Description

Hammamet or Al-Hammamet means ‘the baths’ in Arabic. Originally a small fishing village, Hammamet became a popular tourist destination back in the 1920s when rich Americans and Europeans decided to make the striking bay their favorite haunt. Today it has become an attraction mainly for middle-to-upper class package tours from Europe. The streets are alive with revealingly dressed holidaymakers speaking many European languages. Despite its modernity Hammamet retains its sense of history, dominated by its 15th-century medina and souk. Donkeys and bargain-hunters frequent the souks packed with treasures like carpets, brass ornaments and jewelry. The town's baths, renowned since Roman times, are also located in the crowded medina. The big attraction of this seaside town is its six-mile beach lined by palm trees and decorated with colorful fishing boats. Resorts and hotels set in spectacular green gardens, offer visitors luxury accommodations, water sports, entertainment, gourmet restaurants all requisites for a perfect holiday.

Shopping

A good sense of humor will make shopping a real pleasure. Hand carved olive wood, salad bowls, kitchen articles, vases, lamps, bracelets...beautiful, solid wood authentic bracelets and necklaces can be found in the souks. Necklaces are often restrung with the original silver pieces and glass beads, coins or coral, the latter adding to the price. Those looking for practical goods can visit the modern shopping centre. Ashtrays that can be engraved on the spot with your name in Arabic are a popular souvenir. Oil and water jars, bowls and jugs in classical Mediterranean style can add to the souvenirs list. Hats, pocketbooks, carryalls and hassocks are popular items, in particular the hassocks in natural leather embossed or painted with traditional patterns or the ever popular camel. Most carpets are classified by the number of knots per square meter with silk at the top of the list with 250,000 and over. Bedouin scarves and headbands, tiny pottery tea sets, little boxes in silver, oil lamps, flutes, exquisite perfume bottles, tambourines, essences of perfume, incense, and on and on.

Restaurants

While most Tunisians like their food hot and spicy, restaurants and hotels prepare their menus considering the tastes of their visitors and serve ‘harissa’ separately. This condiment is made of crushed dried red peppers, garlic and spices and adds a definite zest to any meal. It is a mainstay of many dishes and can be toned down by a touch of olive oil. Many menus are also printed with English, German and French translations of the dishes. Hotels catering for tourists in Hammamet have their own restaurants. The town itself has a surplus of eateries and street cafes where one can find anything from fish and chips to pizza. A visit to Tunisia is not complete without sampling the renowned local dishes, though they can be excessively spicy. Among the specialties to sample are Couscous, Brik, Chorba, and Makroudh. The Turkish baklava - layers of thin pastry interspersed with ground pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, with butter, baked and dipped in honey syrup. The top restaurant in Hammamet is the Chez Achour. For authentic Arabic cuisine one must visit La Brise on the Avenue de La Republique.

Night Life

Nightlife in Hammamet is simple with no active clubbing experiences on offer. Most hotels offer dancing and entertainment. There are numerous bars and discos as well catering for visitors but most of them close by midnight.

Activities

Tourists come to Hammamet to enjoy the sea and the sand, and the numerous activities associated with water sports. Water-skiing to snorkeling is on offer for those who want to do more than just be idle in the sun. Boat trips to view dolphins are a well-liked past time. On land there are some good golf courses, tennis courts and the chance to go horse riding or explore the resort on camel-back, for a change. Hammamet is well situated for variety of trips. Among these, most popular are shopping trips to Tunis, expeditions to the ruins of Carthage, desert safaris and outings to nearby Nabeul, famous for its local pottery industry.

Communications

The international dialing code for Tunisia is +216. The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code. City and area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1 for Tunis and use (0)9 for mobile phones. The country is covered by two GSM 900 mobile networks. Internet cafes are found widely all through the resort.

Contacts

Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT), Tunis: +216 (0)71 341 077
Embassy of Tunisia, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 862 1850
Embassy of Tunisia, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7584 8117
Embassy of Tunisia, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 237 0330/2
Consulate General of Tunisia (jurisdiction in New South Wales and Queensland), Edge cliff, New South Wales, Australia: +61 (0)2 9327 1258. Consulate General of Tunisia (jurisdiction in Victoria), Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia: +61 (0)3 9807 0707
Embassy of Tunisia, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6282/83
Embassy of Tunisia, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7584 8117
United States Embassy, Tunis: +216 (0)71 107 000
British Embassy, Tunis: +216 (0)1 341 444
Canadian Embassy, Belvedere, Tunis (also responsible for Australia): +216 (0)71 104 000
South African Embassy, Tunis: +216 (0)71 798 449
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Zi Sidi Rezig: +216 98 307 364
Emergency medical service (Samu): 190; Police: 197

Currency

TND

Attractions

Hammamet is a grand tourist town that is divided into two parts: The old city, and the new tourist city. The old city retains its charm and has a nice medina and the city itself is fantastic to explore. Yassmine Hammamet or the new city should be visited by travelers seeking a perfect holiday. Luxurious hotels, restaurants, an amusement park and golf courses are located in the new city area.

Language

Arabic

Language Description

Arabic is the official language. French is widely spoken in many parts of the country too. English is taught in all schools and is used by the younger generation with a lot of passion. German and Italian are a few of the European languages that are understood and spoken in some tourist areas.

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory but received with appreciation in local establishments. Waiters in resorts and restaurants expect a tip of around 10%.