Attractions of Hammamet (Tunisia) - what to see

In Hammamet city itself, there aren't very many attractions, and most of them can be seen on one tour. But that's not a problem, as interesting tours to other parts of the country are offered from Hammamet. Here are typical tours you can buy in Hammamet:

• Friguia Zoo
• Viewing the ruins of Carthage, visiting Sidi Bou Said and the capital – Tunis city
• Sea voyage on a "pirate" ship (tickets: adult 45 dinars, child 22.5)
• Journey to the Sahara

In the central part of Hammamet, traditional and historical places are mainly located: the Medina, the Ribat fortress, the ethnography museum, the Great Mosque. All these places can be explored simply by walking around them, as they are not too far from each other.

The other attractions of Hammamet are scattered around the city, and visiting them on foot won't be so easy. Be sure to visit: George Sebastian's Villa; Carthage Land Amusement Park; Pupput Ruins.

Hammamet Medina (Medina)

Among the attractions of Hammamet, it's worth visiting the Medina (old city) to feel the traditional flavor of the city, and combine this walk with a visit to the shops, markets, and stores located here. The Medina territory itself began to be built up in 904 AD; it is surrounded by blank walls 300x100 meters long, which have been rebuilt many times throughout history after invasions. Entrance is through gates located on only three sides: north, east, and south. The main entrance is through the renovated Bab el-Souk (Market Gate), built in the shape of a castle. At the market, you can buy carpets, clothing, souvenirs, spices, jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, and much, much more. In the southeast, the Medina borders a local cemetery, which also contains old Christian burials. Besides shopping, in the Medina you can have a snack in one of the many cafes or eateries, and if you wish, visit the Sidi Bou Hdid cafe (located on the coast next to the Kasbah), where the mausoleum of Sidi Bou Hdid was originally located, and have lunch there. The Medina houses the Great Mosque, the Ribat fortress, and the historical museum.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

🕐 Opening hours: 24/7.

🚶 How to get there: The Medina is located in the center of Hammamet, near the port. Hammamet Medina on the map

Great Mosque (Great Mosque)

In the Medina, there is one of the ancient mosques – the Great Mosque or Mosque of Olives, built in 1236, with a rectangular minaret added in the 15th century. The minaret was reconstructed in the 1970s. According to legend, the mosque was built on a site where an olive tree grew. This place is considered sacred, and therefore, near the Mosque, there are madrasas – religious schools for studying the Quran. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the prayer hall.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

🕐 Opening hours: prayer times.

🚶 How to get there: The Great Mosque is located in the Medina. Great Mosque on the map of Hammamet

Dar Hammamet Museum (Dar Hammamet)

This private museum of national costumes is located in the Medina. The museum features a collection of traditional wedding attire. Here you will learn about Tunisian wedding ceremonies and see seven dresses that the bride wears during the main ceremony in every girl's life.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 2 dinars (see currency of Tunisia, exchange rate)

🕐 Opening hours: 8:00-18:00.

🚶 How to get there: Medina, Sidi Abdallah street.

Fortress Ribat (Ribat) or Kasbah (Kasbah)

One of the main attractions worth visiting is the Spanish Ribat fortress. It is located on the coast and adjoins the Medina territory. It was erected in the 12th century (according to other sources, in the 10th century) and was later repeatedly expanded due to raids by Maltese knights, pirates. The last time it was restored was from 1977 to 1979. The fortress is square-shaped with walls 13 meters high, a watchtower, several interior rooms, and one entrance to the fortress grounds. Inside, there is a small museum and the mausoleum of the warrior-monk Sidi Bouali (Sidi Bouali); old cannons are displayed on an open area. From the fortress walls, you can see a stunning view of the beach, the bay, and the city.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 7 dinars, camera – 1 dinar.

🕐 Opening hours: from April to September – 8:30 – 19:00, from October to March – 9:00 – 17:00.

🚶 How to get there: Medina. Fortress on the map of Hammamet

George Sebastian's Villa (Sebastian's Villa)

The uniquely designed house of George Sebastian – the first European of Romanian origin who settled here in 1920. After George Sebastian's death, the villa changed hands several times; in 1964, it was purchased by the city administration. At the villa, you can leisurely stroll through the garden with rare species of plants and trees, along the pool framed by columns, and also go inside the house to see the room interiors. On the territory adjacent to the house, an Amphitheater was built in 1964, where the International Cultural Festival is held annually in July-August, attracting participants from all over the world. No wonder Hammamet is a favorite vacation spot for famous artists and other celebrities.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 2 dinars.

