Overview

Hammamet is an old city with a rich and diverse history dating back to ancient times. There are several interesting historical sites to enjoy including the Kasbah and Medina of Hammamet. The International Cultural Centre, located close the city in a house built by wealthy Romanian, is fascinating, especially in July and August when the annual music and drama festival is held.

Hammamet Friguia Park

Located just outside the city is the fantastic Hammamet Friguia Park, which is home to an array of African animals as well as over 25 endangered species. Some of the animals include gazelles, camels, donkeys, lions, ostriches, crocodiles and antelopes. The park is a large open area that allows the animals to roam in semi-freedom. There is a bridge crossing over the big cat area, giving visitors a close up view of these beautiful animals. The park is also home to a restaurant and several snack and beverage stalls.

Carthage Museum

The National Museum of Carthage is situated in the nearby city of Tunis, around a one-hour drive from Hammamet. The museum is filled with fascinating artefacts and pieces from the Roman and Punic civilisations. Near to the museum are also numerous archaeological sites including the ruins of Punic Carthage that dates back to 146 BC. There are Roman burial grounds located behind the museum as well as excavations where ancient houses have been found.

International Cultural Centre

Positioned in the south of the city is the International Cultural Centre that is housed in a 1920s villa built by George Sebastian, a wealthy Romanian who was the first millionaire to make Hammamet his home. The centre includes a theatre and drama stage as well as large outdoor areas, which are used during July and August for the annual International Music and Drama Festival. There is an outdoor theatre that was built in 1964 with Greek and Roman styling.

Hammamet Medina

The Hammamet Medina is an amazing medina that dates back to the 1500s. Built by the Hafsids to protect the people and allow safe trade, the Medina offers a look back into early times, with the entire structure open to the public. Nowadays the medina is filled with souvenirs stalls and small shops. If you don't wish to buy anything then it is best to just walk through the stall areas quickly as the vendors can be persistent. In the southern quarters of the medina are some less crowded areas with interesting houses and small laneways.

Hammamet Kasbah

The Kasbah of Hammamet was originally constructed during the 12th century and has been significantly restored over the years. Located at the base of the Hammamet Medina, the Kasbah has stunning views of the city and surrounding areas. One of the best parts about seeing the Kasbah is the great views, which can are particularly stunning at sunset when the white-washed walls of the medina turn orange with the sun. Inside the Kasbah there is not much for visitors to see apart from a few rooms and stairwells.

Overview

Hammamet is a fantastic city with a host of fun and exciting sporting activities to enjoy. There are several golf courses including the newly built Jasmine and Citrus resorts that have world-class greens and facilities. Tennis is popular, with courts in most resorts and hotels. For something different there is an ice skating rink located in the trendy tourist area of Yasmine Hammamet.

Golf

There are several golf courses around Hammamet and the surrounding area. Hammamet Golf Course Jasmine is a newly constructed world-class course with an 18-hole, par 72 course as well as a nine-hole practice course designed for beginners. Also located in Hammamet is Citrus, which has two 18-hole courses spread over 300 acres of beautiful forests and olive groves. The course is near to the beach and has spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Ice skating

Situated in the newly developed area of Yasmine Hammamet is the brand new Blue Ice Complex, which houses an ice skating rink, games room, fast food restaurants and other children's entertainment. The ice skating rink is Tunisia's first ever and can handle over 100 skaters per session. The complex is open until late every day and provides not only a great place for kids to have some fun, but a welcome break from the high temperatures outside.

Tennis

Most of the hotels and resorts in Hammamet have tennis courts available for guest usage. There are tennis coaches for those wanting to learn or improve on their game, with lessons for all levels from novice to advanced. If you just want a game, tennis racquets and balls are available to hire as well as ball collectors for a small charge. Most courts will have somebody to play with if you are alone. There are a few tennis resorts that offer guests a tennis holiday that includes accommodation and daily lessons and court time.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

The warm clear Mediterranean Sea provides perfect conditions for scuba diving and snorkelling, with an abundance of marine life and fantastic dive sites. There are numerous dive and adventure companies that offer dive courses and daytrips to the best dive sites. The Odysea Diving School is a well-established PADI accredited local company that has several boats and all necessary safety equipment. For snorkelling, most resorts offer complimentary equipment to explore the underwater world close to shore.

Windsurfing

Throughout the year, across the coastline of Hammamet, there are always windsurfers out enjoying the gentle winds and sunny skies. The main beach of the city has a plethora of hire shops offering windsurfing equipment by the hour or day, with prices being relatively inexpensive. There are also lessons available for novices wishing to learn.

