Hammamet was where we spent the last two days of our Tunisia holiday. A great place to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the beautiful beaches after an action packed week. There are plenty of beautiful resorts and options. Here are some recommendatons to help you plan your visit, either by itself or part of a wider Tunisia itinerary. Feel free to drop me a question on my YoutTube video.
Hammamet is one of Tunisia’s oldest and most beloved seaside towns. It was originally a small fishing village, that grew around its 15th century medina and fortress, both overlooking the sea. With it’s white sand and warm waters, the town was transformed into the country’s first true resort destination.
With around 45 km of beaches stretching from the historic centre…Hammamet is often referred to as the St Tropez of Tunisia.
Our Hotel - Radisson Blu
There are many resort options in Hammamet, but we stayed at the Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso and it was wonderful! It was very quiet in late May, so we were also lucky to get upgraded to a sea view room which was a lovely touch. Worth asking if it’s quiet when you visit.
The pool area is beautiful, surrounded by tall palm trees and very attentive staff offering food and drinks.
Equally as fabulous is the private beach area with plentiful loungers and umbrellas. Relaxation was in full effect with a drink in my hand laying by the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and the soft sand beneath my feet!
Breakfast was great and one evening we decided to stay at the resort for dinner as they had live music on too. The entire
experience here was perfect and I can’t recommend it enough.
Restaurant Dalili
I will preface that we arrived one day before the start of a 2 day religious period in Tunisia, which meant that there was literally only one day where places were open and we could eat out. Pretty much everything in town was closed. Worth double checking your travel dates so you are prepared.
However, our first night we ate at Restaurant Dalili which was right near our hotel, and it was delicious. The restaurant is clean, modern and well decorated! Some wonderful pasta selections and while we didn’t have it, the pizza looked pretty good too.
Exploring Hammamet
It’s quite possible to just stay at your hotel and soak up the sun, but I would recommend taking at least one day to explore the town. The historic soul of which is the medina and kasbah fortress.
Medina of Hammamet
We walked from our hotel along the coast to reach the Medina. It’s a lovely walk along the promenade, and avoids the extra expense of taxis.
Hammamet’s medina is a small, white washed old town perched right above the sea. Built in the 15th century and later expanded under Ottoman rule, it’s a compact maze of narrow lanes, blue trimmed doorways, and quiet residential corners. Given the religious period the medina was very quiet, but that did allow for some peaceful exploring and lots of people free photos.
Kasbah Fortress
Around the medina is the Kasbah, which is the fortress that anchors the medina, standing guard over Hammamet Bay for more than 500 years. Built in the 9th century and reinforced in the 15th, it served as a defensive stronghold against pirates and later as a lookout point during Ottoman times. For some panoramic views you can walk along the ramparts.
Café Sidi Bou Hdid
Café Sidi Bou Hdid is a cute cafe located right on the edge of the seaside promenade adjacent to the Kasbah Fortress. You can’t beat the location of this place, some lovely tables outside that overlook the bay of Hammamet.
Mermaids of Hammamet
Right outside the café is the Mermaids of Hammamet, which is a statue of three mermaids. Depending on the season, they are painted in different colours (blue for us) and adorned with a golden crown.
Plage Hammamet
A short walk from the café and the statue is Plage Hammamet. This small beach is right on the doorstep of the medina. We enjoyed walking out into the water to cool off and getting some great views of the colorful boats with the Kasbah and Medina in the background.
Further afield is the popular Yasmine Hammamet Beach. We didn’t have the time to make it there, but might be worth adding to your itinerary if you can.
Wrap Up
Winding up our 7 day Tunisian holiday in Hammamet was the perfect conclusion. The beaches were beautiful, the ocean calm, and our resort was truly wonderful. Our trip was just before peak season (May), meaning everything was a lot quieter, but that was perfect for us!
If you’re looking for something more lively, you might want to consider Sousse which is a popular resort town further south.
However, I’d highly recommend Hammamet. It was the icing on the cake for what I thought was such an incredible adventure!
