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Tunisia🇹🇳 | townsMatmataSunken courtyards, pit homes, Star Wars set, rim walks | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Matmata
🏆 Top picktown ranked #5
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

You duck through a low tunnel into a sunken courtyard, the air drops ten degrees, and a woman in a doorway points you toward mint tea before you have finished blinking. Matmata sits in the Dahar hills of southern Tunisia, a village where families still dig homes down into the soft rock instead of building up. That is the whole pitch, and it holds up: the pits are cool, quiet and oddly cozy, and the rim walks give you a moonscape of ridges. Work against it is the thin supply of everything else. There is little to do after lunch, evenings are slow, and the tour buses come and go before you can say troglodyte. Getting here takes a bit of planning, and the few guesthouses are where you will meet other backpackers, mostly over couscous. Stay one night and sleep underground. Your reward is a room with walls the temperature of a wine cellar and a ceiling that has never heard a car horn.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #5 town in TunisiaWhy visitors keep coming back

Matmata earns a place on a southern route because you can sleep underground, which is not an option in most countries. A night in a cave guesthouse such as the one in a pit dwelling courtyard gives you cool rooms in summer and a quiet that makes the bus-tour hours feel far away. Most travelers stay one night, and slow travelers can stretch it to two for walks along the ridgelines and the Berber hill villages of Techine and Tamezret nearby. It suits solo travelers and small groups who like odd lodging and local conversation over nightlife, because there is none. If you want hostel crowds and bars, move on. If you want a story that starts with “I slept in a hole” and ends with a good one, the cave-hotel dinner of couscous or tajine is the best reason to come.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Hotel Sidi Driss: The pit house where Luke Skywalker’s childhood home was filmed for Star Wars, and the sight most people search for. Walk the white-washed courtyard, the dining room and the sleeping caves. Entry is about US$2 to 3 if you are not staying, and 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. Go in the morning before tour groups.
  2. A family-run pit house museum: Several households open their dug-out homes to visitors, with kitchens, an olive-press area and sleeping chambers around a central crater. A tip or fee of US$1 to 2 is normal. Allow 30 minutes. A family-run home gives the clearest idea of how people actually lived here.
  3. Matmata Berber Museum: A small cave museum covering local life, tools and customs in an underground setting. Expect to pay roughly US$1 to 3 and spend 30 minutes. Opening hours
… read more 👉
  1. Hotel Sidi Driss: The pit house where Luke Skywalker’s childhood home was filmed for Star Wars, and the sight most people search for. Walk the white-washed courtyard, the dining room and the sleeping caves. Entry is about US$2 to 3 if you are not staying, and 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. Go in the morning before tour groups.
  2. A family-run pit house museum: Several households open their dug-out homes to visitors, with kitchens, an olive-press area and sleeping chambers around a central crater. A tip or fee of US$1 to 2 is normal. Allow 30 minutes. A family-run home gives the clearest idea of how people actually lived here.
  3. Matmata Berber Museum: A small cave museum covering local life, tools and customs in an underground setting. Expect to pay roughly US$1 to 3 and spend 30 minutes. Opening hours can be loose, so visit mid-morning.
  4. Ridge viewpoints above the village: Short walks up the slopes show the moonlike pits dotting the hillsides and the dry valleys behind. They are free, take 1 to 2 hours and are best in the cool hours of the day, when the rock is warm in color and the heat is bearable.
  5. Evening in a cave guesthouse: Dinner in a courtyard, usually couscous or tajine for about US$6 to 10, is an experience of its own. Plan on 2 hours and stay for the stars once the day visitors have gone.
For a first visit, start with Hotel Sidi Driss and then sit down in a family home to see how real daily life works. Nearby day trips include the hilltop Berber village of Tamezret, the ksar-style settlement of Techine and the old fortified granaries around Medenine.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Matmata

