Hammamet travel guide

Hammamet, Tunisia

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Hammamet

Introduction

Hammamet is a town in the Nabeul Governorate of Tunisia, set in the south-eastern part of Cape Bon. Its beaches make it a popular destination for swimming and water sports, and it ranks among the country's primary tourist destinations.

Before you go

Hammamet is the oldest tourist centre in the country, and its layout follows a distinctive principle: no building rises higher than the cypresses, so the town keeps a low, one-storey image. Expect wide sand beaches, modern hotels with a high level of service, and plenty of bars, restaurants, stores and markets. The luxurious gardens are what set the resort apart, even among the well-kept parks of Tunisian resorts generally. The town is particularly known for jasmine — the namesake of the Yasmine Hammamet resort — and jasmine-crafted souvenirs are sold throughout.

Give some thought to timing: the population swells dramatically with the arrival of tourists in summer, so the warm months are the busiest. The old core preserves its fortress walls and the Big Mosque, and the medina dates from the 15th century, with walls built around the town in the 13th. The area's history runs deeper still — a settlement known as Pupput stood here in the 1st century and became a Roman colony in the 2nd, and the town later passed under Spanish and Turkish rule. If you are interested in local culture, the Festival international d'Hammamet was established in 1964.

Getting there

Most travellers reach Hammamet by air, landing at Tunis (Carthage), Enfidha or Monastir. From Monastir or Tunis a private taxi to Hammamet takes roughly an hour; from Enfidha the ride is shorter and cheaper. If you haven't booked a coach transfer, expect men at the airport to offer to take your trolley — you'll be charged for it, so say no and keep hold of your belongings. You can also take an airport taxi (ask for the meter to be turned on rather than bargaining) to the intercity bus station or the collective shared-taxi station, where nine-seater louages cover intercity routes; fares are low per head, though you may pay extra for bulky luggage.

By train, plenty of services from Tunis stop at Bir Bou Regba (Rekba), which sits on the main line about 6 km from Hammamet; from the station you can easily pick up a taxi to anywhere in town. Direct trains from Tunis to Hammamet are fewer. Louages also leave from the Hammamet Louage Station, though mostly if not exclusively to Tunis, arriving at the Moncef Bey louage station in the capital.

Getting around

Hammamet's practical geography comes down to two zones: the older town centre around the Medina, and the purpose-built resort area of Yasmine Hammamet with its own marina. Most of your transport decisions will involve moving between these two, reaching the beachfront, and connecting onward to Tunis, Sousse or the airport. Walking covers a lot of ground here, and in places it is the only sensible option: the Medina is a car-free labyrinth of narrow alleys best explored on foot, with guided walking tours available if you want context along the way. A flat corniche runs along the beachfront in both Hammamet and Yasmine Hammamet, and the marina at Yasmine Hammamet is pedestrian-oriented, with wide pathways lined with shops and restaurants. Do watch for traffic, though — some busy roads lack sidewalks, so keep valuables out of sight when walking along them.

Local buses link the town centre with Yasmine Hammamet and other local areas; they are very cheap and run on a schedule, with payment to the driver or at a kiosk, so carry small denominations of Tunisian dinars in case the driver has no change. For inter-city trips, white louage vans run fixed routes and depart only when full, generally faster and more frequent than buses on popular routes, with a fixed per-person fare paid to the driver. Louage stations usually sit outside the town centre, so ask locals or hotel staff for directions, and write down your destination to show the driver or dispatcher if you don't speak Arabic or French. From Hammamet, louages leave from the Hammamet Louage Station, with service mostly if not exclusively to Tunis, arriving at the Moncef Bey louage station. Trains (SNCFT) also connect Hammamet to Tunis and Sousse on fixed daily timetables with first and second class, bought at the station counter; many trains stop at Bir Bou Regba on the main line a short distance away, from where a taxi will take you into Hammamet — often the more practical rail option, since fewer trains run directly from Tunis. Licensed taxis are yellow cars with a roof sign and visible meter: hail them on the street or at taxi stands, insist on the "compteur" being switched on, expect higher rates after 9 PM, and note the taxi number. Short rides within Hammamet are cash only, and app-based ride-hailing is not common, so plan around licensed taxis. Renting a car is possible through the major agencies with your national licence plus an International Driving Permit; driving is on the right, and local driving can be aggressive with frequent horn use, so avoid driving outside major towns at night. Parking is challenging near the Medina but easier in Yasmine Hammamet, where paid lots are available. Small boat taxis operate from Yasmine Hammamet Marina for short coastal outings, and larger excursion boats run half- and full-day trips with swimming and snorkelling, popular in summer. Cycling is limited — few dedicated lanes and risky main roads — so keep it to the promenade, quieter parts of Yasmine Hammamet or resort grounds, where some hotels rent bicycles. Accessibility on public transport is generally limited, with steps on buses and louages and older stations that may lack ramps or elevators; taxis and pre-arranged private transfers are the most adaptable options.

