On the light-filled Cap Bon peninsula, this established favourite was discovered long ago by a colourful artistic and international set. Their graceful villas are still there and so are the attractions that lured them – an abundance of citrus and olive groves, a 12th-century fort in a small, walled medina, and a ribbon of golden beaches.

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Once part of the ancient Province of Carthage, the fertile land that surrounds Hammamet has been a market garden since earliest times. Vines and olives were planted in the Punic era and still flourish today. So do oranges, lemons and a wealth of fresh vegetables. It's easy to see why the food consistently wins compliments. Marvellous mezze, the starter selection of salads and fish, always includes a Hammamet speciality, harissa, the fiery chilli paste which ignites the taste buds.

When Rumanian aristocrat, George Sebastian, chose to build his beautiful house on the bay in the 1920s, his banquets became famous. He invited the likes of painter Paul Klee and writer André Gide. Like D’erlanger in Sidi Bou Saïd, Sebastian embraced Arab style and his stunning old mansion is now part of the International Cultural Centre – well worth a visit.

So, you see, tourism is not new to Hammamet – although the resort began seriously to take off in the 1960s and has become smarter by the decade. There are now fun boutiques and cafés, restaurants serving everything from pizzas and burgers to fresh seafood and spicy Tunisian specialities. Meanwhile, the old fishing port's cultural heart continues to beat and the medina's maze of narrow streets harks back to the bazaars of a thousand-and-one-nights. Among the most desirable traditional crafts is the local pottery.

Getting around town is easy in petits taxis or the Noddy Train and, if you want to explore further, some of Tunisia's most interesting sites – Tunis, Dougga, Sousse and Kairouan – are within easy reach, either by hire car or on an organised excursion.

2 or 3 centre stays
Combine Hammamet with other resorts or with Tunis – we can be as flexible as you wish and still offer you an inexpensive package with added value.

Excursions
Private tours can be organised by your representative in the resort, or you can join one of the group excursions. The full programme of these will be available on your arrival, but here are some examples:

Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd. Visit to the capital, including the Medina and the Bardo Museum (famous for its Roman mosaics), the Roman ruins at Carthage and the pretty Moorish village of Sidi Bou Saïd.
Full day: £28

Kairouan, Sousse and Port El Kantaoui. Tour to Kairouan, fourth most important city of pilgrimage in Islam, visiting the Grand Mosque, the Barber’s Mausoleum, souk and carpet factory. Return via Sousse to see the Ribat and Medina, and Port El Kantaoui.
Full day: £26

Cap Bon. Visit to the Cap Bon area including the stone-carvers’ workshop at Dar Chaabane, the Punic site of Kerkouane and the Roman quarry of El Haouaria.
Full Day: £22

Mini Safari. Overnight stay at Douz in the Sahara, on the way taking in the Roman Colosseum at El Jem and the cave dwellings of Matmata. Return via Chott El Jerid, Tozeur, Metlaoui and Kairouan.
Two days: £75

All excursions, which are subject to availability, must be booked on arrival and paid for in dinars. Prices are approximate.

Riu Palace Oceana
On a white sand beach, in a stunning setting surrounded by palm trees and eucalyptus, this elegant Moorish-style hotel offers every comfort and amenity. Renowned for the quality of its service and accommodation, the hotel is eight kilometres from the centre of Hammamet.

Royal Azur
A flower-decked hotel in a lovely terraced garden that leads on to a sandy beach, the Royal Azur is known for its state-of-the-art thalassotherapy centre. Just two kilometres from the centre of Hammamet.

Sol Azur
Built on a white sand beach, part of the Azur complex, the Sol Azur is an extremely well-appointed hotel offering a wide range of facilities for a relaxing holiday. Just two kilometres north of the town centre..

Aziza
Three kilometres north of Hammamet on a fine sandy beach, the Aziza is an attractive and well-run hotel offering an exceptionally good range of facilities.

Riu Park El Kebir
A new addition to the area, the Riu Park El Kebir is pleasantly built on a fine stretch of sandy beach. It provides a range of facilities suitable for families. Conveniently situated, it is two kilometres north of the centre of Hammamet.

Sheraton
A centre of tranquillity, just five kilometres south of the town, the hotel is set in its own 17-acre gardens on the edge of a sandy beach. Moorish- style guest rooms, scattered throughout the gardens, are linked to the main building by a series of pathways. The Sheraton has long been a favourite of British visitors.

Royal Residence
Offering an alternative to the usual hotel-based holiday, the Royale Residence is one of the best self-catering properties in Hammamet. It has 77 spacious apartments with home-from-home amenities including kitchenettes. Guests of the Residence can share the wide range of facilities offered by the adjoining Le Hammamet Hotel.