What to do in Hammamet: 25 ideas, from the medina to the Roman south
Wondering what to do in Hammamet? Here is what locals actually recommend: the walled medina and its kasbah, a long sandy bay, the marina at Yasmine, a real hammam and the day trips that make this town the best base in Tunisia. Each idea comes with the time it takes, what it costs and where it is. For the day trips, book one of our private Hammamet excursions with hotel pickup.
What to do in Hammamet first: the shortlist
Short on time? Start with this list. To decide what to do in Hammamet first, we ranked each idea by how much it gives you for the time it takes, so the first five fit into a single weekend. Free means no ticket at all, while low cost means a few dinars at the door.
- 01Walk the medina and its souksOld town1 to 2 hFree
- 02Climb the kasbah walls at sunsetOld town45 minLow
- 03Swim and lie on Hammamet beachWhole bayHalf dayFree
- 04Tour Kairouan and El Jem in a dayDay trip8 hFrom €90 per car
- 05Try a traditional hammamMedina or Yasmine1 to 2 hLow to mid
- 06Visit Dar Sebastian and its gardensNorth of the medina1 hLow
- 07Stroll Yasmine marina and Medina MediterraneaYasmine Hammamet2 hFree
- 08See Carthage and Sidi Bou SaidDay trip5 to 7 hFrom €70 per car
- 09Shop for pottery in Nabeul20 min awayHalf dayFree to browse
- 10Take a boat trip along the bayYasmine marina3 to 5 hMid
Places to see in Hammamet’s old town
The medina is small, walled and right on the sea, so you can see it all on foot in a morning. Go early, before the shops open, or late in the afternoon when the stone turns gold. Most of the main Hammamet attractions sit within ten minutes of each other here.
The medina and its souks
FreeWhite houses, blue doors and narrow lanes wrap around a tight grid inside the old walls. The souk sells leather, ceramics, jasmine perfume and spices. Prices start high, so a friendly counter offer is expected.
The kasbah
Small feeThe fort sits at the corner of the medina, right above the beach. Climb the ramparts for the best view of the bay, then walk the path at the foot of the walls back to the sand.
The Great Mosque and the sea walls
Outside onlyThe mosque’s square minaret marks the heart of the medina. Non-Muslims admire it from the lanes outside. Café Sidi Bouhdid, built into the walls by the water, is the classic spot for a mint tea after.
Dar Sebastian
Small feeThis white villa, built in 1927 by George Sebastian, is now the International Cultural Centre. Its gardens and open-air theatre host the Hammamet International Festival every July and August, as they have since 1964.
Pupput Roman site
Small feeSouth of the centre, on the road to Yasmine, lie the ruins of Roman Pupput. Expect mosaic floors, baths and a large burial ground. It is quiet, sunny and rarely crowded.
Beaches and Hammamet activities on the water
Hammamet sits on a long, sandy bay with calm, shallow water from June to October. As a result, the sea is where most Hammamet activities happen. You can swim straight from the medina walls or head south to the wider beaches of Yasmine.
- Free
The town beach
Below the kasbah, families swim in clear, gentle water. Arrive before 10:00 in summer for space and shade.
- Mid
Water sports
Jet ski, parasailing, kayak and paddle board are on hire on most hotel beaches. Check the life jackets and agree the price first.
- Mid
Boat trips
Pirate-style boats leave Yasmine marina for 3 to 5 hours, with a swim stop and lunch on board. Calm days in June and September are best.
- Low
Horse and camel rides
Short rides run along the sand at sunrise and late afternoon. Choose a rider who keeps the animals in the shade.
- Mid
Snorkelling and diving
Dive centres in Yasmine run trial dives and trips to the rocks off the bay. Visibility is best in early autumn.
- Mid
Quad biking inland
Half-day quad tours cross the olive groves and hills behind the coast. Bring a scarf for the dust.
