous auditorium in El Jem, almost the size of the Colosseum of Rome, to the well-preserved remains of the ancient city of Thugga (known as Dougga) and the beautiful mosaics at the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

But there is much more to Tunisia than Roman relics. The heart and soul of any town in the country is the souk, the marketplace where the whole population turns out in a riotous display of sights and sounds. The vivid colours of mounds of spices mingle with displays of silver jewellery and brightly patterned carpets, transporting the mind to an exotic, bygone era.

Although you could spend weeks just exploring the multi-faceted sights of Tunisia, it has to be said that the coastal resorts are spectacular and you can see why people hit the beach here and never leave. One of the most famous areas is the Cap Bon peninsular on the north-east coast, home to Hammamet and numerous other beautiful golden swathes of sand. Venture a little further south and you will come to the idyllic island of Djerba, a paradise of palm trees, clear seas and fine, white beaches, which is incidentally home to Tunisia's main Jewish community and therefore has its own very distinct culture.

Travel further south still and you'll soon find yourself entering the remote landscape of the Sahara. Ride across the vast expanses of desert on a camel or in a jeep, visiting the traditional cave dwellings of Matmata, famously the backdrop for scenes in Star Wars, or the enormous dried-up Chott el Djerid salt lake. Visit the market of Douz along with berobed Bedouins living much the same lifestyle as their forefathers centuries before them. This terrain of dunes and oases never fails to capture the imagination, evoking an air of mystery and timeless serenity.