Djerba or Hammamet? Choose Djerba for a hotter, drier, sunnier beach stay at island pace. Choose Hammamet for a livelier resort close to Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, and to combine beach and sightseeing. Both remain beach destinations from April to October; in winter, neither is really a beach destination.
This comparison draws on the official normals of Tunisia’s National Institute of Meteorology (INM) for the two towns, on airport distances and on the travel advice of the US and UK governments, with calculations you will not find elsewhere: the month-by-month sunshine gap and real distances from the airports.
The essentials
- Sunshine: Djerba gets about 3,235 hours of sunshine a year, against 2,748 in Nabeul, near Hammamet, or 487 hours more (INM, 1981-2010).
- Rain: 202 mm (8.0 in) a year in Djerba against 409 mm (16.1 in) in Nabeul: Djerba is twice as dry.
- Heat: Djerba is 1 to 2.5 °C (2 to 5 °F) hotter in the afternoon from March to October.
- Getting there: Djerba has its own airport (Djerba-Zarzis, about 7 km (4 mi) from Houmt Souk); for Hammamet, fly to Tunis-Carthage then drive (about 59 km (37 mi) as the crow flies), or fly to Enfidha-Hammamet (41 km (25 mi) as the crow flies).
- Safety: both the UK FCDO and the U.S. State Department advise caution in Tunisia and list areas to avoid, mostly near the borders and in the south-west and south, far from both resorts (see below).
- Sunshine and rain gaps and distances: Destination de Voyage calculation from INM data and place coordinates.
Djerba or Hammamet: the comparison in one table
| Criterion | Djerba | Hammamet | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of stay | Flat island, seafront tourist zone, villages and souks | Historic beach resort, waterfront medina, Yasmine Hammamet | Depends on your tastes |
| Atmosphere | Calm, slow pace | Livelier, marina and nightlife at Yasmine | Hammamet for going out |
| Climate | Hotter and drier, more sunshine | Slightly cooler, more rain in autumn and winter | Djerba |
| Getting there | Island airport (Djerba-Zarzis), about 7 km (4 mi) from Houmt Souk | Tunis-Carthage then road (59 km (37 mi) as the crow flies); Enfidha-Hammamet airport 41 km (25 mi) away | Djerba |
| Cultural visits | Houmt Souk, El Ghriba synagogue, Guellala | Hammamet medina; Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Tunis, Kairouan, Cap Bon | Hammamet |
| Nature excursions | Southern Tunisia: Matmata, ksour, desert (long drives) | Cap Bon: Kerkouane, Kelibia, countryside | Tie |
| Families | Shallow sandy beaches, club hotels | Club hotels, leisure parks at Yasmine | Tie |
| Thalassotherapy | Many centers in the tourist zone | Many centers, including Yasmine | Tie |
| Safety | Same national advice; the 2023 shooting at the Jewish pilgrimage site on Djerba is cited by the UK FCDO | Same national advice | Tie |
Weather: Djerba or Hammamet, where is it hotter?
Djerba is hotter, drier and sunnier than Hammamet almost all year. Further south, facing the Gulf of Gabès, the island gets less rain and more sun, especially in winter: in January, 6.7 hours of sunshine a day in Djerba against 4.6 in Nabeul. In summer, both top 32 °C (90 °F) in the afternoon in August.