🕐 Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 18:00.

🚶 How to get there: the villa is located on Avenue des Nations Unies, 2-3 km from the city center to the west; it's best to get there by taxi. George Sebastian's Villa on the map of Hammamet

Carthage Land Amusement Park (Carthage Land)

The huge Carthage Land entertainment complex, built in 2003, offers a great and fun time for the whole family. Entertainment is available for every taste and age. The entire complex is divided into thematic zones: Carthage Land with several attractions for children and adults; Ali Baba (Ali Baba) - attractions for children from one to 12 years old; a journey to the Medina (Medina voyage) with a visit to a museum about culture and religion, the "1001 Nights" entertainment center, attractions "Adventures of the Pirate Barbarossa," "Hanno's Voyage Around Africa," "Hannibal's Crossing of the Alps," and a cinema; a small mini-zoo (birds, ostriches, turtles, fish, monkeys, tigers, ponies, camels); a Water Park (Aqualand) with slides of different heights and configurations, pools for children and adults. You can also have a snack at a cafe or eatery on the complex grounds.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: paid, for example, the entire complex, including admission to some Carthage Land attractions, Ali Baba and Medina Voyage zones, the Water Park, and the Cinema zone costs 33 dinars per person, regardless of age. If you wish, you can choose one or several zones; the price changes. More details can be found on the website www.carthageland.com (in French)

🕐 Opening hours: 10:00-19:00, in January it operates only on Saturdays and Sundays.

🚶 How to get there: Yasmin Hammamet district, Rue de la Médina, Hammamet 08050. Carthage Land Amusement Park on the map of Hammamet

Flipper Water Park (Aquapark Flipper)

A great place for relaxation and entertainment. This small water park will be interesting for adults and children. There are a dozen slides of different heights and complexity, pools of different depths. Attentive staff takes care of the safety of visitors and also conducts animation programs. You can have a snack at a cafe on the park grounds.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 15 dinars (adult), 10 dinars (child)

🕐 Opening hours: from May 15 to September 15 from 10:00 to 17:00.

🚶 How to get there: 5.5 km from the city center north along the coast (past Le President hotel). Flipper Water Park on the map of Hammamet

Pupput Ruins (Pupput Roman Site)

One of the popular places to visit. On the site of a Phoenician settlement (1st century BC), later captured by Roman legions in the 2nd century, the city of Pupput (later Hammamet) was formed; it was a very developed city. There was a temple, an amphitheater, residential houses, and baths (thermae). In 1303, the city was plundered and destroyed by Catalan pirates almost completely. Today, only ruins remain of this settlement; in some places, remnants of columns, ruins of houses, and Roman baths stand, with miraculously preserved parts of mosaic paintings from the Byzantine period on the walls of houses. A few hundred meters from the remains of the city, you can see open and closed burials dating from the 2nd-3rd centuries.

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 4 dinars.

🕐 Opening hours: from April to September - 09:00-19:00, from October to March - 09:00-17:00.

🚶 How to get there: located in the Yasmin Hammamet district, next to the Paradis Palace hotel. Pupput Ruins on the map of Hammamet

Friguia Zoo (Friguia Park)

The zoo, spread over an area of 36 hectares, was opened in 2000. It is located between Sousse and Hammamet, near the village of Bouficha. Currently, the zoo houses 412 animals, representing 61 species. Visitors can walk through the park and get acquainted with African flora and fauna. The animals here are kept in conditions close to natural, in the wild or in spacious enclosures. Suspended bridges are built over predators, from which you can observe them. Among the animals living here, you will see elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, ostriches, crocodiles, turtles, birds, and others.

There are many cafes and souvenir shops on the park grounds. A colorful Berber show takes place; you can ride a camel or a pony. The park has a dolphinarium where dolphin shows are held at certain times (11:00, 16:00) (admission fee). In general, Friguia Park will be very interesting for a walk with children and will evoke many positive emotions in adults. More about Friguia Park can be found on the website friguiapark.com (in English and French).

💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: adult 7 dinars, child (up to 12 years old) - 4 dinars, children under 3 years old - free.

🕐 Opening hours: from April to September - 9:00-17:00, from October to March - 9:00-16:00, Monday – closed.

🚶 How to get there: by taxi (it's advisable to agree on a round trip and waiting time; a couple of hours is enough); by train (the stop is called "Friguia Park" and is located 200 m from the park), but, as practice shows, it's not worth relying on this type of transport, as trains are often delayed, may not stop at the desired stop, or may not come at all, although it is not a bad option. Friguia Zoo on the map of Hammamet