Dining and shopping

The dining scene in Hammamet is vast and varied, with a plethora of restaurants, cafés and bars serving tasty local cuisine as well as flavours and dishes from around the world including Italian, French, Thai, Japanese, British and Moroccan. The downtown district of Hammamet is filled with charming eateries lining the streets, which allow you much choice.

The Tunisian cuisine is fresh and tasty using an array of local herbs and freshly caught seafood. A local favourite is tagine, which is a slow-cooked seafood stew using vegetables and a thick gravy sauce. Tunisians enjoy their sweet pastries and have adopted baklava, which is a dessert made with thin layers of pastry cooked with assorted nuts and a honey butter sauce.

Being situated on the beautiful coastline of north Africa, Hammamet has a good selection of fresh seafood available and there are many restaurants specialising in seafood barbeques. Along the beachfront there are restaurants, resorts and even small vendors cooking fresh prawns and fish on hot charcoal barbeques.

For fine dining there are a couple of great restaurants located in the Yasmine district of Hammamet which offer international menus coupled with great views of the Mediterranean Sea. You will also find a host of great restaurants in the city's numerous five-star resorts.

Shoppers will enjoy what Hammamet has to offer, with countless market stalls selling everything from silver jewellery to ceramics as well as modern air-conditioned malls with designer brand clothing and expensive souvenirs. There are outdoor markets held on each day of the week in different areas of the city where you can find great bargains and one-off items.

Situated in the newly developed and trendy area of Yasmine Hammamet are several shopping centres with a variety of shops available. You can find shops selling fine jewellery, clothing and electronics.

The old markets, locally known as souks, are charming, with streets of vendors selling everything including herbs and spices, carved wooden pieces, leather goods, carpets and traditional artworks. Vendors are quite pushy and will try anything to get you into their shops. Haggling for a price is considered part of shopping in the souks. Vendors will always ask for a high price so be prepared to drop their opening offer by up to 50 per cent.

Just outside of the city are several pottery and ceramic souks which have countless pieces of colourful and exotic home wares. There are also fantastic brass and copper pieces made with local Arabic styling.

Hammamet is home to a large selection of restaurants, bars and cafés serving local Tunisian cuisine as well as flavours from around the world including Italian, French, British, Thai and Moroccan. The new marina area of the city has a labyrinth of restaurants, all of which offer great views. Some of the resorts and hotels of Hammamet have fantastic restaurants with world-class chefs.

Overview

The most common mode of transport to Hammamet is by flying to Tunis Carthage International Airport then taking a bus or taxi to the city. Travelling between other cities in Tunisia is easy, with an extensive bus and rail network. Hiring a car and self-driving is also a popular option. Getting around Hammamet is easiest by taxi although there are public buses and local minivans also available.

Airports

Located approximately 70kms from Hammamet is Tunis Carthage International Airport, which is the main airport used for flying into Tunisia. The single terminal airport handles flights from numerous European destinations and national carriers including Air Europa, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian.

Tunis Carthage International Airport is a modern airport with a host of facilities available including duty-free shopping, several snack bars and restaurants, ATMs, money exchange, tourist information and postal services.

Getting to Hammamet from Tunis Carthrage International Airport is relatively easy, with a host of transit options available. There are special bus services that make the 70km trip in around 1 hour, 30 minutes or you can take a taxi, which will only take around 1 hour. Alternatively, you can hire a car and self-drive along the newly constructed A1 and P1 motorways.

Public transportation

Travelling to Hammamet from other Tunisian cities is easy, with a host of options available including train, bus and car. The railway is modern and extensive, connecting to most major cities including Souse, Monasir, Mahdia, Bizerte, Tabarka, Dougga and Tunis. Train travel is comfortable, with first class cabins available, which are relatively inexpensive.

Daily buses and coaches leave for Hammamet from a plethora of destinations around the country. The bus service is relatively comfortable although in the summer months services can be crowded. Tickets can be purchased in advance and schedules often change so be sure to check travel times.

Hiring a car and self-driving is a popular way of getting around Tunisia and travelling to Hammamet. All of the major car hire companies including Avis, Hertz and Budget have offices in most cities. The roads in Tunisia are in good condition and easy to navigate but local driving habits can be erratic.

Getting around Hammamet city is fairly easy, with public buses, minivans and taxis readily available. The city's buses are quite old and slow but they get you to where you need to go. You can pick up a bus schedule from any tourist information office in the city.

Minivans also know locally as louage travel through the city and to the city outskirts and suburbs. Louage are inexpensive and convenient, with some travelling to nearby towns and attractions.

Taxis are found everywhere in Hammamet and are one of the most convenient options for getting about. Taxis are relatively inexpensive although you should negotiate a price before travel to avoid any problems once at your destination.