Beach Resort Guide
Djerba
Djerba Beach Resort Guide
Introduction
Djerba's beauty has been sung by poets ever since Homer described it as the island of ten thousand palm trees. It is easy to see why the writer was enchanted with the island as Djerba has an inviting year round climate and stunning sandy beaches, plus the more recent addition of some excellent hotels. All of the resort hotels are situated in the Zone Touristique on the northeast coast, meaning the towns have managed to retain their original character. The real Djerba is found inland, away from the main tourist resorts, where olive groves make the most of the barren land and traditional architecture can be seen. Summer is party time in Djerba and many Tunisians living in Europe return to the island to celebrate the wedding season.
Who goes there?
In summer mostly Tunisians and some heat-loving Europeans flock to the island. The rest of the year the island attracts mainly French, German and Italian visitors and a few Brits. During school holidays, the hotels are filled with families and young people, while out of season you find an older crowd.
Where in the world?
Djerba is in the southeast of Tunisia in the Gulf of Gabes. The island's capital, Houmt Souk, is located 108km (65 miles) east of Gabes, and 245km (147 miles) south of Sfax. The island's airport is near Melita in the northwest of the island, 8km (5 miles) from Houmt Souk.
The island is 29km (18 miles) wide and 27km (17 miles) long, and is connected to the mainland by the Roman el-Kantara causeway and a car ferry from Ajim to el-Jorf.
The island is 29km (18 miles) wide and 27km (17 miles) long, and is connected to the mainland by the Roman el-Kantara causeway and a car ferry from Ajim to el-Jorf.
When to go?
With over 300 days of sunshine and very little rain, Djerba is a great year-round destination. The main summer season is from April to October when the average daily temperature ranges from 23°C (73°F) to 33°C (91°F). For the rest of the year the temperature still remains fairly high, rarely dropping below an average of 18°C (64°F).
Beach
Djerba is blessed with soft sandy beaches and a clear turquoise sea. The best beaches are on the northeast coast, but most are privately owned by the resort hotels in the Zone Touristique, with the exception of a few stretches such as the Plage des 5,000 Ans (Beach of 5,000 Years), 8km (5 miles) from Houmt Souk, and, further on, the Plage Municipale (Municipal Beach). The quieter beaches are between Aghir and el-Kantara.All the hotels offer a wide variety of watersports including wind-surfing, water-skiing, jet-skiing and pedalos.
Beyond the beach
The white-washed town of Houmt Souk, with its narrow alleys of souks and souvenir shops, has interesting Djerban architecture, particularly the mosques and the funduqs (inns). The Museum of Popular Arts (rue avenue Abdelhamid el-Kadhi) allows an insight into the island's traditions. A 25-minute walk from the centre is the picturesque fishing port, which is at its busiest early morning.
The true soul of the island lies inland. The Synagogue of el-Ghriba in er-Riadh, 7km (4 miles) south of Houmt Souk, is the oldest in North Africa, and it contains what is presumed to be the world's oldest Torah. Guellala has an interesting Folkloric Museum and several potteries. The island's second largest town, Midoun, is a quieter and smaller version of Houmt Souk.
The true soul of the island lies inland. The Synagogue of el-Ghriba in er-Riadh, 7km (4 miles) south of Houmt Souk, is the oldest in North Africa, and it contains what is presumed to be the world's oldest Torah. Guellala has an interesting Folkloric Museum and several potteries. The island's second largest town, Midoun, is a quieter and smaller version of Houmt Souk.
Family fun
All the resorts are family orientated, and children love shopping in the colourful souks. A visit to Borj el-Kebir, Houmt Souk's fort, captures the imagination as the stronghold of the Turkish pirate Dragut and his men. Every Tuesday afternoon a traditional fantasia (horse show) is organised at the amphitheatre of Midoun. Djerba Explore (www.djerbaexplore.com), near Aghir, is a large tourist complex with a fine museum of Islamic arts, a crocodile park, a heritage zone and several restaurants and shops.
