Hammamet

Hammamet is the place you would like to come back to

Hammamet deserves to be discovered. In this resort town you will find a harmonious combination of oriental color and European elegancy. If Tunisia is often described as Arabic France, Hammamet is considered a European resort in the East. You will find this town respectable and stylish but very friendly and cozy. You will feel the true style of the Mediterranean, what Nice and the Riviera are so famous for, in full harmony with the orient color.

We would like to introduce Hammamet to you so that from the first moments of your stay in this wonderful place you feel at home. Do not be afraid to discover a plenty of details because Hammamet has a lot of surprises for you and this town will keep surprising you every time you visit it.

The hotels

Every hotel in Hammamet guarantees a high level of service, no matter what category of hotel you choose. This is not just our opinion, it is the truth. Add to this a perfect beach, comfortable rooms, friendly, well chosen and trained staff. Even hotels of economy class are different from those of the same rank in other resorts. That is why when you choose to come to Hammamet you make a choice in the favor of good service and you can rely on its quality in all respects.

In particular you will find here what are widely recognized as Tunis' finest centers of thalasso therapy. It is not surprising that international celebrities come to rest here and then acquire private residences on the coast in order to experience this piece of paradise again and again.

Bon appetite!

Many of Tunis' admirers - true gourmets - annually come here to enjoy the gifts of the sea skillfully cooked in the best restaurants in Hammamet. The freshest snails, mussels, shrimps, sea-eels, perches, sardines, sole fish, squids, scomber, whiting, lobsters, sea-dog, octopus, dorado - provide a real feast even for seafood amateurs. It is worth knowing that the people of Tunisia believe that food is always at its best when it is seasonal one. On this basis it is easy to recognize the quality of a seafood restaurant. If you are offered fish that is out of season, then you can be sure the restaurant does not respect the art of high quality cuisine. Among places with a good reputation can be mentioned La Bella Marina and Le Voiler.

Dreaming of a romantic dinner? You will find it if you go to the marina in the evening. The largest North Africa port complex can take 700 yachts. A splendid panorama of life of the rich and famous! The marina particular feature is the artificial lake, with an island, connected to the sea by a canal. There are pleasant apartments around this lake and on the island which you can approach with your yacht.

For something different try the Moroccan restaurant Yakout Marrakech in modern Medina. We recommend the spicy Moroccan Soup - it is perfect in combination with fresh dates. And for the main course you will not regret  if  you choose the beef with prunes, peanuts and walnuts.

In the central part of Yasmine Hammamet you will find the beer restaurant Brauhaus Yasmine which is very popular among tourists. The local beer is brewed by classic German technology.

For your daily lunch we recommend the Nefertiti cafe. Order the "Special with escalope without harissa" (harissa is very spicy ingredient). Tell the waiter "No harissa" and they will offer to have your meal cooked right in front of you, in crispy pastry, resembling somewhat a kebab, but much better and tastier. According to all our tourists Nefertiti offers the best sandwiches prepared in l at bread (baked in front of you) or in a French baguette. Take one in the local l at bread and this cafe will certain become your favorite place for lunch.

For those who like to eat a lot we suggest visiting the La Luna restaurant (situated in the old city, every taxi driver knows the way).

The prices as well as the size of the portions will surprise you. That is why when you order "pasta with seafood" you should expect not just a plate but quite an impressive pan! Prices: traditional Tunisian dishes are about 3-9 Tunisian Dinars (local currency), Mediterranean cuisine and delicacies are 18-20 dinars, salads 4,5-10 dinars, pizza 7-12 dinars, desserts 2,5-8 dinars, wines 15-35 dinars.

Cafe a la turque with a sea view

Every guest must visit the famous cafe in Hammamet Tunis Marabout, which is situated in old Medina on the coast. Here you will be offered a true Turkish style coffee and Tunisian tea with mint and nuts. Despite the popularity of the cafe the prices are relatively low: tea with menthol - 0.7 dinars, tea with cedar nuts - 1.8, dinars pancakes with filling - 1.3 - 3.5 dinars, hookah - 4.5 dinars. With an amazing view of the sea - for free.

Sweet lovers have a special route through this resort: confectionery and ice-cream shops will enchant you.

Any kinds of pastry - from the usual bred to sweet masterpieces of the baking art - deserve your attention. Even in normal shops you will find not less than 15 sorts of fresh bread not to mention traditional oriental sweets and exotic local pastry.

