Hammamet Holiday Guide

Fly from airports around Britain on charter flights to Monastir or take a scheduled flight to Tunis, about 70 kilometres away. The best way to reach Hammamet from the airports is by taxi, but make sure you get the driver to put the meter on or agree a price in advance.

Once in Hammamet, it is pleasant to walk along the long beaches, or in town, but for longer journeys take a taxi. Hiring a car is another option.

Hammamet's 10 kilometre long shoreline is said to be the gem of the Tunisian Riviera. Colourful fishing boats dot the coast.

There are plenty of watersport options from water skiing to snorkelling and boat trips to view dolphins.

Whilst on holiday in Hammamet, you will probably want to visit the ancient medina, the walled old city and shopping district. If you prefer to explore with a guide, arrange one in advance at your hotel.

Otherwise, it's easy to wander around on your own. Browse the colourful stalls or relax in a café for a sip of rich,dark coffee and watch the world go by.

For a day out choose between the vibrant Tunis, capital city of Tunisia, or the ancient Roman city of Dougga, where you can visit the temple of Minerva. Dougga is about two hours drive away. You can take a taxi - hiring one with a driver is not usually very expensive.

If you want to drive yourself, you could hire a car for the day. Also in easy reach are the Commonwealth War Cemeteries at Medjez El Bab, where the graves of soldiers who died in the North Africa campaign of 1943 are buried.

You can find a mixture of international food and traditional Tunisian dishes at the restaurants around on holiday in Hammamet which will keep foodies happy. Tunisian specialities include tagine, a slow-cooked meat stew with a rich gravy and couscous, a pile of a grainy semolina, nicer than it sounds, served with a veggie or meat sauces.

Lots of the hotel complexes have a choice of restaurants. Yasmine Hammamet is a good area where you can wander around cafes before choosing one. You can even find cafes serving BBQs on the beach. Waiters often speak English.

Hammamet has plenty of nightlife, with clubs and bars opening until 2am, so if you are in a party mood there's plenty of choice, from Latin music to Arabic to disco, the choice is yours.

Alternatively chill out with a glass of mint tea in an open-air café close to the Medina.

Leather goods and jewellery are good finds. Expect to haggle for anything, and see it is as part of the fun. Try to find a stall in the Medina selling herbs and spices and pick up some good strong spices. It's also worth looking out for lovely carved wooden bowls and excellent bottles of olive oil, much cheaper than at home. At Cap Bon, the souks (old markets) have lots of vibrant pottery and tiles.The children will enjoy a trip to Yasmine Hammamet, the new resort just out of town, which has lots of new restaurants, a marina with loads of boats bobbing away, and a walled market.

There's an ice skating rink and an amusement park. Teach the kids to haggle in the markets - they'll be impressed if you manage to knock a few pounds off your bargains.