Hammamet, the Garden Resort, has dozens of low rise hotels, shops and restaurants set along miles of golden beach and surrounded by fragrant bougainvillea flowers.

Hammamet is surrounded by lush orchards of orange, lemon and mandarin trees, its luxury hotels stand just above the water's edge, not far from the tiny medina

which shelters the souk and the kasbah which was rebuilt during the 16th century.

To the south Yasmine Hammamet aims to recreate the style and atmosphere of the French Riveria with wide boulevards and sophisticated pavement cafes. To the north, Nabeul is home to Tunisia's thriving pottery industry.

Getting There

Most tour operators charter flights to Monastir (transfer time is 1½ hours). Some companies also use scheduled services to Tunis (1 hour transfer). If you are travelling independently, train is the cheapest way to reach Hammamet from elsewhere in Tunisia. Backpackers might want to take a louage (shared) taxi or a bus.

Where to Stay & Eat

A long line of well spaced luxury hotels stretch along the wide sandy beach to Hammamet to Nabeul. Local laws state that hotels should be no higher than the surrounding palm trees, ensuring all the hotels are low rise and stylishly built in the local architectural style. Those looking for budget accommodation will find a good selection of hostels and small family run hotels.

For refined Tunisian food with a French influence, try Les Trois Moutons, Dar Lella or Chez Achour restaurants. Reasonably priced snacks are available in cafes in the town centres.

Don't Miss

• The camel market in Nabeul on Friday mornings. The only camel you will see is a small furry toy one, but the pottery and local industries remain.
• Mint tea in the Moorish cafe by the entrance to the Medina in Hammamet's old town centre.
• Hammamet Cultural Centre - a beautiful villa built by Romanian millionaire Georges Sebastien in the 1920s.

Exploring

Trains to Tunis, Sousse and El Jema leave several times a day from the Bir Bou Regba station, near the resort, with connecting trains to Hammamet and Nabeul. Taxies are cheap and plentiful and a tourist trains runs round the town centre. Excursions can be booked through almost any hotel or hire a car and explore at your own pace.

• Fabiland theme park.
• Sahara City with traditional Tunisian entertainment and feasting.
• Cap Bon is rich in historic remains.
• Kekouane and Korbous are both old Roman towns and worth a visit.

Activities

• Diving
• Watersports
• Fishing
• Tennis
• Riding

Golf

There are two courses near to Hammamet - Yasmine and Citrus Golf Courses.