Djerba
Currency
TND
Language
Arabic, French
Timezone
Tunis
Continent
Africa
Discover Djerba
Djerba is a flat island of five hundred square kilometres, joined to the mainland by a Roman causeway still in use. People come for the beach, but what is singular about it lies elsewhere: the Ghriba synagogue at Erriadh is among the oldest in the world and the site of an annual pilgrimage that gathers the Tunisian Jewish diaspora — the island's community has been here without interruption for more than two millennia. The Ghazi Mustapha fort has guarded Houmt Souk's harbour since the fifteenth century. The Museum of Traditional Heritage occupies a former zaouïa and explains the island's dress and trades. The Lalla Hadria museum gathers thirteen centuries of Islamic art. And the menzels, fortified farmhouses, are scattered through the olive country.
When to go
April to June and September to October are best: twenty-six degrees, the sea at twenty-four in September. July and August reach thirty-five and the island is saturated. Winter is mild, eighteen degrees by day, and the pleasantest season for the interior — many hotels stay open at reduced rates. The Ghriba pilgrimage, at Lag BaOmer, fills the island in spring.
Getting around
The island is covered by car or scooter; distances are short and the road is flat. Houmt Souk, the capital, is walkable and its souk is the commercial heart. Hotels are concentrated on the north-east coast, twenty minutes from Houmt Souk. The Roman causeway reaches the mainland in the south, and a ferry serves Jorf. The airport sits in the middle of the island, fifteen minutes from everything.
Where to eat
Fish dominates: grouper, sea bream, octopus, simply grilled on the quay. Brik à l'œuf, fried malsouka pastry, is a starter and is often ruined by cutting it. Djerban couscous is made with fish rather than lamb. Deglet nour dates and the island's olive oil travel well. Two halal addresses are listed here, and most of the island's cooking is halal in practice.
Good to know
The Tunisian dinar is the currency and cannot be taken out: change on arrival and spend it before leaving. Hotels run largely on all-inclusive terms, which distorts price comparison. The Ghriba is visited through a security check and photo identification is required. Bargaining is expected in the souk but not in shops with marked prices.
Where to Stay in Djerba
Top Activities in Djerba
landmarkEl Ghriba Synagogue
landmarkGhazi Mustapha Fort
museumMusée du patrimoine traditionnel de Djerba
landmarkMosque
Lalla Hadria
Dar Mohamed Ben Ayed
Tour de Batés
Abou Mesouar mosquée
Mosquée El Cheikh
Henchir Bourgou
Ben Byan Mosque
Jamaa Louta Sedouikech
olivier mémorable (Bedouine)
La Ferme de Lotos - Musée de l'automobile et de la moto
La Ferme de Lotos - mini zoo
landmark