Things to do in Djerba
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Djerba
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring is the best all round window, warm enough to swim from late April and mild enough for villages and desert trips.
Peak beach season, hot days often above 30C, full resorts, highest prices and crowded Flamingo Island boats.
Autumn brings a warm sea into October, falling prices and flamingos returning from October, with desert trips comfortable again.
Winter is mild at 16 to 18C with a cold sea and a quiet island, best for thalasso, culture and the lowest prices.
Ramadan shifts yearly on the lunar calendar, in recent cycles falling in late winter to spring, with daytime town closures and lively evenings.
What's on
- Ghriba Pilgrimage Lag BaOmer, usually late April to May, dates vary by year
The annual pilgrimage to El Ghriba Synagogue in Erriadh, with the Menara procession, tight security and full hotels nearby.
- Houmt Souk Market Days Mondays and Thursdays, weekly year round
The big market days in Houmt Souk, when the souks and streets fill with island produce, fish, ceramics and textiles.
Best things to do in Djerba
El Ghriba Synagogue
The oldest synagogue in Africa, a blue and white tiled place of worship in Hara Sghira at the heart of Djerbian Jewish life.
Djerbahood
A traditional whitewashed village in Erriadh turned into an open air gallery by around 150 international street artists.
Borj El Kebir
The largest and best preserved fort on Djerba, by the fishing port in Houmt Souk, with towers and harbour views.
Houmt Souk
Djerba's market capital, with covered souks, old fondouks and square cafes where the island actually socialises.
Guellala Pottery Village
A working pottery village in the south where potters throw and fire local clay in workshops lining the streets.
Guellala Museum
A hilltop folk museum of Djerbian weddings, costume and crafts, with one of the best panoramic views on the island.
Djerba Explore Park
A park near Midoun combining the Lalla Hadria Museum, a heritage village and a farm of several hundred Nile crocodiles.
Fadhloun Mosque
A small whitewashed fortified mosque near Midoun, the classic image of Djerbian religious architecture.
Where to stay in Djerba
Zone Touristique
beach holiday with everything included
The north east resort strip on Sidi Mahrez and Mezraia, with large all inclusive hotels, private beach sections and hotel entertainment.
Houmt Souk
town life, food and independent exploring
The island capital, with souks, fondouks, the port and fort and the best restaurant cluster, plus a beach under 1km away.
Erriadh
character stays, street art and the synagogue
A traditional village in the centre of the island, home to Djerbahood and El Ghriba, with small menzel and dar boutique stays.
Think twice about
- Desert border area south of Remada and within 16km of the Libyan border
Cross border terrorism risk and military operations near the Libyan border. Stay on established tourist circuits.
- Unlit village roads at night
Violent crime is more common after dark and petty crime in tourist areas. Use taxis at night instead of walking dark roads.
Best restaurants in Djerba
Restaurant Haroun
The island's special occasion seafood restaurant at Houmt Souk marina, with harbour views and a big sharing platter.
Restaurant Essofra
The most recommended traditional restaurant on the island, a Houmt Souk house serving octopus, chorba and couscous.
El Fondouk Djerba
A restored fondouk in Houmt Souk combining a cafe, restaurant, patisserie and Tunisian craft concept store.
Bacar
A relaxed, well liked Houmt Souk restaurant for Tunisian and Mediterranean plates at mid prices, with easy service.
La Lagune
A simple beachside seafood restaurant in the Midoun area for spaghetti with seafood, shrimp and octopus at lunch.
Patisserie Masmoudi
The Houmt Souk branch of Tunisia's best known patisserie house, for makroud and nut pastries by weight with coffee.
Outdoor things to do in Djerba
Flamingo Island
A sandy spit reached by pirate ship from Houmt Souk for swimming and a fish lunch, with flamingos mainly October to March.
Sidi Mahrez Beach
The long sandy resort beach on the north east strip, with shallow warm water and rides and water sports along the shore.
Plage de la Seguia
A quiet south east beach and glassy lagoon reached by guided camel ride, away from the built up hotel strip.
Ksar Ghilane
A palm oasis where the desert becomes sand dunes, reached on the two day trip via Chenini with a night in a tent camp.
Chenini
A hilltop Berber village of rock cut houses near Tataouine, the highlight of the mainland day trip from Djerba.
Djerba Golf Club
The island's only golf course, 27 holes among palms and olive trees near Midoun, playable for holiday golfers.
Best hotels in Djerba
Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa & Spa Djerba
The top end of the Sidi Mahrez strip, with large suites and a serious thalasso centre in a quieter resort setting.
Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso, Djerba
A large five star beach resort at Mezraia with several restaurants and a thalasso centre of around 3,000 square metres.
Iberostar Waves Mehari Djerba
The representative mid range all inclusive on the beach strip, with pools, animation and buffet dining at a fair price.
Al Jazira Beach & Spa
A smaller budget beach hotel with its own beach and spa, the cheap way to sleep on the sand on Djerba.
Dar El Manara Djerba Hotel & Aparts
A town hotel with a pool and garden in Houmt Souk, walkable to the souks and restaurants and near Sidi Mahrez beach.
Hôtel Sindbad
A simple, long running budget hotel on Place Monji Bali in central Houmt Souk, with the souk on its doorstep.
Hotel Dar Dhiafa
Five old Djerbian houses in Erriadh with domes, patios and two pools, the island's defining boutique splurge stay.
Dar Bibine
A small design guesthouse in Erriadh with a plunge pool, roof terrace and free bicycles, a short stroll from El Ghriba.
Is Djerba expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | TND 180 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | TND 380 a person |
| Splurge | TND 900 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Flamingo Island: a few days ahead
- Plage de la Seguia: a few days ahead
- Ksar Ghilane: a few days ahead
- Chenini: a few days ahead
- Djerba Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa & Spa Djerba: weeks ahead
- Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso, Djerba: weeks ahead
- Iberostar Waves Mehari Djerba: weeks ahead
- Book Dar Dhiafa, Dar Bibine and the top thalasso resorts ahead in high season, their room counts are small or demand is high.
- Book Restaurant Haroun for a weekend dinner and the two day Sahara trip a day or two ahead through a hotel or operator.
- Flamingo Island boats and island tours can usually be booked the day before.
Is Djerba safe?
- Djerba itself is a mainstream resort island: expect a visible security presence at El Ghriba, the causeway, the ferry and big hotels, and follow instructions.
- Alcohol is served in resorts and licensed restaurants only, many town places serve none, and public drinking can bring legal trouble.
Djerba travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Pottery prices in Guellala are not automatically the best on the island, compare in Houmt Souk before buying big pieces.
- Agree the price and duration of beach camel and horse rides on Sidi Mahrez before you mount.
- Some cheap island tours build in carpet shop detours, decline firmly if you do not want to buy.
- Do not drink tap water, use bottled water.
Getting around Djerba: public transport and more
- Fly to Djerba Zarzis International Airport, or cross from the mainland by the Roman causeway at El Kantara or the Ajim ferry.
- Yellow taxis are plentiful and cheap, agree the meter or the fare before you set off.
- Rent a car for two or three days, the sights are spread around a flat island about 25km across and driving is easy.
- Buses and shared louage taxis link Houmt Souk, Midoun and the villages for very little, on no reliable visitor schedule.
Who Djerba suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Djerba your trip
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