Houmt Souk (« market district » in Arabic), capital of Djerba island (35,000 inhabitants), is home to the historic and commercial heart of the island.
Houmt Souk (« market district » in Arabic), capital of Djerba island (35,000 inhabitants), is home to the historic and commercial heart of the island. Its medina, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023 as part of the Djerbien ensemble, comprises souks, mosques, Ottoman fondouks converted into charming hotels, and the famous Borj El Ghazi Mustapha. The morning fish market and the traditional market on Tuesday/Friday are unmissable.
Houmt Souk is built on the site of the ancient Roman Meninx, capital of ancient Djerba. In the 9th century, under the Aghlabides, the port and medina began to take shape. In the 16th-17th centuries, the city became a strategic issue between the Spanish, Ottomans and Barbary corsairs. In 1560, Dragut massacres the Spanish garrison and stacks their skulls to form a pyramid (Borj El Roussian) which was not dismantled until 1848.
Under the Husseinides and then the French Protectorate, Houmt Souk remained a small fishing and trading village. The medina preserved its architecture intact. At independence, the development of seaside tourism transformed the island but spared the historic capital. The Ottoman fondouks (caravanserais) were restored and converted into charming hotels in the 1990s. The medina was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023 as part of the Djerbien ensemble.
5 unmissable sites selected by our local team.
Historic centre inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2023. Covered souks, Ottoman fondouks, mosques, Hedi Chaker square.
13th-century coastal fortress enlarged by the Spanish and Ottomans. View over the port.
Morning fish auction at the port (6am-9am). Authentic spectacle. Purchase possible.
Ottoman mosque from 1763. Octagonal minaret topped with a dome. Rare architecture in Djerba.
Livestock market Tuesday/Friday: camels, sheep, dates, carpets.
A journey through the eras that shaped Houmt Souk.
Historic centre of Djerba. Fondouks (caravanserais) from the 17th century, mosques, souks. Testament to the island's Mediterranean and caravan trade. UNESCO 2023.
Hafsid fortress enlarged by Roger de Lluria (1289), Spanish (1535) and Ottoman forces. Site of Dragut's massacre in 1560.
Tunisian music concerts in the medina.
Centre of the island. Taxis 5–15 DT from hotel areas.
Medina entirely pedestrianised. Tourist carriages.
Half a day is sufficient: medina + Borj + fish market (2-3 hours). Ideal for combining with a boat trip in the afternoon.
Several fondouks converted into charming hotels: Dar Faiza, Erriadh, Hôtel Marhala. Authentic (60–120 €/night).
Our local team designs your ideal Houmt Souk itinerary. Private car or group place, the cheapest on the market.
