Hammamet

Hammamet’s relaxed atmosphere, miles of beautiful beaches and exotic markets make it a great place to relax and unwind.

Hammamet’s beaches are famed for being amongst the best in Tunisia and are a natural place to start your visit. Some of the beaches are privately owned by hotels, so it’s a good idea to do your research before booking your accommodation.

Most beaches have shallow water, making them ideal for younger visitors. Try your hand at windsurfing and paragliding, or take a camel ride along the sea shore. Go scuba diving and explore the Takrouna wreck, a German boat from World War II. Look out for dolphins swimming around the wreck.

The region can trace its history back to a first-century settlement known as Pupput, now an archaeological site, so there is a lot of history to explore. Take a walk along the city walls. At sunset, watch from here as the sun turns the town into shades of orange and yellow. Inside the walls is the medina, characterized by narrow lanes and white buildings. Haggle with local vendors for shisha pipes and traditional baskets.

Get a slice of Hammamet’s history at the Folklore Museum and admire the medieval Kasbah. At the foot of the Kasbah is Café Sidi Bou Hdid. It was originally a holy man’s shrine but now crowds meet here in the late afternoon for coffee and beer.

Go to the 1920s villa Dar Sebastian, south of Hammamet’s city centre. This beautiful house and estate has welcomed famous guests, including Elsa Schiaparelli and Winston Churchill. Today, it’s also known as the International Cultural Centre. Its outdoor theatre hosts events during the International Festival of Hammamet.

Getting around Hammamet is easy on foot as most of what you’ll want to see is situated at the beach and around the medina. Beyond here, take a short taxi ride to Pupput where you can see the remains of a Roman village. Agree on a price with the driver before departing.