Horseback riding at sunrise 3h

Horseback riding at sunrise 3h

4.9(50) 3h
From €45
per personViator
Tozeur and the mountain Oasis

Tozeur and the mountain Oasis

5.0(19) 72h
From €1,000
per personViator
Private Transfer from Matmata to Djerba Zarzis (DJE) Airport

Private Transfer from Matmata to Djerba Zarzis (DJE) Airport

0.0(0) 2h 50m
From €121
per personViator
Private Transfer from Gabès to Djerba Zarzis (DJE) Airport

Private Transfer from Gabès to Djerba Zarzis (DJE) Airport

0.0(0) 2h 20m
From €110
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsKey areas and districts to know

Matmata is small enough to cover on foot in an afternoon, and the interest lies in a few scattered clusters of underground homes rather than in districts with signs.
  • Old Town Center and the main road: A strip of cafes, a few small shops, the bus and louage stop and the market-style stalls selling fossils, rugs and rose-of-the-desert stones. Expect friendly pitches, and a tea if you linger. You get your bearings and a cheap lunch of tajine or lablabi in about ten minutes.
  • Hotel Marhala area: The best-known troglodyte hotel sits uphill from the center, reachable in 5 to 10 minutes on foot. It is the spot where a famous space-saga film was shot, so photographers gather in the courtyard. You get the classic view of a sunken pit courtyard with doors burrowed into the walls.
  • Residential pit homes:
… read more 👉
Matmata is small enough to cover on foot in an afternoon, and the interest lies in a few scattered clusters of underground homes rather than in districts with signs.
  • Old Town Center and the main road: A strip of cafes, a few small shops, the bus and louage stop and the market-style stalls selling fossils, rugs and rose-of-the-desert stones. Expect friendly pitches, and a tea if you linger. You get your bearings and a cheap lunch of tajine or lablabi in about ten minutes.
  • Hotel Marhala area: The best-known troglodyte hotel sits uphill from the center, reachable in 5 to 10 minutes on foot. It is the spot where a famous space-saga film was shot, so photographers gather in the courtyard. You get the classic view of a sunken pit courtyard with doors burrowed into the walls.
  • Residential pit homes: Scattered along the side lanes, some families still live in sunken courtyards and will show you around for a small tip, usually US$1 to 3, with mint tea and flatbread baked in a clay oven. The lanes are dusty and sunbaked, so carry water. You get a real look at how thick-walled underground rooms stay cool in summer.
  • Hillside ridges and viewpoints: Walk up the rocky slopes at the edge of the village and the whole moonlike landscape of pale earth and olive terraces opens up. Wear proper shoes, because the ground crumbles. You get a quiet view over dozens of pits with no one selling anything.
  • Nightlife: There is none to speak of. Evenings mean mint tea and an early night, and the stars are a better show than anything on offer.

