Hotels
Best hotels in Tunisia: where to stay, from Gammarth to the Sahara
At breakfast in Gammarth the Gulf of Tunis lies flat and silver in front of you, and by the afternoon you can be wandering between the white houses of Sidi Bou Said. A couple of hours south are Hammamet and Djerba, and beyond them the desert begins. Tunisia has far more to offer than the package-holiday version, if you know where to look.
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Tunisia is small enough to combine city, beach and desert in a single trip, yet big enough that your choice of base really matters. In the north, the newest luxury hotels line the coast at Gammarth, with Sidi Bou Said and the ruins of Carthage on the doorstep. Further south is Hammamet, the country's longest run of beach hotels, and at the far end lies the island of Djerba. Head inland and the Sahara takes over.
We have chosen eight hotels across five areas, from a palace on the sand outside Tunis to a desert hotel above the palm groves of Tozeur, and we say who each one is for. All of them score highly with guests on Hotels.com. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link.
Short answer: where to stay in Tunisia
If you want beach and city in one trip, stay in Gammarth north of Tunis, with Sidi Bou Said and Carthage a short taxi ride away. For a pure beach holiday, Hammamet and Djerba are the better bases, and if the desert is on your list, give Tozeur at least two nights.
Best for romance: La Badira
Best for families: Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa & Spa Djerba
Best for first-timers: Four Seasons Hotel Tunis
Best for culture: Dar Ben Gacem
Best for the desert: The Mora Sahara Tozeur
How to choose the right hotel in Tunisia
City or beach: Gammarth gives you both. Hammamet and Djerba are built for beach holidays, and most guests rarely leave the hotel.
Thalasso: many Tunisian hotels have a thalasso centre, a spa built around heated seawater, algae and marine treatments. It is a national tradition and often the main reason people pick one hotel over another.
Airports: Tunis-Carthage serves the north, Enfidha and Monastir serve Hammamet and Sousse, and Djerba has its own airport. Tozeur has an airport with few flights, otherwise it is a long drive.
Medina houses: in Tunis and Sidi Bou Said you will find small hotels in old courtyard houses, known as a dar. Expect few rooms, plenty of stairs and no lift, but you sleep in the heart of old Tunisia.
Season: some beach hotels scale back in winter. Check that the spa and restaurants are open if you travel between November and March.
From the air
Four Seasons Hotel Tunis from the air, with the pools running down to the sea.
Gammarth and La Marsa: beach hotels by the capital
Gammarth sits on the coast north of Tunis, with long sandy beaches and villas behind them. From here it is a short drive to Sidi Bou Said, Carthage and the medina, and around half an hour to the airport.
Four Seasons Hotel Tunis: a new palace on the bay
Four Seasons stands right on the sand at Gammarth, its white Moorish-style wings arranged around several pools and a large spa. Rooms face either the sea or the gardens, and after dark the lights of the coast stretch towards Sidi Bou Said.
This is our pick for a first visit: a proper beach holiday with the capital and the ruins within easy reach. It is a big hotel and busy in high season, and prices sit at the top of the Tunisian market. Spend an afternoon in Sidi Bou Said and be back in time for dinner by the pool.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons Hotel Tunis
The thalasso pool
The indoor seawater pool at The Residence Tunis.
The Residence Tunis: thalasso and golf by the sea
The Residence lies a little further along the coast, between the beach and a golf course. The building takes its cue from Tunisian palaces, with arches, tiles and a grand inner courtyard, and its thalasso centre is one of the best known in the country.
It suits travellers who want calm, treatments and slow mornings by the pool, with the city as a day trip rather than the main event. It is quieter than Four Seasons and more classic than contemporary in style. Golfers have the course next door, while everyone else can spend the day in the seawater pools.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Residence Tunis
The pool
The pool with a view of the sea at Dar Said.
Sidi Bou Said and the medina: sleep in an old house
For travellers who would rather wake to the call to prayer and narrow lanes than to the sound of the surf. The houses are old, the rooms few, and daily life happens right outside your door.
Dar Said: white walls and blue doors in Sidi Bou Said
Dar Said is a historic house in the clifftop village of Sidi Bou Said, built around tiled courtyards full of plants, with a small pool. From the terraces you look across the rooftops to the sea, and the famous blue doors are right outside.
It is a romantic choice for two or three nights, best outside summer, when the day-trippers have gone home and the village falls quiet in the evening. Rooms vary in size and style, and there are stairs everywhere. Cars have to stay some distance away, so travel light.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Dar Said
The courtyard
The arched courtyard at Dar Ben Gacem.
