Hammamet.
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Overview

Hammamet (حمامات) is in Northern Tunisia. Thanks to its beaches, it is a popular destination for swimming and water sports and is the primary tourist destination in Tunisia.

Understand

Hammamet is the oldest tourist center in the country. All resorts in Tunis have wonderful parks but even among them Hammamet stands out with its luxurious gardens. The main principle of town planning here is that houses must not be higher than cypresses.

The city was founded about 5 centuries ago. There are the fortress walls and the Big Mosque are still preserved in it. The city keeps its one-floor image. It offers wide sand beaches, modern hotels with high level of service, plenty of bars, restaurants, stores, markets.

The reported number of inhabitants varies from 100,000 to 400,000 and the population quadruples due to tourists' arrival in the summer. Around Hammamet, suburbs are being built as migrants from the southern region of the country come to find employment.

It is particularly known for jasmine, which is the namesake of the tourist resort of Yasmine Hammamet. All over Hammamet, souvenirs crafted from jasmine can be found.

In the 1st century, there was a settlement here known as Pupput. It was a town (now in the suburbs of Hammamet) that became a Roman colony in the 2nd century. In the 13th century, walls around town were built and medina of Hammamet was built in the 15th century. Then it came under Spanish and Turkish rule.

In 1601 it was the object of a successful Spanish attack. 300 men took 700 prisoners, mostly women and children, because most of the men in the town had fled.

In 1605 there was another Spanish attack, but this time the result was disastrous for the attackers. It was carried out by six galleys, four from Malta, six from Sicily carrying Spanish and other Christian troops. The initial taking of the town was successful as the Spanish managed to climb the walls and open the gates but then there was an unexpected call to retreat - it could not be later determined where or how it originated. In the confusion, the retreat fell into disorder and the Spanish were massacred at the beach by a much smaller number of Moors. There were 1200 men gathered at the beach trying to get back to their ships but the wind had changed and conditions were difficult.

In World War II, it became one of the headquarters of the Nazi general Erwin Rommel. Festival international d'Hammamet was established in 1964.

Get in

By plane There are 6 main airports in Tunisia: Tunis (Carthage), Enfidha, Monastir, Tabarka, Djerba and Tabarka, Tunis being the capital. You can also get an airport taxi (you do not need to bargain, ask for the meter to be turned on) to get you to the intercity bus station or to the intercity collective (shared 9-seater) intercity taxi station.

By train There are a lot of trains stopping at from Tunis (about 4.5 DT), which is along the main train line and 6 km from Hammamet. You can easily take a taxi from the Bir Bou Regba (Rekba) station to wherever you want to go in Hammamet. There are fewer trains from Tunis directly to Hammamet.

By bus Louages leave from the , although mostly if not exclusively to Tunis.

See

World War II battlefield and abandoned tanks. Three abandoned tanks from the Second World War.

Harbor Castle. 16th-century castle with several information panels in different languages, provide a glimpse into the history of the city.

Pupput. It was a Colonia in the Roman province of Africa, situated on the coast near the town of Hammamet, between the two wadis of Temad (or el-Thimad) to the north and Moussa to the south. Much of the Pupput is buried under modern holiday developments which have been built over the major part of the site.

Do

Beach. Hammamet Sud has some surprisingly clear water with lots of water sports to enjoy, including paragliding, jet-skiing, tubing, short camel-rides along the beach, and baking. Very touristy, lots of topless ladies of age. Lots of small fish swimming right by the shore.

Eat

A plenty of restaurants. A nice lobster for two people with white wine in July 2007 was about 200 DT.

Restaurant La Luna. Not expensive, good food and nice atmosphere.

Drink

Try some of the local wine, which are hard to get in restaurants in Tunis.

Sleep

Hammamet Azur Plaza. Set in a 2-hectare domain, Hammamet Azur Plaza is 150 m from a private sandy beach. It features an outdoor swimming pool with a solarium, and air-conditioned rooms. All the rooms have a balcony or terrace with views of the swimming pool or surrounding area. The mini club welcomes children aged from 4 to 14. It features a playground and a small pool is open on school holidays.

Le Royal Hammamet. Le Royal Hammamet lies on the beautiful beach of Yasmine Hammamet, near the marina. Nearby are Hammamet's Medina, casino, cultural centre and golf clubs. Spa, a heated swimming pool, Turkish bath, fitness hall and hair salon. Nightclub, kids' club and amusement arcade, pedal boating, water skiing, and overland tours by camels, horses or 4x4 cars.

Hotel Iberostar Averroes. Bar/lounge, beach, business centre with Internet access, fitness centre with gym/workout room, free parking, children's activities, restaurant, spa, suites, swimming pool.