EasyJet's new route offers flights from £44, where cheap holidays deliver ancient ruins, pristine beaches and better value than Spain or Greece.
Discovering Tunisia's Charm
Tunisia is a country used to transformation. Its recent past has left marks across the terrain, but has also shaped it into a truly distinctive nation — and one I had been eager to explore for some time.
A former French colony, then under dictatorship, and now a democracy following one of the Arab Spring's most successful uprisings, this modern history was familiar to me. When the chance to visit presented itself, I jumped at the opportunity to experience the real Tunisia firsthand.
It is remarkably accessible, with easyJet's new route from Newcastle to Enfidha allowing you to trade grey skies for sunshine in just over three hours. Then it is a 45-minute journey from the airport to one of the most genuine and budget-friendly resort towns I have encountered.
Hammamet is worlds away from pristine beaches, tourist traps and British pubs — the sort of places I have typically avoided throughout my travels. The north-eastern Tunisian coast offers something far more compelling.
The Hotel
Hammamet delivers five-star quality at three-star prices. My stay at Les Orangers Garden Villas and Bungalows, for instance, was a revelation. It offered everything you could desire from a tranquil beach resort and beyond, for considerably less than you would spend in most other sought-after destinations. In Tunisia, your pound stretches significantly further for this price range — and that is before you have even set foot in a souk.
The Shopping
On the subject of traditional markets, Hammamet boasts an Old Medina, arguably the jewel in the region's crown. This stunning walled quarter of the city left me utterly spellbound. Stretching back centuries, the ancient walls rise up around you, yet never feel oppressive. Whitewashed walls, often highlighted with blue, encircle a modest yet stunning mosque. Flowers and cacti punctuate the stonework, interspersed with traditional hammered doors.
This is the ultimate destination for holiday shopping. Tea vendors were positioned beside camel wool rugs, set against a backdrop of brass plates being beaten in narrow alleyways. Tunisia has a bargaining culture across many of its shops, though it never feels overwhelming. If you have previously visited destinations such as Egypt or Turkey, you will already know what to expect. But in old Hammamet, if you are not keen to venture inside, traders will leave you in peace fairly swiftly.
As a female traveller, I had anticipated the usual calls I had encountered in other countries, beckoning me into shops. Yet every stallholder was thoroughly respectful, keeping the focus firmly on their goods rather than hollow compliments.
Cats reign supreme in Hammamet. It falls to the local community to look after the animals, with many curled up contentedly on rugs outside, completely unbothered, tucking into a plate of scraps or simply basking in the sunshine. Nobody chased them away, and they all appeared remarkably well cared for.
While Old Hammamet has a maze-like quality, the fresh sea breeze beckoned me outside whenever I needed respite, drawing me towards turquoise waters as serene as the Amalfi Coast. Every stretch of the coastline felt like stepping into a different nation. From the Costa del Sol to Cannes, from Santorini to Sorrento, Tunisia's shores offer a taste of Europe's finest beaches — with far fewer crowds and cocktails at a fraction of the price.
Carthage
Then, of course, there is the unmissable Carthage. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the beating heart of the ancient world. Witnessing such a remarkably preserved site in the flesh was nothing short of breathtaking. Walls rose around me, staircases climbing to floors long gone, pillars toppled yet still standing proud. Coming from the North East, where Roman remains are rather more crumbling than this magnificent ancient Carthage, I could easily have spent an entire day wandering beneath arches, drinking in views once beheld by Phoenicians and Romans alike.
Tunisia's foundations run deep. It is a nation that treasures its history as much as its present day, wearing that pride openly through its people. Everyone I encountered was eager to share what they knew about their homeland with visitors. Each story captivated me more than the one before.
Sidi Bou Saïd
This rang especially true in the town of Sidi Bou Saïd, first settled between the 12th and 13th centuries and regarded as Tunisia's cultural heartland. While wandering its streets, you would be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled into Greece, with its dazzling whites and blues set against a stunning coastline and smooth cobbled lanes. A haven for skilled craftspeople, it stirred fond memories of Montmartre in Paris in all the best ways.
Artists display a number above their shops, along with official stamps at the bottom that distinguish genuine artwork from cheap tourist souvenirs. The plates and hand-painted pottery showcase spirographic designs reminiscent of peacock feathers, a striking artistic motif deeply rooted in the region's ancient heritage.
Food
Food is another constant thread running throughout — timeless and unchanged, because it was already perfected long ago. North Africa may be the birthplace of couscous, but it is Tunisia that can claim harissa as its own. This fiery chilli paste is steadily gaining a following in the UK, and rightly so. The aromatic spice blend works beautifully with chicken and olive oil.
Other culinary gems are yet to reach British shores, as I discovered during a visit to a local farm. Mechouia, a spiced pepper salad, quickly became a firm favourite, particularly when served alongside tabbouleh bread.
Then there is the price. A recent Travel Supermarket ranking of the top 10 holiday destinations for Brits crowned Tunisia the most affordable by quite some distance — something I found to be entirely true. Not only is the cost of living relatively modest, but with bartering very much part of the culture, there is always the chance of an even better bargain. Quite the contrast to shopping back home in the UK.
The Weather
As was the climate. Hammamet in May offered a glorious 26°C, gently tempered by a refreshing sea breeze. Come summer, temperatures climb into the mid-30s, making a dip in the sea all the more irresistible. Head further inland towards the Sahara, and the mercury rises even higher.
Yet the accessibility of sunshine will come as welcome news to those whose wallets have been emptied by all-inclusive getaways to Spain or Greece. What my Tunisian adventure revealed to me is the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone. While I had explored Arab nations previously, this marked my first visit since the Spring disrupted established tourism connections.
Tunisia feels as though it is extending a warm welcome to visitors from the UK. British tourists represent Tunisia's third-largest market and, according to residents, we are among the few nationalities known for our tipping habits. So, what is stopping you? Tunisia stands ready to receive you if you are willing to take the plunge.
Book it
EasyJet's new route from Newcastle to Enfidha-Hammamet launched on 22 March 2026. Flights operate twice a week, with fares starting at £44 one-way. Flights from London operate up to 7 days a week, starting from £52 one-way, including taxes. easyJet holidays offers seven nights at the 5* Les Orangers Garden Villas and Bungalows in Hammamet on an All Inclusive basis for £1,282 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Newcastle on 16 July 2026.