Yasmine Hammamet: the marina, the new medina and the theme park
Yasmine is the modern resort area, about 10 km south of the old town, or 15 minutes by taxi. Most big hotels are here. Meanwhile, the evenings happen around the marina, with cafés, restaurants and an easy, safe walk by the boats.
- Free
Yasmine marina
Watch the yachts, eat fresh fish and walk the promenade after dark. It is the town’s main evening spot, with music bars nearby.
- Free
Medina Mediterranea
A modern walled town built in the old style. It has shops, cafés and a large covered souk. Prices are fixed, which some visitors prefer.
- Mid
Carthage Land
Inside Medina Mediterranea, this theme park mixes rides, shows and a water park with slides. Plan most of a day with children.
- Mid to high
Golf
Citrus Golf has 45 holes among orange trees, and Yasmine Golf has 18 more. Both welcome visitors, so book a tee time a day ahead.
Hammamet experiences: hammam, food, crafts and festivals
The best Hammamet experiences are the slow ones. A steam bath, a long lunch and an hour with a potter tell you more about Tunisia than any museum. Here is where to find them.
A traditional hammam
Old public baths in the medina offer steam, a scrub with a black soap glove and a rest with tea. For the spa version, the thalasso centres in Yasmine use warm sea water.
Tunisian food
Order brik (a crisp pastry with egg), fish couscous and grilled sea bream. Every table gets harissa, the chilli paste that UNESCO added to its cultural heritage list in 2022.
Pottery in Nabeul
Nabeul is 15 km away, about 20 minutes by taxi. Its workshops paint plates and tiles by hand, and many let you watch. The Friday market is the busiest day.
The Hammamet International Festival
Every July and August, concerts, theatre and dance fill the open-air stage at Dar Sebastian. Buy tickets early for the big names.
What to do in Hammamet, whoever you travel with
The right plan depends on who you travel with. Here are our picks, so you can skip what will not suit you.
| If you are… | Our picks |
|---|---|
| A family with children | Town beach in the morning, Carthage Land, a half day at Friguia Park |
| A couple | Kasbah at sunset, a hammam, dinner at Yasmine marina, Sidi Bou Said |
| Into history | Pupput, then Kairouan and El Jem and Dougga |
| Active | Quad biking, diving, golf and the Zaghouan mountains |
| Here in the heat of July | Beach until 11:00, a long lunch, the medina after 17:00, festival nights |
| Here in winter | Thalasso, Nabeul market, Carthage and the Cap Bon coast |
Day trips and excursions from Hammamet
Hammamet sits in the middle of the coast. That is why the country’s great sites are all within 2.5 hours by road. Our drivers collect you at your hotel at 08:00 and bring you back the same day. Prices are per car, not per person.
7h · Tunis · Carthage · Sidi Bou SaidCarthage, Sidi Bou Said & Tunis Medinafrom €80 per vehicle
7h45 · Kairouan · El JemEl Jem & Kairouanfrom €90 per vehicle
4h45 · Carthage · Sidi Bou SaidSidi Bou Said & Carthage half dayfrom €70 per vehicle
9h45 · Dougga · Bulla RegiaDougga & Bulla Regiafrom €120 per vehicle
8h30 · Port El Kantaoui · Sousse · MonastirSousse, Monastir & Port El Kantaouifrom €90 per vehicle
7h30 · Kelibia · El Haouaria · KorbousCap Bon: Kelibia, El Haouaria & Korbousfrom €90 per vehicle
6h15 · Zriba · Zaghouan · Water TempleZaghouan & the Berber village of Zribafrom €70 per vehicle
4h · Friguia wildlife parkFriguia Parkfrom €45 per vehicle
How many days do you need? Three ready-made plans
Three days covers the essentials of what to do in Hammamet, plus one big day trip. With five, you can add Carthage and a slow day. A week lets you see most of northern Tunisia without changing hotel.
3 days
- Day 1
- Medina and souks in the morning, beach after lunch, kasbah at sunset.
- Day 2
- Kairouan and El Jem with a private driver.
