The Hammamet Experience

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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The average Brit doesn''t know too much about Tunisia. It is in North Africa yes, but it also has a Mediterranean feel. Its beaches are warm and sandy and smell of jasmine during the evening and oranges and lemons during the day, its cities are surprisingly cosmopolitan and its landscape is varied and diverse. Most British holidaymakers go to Tunisia for an affordable family holiday filled with sun, sand and sea. But there is plenty more on offer.

Once a sleepy fishing village, Hammamet has been transformed into a chic and stylish beach retreat. It is often referred to as Tunisia''s answer to St Tropez and in many ways it is. But unlike its neighbours across the Med and even Morocco to the west, it is much cheaper and definitely less obvious and try hard.

The several beaches to choose from all around Hammamet are all absolutely gorgeous, with golden sands and water which is a holiday-brochure shade of azure. Yasmine Beach is perfect for snorkelling as its shallow waters flow with life, while Hammamet Beach is for adrenaline junkies: here you can wakeboard, waterski, windsurf, kitesurf, jet ski and even go parasailing ...
... or ride a banana boat.

Sports such as tennis and golf are popular in and around Hammamet. The area has six golf courses open throughout the year, with impressively low green fees. The Citrus course is particularly beautiful, designed around six lakes on 300 acres of olive groves, lemon groves and forest with the beaches of Hammamet as the backdrop.

The old town area is still very Arabic. This is reflected in the architecture including heavy, ornate doors, tiled interior courtyards acting as oases at the centre of a home, and wind towers and minarets will reward your eyes when you look up.

In this old walled Medina, you will find a large and beautifully decorated mosque, Arab baths, known as Hammams, and plenty of small shops and restaurants serving fresh, locally caught fish with olives as big as your thumb.

If, however, you prefer to keep your nightlife more Western and cosmopolitan, then by all means head into the modern development where glass meets white washed walls and flashes of colour from beautiful flowers and palms.

Tunisia is well-known for its pottery. In Hammamet there are several pottery works where you can watch how traditional pottery pieces were formed and then buy these original works to take home. Bonny Kominek is a travel expert and freelance writer. They recommend Octopus Travel for Hammamet hotels.