Hammamet

Tunisia's best-known Mediterranean resort, with a white medina right on the sea, plus Yasmine Marina and long beaches—a great base for slow-paced trips around Cap Bon.

Hammamet lies on the Gulf of Hammamet in Nabeul Governorate in northeastern Tunisia, on the southern side of the Cap Bon Peninsula, about 65 km from the capital, Tunis. It is Tunisia's earliest-developed and most famous Mediterranean beach resort. The town has two parts: to the north is the white medina enclosed by 15th-century walls, with its kasbah overlooking the sea and traditional neighborhoods and early resort hotels around it; about 10 km to the south is the newer Yasmine Hammamet, home to the marina, the replica Mediterranean old town Medina Mediterranea, the Carthageland theme park and rows of beachfront hotels. Between the two run more than 10 km of fine sandy beaches. The climate is Mediterranean: May–Oct is swimming season, with Jul–Aug the hottest and busiest; spring and autumn are mild and dry, ideal for historic sites and Cap Bon; winters are chilly, and some hotels and theme parks close. From Hammamet you can browse the pottery market in neighboring Nabeul (biggest on Fridays), head south to Friguia Park safari park and the Berber hill village of Takrouna, or take a day loop around Cap Bon: Kelibia Fortress, Mansoura Beach, the UNESCO-listed Punic city of Kerkouane and the El Haouaria quarry caves, plus the seaside hot springs of Korbous on the west coast. Getting there: Tunis–Carthage Airport is about an hour's drive, and Enfidha–Hammamet Airport about 40 minutes; trains, long-distance buses and louages (shared taxis) connect towns, while getting between sights is mostly by taxi, private driver or hotel tour. Plan on 3–5 days: one day for the medina and beach, one for Yasmine, one for the Cap Bon loop, and the rest to relax. Tips: bargain in the medina souks and be wary of overly friendly touts; some restaurants close during the day in Ramadan; the sun is intense at beaches and historic sites in summer.

Top sights

• Hammamet Medina & Kasbah – A whitewashed, blue-doored old town built right by the sea. The 15th-century Kasbah walls offer views over the Mediterranean and the long b…
• Hammamet Beach – A fine-sand beach stretching more than 10 km along the Gulf of Hammamet, lined with resort hotels from the old town down to the Yasmine are…
• Yasmine Hammamet Marina – A marina in the new district of south Hammamet, ringed by restaurants, cafés and shops. It's a favourite spot for evening strolls.
• Medina Mediterranea Yasmine Hammamet – A walled new town built in the style of a traditional medina, with markets, restaurants and cafés clustered together. Great for strolling a…
• Carthage Land Yasmine Hammamet – A theme park based on the history of Carthage, with roller coasters, a water park and children's rides. A top choice for family trips.
• Dar Sébastien (International Cultural Centre of Hammamet) – A white seaside villa built by a Romanian tycoon in the 1920s. Its gardens and open-air theatre host an international arts festival.
• Pupput Archaeological Site – A Roman ruin of a small town on the southern edge of Hammamet, with preserved baths, villa foundations and mosaic tombs.
• Friguia Park – An African safari park near Bouficha where you can see lions, giraffes, elephants and dolphin shows.
• Nabeul Souk & Pottery – A traditional market in neighboring Nabeul, famous for painted pottery. The Friday market sells ceramics, spices and wickerwork.
• Neapolis Archaeological Site & Nabeul Museum – The Punic-Roman port town ruins of Nabeul, with fish-sauce workshops and fine mosaics displayed in the archaeological museum.
• Ghar El Kebir Roman Quarries – Ancient quarry caves at the northern tip of Cap Bon, with pyramid-shaped chambers that let in light, and sea cliffs and blue water outside.
• Korbous – A hot-spring town at the foot of the cliffs on Cap Bon's western coast, where the Ain Atrous hot spring flows directly into the sea.
• Takrouna – An ancient Berber village perched on a lone rock peak, with stone houses and a saint's tomb overlooking olive plains. Enjoy mint tea at a r…
• Aqua Park Flipper – A water park on the northern outskirts of Hammamet, with slides, a wave pool and a children's splash area. A summer favorite with families.

Where to eat

• Le Barberousse – A Tunisian restaurant set into the Kasbah walls of Hammamet's old town, with a rooftop terrace overlooking Hammamet Bay…
• Restaurant Ettahrir – An affordable Tunisian home-style eatery on Avenue de la Liberté. Diners can see the food in the open kitchen before or…
• Chez Achour – A garden restaurant near the old town that has operated for some thirty years and is a local institution, known for fis…

Itineraries

• Tunisia Classic North-South Loop – Head south from Tunis to the oases and the Sahara, then return north via El Jem, connecting major World Heritage sites.
• Carthage & Cap Bon Peninsula Loop – Start from Tunis and loop around the Cap Bon Peninsula to see Punic ruins, coastal fortresses, and white medinas.
• Northern Tunisia Ancient Ruins & Coast Self-Drive – Loop around the northern coast and inland ancient cities, from Carthage to Dougga, and on to Cap Bon.
• Algeria & Tunisia Ancient Heritage – Fly across two countries, connecting Tipasa, Timgad, Carthage, Dougga, and Kairouan.