Retail therapy
The souks of Houmt Souk sell everything from elaborate Tunisian bird cages and silver filigree jewellery to the omnipresent fluffy camel, Djerban hats and shopping baskets made from palm leaves. Socopa (avenue Habib Bourguiba) exhibits and sells Tunisian crafts at fixed prices, while Michèle Art et Tradition (rue des Antiquaires) has a high-quality selection of local crafts. Guellala has plenty of pottery shops and workshops. Midoun has a good market on Thursday afternoon, and early on Friday morning.
A night on the town
Most cafes in Houmt Souk close around 2000, so the nights are quiet. Many of the hotels in the Zone Touristique have nightclubs that cater to Europeans and a few Tunisian men. The Grand Pasino Djerba (www.djerbacasino.com) in the Zone Touristique, is open 24 hours.
Eating out
Restaurants serve fresh seafood and fish, as well as the traditional Tunisian salads and couscous. The smaller restaurants often don't serve alcohol. The alleys and streets of Houmt Souk are lined with cafes and restaurants. Popular with both locals and tourists is Restaurant de l'île (rue de Bizerte) with delicious and good value seafood dishes served with wine, and the more up market Haroun (at the entrance of the harbour), where couscous with fish is the house specialty. The hotels offer a selection of restaurants.
Getting around
The bus station in Houmt Souk (avenue Habib Bourguiba) has three buses a day to Melita airport. The cheapest way to get around is by the island's extensive bus network (the time table is posted in the bus station). Alternatively you can hire a car or, even better, a scooter from Raïs Rentals (9 avenue Abdelhamid el-Kadhi, Houmt Souk). Bicycle hire is available from hotels and as the island is flat it is easy to cycle around. From the bus station there are scheduled departures to Tunis, Sousse, Sfax, Gabés, Zarzis and other southern towns on the mainland.
Exploring further afield
The region around Tataouine has several ruined hilltop villages with ksour (fortified strongholds), including Ksar Haddada, the old village of Guermessa and the most picturesque of all, Chenini. Medenine has a Sunday market and a few abandoned ksour in its surroundings. Slightly further away is Matmata with its troglodyte dwellings that featured in Star Wars.
Splashing out
The Dar Dhiafa hotel (www.hoteldardhiafa.com) in the village of er-Riadh stands out from all others on the island. This small luxurious hotel with 10 individually decorated rooms and four suites occupies some traditional houses in the village. It has two swimming pools, a hammam (Turkish bath) and an excellent restaurant.
Flying in
Djerba Melita Airport (DJE)
Need some holiday inspiration?
Tired of the same holiday destination?
Fresh ideas are just one click away...
Fresh ideas are just one click away...
Sign up for our newsletter
Be the first to hear about the coolest destinations and the latest travel trends. Plus, competitions, holiday inspiration and amusing facts, delivered directly to your inbox.
Advertisement
Travel Deals
Advertising features
-
Finland Family holidays There is something about the snow in Finland that makes you wonder if the locals sneak out at night and spray it with a coat of brilliant white paint – it
-
Finland Activity & adventure holidays Finnish Lapland has enormous areas of untouched wilderness and mile upon mile of wild rolling fells. This vast open countryside, sparkling in the winter sunshine, just begs to be explored by
-
Orlando Adrenaline Whether you’re enjoying the hair-raising delights of the world’s only flying rollercoaster called Manta at SeaWorld or racing through the Everglades on an airboat in search of alligators, one thing’s for
-
Cambodia Luxury holidays Today Cambodia is symbolised by awesome Angkor Wat, the largest man-made religious structure in the world. However, Cambodia is also home to some of the finest boutique hotels in the world
-
Laos Inspire Me When the French colonised Indochina they had a saying: "The Vietnamese grow the rice, the Cambodians watch the rice grow, and the Lao people listen to the rice grow." This is
-
Vietnam Cultural breaks Vietnam is a country with a rich and varied history that is now firmly focused on her bright future. This is why it has become one of the hottest destinations for
Travel Partners
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
