Djerba in 2 days
The two days left once the beach is set aside: the island's north with its market and synagogue on day one, then across the causeway to the troglodyte villages on day two.
- How long
- 2 days
- Day one
- Houmt Souk
- Day two
- a full day, 9–10 h across the causeway
The plan assumes the rest of the week goes to the beach, and takes only what the beach can't cover: the island's north on day one, with the market in Houmt Souk, the synagogue in Erriadh and the potters' village in the south; across the Roman causeway on day two, to the troglodyte houses of Matmata and the cliff of Chenini.
The island's north and south, without a car
Arrival in Houmt Souk, the main town in the north: a fish-auction market, a fishing harbour and the Borj el Kebir fort by the sea, free for the quarter itself.
Taxi to Erriadh: the El Ghriba synagogue, the oldest in Africa, head covered and a voluntary donation, 30–60 min; it closes varies around holidays and the pilgrimage.
In the same village, Djerbahood: walls painted with murals by artists from around the world in 2014, 1–2 h, free.
Lunch, a market stall or a place in Houmt Souk.
Taxi south, to Guellala, the potters' village: workshops that still fire jars in kilns as they did a century ago, village and workshops free.
Back to the hotel zone, the rest of the afternoon on the beach.
Across the causeway, into the desert
Departure with a driver or on an organised tour, across the seven-kilometre Roman causeway to the mainland.
Matmata, a village where houses are dug into the ground instead of built on it.
Lunch on the way, at a restaurant the tour usually includes.
Chenini, a cliff village with granaries that were a film set before they were a landmark.
Back across the same causeway, a full day, 9–10 h in all.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Do two days cover everything except the beach?
Almost everything: Houmt Souk, the synagogue, Djerbahood, Guellala and the Sahara across the causeway. Kairouan, Monastir and Mahdia aren't on Djerba, so they're not part of this plan.
What if day two falls in summer?
The causeway, Matmata and Chenini not done in summer (heat, no shade); that day is then swapped for the beach, and the Sahara moves to one of the spare days.
Ready for Djerba?
Where to next
Day trips from Djerba
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How well does Djerba suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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