Djerba
Copyright: BTWImages/Shutterstock.comDjerba
Djerba, the largest island of North Africa, is situated southeast of Tunisia on the Gulf of Gabes and is ringed by miles of sandy beaches and luxury hotels. With its ideal temperate climate, this is another very popular Tunisian destination. The many resort hotels provide anything you need for lazy days of sunbathing, plus a wide range of activities like thalassotherapy or water sports.The City
Djerba is first and foremost known for its exceptional beaches and scenic landscape as well as its filming location for the Tatoine’s Mos Eisley exterior scenes in the famous Star Wars movie. The main tourist zone is situated on the east side, along Sidi Mahrez and Seguia beaches (around Midoun). Touring the island is affordable. Wherever you go, you will never be more than thirty minutes from your hotel, and you will be surprised by how splendid Djerba is in its diversity. The main centre is the city of Houmt Souk, with its beautiful lively markets and traditional hotels with vault rooms – the 'funduqs'. Most of the hotels have been built around courtyards and are very atmospheric. The rest of the island is a series of villages and small places, often ignored by tourists, yet authentic and picturesque — such as Guellala, which houses a huge pottery and ceramic production centre. You will be amazed by the atypical mosques, some very old and built like fortresses, and the traditional architecture of the 'menzels', farms made up of square whitewashed houses.Do & See
With hundreds of mosques, five hundred thousand olive trees and hundreds of years of history influenced by the Roman, Ottoman, Berber and Jewish empires, this oasis at the doors of the Sahara has everything to give your stay a real change of scenery.
Dining
The national dish is rice and curry, traditionally eaten with your fingers — cutlery is provided for foreigners. The meal consists of six or seven plates of fiery meat, fish and chicken served with heaps of rice accompanied by side dishes of yoghurt and cucumber and vegetable curries. Roadside stalls also dish up snacks like rotis (pancakes) and malu pan (spicy meat or fish rolls).
Cafés
Djerba offers some wonderful oceanview cafés to rest your feet and discuss further actions for the day. Grab a tea or coffee in the afternoon and come back in the evening for cocktails. Most offer you spacious terraces with tables in the shadows to enjoy your time.
Bars & Nightlife
Bars are a relatively new concept, although there are some old favourites patronised by expats and regular visitors. Generally quiet, they erupt into life at the weekend with live music, good value food and a reasonable drinks list. The best nightlife revolves around the upscale hotels where you will find bars, nightclubs and karaoke lounges.
Shopping
Souk means market in Arabic, and you should definitely visit one of them in Houmt Souk — the island’s capital. Everything between heaven and earth is sold here. The villages boast a vibrant community of local craftsmen, showcasing their expertise through the creation of unique and authentic handcrafted items, such as pottery, ceramics, carpets, baskets, and leather goods, among others. The richness of olive wood is shown to good effect on the carved bowls, kitchen utensils and even jewellery items.