Dar Ben Gacem: a restored house inside the medina
Dar Ben Gacem is tucked inside the medina of Tunis, the old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The house has been restored with its original tiles and painted ceilings, and it has only a handful of rooms around a bright courtyard.
This is our culture pick, for travellers who want to see Tunis from the inside, with the souks, mosques and workshops on the doorstep. It is not a resort with a spa and pool but a small guest house where the hosts are generous with local advice. Pair a couple of nights here with a few days on the beach at Gammarth.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Dar Ben Gacem
The pools
The pools and garden leading down to the beach at La Badira.
Hammamet: long beaches and seawater spas
Hammamet is Tunisia's biggest beach resort, with a small walled medina by the sea and hotels spread along the coast in both directions. Yasmine Hammamet to the south is newer, with a marina and a seafront promenade.
La Badira: adults only, with a sea view from every room
La Badira sits on the beach north of central Hammamet and welcomes adults only. Every room faces the sea, and there is a large spa, several pools and restaurants that lean towards fish and Mediterranean cooking.
It is our romantic pick, for couples who want quiet and attentive service without a kids' pool or entertainment programme. The style is modern and calm, and guests rate the food highly. The Hammamet medina is a short taxi ride away when you want an evening out.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at La Badira
The pool at dusk
The pool at Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa Hammamet in the evening light.
Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa Hammamet: suites at Yasmine
Hasdrubal faces the beach at Yasmine Hammamet, with spacious suites, gardens and one of the largest thalasso centres in the area. Many guests come specifically for the multi-day spa programmes, which combine seawater pools, massage and treatments.
Book it for a longer, slower holiday where the spa is the main activity. It is a large property with slightly traditional decor, so if you prefer pared-back design, La Badira is a better match. The marina and promenade at Yasmine make a pleasant evening walk along the shore.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa Hammamet
The pools
The pools and palms at Hasdrubal Prestige on Djerba.
Djerba: the island in the south
Djerba is flat, warm and unhurried, with white beaches along its north-east coast and whitewashed mosques in the villages inland. It is warmer than the north and the season runs longer.
Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa & Spa Djerba: room for the whole family
Hasdrubal Prestige sits on the long sandy beach on Djerba's north-east shore, with suites rather than standard rooms, large pools and its own thalasso centre. The suites are big enough for a family to share without tripping over each other.
This is our family pick in Tunisia, with space, a beach and warm weather well into autumn. It is a large resort, and distances within the grounds are long. Hire a car for a day and loop the island, taking in the souk at Houmt Souk and the El Ghriba synagogue.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa & Spa Djerba
A pool villa
A villa with a pool in the desert landscape at The Mora Sahara Tozeur.
Tozeur: where the desert begins
Tozeur is a desert town of palm groves in the south-west, on the edge of the Chott el Djerid salt lake. From here you drive out to the dunes, the mountain villages and the Star Wars film sets.
The Mora Sahara Tozeur: a balcony over the desert
The Mora lies close to the Belvedere rocks outside Tozeur, with two outdoor pools and a balcony for every room. The palm groves are close by, and the hotel can arrange trips into the dunes and out to the salt lake.
It is our desert pick, for two or three nights after a few days on the coast. Summer is fiercely hot, so spring and autumn are the best seasons. Set an alarm and watch the sun rise over the desert from your balcony.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Mora Sahara Tozeur
When to book
Spring and autumn: April to June and September to October bring the best weather and the best balance of price and availability.
Summer: July and August are the hottest and most expensive months, and beach hotels fill with families from Europe and North Africa. Book early.
Winter: mild and quiet, with low prices. Good for Tunis, the medina and the desert, less so for swimming.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Tunisia
Where should I stay in Tunisia on a first visit?
Gammarth, just north of Tunis, is a strong first choice. You stay by the beach and have Sidi Bou Said, Carthage and the Tunis medina within a short drive.
Is Hammamet or Djerba better for a beach holiday?
Djerba is warmer with a longer season, while Hammamet is closer to Tunis and livelier in the evening. Both have long sandy beaches and plenty of thalasso hotels.
What is thalasso?
Thalasso, short for thalassotherapy, is a spa treatment built around heated seawater, algae and marine mud. It is a long tradition in Tunisia, and many hotels have their own centres with pools and multi-day packages.
How many nights should I spend in the desert?
Two nights is the minimum. That gives you time for sunrise over the dunes and a day trip to the mountain villages or the Chott el Djerid salt lake.
Can I pay by card at Tunisian hotels?
Yes, the larger hotels accept cards. In the medina, cafes and souks you need Tunisian dinars, which you change on arrival.