Where to stay

Most of Hammamet's accommodation clusters in the Zone Touristique Yasmine, the resort strip built around the marina, where the larger hotels sit close to the beach and within reach of the medina, casino, cultural centre and golf clubs. Mid-range options here include Hammamet Azur Plaza on Rue De La Mediterrane, set in a garden domain a short walk from its own private sandy beach, with an outdoor pool and solarium, air-conditioned rooms with balconies or terraces overlooking the pool or grounds, and a mini club for children aged four to fourteen with a playground and a small pool open during school holidays. Hotel Ona Flora Park also sits in the Zone Touristique Yasmine.

For a splurge, Le Royal Hammamet (Occidental Hammamet) occupies a spot on the Yasmine Hammamet beach near the marina, and comes with a spa, heated swimming pool, Turkish bath, fitness hall and hair salon, plus a nightclub, kids' club and amusement arcade; pedal boating, water skiing and overland tours by camel, horse or 4x4 can be arranged. Hotel Iberostar Averroes, on Villa De Charme Hammamet, offers a bar/lounge, beach access, a business centre with Internet access, a gym, free parking, children's activities, a restaurant, a spa, suites and a pool.

Food & drink

Hammamet has plenty of restaurants, and a typical dinner is generally inexpensive. Seafood is a highlight — a nice lobster for two with white wine makes for a memorable splurge, though it costs considerably more than an ordinary meal.

For a budget option, Restaurant La Luna on Avenue du Koweït serves good food in a pleasant atmosphere without being expensive. When it comes to drinking, seek out the local wine: it's hard to find in restaurants in Tunis, so Hammamet is a good place to try it.

What to see and do

Hammamet's sights are a mix of the ancient and the recent. The 16th-century Harbor Castle stands as the town's historic anchor, with information panels in several languages that sketch out its past. Inland, the scattered remains of Pupput, a Roman-era settlement, lie largely buried beneath modern holiday development, so what you see is only a fragment of the original site. West of town, three abandoned Second World War tanks sit in open country; quad tours from Hammamet pass through, but the final stretch of the track is in very bad condition, so if you drive, be prepared to leave the car and walk the last part rather than risk getting stuck. The Centre culturel international (Dar Sébastien) on avenue des nations unies is another cultural stop worth noting.

For most visitors, though, the main activity is the beach. Hammamet Sud has surprisingly clear water, with small fish swimming right by the shore, and a busy line-up of water sports on offer: paragliding, jet-skiing, tubing, and short camel rides along the sand. It is very touristy and heavily geared to holidaymakers, so expect company rather than solitude.

Three days in Hammamet

Day one: Start in Hammamet's Medina, where the Spanish and Turkish influences are visible in the walls and streets. Visit the Big Mosque, then walk to the beach. In the evening, eat local Tunisian food in the Medina.

Day two: Take a louage from Hammamet Louage Station to Bir Bou Regba, then continue to Pupput to see the Roman remains. Return to Hammamet and spend the afternoon at the beach. In the evening, check whether the Festival is on.

Day three: Go to Yasmine Hammamet for its resort character and marina. If you have time, take a louage to Nabeul, known for its pottery, or continue to Tunis, Carthage or Sousse. Louages also connect to Enfidha and Monastir; from Monastir you can reach Hammamet by direct louage.

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