⌛️ 1 dayA smart one-day plan

8:00 AM, Cave guesthouse courtyard: Start slowly with bread, olive oil and tea in your pit house while the day is cool. The quiet before the buses arrive is the best time to look at the round courtyard and the tunnel entrance.
9:00 AM, Hotel Sidi Driss: Walk over to see the famous Star Wars courtyard and sleeping caves before groups gather. Take photos from the upper ring, then wander the dining caves. It takes about 40 minutes.
10:30 AM, A family pit house: Knock on a marked door, pay a small tip and ask to see the kitchen and bedrooms. This is the most honest look at daily life you will get, and the chat often includes tea.
12:00 PM, Matmata Berber Museum: A short stroll brings you to a compact cave museum on local customs and tools. Use it as a cool break from the midday glare.
1:30 PM, Lunch … read more 👉
8:00 AM, Cave guesthouse courtyard: Start slowly with bread, olive oil and tea in your pit house while the day is cool. The quiet before the buses arrive is the best time to look at the round courtyard and the tunnel entrance.
9:00 AM, Hotel Sidi Driss: Walk over to see the famous Star Wars courtyard and sleeping caves before groups gather. Take photos from the upper ring, then wander the dining caves. It takes about 40 minutes.
10:30 AM, A family pit house: Knock on a marked door, pay a small tip and ask to see the kitchen and bedrooms. This is the most honest look at daily life you will get, and the chat often includes tea.
12:00 PM, Matmata Berber Museum: A short stroll brings you to a compact cave museum on local customs and tools. Use it as a cool break from the midday glare.
1:30 PM, Lunch in the village: Pick a small café for a tajine or grilled meat and rest through the hottest hours.
3:30 PM, Ridge walk behind the village: This is the quiet part most tour groups skip. Follow a path uphill to look down on scattered pits and dry valleys, and keep your phone in your pocket for a while. Allow 1.5 hours.
6:00 PM, Return for dinner: Settle back in the courtyard for couscous and a long sky show.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for Matmata, with daytime highs of about 20 to 28°C (68 to 82°F).
  • Spring (March to May): Warm days, cool nights around 8 to 14°C (46 to 57°F), and about 12 to 13 hours of daylight. Tour groups peak around Easter, and prices rise slightly.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs reach 35 to 40°C (95 to 104°F). The underground rooms stay cooler, but walking at midday is miserable. Rooms are cheap and crowds thin.
  • Autumn (September to November): Highs of 22 to 32°C (72 to 90°F), clear skies and softer light for photography. Occasional heavy rain can flood roads.
  • Winter (December to February): Days of 14 to 18°C (57 to 64°F), nights near freezing, around 10 hours of daylight. Cave rooms can feel damp and chilly, and heating is limited. Few visitors, so bargaining
… read more 👉
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for Matmata, with daytime highs of about 20 to 28°C (68 to 82°F).
  • Spring (March to May): Warm days, cool nights around 8 to 14°C (46 to 57°F), and about 12 to 13 hours of daylight. Tour groups peak around Easter, and prices rise slightly.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs reach 35 to 40°C (95 to 104°F). The underground rooms stay cooler, but walking at midday is miserable. Rooms are cheap and crowds thin.
  • Autumn (September to November): Highs of 22 to 32°C (72 to 90°F), clear skies and softer light for photography. Occasional heavy rain can flood roads.
  • Winter (December to February): Days of 14 to 18°C (57 to 64°F), nights near freezing, around 10 hours of daylight. Cave rooms can feel damp and chilly, and heating is limited. Few visitors, so bargaining is easy.
Pack layers year-round, since desert nights drop sharply even after a hot day.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

The center of Matmata, around the main road and market, is the best base for a budget stay. Budget beds are limited here, with a handful of guesthouses and a few cave hotels, so booking ahead in spring helps. Dorm-style options are rare, and a basic double typically runs US$15 to 30. The center is quiet at night, with little traffic and no noise beyond the occasional rooster, and it is easy to walk to the bus and louage stop for early departures.

The second option is the uphill area near the older pit homes, where guesthouses are tucked into the slope. It is calmer still, a bit dark after sunset, … read more 👉
The center of Matmata, around the main road and market, is the best base for a budget stay. Budget beds are limited here, with a handful of guesthouses and a few cave hotels, so booking ahead in spring helps. Dorm-style options are rare, and a basic double typically runs US$15 to 30. The center is quiet at night, with little traffic and no noise beyond the occasional rooster, and it is easy to walk to the bus and louage stop for early departures.

