Best things to do in Tunis in summer

Have a lazy beach day

Tunisia is blessed with more than 1000km of beautiful coastline, a decent section of which is easily accessible from Tunis. Pack your fouta (thin Tunisian towel) and take your pick from a number of local strands. The beach at Sidi Bou Said is small and sheltered but can get busy in summer, so head to nearby Amilcar Beach for more space and chilled drinks under the shaded terrace of beachside restaurant L’Amphitrite. The service may be erratic, but the prices are cheap and the view sublime. Popular La Marsa Beach is a fun and friendly option with plenty of local amenities such as cafes, toilets and a beach volleyball net, as well as local shops where you can buy picnic items. The long curved beaches of Gammarth offer some of the best spots with sun loungers and waiter service, such as Baboca and Santorini Marin. Local beaches are sadly often strewn with litter, but recent efforts have been made to clean them up: play your part and take any rubbish away with you.
If sunbathing all day doesn’t appeal, what better way to enjoy the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean than out at sea? The beaches around Tunis are well suited to water sports, and paddleboards and kayaks can be hired from Club Nautique in Sidi Bou Said port. If there’s enough of a breeze, windsurfing and sailing lessons are also on offer at affordable rates, or head off on a bigger adventure by chartering Let’s Go Sailing for a private boat trip to the nearby Italian island of Pantelleria.

Shed your winter skin with a scrub at a bathhouse in Tunis © Rengim Mutevellioglu / Getty Images

Get ready for the summer sun with a traditional hammam

Bathhouses have a long history in Tunisian society, and local rumour has it that going to a hammam and getting a gommage (body scrub) before sunbathing enables a deeper tan, so sun worshippers should seek one out for a good cleanse to remove tired winter skin. Local gommage treatments are equal parts bliss and pain as staff remove skin to what sometimes feels like bone level, so the Tunisian phrase ‘bechaya bouchaya’ is good to know if you need to encourage a slightly more tender approach from the occasionally over-exuberant staff. Spas range from cheap and cheerful to five-star luxury. Mix with the locals at Mayorka Spa in Ariana, which offers hammam and gommage along with massages for a very reasonable 30DT to 50DT. This hammam is clean and functional and will leave you glowing from head to toe. If you want to splurge, head to Mövenpick Gammarth or The Residence to enjoy a gentler yet decadent pampering. Stay for a few hours to make the most of the relaxed atmosphere, drinking mint tea by the pool and trying out the more extensive spa facilities.

An orchestra performs with Tunisian pianist Mohamed Ali Kammoun at the International Festival of Carthage © Yassine Gaidi / Getty Images

Mix music and history at the International Festival of Carthage

Watching a symphony orchestra live in the ruins of a Roman theatre under a blanket of stars is a skin-tingling experience. The annual Festival de Carthage runs throughout July and August with concerts in the restored open-air theatre of Carthage and the intricately decorated L’Acropolium. The wide-ranging programme spans from classical to rap with artists from almost every corner of the globe, including some well-known names.
Outside of Tunis, the musical season continues with international music and jazz festivals in Hammamet, Tabarka, Bizerte and at Dougga’s Sound of the Stones. Electronic music festivals Fairground Festival Sousse and Djerba Fest also attract talented DJs to spin the decks until the early hours. But one of the most thrilling experiences has to be in the colossal amphitheatre of El Jem, where flickering candles set in the walls create a stunning backdrop to the Festival of Symphony Music and makes for a truly memorable experience.

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