- Day 3
- Hammam, then Yasmine marina and dinner by the boats.
5 days
- Days 1 to 3
- As in the three-day plan.
- Day 4
- Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Tunis medina.
- Day 5
- Nabeul pottery in the morning, Dar Sebastian, a beach afternoon.
7 days
- Days 1 to 5
- As in the five-day plan.
- Day 6
- The Cap Bon loop, or Dougga for Roman ruins.
- Day 7
- A boat trip, Pupput and a last swim.
When to visit Hammamet
Hammamet is warm for eight months a year. However, the best time depends on what you want to do. Spring and autumn suit sightseeing, while July and August belong to the beach and the festival.
| Months | Daytime high | Sea | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| March to May | 18 to 25 °C | 15 to 19 °C | Medina walks, day trips, blossoming orange groves |
| June | 27 to 30 °C | 21 to 23 °C | Beach plus early sightseeing |
| July and August | 31 to 34 °C | 25 to 27 °C | Beach, water sports, the festival |
| September and October | 25 to 30 °C | 23 to 25 °C | A bit of everything, with fewer crowds |
| November to February | 15 to 19 °C | 15 to 17 °C | Thalasso, culture, quiet beaches, low prices |
Typical averages. Single days can be hotter or cooler.
Practical tips for sightseeing in Hammamet
A few local habits make the things to do in Hammamet easier and cheaper. None of them need planning ahead, but all of them save time or money.
Getting around
The medina is walkable. Yellow taxis use a meter, and the 10 km ride to Yasmine takes about 15 minutes.
Money
The dinar is only sold in Tunisia. Use ATMs, keep small notes and expect cards in hotels, not in souks.
Bargaining
In the souk, the first price is an opening line. Smile, offer less and settle somewhere in the middle.
What to wear
Swimwear stays on the beach. Cover shoulders and knees in the medina, and more so near mosques.
Airports
Enfidha-Hammamet is about 50 km south. Tunis-Carthage is about 65 km north, roughly an hour by car.
Day trip timing
Leave at 08:00 for inland sites. You beat the heat, the coaches and the Friday mosque hours.
What to do in Hammamet: your questions answered
These are the questions travellers ask us most often when they plan their days.
Book a day tripWhat is Hammamet famous for?
Hammamet is famous for its long sandy bay, its walled white medina by the sea and its jasmine. It is also known for Dar Sebastian, the summer festival and its thalasso spas.
Is Hammamet worth visiting?
Yes. It mixes a real old town with easy beaches, and it sits within 2.5 hours of Carthage, Kairouan, El Jem and Dougga. For a first trip to Tunisia, few bases work better.
How many days do you need in Hammamet?
Three days covers the medina, the beach and one day trip. Five days lets you add Carthage and a slow day. With a week, you can see most of northern Tunisia from the same hotel.
What can you do in Hammamet for free?
Walk the medina and its souks, swim on the town beach and follow the path below the medina walls. Yasmine marina and Medina Mediterranea are free to wander too.
What to do in Hammamet at night?
Yasmine marina is the busiest spot, with restaurants, cafés and bars until late. In July and August, the festival at Dar Sebastian adds concerts under the stars.
What can you do in Hammamet with kids?
The town beach has calm, shallow water. Carthage Land has rides and a water park, and Friguia Park, 30 minutes away, has giraffes, zebras and bird shows.
Can you visit the Sahara from Hammamet?
Not in one day. The dunes near Douz are about 6 hours away by road, so you need at least two days. For a single day, Kairouan and El Jem give you the best of inland Tunisia.
Do you need a car in Hammamet?
No. Taxis cover the town and Yasmine cheaply. For day trips, a private driver costs less than a rental for two or more people, and you avoid tolls, parking and navigation.
Decide what to do in Hammamet and book your day
You have the list, the times and the plans. Now pick a date in the form at the top of this page, see your group price at once and pay nothing until the day. Book a private driver today and let us show you what to do in Hammamet.