Hammamet Travel Guide

Nestled on the sparkling Mediterranean coast of Tunisia lies the pride of the Tunisian Riviera: Hammamet. This sophisticated holiday resort town boasts a sweeping sandy beach, an ancient and vibrant medina, healing mineral baths, and renowned hotels.

Once a sleepy fishing village, Hammamet (meaning 'the baths') began to awaken to its tourist potential in the 1920s when wealthy Americans and Europeans made it their playground.

Today, it's a popular destination mainly for middle-to-upper range package tours from Europe, with streets abuzz with holidaymakers speaking Swedish, German, English, and French. Despite its modern hotels and resorts, the town retains its sense of exotic history. It's dominated by its 15th-century medina and bustling souk (bazaar), where visitors can purchase carpets, brass ornaments, jewellery, traditional kaftans, pottery, and leather goods.

The narrow, winding alleys conceal bright whitewashed windowless houses behind splendid ornate doors. The town's baths, famed since Roman times, are located within the crowded medina, alongside ancient mosques and overshadowed by the medieval Kasbah fortress.

The biggest attraction of this seaside town is its roughly six-mile (10km) stretch of palm-fringed shore, boasting beautiful, clean sandy beaches decorated with colourful fishing boats. South of the old town along the beach, numerous attractive Moorish-style low-rise hotels set in lush gardens have sprung up, offering luxury accommodations, water sports, entertainment, gourmet restaurants, and all the trappings of a perfect holiday.

Shopping

Shopping in Hammamet's medieval souk is one of the most memorable experiences for visitors. Tourists often leave laden with irresistible souvenirs such as exotic carpets, embroidered kaftans, glittering hookah pipes, brassware, jewellery, leather goods, and pottery. Haggling over prices is expected and part of the fun. For practical items, a modern shopping centre is also available in town.

Restaurants

Most hotels catering to tourists have their own restaurants, but the town itself overflows with a variety of eateries and pavement cafés offering everything from fish and chips to pizza. However, no visit to Tunisia is complete without sampling the renowned local dishes, which can sometimes be spicy.

Specialities to try include couscous (steamed semolina grains mixed with vegetables, fish, chicken, or meat), brik (pastry filled with egg, herbs, and tuna), shorba (a thick, creamy tomato-based soup), and makroudh (a syrup-soaked honey cake stuffed with dates).

Nightlife

Nightlife in Hammamet is low-key, with no all-night clubbing. Most hotels offer dancing and entertainment, and numerous bars and discos cater to visitors, typically closing by midnight.

Holiday activities

Most visitors come to Hammamet for the beach and sea. A wide range of water sports, from water-skiing to snorkelling, are available for those seeking more than just sunbathing.

Boat trips to view dolphins are a popular pastime. On land, visitors can enjoy golf courses, tennis courts, horse riding, or more exotically, explore the surrounding area on camelback.

Hammamet is ideally located for excursions, enthusiastically offered by local operators. Popular trips include shopping excursions to Tunis, visits to the ruins of Carthage, desert safaris, and outings to nearby Nabeul, renowned for its ancient but still thriving pottery industry.

Any negatives?

Swimmers should exercise caution as there are some unexpected deep patches near the shore. Vendors selling souvenirs on the beach can be persistent, and some visitors find the shopkeepers in the medina a little too pushy. However, polite but firm refusals usually keep the experience enjoyable.