The Complete Guide to Tunisia’s Star Wars Locations [how to visit]

Nigel is a long-time Star Wars fan; I’m more of an interested party. But we always like to have a theme for a trip, and for this part of Tunisia, the Star Wars Sites of Tunisia was the perfect choice. This is where scenes from some of the most famous films in cinema history were brought to life — deserts doubling as alien planets, ancient ksars standing in for spaceports, and salt flats transformed into a galaxy far, far away. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan, these locations are spectacular in their own right. There are some breathtaking landscapes right alongside the movie locations.

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While the Star Wars Sites of Tunisia are the top name act, they’re not the only movies to have taken advantage of Tunisia’s extraordinary landscapes. The same dunes, salt flats, and canyons have starred in Raiders of the Lost Ark, The English Patient, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and Black Gold. The otherworldliness of the desert, with its surreal rock formations and endless horizons, makes it a natural stand-in for alien worlds and ancient realms alike. It’s easy to see why they were chosen by the filmmakers.

The Star Wars Movies

The Star Wars saga began in 1977 with A New Hope, a groundbreaking space opera created by George Lucas that redefined science fiction cinema. Over the decades, it expanded into prequels, sequels, and spin-offs, building one of the most recognisable fictional universes in history. Set “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” and Tunisia has been part of it from the very beginning. Locations here stood in for Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine in A New Hope, returned for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, and even featured in the closing scenes of Revenge of the Sith.

Chronological list of the main films:

• 1977 – Episode IV: A New Hope
• 1980 – Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• 1983 – Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
• 1999 – Episode I: The Phantom Menace
• 2002 – Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• 2005 – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• 2015 – Episode VII: The Force Awakens
• 2017 – Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
• 2019 – Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

But enough of that. 

Where are Tunisia’s Star Wars Sites

Tunisia’s Star Wars filming locations are scattered across the country’s south and west, with clusters in the Tozeur region, the Tataouine Governorate, and on Djerba Island.   

A good collection of them, though, are about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Tozeur.  But they’re in the desert, so even if you’re renting a car, you’ll need 4WD and a good idea of where you’re going, as there isn’t always a clearly visible road!

Many of the most recognisable Tatooine exteriors were filmed around Tozeur, using the sweeping sand dunes, dramatic rock formations, and the vast Chott el-Djerid salt flats as key locations in the movies. In the Matmata and Tataouine areas, traditional Berber ksars and underground troglodyte homes provided ready-made backdrops for interiors and city streets. Djerba Island contributed coastal settings and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s home.

What are the Star Wars Sites of Tunisia

The Star Wars Sites of Tunisia feature prominently in four films: A New Hope (1977), The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005). They include some of the saga’s most recognisable backdrops — the Lars Homestead in Matmata and Chott el-Djerid, the bustling Mos Espa set near Tozeur, the dramatic Sidi Bouhlel canyon, and the ghorfa granaries of Ksar Hadada and Ksar Ouled Soltane. On Djerba Island, you can visit the Mos Eisley Cantina and the location used for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s home. Each site offers a rare chance to step into scenes that have defined Star Wars for generations.

Planning your Star Wars Tour of Tunisia

The Star Wars Sites of Tunisia are spread out, so planning is key. The best time to visit is spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) when the desert heat is manageable and the light is perfect for photography.

If you’re comfortable with it, then self-driving offers the most flexibility — you can stop as long as you want at sites, take detours, and combine filming locations with Tunisia’s cultural highlights. You’ll want to read my guide to Tozeur here.  Roads between major towns are generally good, but reaching sets like the Lars Homestead or Mos Espa involves rough desert tracks and sand, so a 4×4 is recommended.

Guided tours are a great option that lets you focus on what you’re coming to see and not just getting there, and there are a variety of multi-day itineraries that link Tozeur, Matmata, Tataouine, and Djerba, with local guides who know the filming history and the best photo angles.  Our guide was invaluable in putting us in the right place to get a decent shot!  Public transport is limited, if available at all, especially to the remote desert sites. You can read my guide about transport in Tunisia here.

