Tunisia's beaches: coastlines, coves and islands to explore

Bordered by the Mediterranean to the north and east, Tunisia offers an astonishing variety of shorelines. In the north, cliffs, pine forests and wild coves surround Tabarka and Bizerte. Cap Bon and the Gulf of Hammamet line up long stretches of fine sand, continued by the beaches of the Sahel from Sousse to Mahdia. Further south, the Gulf of Gabès shelters the flat islands of Djerba and Kerkennah, with shallow turquoise waters.

The beach season generally runs from June to September, and the sea often stays pleasant into October in the south. Out of season, the beaches are perfect for long walks in mild sunshine. Each coast has its own character: lively resorts, fishing villages, fortified harbours and almost deserted shores reached by dirt tracks.

Coasts and beaches

Our picks

Hammamet beaches

The Gulf of Hammamet offers miles of fine sand below the medina and the citrus gardens. Its calm waters make it an ideal destination for families.

Hammamet

Djerba's east coast

From Sidi Mahrez to the Ras Rmel peninsula, the island unrolls wide beaches of pale sand and a shallow sea. The nearby lagoons often attract pink flamingos.

Djerba

Raf Raf and Ghar El Melh

North-east of Bizerte, Raf Raf beach stretches out opposite the islet of Pilau, between hills and vineyards. The neighbouring village of Ghar El Melh has an old harbour and three Ottoman forts.

Bizerte

Kelibia and El Mansourah

At the tip of Cap Bon, Kelibia is overlooked by a fort watching over an intensely blue sea. El Mansourah beach, with its clear water, is among the finest in the country.

Tabarka coast

Between pine forests and rocks, the Tabarka coast surprises with its coves and Les Aiguilles, tall needles of eroded rock. The Genoese fort overlooks the bay and the marina.

Tabarka

Mahdia beaches

Below the old town built on a peninsula, Mahdia's beaches are known for their white sand and crystal-clear water. The fishing port brings the seafront to life in the late afternoon.

Mahdia

The wild north

Between Bizerte and the Algerian border, the coastline changes character: cork oak and pine forests run down to rocky coves and still unspoilt beaches such as those of Cap Serrat and Cap Negro. The sea is cooler and sometimes rough, but the clear water and lush vegetation make this coast popular with nature lovers and divers.

Cap Bon, Hammamet and the Sahel

This is the country's seaside heartland. Hammamet and Nabeul offer long beaches lined with resorts, while the northern coast of Cap Bon remains wilder. Further south, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui, Monastir and Mahdia combine fine sandy beaches, medinas and lively harbours, so you can alternate swimming and sightseeing without long journeys.

The south and the islands

Djerba charms visitors with its eastern beaches, palm trees and whitewashed villages. Off Sfax, the Kerkennah archipelago, reached by ferry, offers a peaceful fishing atmosphere with its charfias, fixed fish traps made of palm fronds. On the mainland, Zarzis continues this low coast of warm, shallow water, ideal for children to swim.

Destinations

Where to experience it

Cap Bon

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