Port El Kantaoui

Savor The Exquisite Luxury Of Riu's All-Inclusive Port El Kantaoui Tunisia Hotels

Each of our three Port El Kantaoui Tunisia hotels is a sophisticated holiday destination. Its immaculate streets and the elegant port may seem artificial to some, but the truth is that strolling around in the shade of the whitewashed houses here is a very pleasant experience indeed.

The tip of a long beach is to be found to the north of the town and in spite of its beauty and popularity with tourists, it is never crowded. This is also a good place for visiting some of the most interesting places in Tunisia: the ancient Roman coliseum of El Djem and the holy city of Kairouan.

Dazzling Beachfronts Surround Our Port El Kantaoui Hotels
Indulge in the dazzling beachfront ambiance of our Riu Port El Kantaoui hotels. Surrounded by the splendor of the Tunisian Coast, these breathtaking destinations provide dazzling holiday destinations, bathed by warm blue waters.

Port El Kantaoui beach

This beach stretches for 20km to the north from the marina. Since there are only a few hotels here, in comparison to other areas, it is never crowded.

The water is fairly calm and a wide range of activities is available: windsurfing, water scooters, parasailing, pedaloes and canoeing. You can hire the material you need to practise these sports in the Riu hotels (Riu Imperial Marhaba, ClubHotel Riu Green Park and Riu Bellevue Park).

The other option, which many prefer, is to relax on the white sand or simply splash around in the waves. You may also choose to go diving; this sport has become increasingly popular over recent years. The water here has been compared by some to that of the Red Sea as regards transparency. (Even though the biodiversity and visibility are both good, the comparison may be something of an exaggeration).

Boat trips

The marina of Port el Kantaoui is the departure point for many sea trips. The type of vessel depends on the atmosphere and services you prefer. There are sailboats, glass-bottom boats, submarines, catamarans and even pirate galleons that are sure to delight the children. You can also embark on a dining boat and see the lights of the town as the moon illuminates the Mediterranean.

Family fun: Aqua Park

This extremely well-kept complex is an excellent place to take the children. There are attractions for all tastes: exciting slides, artificial rivers and wave pools. You will also find restaurants, cafeterias, pizzerias and plenty of shade for sheltering from the almighty sun that beats down everywhere.

Golf

Golf El Kantaoui: This course, which offers lovely views of Port el Kantaoui and stretches from the seashore to the undulations of a hillside, is dotted all over with elegant fountains and lakes and also with vegetation comprised of pine, palm and olive trees. Riu guests are entitled to a green fee discount.

Specialities

Couscous: Tunisian couscous consists of a combination of vegetables and wheat semolina with merguez sausages, fish and lamb or beef.

Tajines: The succulent tajines - very different to the Moroccan ones - are an egg loaf with lamb, vegetables, potato, maluska leaves and cheese, cooked over a low flame.

Condiments: Both the tajines, couscous and other local specialities are accompanied by harissa, a pepper paste that can be extremely hot and adds a little more flavour - if indeed that is possible - to the dishes.

Desserts: The patisserie highlight is the small, extremely sweet cakes made using natural products such as dates, almonds, pistachios, sesame, etc. Many of them have honey and lots of sugar sprinkled on them.

Mint tea: As in the whole of North Africa, this aromatic drink served with plenty of sugar is the delight of both locals and tourists.

Juices: Get ready to try some excellent juices. The orange juice, and above all the fig juice, are outstanding.

Shopping

The elegant streets of Port el Kantaoui lack the charm of a traditional souk, but they do have a larger selection of international articles and bargaining is less commonplace, something many people appreciate. Outstanding local articles include the Kairouan rugs and the classic spices, slippers, ceramics and bags, amongst others.

Port el Kantaoui

This modern Arab/Andalusian-style marina lends a touch of elegance and sophistication to the Tunisian coast. The main street that leads to the jetties is lined with white houses decorated with wooden balconies. Large yachts and elegant restored sailing ships moor on the quayside here. Strolling beside the sea you will come across local delights such as caramelised peanuts, fritters and freshly-squeezed juices. Their aromas and colours will awaken your appetite, enticing you to stop.
 
A gateway with medieval touches provides access to the intricate network of alleyways, whitewashed houses and blooming patios that huddle together around the port. These pedestrian roads beckon one to stroll aimlessly, and will surprise you with their numerous boutiques, craft shops and jewellers'.

If you feel like taking a break from shopping, there is no lack of tearoom and restaurant terraces. Shaded by citric fruit trees and with the delightful sound of water bubbling up from some fountain or other in the background, the little squares of Port el Kantaoui are perfect for enjoying a mint tea or some delicious Arab cakes.

El Djem Roman amphitheatre

This enormous construction will start to amaze you even before you reach it, as it can be seen from a distance of several kilometres from the town. There can be few monuments as impressive as this one, the dimensions of which are similar to that of Rome. The structure is in an excellent state of conservation and towers complacently over the small houses nearby, giving rise to a surprising contrast.

The coliseum was completed in 238 AD and currently holds 30,000 people, more than the total population of the town. In summer it is the venue for concerts and other cultural events. When it's not in use, one can go up to the upper stands and observe the arid landscape that surrounds it. You can also explore the two underground passages that were used by gladiators, lions and prisoners condemned to a certain death in the arena.

This monument - one of the most valuable of the African Roman Empire - is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the authorities are currently making a huge effort to conserve it.

Kairouan holy city

The city was founded by the Arab conquerors in the 7th century, and it is the fourthmost holy city of Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. For Muslims, seven trips to Kairouan is the equivalent of one visit to Mecca.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to penetrate the interior of the Great Mosque, although if you hire a long white robe you may gain access to the patio, where you can contemplate the forest of marble columnsthat support the temple. There are nearly a thousand of them and they come from the El Djem coliseum and the Roman ruins of Susa and Carthage.

The city exudes religiosity and puritanism, but some streets in the medina are also open for the sale of rugs, water pipes and souvenirs. The best idea is to leave the commercial streets and wander around, discovering the residential area. Even though it's a little shabby, it still retains the elegance of an important town.

Another interesting place is the mausoleum of Abu Zama El Belaoui, also known as the Barber because he always carried three hairs from the beard of the Prophet around with him. Even though non-Muslims may not access the tomb, it is delightful to walk around the corridors decorated with cedar coffering, stuccoed walls and coloured tiles, leading to a beautiful patio.