The second option is the uphill area near the older pit homes, where guesthouses are tucked into the slope. It is calmer still, a bit dark after sunset, and a 5 to 10 minute walk from the cafes. Bring a flashlight for the lanes. If hostel beds are what you need, Gabes, about an hour away, has more choice and better transport links, but Matmata rewards an overnight because the evenings are silent and the stars are sharp.
Best hostels in Tunisia


Best quality hotels in Tunisia

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

Matmata is walkable end to end, and the shared minibus or louage from nearby Gabes costs about US$2 to 3, paid in cash to the driver or at the station. Traffic is almost nonexistent. Public transport is thin, so plan ahead and expect to wait.
  • Walking: Free, and the best way to see the pit homes. The main road is flat, but side lanes climb and the sun is fierce, so bring a hat. You get quiet lanes and the odd friendly wave from a doorway.
  • Louage from Gabes: Shared minivans leave when full, with the trip taking 45 to 60 minutes. Mornings are most reliable, and by mid-afternoon the last ones can vanish. The reward is a ride through scrubby hills with a driver who knows everyone.
  • Local bus: A few buses run from Gabes for roughly US$1.50 to 2.50, slower at 1 to 1.5 hours and less frequent. Check the
… read more 👉
Matmata is walkable end to end, and the shared minibus or louage from nearby Gabes costs about US$2 to 3, paid in cash to the driver or at the station. Traffic is almost nonexistent. Public transport is thin, so plan ahead and expect to wait.
  • Walking: Free, and the best way to see the pit homes. The main road is flat, but side lanes climb and the sun is fierce, so bring a hat. You get quiet lanes and the odd friendly wave from a doorway.
  • Louage from Gabes: Shared minivans leave when full, with the trip taking 45 to 60 minutes. Mornings are most reliable, and by mid-afternoon the last ones can vanish. The reward is a ride through scrubby hills with a driver who knows everyone.
  • Local bus: A few buses run from Gabes for roughly US$1.50 to 2.50, slower at 1 to 1.5 hours and less frequent. Check the last return before heading out. You get the cheapest ride and a window seat on a bumpy, dusty road.
  • Taxi: A private taxi from Gabes runs about US$20 to 30 one way, and is worth it if you want to add Toujane or Tamezret in one go. Agree the price first. You get door-to-door service and a driver who doubles as a guide.
  • Hitching and tours: Locals sometimes give rides between villages, and organized day tours from Djerba or Tozeur cost US$40 to 70. You get convenience at a price, with fixed schedules and short stops.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Matmata costs about US$12 to 25 a day for a backpacker, with the Total Daily Budget below at US$55.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 25Few dorms exist, so expect a basic private room or a shared cave room in guesthouses. Prices rise slightly in spring.
MealsUS$8 to 15Tajine, couscous and grilled meat at small cafes cost US$3 to 6 per plate. Tea and bread are cheap.
Local transportUS$4 to 12Louage from Gabes costs US$2 to 3 each way, and short taxi hops to nearby villages cost US$8 to 15.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$3 to 8Visiting a family pit home is usually a tip of US$1 to 3, and the hotel courtyard may charge a small fee.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 8Bottled water, souvenirs, and tips for guides.
Total Daily BudgetUS$55Based on high season accommodation.
Eat where … read more 👉
Matmata costs about US$12 to 25 a day for a backpacker, with the Total Daily Budget below at US$55.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 25Few dorms exist, so expect a basic private room or a shared cave room in guesthouses. Prices rise slightly in spring.
MealsUS$8 to 15Tajine, couscous and grilled meat at small cafes cost US$3 to 6 per plate. Tea and bread are cheap.
Local transportUS$4 to 12Louage from Gabes costs US$2 to 3 each way, and short taxi hops to nearby villages cost US$8 to 15.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$3 to 8Visiting a family pit home is usually a tip of US$1 to 3, and the hotel courtyard may charge a small fee.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 8Bottled water, souvenirs, and tips for guides.
Total Daily BudgetUS$55Based on high season accommodation.
Eat where locals do and skip tourist-menu restaurants, which can cost twice as much for the same tajine. Carry small bills, since change is often scarce.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsShort trips worth adding

Matmata works well as a base for short excursions, though public transport between villages is sparse, so shared taxis or a hired driver help.
Toujane: A Berber mountain village about 15 km away, perched on a ridge with terraced olive groves and views down to the plain. A taxi costs roughly US$10 to 15 round trip, and a half day is plenty. Spring is greenest. First-timers often arrive at midday, when the village is shut and sleepy.