8 Iconic Star Wars Filming Locations You Can Visit Today

Here are the filming locations of the iconic Star Wars movies, how to get to them, what movie they starred in, and what to see at each one.

1. Hotel Sidi Idriss – Lars Homestead (interior) – Matmata

In the films, this was Luke Skywalker’s childhood home on the desert planet of Tatooine. The troglodyte-style underground rooms doubled as the interior of the Lars Homestead, where Luke shared meals with Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen.  This was originally a Berber troglodyte building before it was converted into a hotel in 1969.   And yes, you can stay there today.  The rooms are named after Star Wars Characters.

Trogolodyte buildings are a traditional type of construction, where they’re dug into the earth and the earth provides a natural insulation from the desert climate.

You can see some of the original set here, and a variety of pieces of memorabilia, which are available in a small museum.  There’s no charge for entering, and you can even don masks and use (fake) light sabers.

Which movies does Hotel Sidi Idriss feature in?

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

What to see at Hotel Sidi Idriss

• Underground rooms carved into the soft rock.
• Dining room dressed as the Lars family kitchen.
• Original decor preserved alongside the hotel’s current use.

How to get to Hotel Sidi Idriss

• In Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, it’s just over 2 hours north of Tatouine.
• Reachable by car or with a guided tour that includes Matmata.

2. Lars Homestead (exterior) – Chott el-Djerid

Located about 30 minutes west of Tozeur, in the Chott el-Djerid salt flats, this small white dome in the salt flats served as the exterior of the Lars family home. It’s where Luke gazes out at the twin suns in one of the most famous shots in cinematic history.

The igloo-like building was dismantled after the first movie and then reconstructed for the next one filmed. 

Which movies does Lars Homestead (exterior) feature in?

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

What to see at Lars Homestead (exterior)

• Restored igloo set in the middle of the salt flats.
• Panoramic views over the white expanse of Chott el-Djerid.
• The  “control panel” on the right of the entrance

How to get to Lars Homestead (exterior)

• This site is in the Chott el-Djerid salt flats, west of Tozeur, after you’ve passed through the town of Nefta.
• Best reached via 4×4 from Tozeur (40 minutes), it’s on a dirt/sand road
• Tours from Tozeur will usually combine this with a tour to Mos Espa and Ong Jemel.

3. Mos Espa set – near Nefta

Built for the prequels, Mos Espa was Anakin Skywalker’s hometown and the backdrop for podracing scenes. The nearby Eriguet Dunes provided the wide-open desert tracks for the Boonta Eve Classic.

This is the best preserved of the Star Wars movie sites, and to my mind has the most souvenir/tourist crap to buy on site.  Some of it is related, some of it is not.  Mos Espa was the Tatooine spaceport, and the road to get here from the highway was built by the crew, who spent about 5 months here.

There are about 20 domed buildings and structures here, some more “finished” than others.  Some are just exteriors, but if you go around the back or stick your head inside, you can see the basic structure and materials used to make them.

If you’re visiting Mos Espa, then you should also visit Ong Jemel, as it’s close by.

Which movies does Mos Espa feature in?

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

What to see at Mos Espa

• Spaceport streets, market façades, and podrace viewing stands.
• Rolling dunes used for the podrace sequence.

How to get to Mos Espa

• Close to Nefta in Tozeur Governorate.
• Accessible via paved road, then a short off-road drive.
• Usually combined with a visit to the Lars Homestead (exterior) and Ong Jemel

4. Ong Jemel (“Camel’s Neck” Rock) – near Nefta

It’s the rock formation here that gives it its name – Ong Jemel (Camel’s neck), as yes, if you squint a little from the right angle, it does look like the neck of a camel! It’s here that Darth Maul arrives on his Sith speeder to hunt for the Jedi.  It was also the site of pod-racing in the movies.

You won’t get here without a 4WD vehicle, and if you want views from the top (do it, you’re never coming back!), then you’ll need to walk/clamber up and down on foot.

Which movies does Ong Jemel feature in?