| Month | High Djerba / Hammamet | Rain (mm) Djerba / Hammamet | Sunshine (h/day) Djerba / Hammamet | Extra sunshine in Djerba | Sunset Djerba / Hammamet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.5 °C (62 °F) / 16.3 °C (61 °F) | 27 / 51 | 6.7 / 4.6 | + 2.1 h | 17:30 / 17:25 |
| February | 17.8 °C (64 °F) / 16.4 °C (62 °F) | 14 / 36 | 7.7 / 5.4 | + 2.2 h | 18:00 / 17:58 |
| March | 20.3 °C (69 °F) / 18.4 °C (65 °F) | 16 / 36 | 8.0 / 6.5 | + 1.5 h | 18:24 / 18:24 |
| April | 23.1 °C (74 °F) / 20.7 °C (69 °F) | 12 / 32 | 9.2 / 7.5 | + 1.7 h | 18:47 / 18:51 |
| May | 26.6 °C (80 °F) / 24.5 °C (76 °F) | 5 / 20 | 10.0 / 9.3 | + 0.7 h | 19:10 / 19:17 |
| June | 30.0 °C (86 °F) / 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 1 / 6 | 11.2 / 10.4 | + 0.8 h | 19:28 / 19:37 |
| July | 32.9 °C (91 °F) / 31.9 °C (89 °F) | 0 / 4 | 11.9 / 11.7 | + 0.2 h | 19:28 / 19:35 |
| August | 33.5 °C (92 °F) / 32.4 °C (90 °F) | 1 / 12 | 11.2 / 10.4 | + 0.9 h | 19:03 / 19:08 |
| September | 30.9 °C (88 °F) / 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20 / 47 | 8.8 / 7.7 | + 1.0 h | 18:23 / 18:25 |
| October | 27.6 °C (82 °F) / 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 36 / 60 | 7.8 / 5.9 | + 1.9 h | 17:43 / 17:41 |
| November | 22.4 °C (72 °F) / 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 27 / 55 | 7.1 / 5.7 | + 1.4 h | 17:13 / 17:09 |
| December | 17.8 °C (64 °F) / 17.4 °C (63 °F) | 41 / 50 | 6.6 / 4.9 | + 1.7 h | 17:09 / 17:03 |
- The sunshine gap is greatest in February: 2.2 more hours of sunshine a day in Djerba. It is in autumn and winter that the difference is most noticeable.
- In October, Nabeul gets 60 mm (2.4 in) against 36 mm (1.4 in) in Djerba: for a sunny end of season, Djerba is the safer bet.
- In July, both are very sunny (about 12 hours a day): the difference no longer matters.
- The sun sets about 5 minutes later in Djerba in winter and 5 to 9 minutes earlier in June-July, because of latitude: a detail for your evenings.
We do not publish a sea temperature for Tunisia, for lack of a public official climatological source. To compare with other destinations, see our page sea temperature month by month.
Getting there: which airport and how much road?
| Route | Straight-line distance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Djerba-Zarzis airport → Houmt Souk | about 7 km (4 mi) | The island’s own airport |
| Djerba-Zarzis airport → Midoun (tourist zone) | about 22 km (14 mi) | Road transfer, duration depends on the hotel |
| Tunis-Carthage airport → Hammamet | about 59 km (37 mi) | Road transfer, often included in all-inclusive packages |
| Enfidha-Hammamet airport → Hammamet | about 41 km (25 mi) | Mostly charter and seasonal flights; check which airlines serve it for your dates |
In practice, Djerba is simpler for a one-week stay: the airport is on the island. For Hammamet, allow for the road transfer from Tunis-Carthage (about 59 km (37 mi) as the crow flies), often included in all-inclusive packages. Check the airlines serving each airport for your dates, as routes change by season.
What to do in Djerba
- Houmt Souk, the island’s small capital: souks, Borj el-Kebir fort, fishing port.
- The El Ghriba synagogue, one of the oldest Jewish pilgrimage sites in North Africa, in Erriadh, and the village’s street-art murals (Djerbahood).
- Guellala, a potters’ village in the south of the island.
- The beaches of the tourist zone (Sidi Mahrez, Aghir), long and fine-sanded.
- Southern Tunisia as a day trip: Matmata, the ksour and the gateways to the desert, at the cost of long drives.
- All the details in our Djerba guide and on when to go to Djerba.
What to do in Hammamet
- The medina, ringed by ramparts on the beach, and its kasbah.
- Yasmine Hammamet, the modern resort to the south: marina, hotels, leisure parks.
- The International Cultural Centre, the former George Sebastian villa, which hosts the Hammamet International Festival in summer.
- Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, as a day trip.
- Cap Bon: the Punic site of Kerkouane (UNESCO), the beaches of Kelibia, Nabeul and its pottery.
- To place Hammamet in the country, see our guide to Tunisia.