Confectionery shops will please you and your children with a great choice of European desserts. The best one is considered to be Canari, not only by tourists but also by locals. What will surprise and please you here? The widest range of fresh oriental sweets with cedar, pistachio, almond nuts (1.8 - 4.2 dinars per 100g) and a great variety of cakes. A very popular place among locals and visitors to Hammamet is the Delphino confectionary shop (cakes 0.5 - 1.2 dinars, a big pie - 19 dinars).

In every cafe you will be offered pancakes with a filling of your choice: chocolate, tuna, cheese. As for the ice-cream at least 1/3 of the 15-20 sorts available in the shops are made for those on a diet. Therefore there is a good combination of pleasure and fitness of body.

You would never be able to resist the magnificent fresh squeezed juices - melon, apricot, peach, pear, kiwi, lemon - in high season you can find more than 20 kinds, not including different mixtures. The best, in the opinion of our tourist is fresh strawberry juice.

Entertainment for adults and children

"Respectable" does not mean "boring". Children and teens are welcome to the theme park Carthage Land that in summer time is open at night and right in front of it there is a complex with open-air trampolines for children.

As for entertainment for adults, there are five of the most popular and glamorous discos all on the same street accordingly named Discos street. According to our tourists the best are: the British Bar (for those over 25), Manhattan, Calypso, Eurobar and the most advanced Oasis where famous DJs playing and Havana Club where the gilded youth get together.

The average entrance is 10 - 25 dinars. If we were to describe the Hammamet discos in a few words, we would describe them as fun, entertaining and safe. The safety is not only due to the professional security, but also because of the friendly atmosphere in the clubs. In general Tunis is very safe. While tourists are nowadays warned to take special care in almost every European city, Tunis can proudly and honestly boast of very low crime rates.

The rest of Tunisia

It would certainly be a good idea to spend part of your holiday traveling around Tunisia. If you wish to travel around, Hammamet is an excellent base from which the whole country is easily accessible. Of course you may enjoy the beautiful beaches with their clean golden sands. In this case, to take full advantage of your holiday and see all of Tunisia, you can extend your stay by a few days.

What routs we would like to recommend to you? Fix in your holiday schedule a time for visiting Tabarka for a couple of days. You can enjoy fresh mountain air, amazing natural sights and high quality diving which even professionals would appreciate.

Or go to park Frigiya - Hammamet is the closest to resort to this reserve. The children will be delighted and you also will have a great time: looking at about 400 animals and birds in spacious open-air cages.

In Tunisia you can combine shopping and relaxation. 20 minutes from Hammamet you will find Wabel, where the town center is full of boutiques offering a fine selection of the leading European designers' collections.

The City of potters, Nabel is also popular among tourists for its magnificent ceramic pieces of art - only few can resist buying some charming but fragile articles. We also recommend visiting the enormous bazaar on Fridays: you can buy almost anything from the farmers who come to sell their goods here; everything from agricultural products to antiques. However it is the ceramic wave that deserved most of your attention.

If you are really serious about shopping, then visit the capital - Tunis (Hammamet is only a 40 min drive away). Of course there is a lot to see in this city; however our concern is shopping, isn't it? You should bear in mind that all prices in Tunisian boutiques for world famous French labels are about 30% lower than European prices. Please don't get the wrong impression - you won't find any fakes here, a guarantee of this are the close and long established ties between Tunis and Paris, the capital of fashion.

Music of the starry sky

Tunisia is a country of festivals and every month vivid and interesting event on an international scale are waiting for you here. Hammamet's geographic situation has particular value in this respect - while relaxing at this resort you are always at the center of events: the Citrus flowers Festival (April) in Nabel, the Falconry Festival (June) in El Khaoari, the Jazz music festival (July), the Festival of Corals (September) in Tabarka and the Festival of Arts (July-August) in Hammamet.

Finally if you find yourself in Tunis in July or August plan to go to El Jem to visit one of the concerts of the International Festival of symphonic music. This annual festival under the patronage of the President of Tunisia has been taking place for more than ten years and in 2008 begins the 42nd Festival. This important project is financed by the state authorities and that is why the tickets for the leading orchestras' cost only 10 - 15 dollars and VIP places go for 30 dollars. Carthage Travel & Events can help you with all necessary arrangements for this event. The trip with the transport both ways, including licensed guide services, costs about 50 dollars only.

Famous musicians, expertly chosen programs, amazing acoustics and an unimaginable atmosphere: the majestic walls of the Coliseum, a starry evening sky and music that fills this fantastic, almost mystic space... Who knows what will come to mind as you breathe in the fresh, night air and listen to beautiful melodies. A fantastic evening awaits you here, full of emotions and incredible sights.