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

What to see at Ong Jemel

• Camel-shaped rock formation.
• Nearby dunes and open desert used for exterior shots.
• Views from the top (basically the desert!)

How to get to Ong Jemel

• Off-road from Nefta or Tozeur.
• Best visited with Mos Espa and Chott el-Djerid in a 4×4.

5. Sidi Bouhlel (Star Wars Canyon) – near Tozeur

This canyon is known as Maguer Gorge, Sidi Bouhlel, and the Star Wars Canyon.  You’ll have seen the canyon a few times, as it was used for multiple scenes in A New Hope. It’s where R2-D2 is ambushed by Jawas, and where Luke Skywalker was attacked by Tusken Raiders.

The canyon was also used in The English Patient and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

Park in the parking lot and walk up through the canyon.  (it’s worth it!)

Which movies does Sidi Bouhlel feature in?

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
• Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• The English Patient (1996)

What to see at Sidi Bouhlel

• Distinctive layered rock walls and winding pathways.
• Vantage points used for establishing shots.

How to get to Sidi Bouhlel

• About 30 minutes from Tozeur by road.
• Reachable by car or on a tour, if you want to go through the canyon, then you’ll need to walk (it’s not difficult).

6. Ksar Hadada– Tataouine Governorate

These traditional Ghorfa granaries were transformed into the slave quarters where young Anakin Skywalker lived. Their multi-storey façades doubled as the bustling backstreets of Mos Espa.  It will cost 2 TND to take a look inside, although it is also a hotel, and if you’re a resident, there’s no charge.

Which movies does Ksar Hadada feature in?

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

What to see at Ksar Hadada

• Arched storerooms stacked across several levels.
• Courtyards and doorways used in Anakin’s home scenes.

How to get to Ksar Hadada

• Ksar Hadada is near Tataouine; Medenine is 45 minutes north.
• Accessible by car or via local Star Wars tours.

7. Ajim (Mos Eisley Cantina) – Djerba Island

The streets of Ajim provided the exterior for the Mos Eisley Cantina, the infamous watering hole where Luke and Obi-Wan meet Han Solo and Chewbacca for the first time.  You can also see Docking Bay 94, where they escape in the Millennium Falcon.

Which movies does Ajim feature in?

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

What to see at Ajim

• Cantina façade and nearby streets used for Mos Eisley establishing shots.
• Local fishing town atmosphere that still feels unchanged.

How to get to Ajim

• On Djerba’s west coast, 25 minutes from Houmt Souk.
• Accessible via ferry from Jorf or the Roman causeway.

8. Amghar Mosque – Djerba Island

This whitewashed mosque stood in for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s home on the outskirts of Mos Eisley. In the film, Luke and Obi-Wan head here before making their way into town.

Which movies does Amghar Mosque feature in?

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

What to see at Amghar Mosque

• Simple white domes against a coastal backdrop.
• Elevated position offering panoramic sea views.
• There is a mosaic of Obi-Wan Kenobi on the side of the building

How to get to Amghar Mosque

• Located in Sidi Jemour on Djerba’s coast.
• About 15 minutes from Ajim or 40 minutes from Houmt Souk by car.

How to Visit these Star Wars Movie Locations

The Star Wars Sites of Tunisia are spread across three main regions — Tozeur, Matmata/Tataouine, and Djerba — so the most efficient way to see them all is as a multi-day road trip. Starting in Tozeur lets you explore the western desert sets before looping east through Matmata and Tataouine, then finishing on Djerba Island.

Final Words on the Star Wars Movie Locations of Tunisia

Visiting the Star Wars movie site of Tunisia isn’t just a way to see cinematic history; it’s a way to see some of Tunisia’s most stunning natural sites.  There are the windswept salt flats of Chott el-Djerid, the carved troglodyte dwellings of Matmata, and the centuries-old ksars of Tataouine.  And it’s a fascinating, if slightly sad, way to see what was once iconic sites now suffering somewhat with a lack of maintenance.  So go now before any more of them disappear!

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