North of Africa is the Tunisian Republic, commonly called Tunisia. It rests on the Mediterranean, between its waters and the Atlas Mountains, with much of the famous Sahara desert occupying its territory.
In summer good weather reigns. From May you can enjoy visits to the deserts, archaeological sites and beaches as the temperature is between 12 and 28 ºC so although it does not have cool summers it is a good season to enjoy the outdoors. And what beaches it has! Let's find out then what can you do a summer in Tunisia.
The beaches of Tunisia
The Mediterranean coast then concentrates urban settlements that have turned to maritime activities and tourism. The country has 1300 kilometers of coastline and about 600 of them are occupied by beaches. Every summer there are about 7 million tourists who come to enjoy them.
In these spas the accommodation offer is varied And you can either rent an apartment or go to a simple little hotel or a luxury hotel or even an apart-hotel. Let's see some of its best and most tourist beach destinations.
Djerba
It is a island that measures 25 kilometers long by 20 wide and has 150 kilometers of coastline. It is about 2 meters from the coast, in the Gulf of Gabés, and it is a luxury destination. It is also known by the names of Jerba, Yerba or Gelves.
It has a good natural harbor on the south coast and many centuries of history since The Carthaginians, the Romans, some barbarian tribes, the Byzantines and finally the Arabs passed through here. Each town has left its mark, so beyond enjoying the sun and the sea, there are good places to lose yourself in the past.
To Djerba you arrive by ferry from the continent and by an embankment or "Roman road" seven kilometers long and dating from at least the third century BC Its average annual temperature is around 19ºC and its maximum in the summer is 33 ºC. A pleasure because the sea breeze blows and refreshes a lot. Here in djerba there are at least 20 beaches, all on the east coast and all of golden sands.
Before the 50s it was not a tourist destination but in the middle of that decade it landed Mediterranean Club and twisted the course of history. Thus, by the 80s the entire island was already living off tourism. The passing of time has left the hotel market somewhat behind and no longer has the splendor of yesteryear but there are always new offers and the industry tries season by season to offer the best to its visitors, so there is casino, museums, ancient ruins, golf course, spas and else.
The best beaches are Sidi Bakkour, Sidi Hacchani and Sidi Mahrez, to the northeast, and those to the south are added, Sidi Jmour to the west and east that of aghir and the Sidi Garrous.
Susa
On the east coast of Tunisia is this city that is the capital of the Susa governorate. It is 140 kilometers from Tunis and rests on the Gulf of Hammamet. Its medina is since 1988 Heritage.
Not far from the center of Susa is the Port El Kantaouti tourist center, known as the «first garden port of the Mediterranean». It is 100% Tunisian style, which presents us with a green and wavy postcard, with Arab-Andalusian airs, of hotels, buildings, shops and centers dedicated to leisure. The marina is also added, with capacity for 340 moorings, and a golf course.
Sure, we can't forget about attack that ISIS committed here in 2015 and in which more than 30 people died. A terrorist armed with a Russian assault rifle fired on the beach of a hotel of the Riu chain.
Monastir
It is a small coastal city whose name derives from Latin. It is only 162 kilometers from Tunis, the capital of the country, and south of Susa, at the tip of the Gulf of Hammamet. It enjoys a mild climate, the skies are always clear in summer and its waters sparkle in the rays of the sun.
It has an average population of 50 thousand inhabitants and they know how to welcome summer visitors. The city, although small, has many centuries of history so has a rich historical and cultural heritage, with traditions, gastronomy and colorful festivals. Do not forget to visit the Ribat, the fortress, one of the most imposing buildings in the country, as well as the extensive beaches, with sun loungers and straw umbrellas, as nice as they are practical.
mahdia
More or less the same number of inhabitants have Mahdia, another beautiful seaside town. It is just southeast of Monastir and it is the capital of a governorate of the same name that not only lives on tourism but also on fishing and its processing.
You can arrive by train from Monastir or from Susa and history tells us that it was the first capital of the Fatimid caliphs in the XNUMXth century. A Christian crusade passed through here and also the corsairs who used to haunt the Mediterranean Sea. Today one of its most emblematic buildings is the Borj el Kebir fortress, built at the end of the XNUMXth century to defend the Spanish.
It rests on a rocky peninsula but its beaches are a sandy paradise. Naturally, it is a much simpler and quieter place than Djerba.
Hammamet
It's a tourist pole whose hotel offer is huge. Has a old medina, under the fortress and next to the fishing port, and another much newer which is in the hotel zone of Yasmine.
This new complex is surrounded by a long wall one kilometer long. Looks like an ancient citadel although it is not but it is designed and built for precisely that. The medina Yasmine Hammamet has since shops and disco to cafes and restaurants passing through a typical hamman and many time-share flats.do that every summer they occupy themselves to the maximum.
For fun there is the complex Carthago Land, focused on offering its visitors a panorama of two thousand years of history in the best and most entertaining way. There are models, scenes of daily life and its changes over the centuries, and interactive displays.
You can enjoy the beach, eat in a restaurant overlooking the sea or stay in a flat as white as snow to enjoy your terrace overlooking the blue sea.
Sidi Bou Said
It has a stable population of just 5 people but grows to 150 when summer arrives. It is one of the most popular summer destinations in Tunisia and is only 20 kilometers from Tunis capital. For that very reason.
It is the classic postcard of the Mediterranean since since the 20s of the twentieth century its inhabitants continue with the commitment to paint everything white and blue: white walls and blue doors, windows and bars. Among its cultural attractions is the palace of Baron Erlanger, the same one that gave its name to the law that obliges to maintain this commitment of colors in the city, and the Zaouia Mosque.
The beautiful landscapes have inspired many artists and continue to do so. there are many art galleries and workshops. A must see is the Café des Nattes, a site visited by writers like Gide at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. And finally, if you want to continue exploring, you can go away for about an hour and get to Bizerte, a site whose historic center is a beauty.
These are some of the best summer destinations in Tunisia. They are popular places but you can peck here and there and if you don't like crowds you can stop at places that are still more quiet and rugged, such Tabarka.