Hammamet things to Do

Shopping

At the popular  Artisanat (handicraft) shops, you will find  everything from carpets to unique jewellery making  shopping in Tunisia  an art of its own for the amateurs of the kind and not only.Located in the old city (the Medina), the Souks offer a selection of objects of exceptional  beauty and perfection ,excellent arts as well as  craft and traditional work.

For those of you who love bargaining you will undoubtedly have the chance to practise it during your shopping  as prices are flexible according to your inner talent ! Start by cutting the offer in half, then work up to a compromise if you are really interested!

You will find everything you can think of whether you wish to buy souvenirs for your loved ones or you wish to buy yourself something to remember your trip by.You  will find hand carved olive wood Salad bowls, kitchen utensils ,vases, lamps, bracelets all at your disposal.

Eating out

For refined Tunisian food with a French influence, try Les Trois Moutons or Dar Lella restaurants. Reasonably priced snacks are available in the cafés in the town centre. From the urban "baguette" to the unleavened country bread baked in a clay domed oven "tabouna"each region boasts its specialty offering you  a variety of choices. Freshly baked bread is available throughout the day and no family meal is complete without it.A summer "dinner" may consist of home pressed olive oil, a few green olives, country bread, heavy and grainy and a salad of sliced scarlet radishes or plump tomatoes served with grilled fish. The varieties of seafood from the imperial royal shrimp to the familiar  sardine are  uncountable  giving you the chance to taste the region’s specialty.

And in order to be prepared  you must know that a typical Tunisia meal would begin with shorba frik- lamb soup flavored with tomato paste, coriander, parsley and seasonings in which green spring wheat grains are slowly simmered, is served with slices of lemon. Brik, followed by Slata mechouia - grilled green peppers , tomatoes and garlic finely chopped .Spices and olive oil are added and the salad is garnished with tuna fish, hard eggs, olives and capers. Dinner will now begin. Assorted stews follow roasts of lamb, veal or fish,tajine - a rich, flavorsome omelet baked with chopped meat, vegetables and cheese.

Fresh salad, fruits, pastries and custards,coffee and tea would seal the grand finale of one of the most tasteful  experiences of your life! At a place where food pleasure has no limits and it  is one domain of great interest to the locals , in order to satisfy by all means all travellers food requests you will find a variety of  menus  also printed in English German and French translations in order to make your life easier.Last but not least, when it comes to sweets- the Turkish baklava - layers of whisper thin pastry interspersed with ground pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, bathed in golden butter, baked and dipped in a honey syrup is a true pleasure!.No holiday, wedding, christening or dinner party could be considered without it.Makroudh,a specialty of Kairouan of semolina pastry stuffed with dates, caak ,almond paste wrapped in fine dough ,as well as a myriad of regional specialties make up the traditional platter served for every joyous occasion. The vast almond orchards of Sfax supply the different types of almonds that are the basic ingredient of most sweets and cakes.

Tipping

In case  you wish to know what to do when it comes to tipping  you must know that some restaurants include a service charge, but it is mainly left to the discretion of customers to tip staff who have been helpful , attentive as well as polite.

Night life

Contrary to popular belief, nightlife in Tunisia is not confined to the hotel disco! There are numerous bars and clubs in Tunis,Hammamet, Port el Kantaoui and Sousse, which are open until the very early hours.

Try the Eurobar or Manhatten in Hammamet, Metalica or Red Iguana in Port el Kantaoui and Fun Pub or Bonapartes in Sousse. Alternatively, there are casinos in Tunis, Yasmine Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba.

Golf

With 6 courses open all year round golf even if it might  still be  comparatively undiscovered, is very popular in Hammamet.At your disposal you have Hammamet Golf Course – Jasmine. Just outside Hammamet resort area has 18 holes par 72, water hazards, practice ground and 9 hole school for beginners for the amateurs of the sport and those who wish to know it.

Also  at your disposal Hammamet Golf Course – Citrus which is designed around 6 lakes on 300 acres of olive groves and forest near Hammamet beaches . There are 2 courses, "La Foret" 18 holes, par 72 . 617 5 meters and "Les Oliviers" 18 holes, par 72 .6178 meters plus a 9 hole school.

Tennis

The majority of  hotels has tennis courts available for their guests without a  charge. Visitors may be charged a token fee for use of the facilities and instructors and sparring partners should be requested beforehand. Therefore you have the chance to practise your favourite sport without spending a fortune!

Some "tennis hotels" specialize in providing top quality courts and onhand instructors for tennis players as well as for  amateurs . Tennis Clubs in most cities will permit temporary entrance with lessons . However for your own good  it would be  better to bring your own racket.

 Surfing

 You are given the chance to enjoy  surfing throughout the year . Therefore  a wet suit is desirable during the months of December through April.

Outside the hotel circuit and local events, Tunisia is the departure/arrival point for many trans- Mediterranean and Mediterranean competitions. The port of Sidi Bou Said with its school of wind surfing  will teach you all  you need in order to become a surfing genius.