Tamezret: A hilltop village of stone houses and narrow lanes, about 10 km from Matmata, still with a Berber-speaking community. A round trip costs about US$8 to 12 by taxi. Go in cooler months and walk the lanes to the lookout. Bring small change for the weaving cooperative.

Gabes Oasis: An oasis on the coast, with palm groves and a lively market, around an hour … read more 👉
Matmata works well as a base for short excursions, though public transport between villages is sparse, so shared taxis or a hired driver help.
Toujane: A Berber mountain village about 15 km away, perched on a ridge with terraced olive groves and views down to the plain. A taxi costs roughly US$10 to 15 round trip, and a half day is plenty. Spring is greenest. First-timers often arrive at midday, when the village is shut and sleepy.

Tamezret: A hilltop village of stone houses and narrow lanes, about 10 km from Matmata, still with a Berber-speaking community. A round trip costs about US$8 to 12 by taxi. Go in cooler months and walk the lanes to the lookout. Bring small change for the weaving cooperative.

Gabes Oasis: An oasis on the coast, with palm groves and a lively market, around an hour away by louage for US$2 to 3 each way. Walking or taking a horse cart through the palms is pleasant in spring and autumn. Leave by mid-afternoon so you do not miss the last return.

Ksar Hadada and Tataouine area: Fortified granaries, famous as a film location, lie farther south and take about 2 to 3 hours each way. Private tours are the practical way, costing US$40 to 70 per person in a group. It is a long day, so start early.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Matmata

Matmata is calm and low in crime, and most trouble here is a mild annoyance rather than a danger. The main hassle is persistent guides near the pit homes who offer a tour and then expect a tip, often US$2 to 5. Agree the price before you follow anyone, and a polite no works fine. Some shopkeepers will quote high prices for fossils and rugs, so haggle with a smile. Solo travelers, including women, generally feel comfortable, though dressing modestly avoids stares. Streets are dark and uneven at night, so carry a flashlight, and watch for loose rock on hillside paths. Summer heat is the larger risk: drink plenty of water and avoid walking at midday. Keep valuables out of sight when taking a louage.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Matmata

Matmata is worth visiting for a short, memorable stop rather than a long stay. The underground pit homes, the hillside views and the nearby Berber villages of Tamezret and Toujane are unlike anything else in southern Tunisia. A night is ideal, since the evenings are quiet and the stars are clear, and rooms cost about US$15 to 30.
Matmata needs one full day, or an overnight if you want evenings and mornings without tour groups. Half a day covers the main pit homes and the viewpoints, and a second half day adds Tamezret and Toujane, each about 10 to 15 km away. Louage connections from Gabes mean you should aim to arrive before midday.
Matmata is easy to reach as a day trip from Gabes, about an hour away by louage for US$2 to 3 each way, or from Djerba and Tozeur on organized tours for US$40 to 70. Independent trips need an early start so you can catch the last return in mid-afternoon. Staying overnight gives a calmer experience once the groups leave.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Tunisian towns near Matmata

Explore more nearby:

  • Médenine—Ghorfa granaries, Monday market, rug shops, ksour base| 54 km away
  • Ghomrassen—Hilltop dwellings, Thursday souk, potters, Matmata hills| 64 km away
  • Tataouine—Ksar Ouled Soltane, Chenini, Douiret, Dahar plateau| 83 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Matmata suits curious, low-maintenance travelers who like odd places, quiet evenings and a warm conversation more than nightlife. Stay one night rather than rushing through on a tour, because the village is at its best after the buses leave. I would bring a light jacket, since the hills cool quickly after dark, and skip the souvenir stalls for a tip to a family who shows you inside their home.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Tunisia. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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