Experience the bustley side of Tunisia's eastern Gulf with a Hammamet holiday

A Hammamet holiday has been a mainstay for British holidaymakers since the 1960s, and it’s easy to see why. Silky white sandy beaches line the coast, with clear blue waters on one side, and a bustlingly vibrant town on the other.

The medina, the architecture of which dating back all the way to the 16th century, offers some of the best souvenir shopping in the region, not to mention the fantastic, authentic traditional Tunisian vibe one can experience whilst meandering around its quirky, narrow alleys.

With beaches that stretch for many miles on end, Hammamet is a sunbather’s paradise. Virtually nowhere around the coast is unsuitable for swimming, except perhaps a select few hotels’ private beaches, which are fenced off.

To put it simply, anyone looking for holiday in a safe haven for beach fanatics will feel spoilt senseless by a Hammamet holiday.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into 1,000 millimes.  Travellers cheques are widely accepted.  ATMs are found in most towns and at all the tourist resorts, almost all will accept Visa cards and many will also accept Maestro debit cards. Visa, Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard are accepted for payment in souvenir shops, upmarket hotels and restaurants, although Visa encounters the least problems.  All Tunisian currency must be exchanged before departure.

Time

Local time is GMT +1
(GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Language

The overwhelming majority speak Arabic and French.  English is taught in all schools and is increasingly spoken especially by younger people.  Some German and Italian is also spoken.

Electricty

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz.  
Round European-style, two-pin plugs are used.

Hammamet Climate

Holidays in Hammamet are certain to enjoy fine sunny weather whatever the season with a Mediterranean style climate producing hot and dry conditions in summer and pleasantly mild winter temperatures.  Although much of the surrounding area has the appearance of a barren and parched desert landscape, it does receive some rain which is characterised by heavy and brief summer downpours and more frequent showers in autumn and winter.  All year long sea breezes blow keeping humidity low especially during summer.  Hammamet weather sees a fabulous record of sunshine through the seasons with usually only a brief interruption for precipitation.

Tipping

Tipping is not a requirement but appreciated for good service in local establishments. Most people performing a useful service will wait to be tipped. Waiters in resort and hotel restaurants expect a tip of around 10%.

Communications

The international dialling code for Tunisia is +216.  The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).