Tunisia in Pictures: 35 Free Photos of the Island of Djerba
Tunisia in 35 free photos, all from the island of Djerba: white hotels with pools and palm gardens, camels on the beach and in the dry interior, the potters and the museum of Guellala, white mosques and the streets of the villages, long sandy beaches with horses and catamarans, and music and fresh bread at a Tunisian evening. Each set of photos has a short note on the place.
Djerba at a glance
- Getting there: Djerba-Zarzis airport has direct flights from Europe; from the mainland, a ferry from Jorf or the causeway from Zarzis.
- Getting around: taxis and hire cars; the island is flat and about 25 km across, good for cycling outside summer.
- Money: Tunisian dinar, which cannot be taken out of the country; change what you need and keep your receipts.
- When to go: April to June and September to October. July and August are hot; winter is mild but cool for swimming.
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Hotels, pools and palm gardens
Most hotels line the beaches of the east coast, between Midoun and the Ras Rmel peninsula: white buildings in the local style, with domes and arches, set in gardens of palms and bougainvillea.
Camels and the dry interior
Inland, Djerba is flat and dry, with olive trees, palms and the old fortified farmhouses called menzels. Camels carry visitors along the beaches and out into the countryside.
Guellala, Houmt Souk and the villages
Guellala in the south has been a village of potters for centuries; its museum shows the traditions of the island. Houmt Souk, the main town, has covered souks for spices, carpets and jewellery. White mosques with square minarets stand in every village.
Beaches
The beaches of Sidi Mahrez and Aghir are long and sandy, with shallow, calm water, good for families, horse rides and sailing.
A Tunisian evening
Bread baked over the fire, and musicians in white playing at a dinner.
Tips for a first visit
- Visit Houmt Souk on market day and bargain in the souks.
- See the street art of Djerbahood in the village of Erriadh.
- Look for flamingos in the shallow lagoons of Ras Rmel in winter and spring.
More about Tunisia
Note of warning: Tunisia underwent a revolution in 2011, and is still in a period of political transition. A new constitution was agreed in January 2014 and a new government appointed. While foreigners are not normally a target of action, and beach resorts are generally considered safe, it is advisable to check travel advice before booking.
Tunisia is a Muslim Arab country situated on the North African Mediterranean coast. It borders on Algeria to the west and Libya to the south and east./> Tunisia was the site of Carthage, a state conquered by the Roman Empire, which withdrew in the 5th century. It was conquered by Arab Muslims in the 7th century, and later became part of the Ottoman Empire.
In the 19th century it remained officially Ottoman but increasingly independent. It was made a French protectorate in 1881. It achieved independence in 1956, and has had two presidents since.
Tunisians have been welcoming tourists in their millions for decades and the country boasts an impressive infrastructure with modern hotels, restaurants, tourist centres and of course international airports. Its golden, sandy beaches offer recreation of all kinds from swimming, sailing, windsurfing and fun water sports, to simply lazing in the Mediterranean sun. Tunisia is an exotic country full of contrasts. A trip into the Sahara will surprise and delight you. The standard of hotel comfort even in the desert is remarkable.
When to go
Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The most popular time to visit is between mid-March and mid-May, although if you want to take a trip into the Sahara Desert you need to go in late autumn, because it’s too hot among the sand dunes in summer.
There are a number of Mediterranean resorts to choose from in Tunisia, and most of them have a range of accommodation. The main coastal resort areas are Tunis and around, Peninsula, Hammamet and Cap Bon, and Djerba.
What to do
Tunisia has plenty to offer the holiday maker apart from beach holidays with all the usual water sports opportunities. Golf is popular, and there are courses in most areas. There are numerous archaeological sites which can be visited, seven of them with UNESCO World Heritage Site status, one of the most important being the great Phoenician city of Carthage. A number of films have been shot in Tunisia, including Star Wars, The English Patient, The Life of Brian, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Little Prince, and their tourist industry is making a feature of visits to some of the locations. Local culture includes visiting markets and medinas, and shopping for Tunisian arts and crafts. Camel rides and excursions to desert oases are on offer, and there are a number of museums, some linked to archaeological sites. One type of holiday you might not expect is hiking and bird watching in Ichkeul National Park, a World Heritage-listed park set around a chain of shallow freshwater lakes and Jebel Ichkeul mountain.
Where to stay
Hammamet is one of the largest resorts, and 5-star hotels include the Laico and the Medina Solario and Thalasso. In the 4-star category there is the Iberostar Averroes and, for adults only, the Sentido Aziza Beach Golf and Spa resort. In Djerba there is the 5-star Hasdrubal Prestige Hotel and the 4-star Seabel Rym Beach. In the city of Tunis itself the Concorde Les Berges du Lac is a quiet 5-star hotel with a lake view, and a good 4-star alternative is Hotel Paris, a brand new hotel with a modern-style interior.
More free photos
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Questions about these Tunisia photos
Can I use these Tunisia pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
Is Djerba an island?
Yes, the largest island in North Africa, in the Gulf of Gabès. A causeway, first built in Roman times, links it to the mainland, and a short ferry crosses from Jorf to Ajim.