Djerba or Hammamet by your plans
| Your plan | Our choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed beach and sun | Djerba | More sun, less rain, especially in autumn and winter |
| First trip to Tunisia, beach and culture | Hammamet | Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Tunis and Kairouan reachable as day trips |
| Quiet stay or thalassotherapy | Djerba | Calmer atmosphere; thalassotherapy at both |
| Going out and nightlife | Hammamet | Yasmine Hammamet and its marina |
| Autumn shoulder season | Djerba | 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain in October against 60 mm (2.4 in) in Nabeul; about 28 °C (82 °F) in the afternoon |
| Winter sun (without swimming) | Djerba | About 6.7 h of sunshine a day in January against 4.6 h in Nabeul |
| Tight budget | Tie | Comparable all-inclusive packages; compare offers for the same dates |
For a full tour, Hammamet combines with Tunis and the Sahel; Djerba with the south and the desert. And if you are still torn between the two Maghreb countries, read our comparison Morocco or Tunisia.
Entry requirements, health and safety (the same for both)
US citizens
- According to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated June 4, 2026), a valid passport is required, and a visa is not necessary for stays of up to 90 days. A residence permit is needed for longer stays. The State Department notes that US citizens born in the Middle East or with Arabic names have experienced delays clearing immigration.
- The State Department recommends a high level of vigilance throughout Tunisia, and lists areas to avoid, including within 16 km (10 mi) of the Algerian border (except Tabarka and Ain Draham) and within 16 km (10 mi) of the Libyan border in the south-east. Both are far from Djerba and Hammamet.
UK citizens
- According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 24 July 2026), you can visit Tunisia without a visa for up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay, and border officials will stamp it on arrival and check your length of stay on departure.
- The FCDO advises against all travel to areas including the Chaambi Mountains National Park, the militarized zone south of El Borma and Dhehiba, and the town of Ben Guerdane, and against all but essential travel to other border areas in the west and south. It says terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Tunisia, and lists among recent attacks a fatal shooting in 2023 at a Jewish pilgrimage site on Djerba, in which 3 security personnel and 2 civilians were killed.
For health advice, check the CDC (US) and TravelHealthPro (UK) pages for Tunisia. See also our travel insurance guide, and check travel.state.gov and GOV.UK before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Djerba or Hammamet?
Djerba for sun, heat and the calm of an island; Hammamet for liveliness and sightseeing (Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Tunis). For a first beach week, Djerba wins on weather; to discover the country, Hammamet.
Is it hotter in Djerba or Hammamet?
In Djerba, by 1 to 2.5 °C (2 to 5 °F) in the afternoon from March to October according to the INM normals, with less rain and more sunshine. In winter, the temperature gap is small, but Djerba remains sunnier.
Djerba or Hammamet in May?
Both work: about 27 °C (81 °F) in Djerba and 24.5 °C (76 °F) in Nabeul in the afternoon, very little rain. Djerba is a little warmer for the beach.
Djerba or Hammamet in October?
Rather Djerba: about 28 °C (82 °F) in the afternoon and 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, against 25.5 °C (78 °F) and 60 mm (2.4 in) in Nabeul, near Hammamet.
Which airport for Hammamet?
Either Tunis-Carthage (about 59 km (37 mi) as the crow flies from Hammamet) or Enfidha-Hammamet (41 km (25 mi) away), which is served mostly by charter and seasonal flights. Check the airlines for your dates. Djerba has its own airport, Djerba-Zarzis, about 7 km (4 mi) from Houmt Souk.
Do you need a visa for Tunisia?
Not for stays of up to 90 days, for US citizens (travel.state.gov) and UK citizens (GOV.UK). See the entry requirements section above for dates and details.
Our sources
- Tunisia’s National Institute of Meteorology (INM): 1981-2010 normals for Djerba and 1991-2020 normals for Nabeul; sunshine 1981-2010, via the Wikipedia articles « Djerba » and « Nabeul » (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Djerba-Zarzis, Enfidha-Hammamet and Tunis-Carthage airports, consulted 15 October 2026
- Entry and safety information read on 12 November 2026: U.S. Department of State, Tunisia country information (travel.state.gov, last updated June 4, 2026) and UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Tunisia (GOV.UK, updated 24 July 2026)
- Destination de Voyage calculations: sunshine and rain gaps, sunset (NOAA solar algorithm), straight-line distances (Wikipedia and Wikidata coordinates)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
See also: when to go to Tunisia, our all-inclusive trips and all our destination comparisons.