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Hammamet
Hammamet is a sophisticated resort town nestled between the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean in Tunisia, some forty miles from the capital city of Tunis. The resort offers a perfect sweep of beach, ancient and exciting medina, healing mineral baths and renowned top class modern hotels. Once a sleepy fishing village, Hammamet (the name comes from the Arabic al-hammamat, meaning 'the baths') was awakened to its tourist potential back in the 1920s when a flock of wealthy and arty Americans and Europeans decided to make the beautiful bay their playground. Today it has become a destination mainly for middle-to-upper range package tours from Europe, the streets abuzz with scantily clad holidaymakers speaking Swedish, German, English and French. Despite its modern architectural and human incursions, Hammamet retains its sense of exotic history, dominated by its 15th-century medina and souk (bazaar), where donkeys and bargain-hunters navigate the labyrinth of Aladdin's caves packed with treasures like carpets, brass ornaments, jewellery, traditional kaftans, pottery and leather goods. The narrow winding alleys also conceal bright, whitewashed windowless houses behind splendid ornate doors. The town's baths, famed since Roman times, are also situated in the crowded medina, alongside ancient mosques and over-shadowed by the medieval castle or Kasbah. The big attraction of this seaside town, though, is its six-mile (10km) stretch of palm-fringed shore, boasting beautiful sandy clean beaches, decorated with colourful fishing boats. South of the old town, along the beach, a plethora of attractive Moorish style low-rise resort hotels, set in stunning lush gardens, has mushroomed, offering visitors luxury accommodations, water sports, entertainment, gourmet restaurants and all the trappings of a perfect holiday.
A medieval souk or bazaar resides at the heart of Hammamet's old quarter, offering a vast range of fascinating souvenirs and gifts. A treasure-trove of irresistible goods like exotic carpets, embroidered kaftans, glittering 'hubbly-bubbly' pipes, brassware, jewellery, leather goods and pottery are on offer to delight avid shoppers, who are expected to haggle over prices. A good rule of thumb is to start bargaining at about one-third more than you are prepared to pay. Those needing to buy more practical goods will find what they require in the modern shopping centre.
Dining in Hammamet offers an array of local and international dishes, from the best of gourmet cuisine to snacks at the pavement cafes where it is possible to find anything from fish and chips to pizza. No visit to Tunisia is, however, complete without sampling the renowned local dishes, though they can be overly spicy. Among the specialities to sample are Couscous (steamed semolina grains mixed with vegetables, fish, chicken or meat), Brik (pastry filled with egg, herbs and tuna), Chorba (thick, creamy tomato soup), and Makroudh (a syrup-soaked honey cake stuffed with dates). The top restaurant in Hammamet, by reputation, is the Chez Achour, but for authentic Arabic cuisine you cannot beat La Brise on the Avenue de La Republique. A relaxing and tranquil nightlife is available in Hammamet, with several bars and a few discos, however the after dark activity is mostly low key and closes by midnight.
The resort offers a spectacular beach for relaxation in the warm Tunisian sun, with a variety of water sports available including snorkelling and water skiing. On top of the water, boat trips to view dolphins are a popular past time. On land there are some good golf courses, tennis courts and the chance to go horse riding or, more exotically, explore on camelback. Hammamet is well situated for a variety of excursions, offered enthusiastically by local operators. Among these most popular are shopping trips to Tunis, expeditions to the ruins of Carthage, desert safaris and outings to nearby Nabeul, headquarters of the ancient but still thriving local pottery industry.
On a downside the sea bed in this requires some care, as there are some unexpected drops near the shores, beach traders can be an annoyance to tourists trying to relax on the beaches and shop keepers in the local medina can be quite pushy towards visitors.
