With its picturesque old port, beautiful beaches, atmospheric corniche and great restaurants, Bizerte is one of the belles of the north. Just an hour away from Tunis, it's easy to reach and makes the perfect base to explore along the northern coastlines, from the Mediterranean beauties of Raf Raf and Cap Serrat, to Ichkeul National Park inland.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bizerte.
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Built from 1570 to 1573 by Ulj Ali, the military ruler of Algiers, and named for a military victory over the Spanish, this fortress overlooks the medina from the north. All that remains are two long wall sections and one citadel. The views across the town, over the modern cement amphitheatre, are stupendous.
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This squat little fort, facing the kasbah, was modified by the Aghlabids in the 9th century, who added the attractive arched skifa (gate) and a courtyard with a set of cells – not for prisoners, but for silent study of the Quran. Also known as Fort Sidi Henni, it now has a pleasant cafe for people watching over the old port, and a rather dull aquarium.
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Remel Plage, a long stretch of sand with a backdrop of pine groves, is a popular beach with locals, and it even has its own dramatically wrecked ship in the shallows. It begins about 3km southeast of the centre of town, across the drawbridge over the canal. There are no facilities.
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Built in 1652, this mosque has an octagonal, stone-built minaret decorated with blue-and-white tiling. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter, though at prayer times it might be possible to get a peek of the courtyard, with its slender marble columns and delicate stone arches.
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The richly decorated, lavishly tiled Zaouia of Sidi Mokhtar, is home to the Association de Sauvegarde de la Medina de Bizerte, the group responsible for Medina conservation.
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The deconsecrated French-built cathedral, a grey concrete modernist structure with vertical stripes of stained glass, is now a cultural centre.