Tunisia: what to do in Djerba and its surroundings?

Preserved traditions

Djerba has several towns and villages whose charm and heritage attract travelers.

A real contrast with the seaside part of the island which seems devoid of soul.

Far from the beaches and seaside hotels,

, the island's main town, is worth a visit.

With its pretty alleys, its whitewashed facades, its colorful craft shops and its typical souks, it is actually a village where it is good to take your time.

Among the attractions not to be missed, the auction is one of the most picturesque.

In this fish market, you will take pleasure in observing the spectacle of vendors shouting, often with humor, to attract customers.

It's up to you to do your shopping during these catch of the day auctions.

Then, all you have to do is grill your fish at a restaurant in the market;

it is a widespread practice.

Authentic freshness and experience guaranteed.

Also worth visiting: the Guellala museum on the heritage and history of Djerba.

Adobe Stock

About 20 kilometers from Houmt Souk, in the south of the island, the charming town of

is a must see.

Endowed with beautiful white houses surmounted by domes, it is renowned for its ancestral pottery craftsmanship.

You can easily observe potters hard at work in their workshop and buy some souvenirs from them.

Also worth visiting: the

on the heritage and history of Djerba;

it is on the highest point of the island, 52 meters high, and its cafe offers a beautiful panorama of the island.

Erriadh, between mythical synagogue and abundant street-art

Erriadh is best known for hosting the famous Ghriba, the oldest synagogue in Africa.

Adobe Stock

To the south of Houmt Souk, the pretty village of

looks like a postcard with its white houses, its alleyways full of flowers and its squares with peaceful refreshments.

But beyond its bucolic atmosphere, Erriadh is best known for hosting the famous

, the oldest synagogue in Africa.

Inside, earthenware, colored mosaics, stained glass, gilding and the smell of incense create a spiritual atmosphere.

Open to all visitors, it hosts an important pilgrimage from the Jewish community every year.

You can admire imposing frescoes by Tunisian or international artists, some of whom are known worldwide, such as the American Shepard Fairey, alias Obey.

Lionel Belluteau

But Erriadh is not only famous for its religious heritage, it has also become over the years an open-air museum of street art.

You just have to walk through its alleys to realize it: nearly 300 works line the walls.

This district bears the name of "Djerbahood" after the eponymous event of the Franco-Tunisian gallery owner of urban art and contemporary art, Mehdi Ben Cheikh, who invited artists from all over the world to draw on the walls of the village in 2014. Following a new edition of Djerbahood in 2022, this district has now become one of the most dynamic urban art sites in Tunisia.

You can admire imposing frescoes by Tunisian or international artists, some of whom are known worldwide, such as the American Shepard Fairey, alias Obey.

For an even more immersive visit to Erriadh, it is recommended to sleep on site in a guest house, a mode of accommodation that has been booming in Djerba in recent years.

We recommend Dar Bibine, a guest house as warm as it is stylish, which has the advantage of being equipped with a pleasant little swimming pool.

Superb beaches

Djerba is nicknamed "the island of golden sands" because of its fine sandy beaches.

Phil_Good / stock.adobe.com

Nicknamed "the island of golden sands" because of its splendid fine sandy beaches, Djerba is the ideal destination for sea lovers. However, you can only swim from March to November, the water being relatively cool in winter despite the omnipresent sun and mild temperatures.

Among the most beautiful beaches, do not miss that of

, on the north coast of Djerba, or that of the

hotel .

Outside the summer period, the seaside is also ideal for a walk, horseback ride, or camel ride.

An island at the gates of the desert

A fascinating troglodyte village, Matmata sits atop a stone desert 600 meters above sea level.

Adobe Stock

The island of Djerba is near the Tunisian Sahara and you can therefore go from the beaches to a desert landscape, in a few hours, for even more change of scenery and a real immersion in nature.

About 2h30 by road from Djerba,

is a must in the Tunisian desert.

This fascinating troglodyte village, placed at the top of a stone desert at an altitude of 600 meters, can be easily discovered during an excursion.

The succession of craters and houses dug into the earth resembles a science fiction setting, so much so that a sequence from

was filmed there.

Chott el Jerid, an immense salt lake of 5000 km² covered with a crust of salt whose crystals sparkle in the sun.

Adobe Stock

1 hour by road from Matmata, the

, nicknamed "the gateway to the Sahara", is located in the middle of ocher-colored dunes.

It is advisable to sleep in a hotel or camp on site.

Thus, you will have time to treat yourself to a camel trek to the dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental before heading back to Djerba the next day.

Among the other possible excursions in the surroundings of Douz, the discovery of

is one of the essential visits of the region.

This immense salt lake of 5000 km² is covered with a crust of salt whose crystals sparkle in the sun: magic!