Djerba, also known as Jerba, a small island just off the south shore of Tunisia is considered, by those in the know, to be one of the best holiday resorts the country has to offer. In fact, we are surprised it has taken so long to receive this level of recognition since hundreds of years ago it was described by the poet Homer as “the island of 10,000 palms”. With it’s gorgeous landscape and stunning scenery we are in complete agreement with Homer!
Djerba – Tunisia’s secret gem
Today the beautiful ivory white beaches stretching across the edge of the Mediterranean Sea are what give the resort its appeal. The best of these beaches are found in the Zone Touristique on the Northeast coast and this where the majority of the tourists head. Here you will find great hotels, restaurants and an abundance of water sports.
If you want somewhere more peaceful, the south side of the island between Aghir and El Kantara is the place to go. As well as the more tranquil beaches, here you will find quiet villages and local markets to explore or you can site back in one of the many cafés and watch the local culture unfold in front of you.
Away from the beaches the hub of life in Djerba is in the capital, Houmt Souk. Given that the translation of this is “Market Neighbourhood” it’s not hard to guess what this town is famous for! With beautiful traditional streets and unspoiled courtyards, you can lose yourself in the craft and antique stores while watching the locals barter over food and spices.
If you want to immerse yourself in Tunisian culture then a visit to Zarsis is highly recommended. Just across the causeway which connect Djerba to the mainland, Zarsis is virtually free of tourists and gives you a real taste of Tunisian life. We recommend that you time your visit to catch the local market which happens every Monday and Friday.
Djerba Beaches
As we mentioned previously, if it’s beaches you’re after, you will definitely want to visit the Northeast coast of Djerba. Nearly all the hotels have their own private beaches, so where ever you stay you’re guaranteed a spot on the sand to soak up the sun and sea. For those who want it quieter we recommend staying nearer the southern beaches in Aghir and El Kantara, while they might not have the amenities of the Zone Touristique this is more than made up for by the peace and tranquillity they offer – just perfect for unwinding.
Finally, if it’s action and music you want get yourself down to the municipal beach (Plage municipal) not far from the capital Houmt Souk. Hugely popular with both tourists and holidaymakers alike the beach has a real buzz about it. For this reason it can get very crowded in high season, so get down early if you want to make the most of it.
Eating out in Djerba
In common with many resorts, most of the dining in Djerba revolves around the hotels which offer options from buffets and beach grills to a la carte dining. If you would like to eat out away from your hotel and experience some real Tunisian eating, the best place to go is up to the capital city, Houmt Souk. The streets are filled with restaurants and cafés serving all kinds of food to suit any taste and seafood is one of the big specialities of the town. With freshly caught tuna, octopus and red snapper served fresh with couscous and salad on the seafront.
A lot of the smaller restaurants don’t serve alcohol, so if you like a drink with your meal you’ll want to eat in the slightly bigger places. Red wine and Chardonnay is particularly fine in Tunisia and Celtia is the beer of choice. If you want something a little more special then definitely try “Thibarine”, a thick sweet liqueur made from dates.
Nightlife and entrtainment in Djerba
All of the hotels offer some form of entertainment such as disco, cabaret, live bands and karaoke and a lot of the beach bars get involved too – meaning there’s cocktails flowing and music pumping in a number of places along the coastline.
Don’t worry if you would like something a little more sedate though. Djerba is rightly famous for it’s romantic setting and there are plenty of sports offering quiet meals followed by a moonlight stroll by the beach.
If you fancy a flutter, in the Zone Touristique you can go into a very unassuming white washed building and find yourself in a Vegas style 14 table casino! The casino is open 24 hours a day and with over160 slot machines in addition to the gaming tables you’ll be parting with those hard earned Dinars in no time.
Shopping in Djerba
It is fair to say that Djerba isn’t going to rival London for it’s choice of shopping but there are still quite a few options to keep the retail bug at bay! As you can imagine, there are a number of shops selling tourist souvenirs and also a number of art and craft stores which sell traditional Tunisian jewellery and ceramics to take home.
The markets of Houmt Souk are one of the best places to go, with lines of stalls selling authentic jewellery, Tunisian ceramics, bird cages and woven baskets. As with all markets, bartering is expected. The key to this is not to take it too seriously and treat it as the game it is. Start your bargaining at around a third of the price you are first offered and barter hard! When you’re finished or are feeling ready for a break you can sit back in one of the many cafés with a coffee and just relax and enjoy the bustle of the marketplace.
For an interesting alternative day out shopping you could also head down to the village of Guellala. The village is famous for its pottery and ceramics and come market day you’ll see stalls lining the streets selling beautiful pottery in every colour of the rainbow.
Getting to Djerba
Djerba is serviced by it’s own international airport, Djerba International Airport, which is serviced by most charter tour operators. This means that transit times from the airport to your hotel are typically under 30 minutes.