Top 9 Things to Do in Djerba That Aren't the Beach
Djerba's beaches are gorgeous — I won't pretend otherwise. But if you spend your entire trip on a sun lounger at Sidi Mahrez, you're missing the real island. Here are the nine things that made me fall for North Africa's largest island, and none of them require sunscreen.
1. Walk Through Djerbahood's Open-Air Gallery
In 2014, the village of Erriadh invited 150+ artists from 30 countries to paint its walls. The result is one of the most impressive street art projects I've seen anywhere — and I've been to Wynwood, Shoreditch, and Bushwick.
What makes Djerbahood special is the contrast. You're walking through a traditional Djerbian village — whitewashed houses, narrow alleys, ancient doorways — and then a three-story mural of a cosmic jellyfish appears on a wall. Or a photorealistic portrait. Or an abstract geometric piece that wraps around a 200-year-old archway.
Free to explore at any time. Still being added to. Artists are sometimes painting live when you visit. And unlike most street art neighborhoods, there are no tour groups or entry fees. Just you, the art, and the village sounds.
Pro tip: Combine Djerbahood with a visit to El Ghriba Synagogue — they're in the same village of Erriadh, 10 minutes' walk apart.
2. Visit El Ghriba Synagogue
One of the oldest synagogues in the world, dating back over 2,500 years. The interior is breathtaking — ornate blue and white tiles, stained glass, and a sense of age that settles over you like dust.
Djerba's Jewish community is one of the oldest in Africa, predating the Arab conquest by over a millennium. The annual Lag BaOmer pilgrimage (spring) draws thousands of Jewish visitors from around the world.
Free entry (donations welcome). Open daily except Saturdays. Dress modestly. Remove your shoes.
3. Hunt for Star Wars Film Locations
Djerba and the nearby mainland served as filming locations for the original Star Wars. The town of Ajim was used as Mos Eisley, and the exterior of the cantina where Han shot first still stands. It's now a private house, but you can photograph the exterior.
For the full Star Wars experience, take a mainland day trip to Matmata — the troglodyte homes that served as Luke Skywalker's homestead. The Hotel Sidi Driss still operates as a functioning hotel, and you can eat lunch in the very room where Luke ate with Uncle Owen. Entry: ~15 TND.
The Ong Jemal set in the desert and the Ksar Ouled Soltane granary (from The Phantom Menace, near Tataouine) are also accessible from Djerba as day trips. Organized tours cost 150-250 TND.
Pro tip: The Ajim cantina exterior is unmarked. Ask locals for "la maison de Star Wars" — everyone knows where it is.
4. Shop the Houmt Souk Bazaars
Djerba's main town has a covered market district that's atmospheric without being overwhelming (unlike, say, the souks of Marrakech or Fes). Ceramics, silver jewelry, leather goods, woven textiles, and olive oil soap are the specialties.
Bargaining is expected. Start at 40-50% of the asking price and settle around 60-70%. The vendors are generally friendly and low-pressure compared to mainland tourist areas.
Don't miss the Borj El Kebir — a Turkish-era fortress overlooking the fishing port. Entry: 7 TND. The views from the ramparts are worth it.
5. Watch Potters at Work in Guellala
The hilltop village of Guellala has been making pottery for centuries. Visit a workshop and watch potters shape clay using techniques unchanged since antiquity — hand-turned wheels, wood-fired kilns, traditional glazes.
Buy hand-painted ceramics directly from workshops at prices far below the tourist shops in Houmt Souk. Plates start from 10-30 TND. A full tea set for 60-80 TND. These make excellent souvenirs and they're genuinely handmade.
The Guellala Heritage Museum (5 TND) covers Djerba's diverse cultural traditions — worth an hour.
6. Explore the Crocodile Farm and Lella Hadhria Museum
Djerba Explore Park combines three attractions: a crocodile farm with 400+ Nile crocodiles, a reconstructed traditional Djerbian village, and the Lella Hadhria Museum of Islamic art. The museum is the sleeper hit — its collection of calligraphy, ceramics, and textiles from across the Islamic world is genuinely impressive.
Combined entry: 25 TND. Allow 2-3 hours. Located near the tourist zone on the northeast coast.
7. Take a Saharan Day Trip
From Djerba, you can drive across the Roman causeway to the mainland and head south into the Tunisian Sahara. An overnight trip to Douz (the "Gateway to the Desert"), Matmata, and the Chott el Jerid salt lake is one of the best day trips in Tunisia.
The salt lake is vast, flat, and otherworldly — in certain conditions, you see mirages shimmering on the surface. The desert towns have a completely different character from coastal Djerba. And the night sky from Douz, on the edge of the Grand Erg Oriental, is spectacular.
Organized tours: 150-250 TND per person. Self-driving requires a mainland car rental.
8. Eat Fish Couscous at a Local Restaurant
Skip the resort buffet. Find a local restaurant in Houmt Souk or Midoun and order the fish couscous. It's Djerba's signature dish — steamed semolina with grouper, harissa, and a light tomato broth. Nothing like the lamb couscous most Western visitors know.
Also try:
Brik — crispy pastry with egg and tuna, eaten with your hands (10-15 TND)
Ojja — spicy egg and pepper stew with merguez (12-20 TND)
Fresh-squeezed orange juice — 2-3 TND, available at every cafe
A full meal at a local restaurant costs 10-25 TND. That's $3-8 for some of the best food in the Mediterranean.
9. Walk the Flamingo Lagoon at El Kantara
The lagoon near the Roman causeway at El Kantara attracts flamingos, especially in spring and autumn. It's not a formal park — just a coastal lagoon where you can walk along the shore and watch the birds from a respectful distance.
The causeway itself is interesting — originally Roman, rebuilt over the centuries, now carrying modern traffic. The stretch where it meets the lagoon is peaceful and photogenic, with flamingos in the foreground and the mainland hills behind.
Pro tip: Go at low tide for the best flamingo viewing. The birds feed in the shallows when the water recedes.
The Bottom Line
Djerba's beaches are fine. They're good beaches. But they're not what makes this island special. What makes Djerba special is the cultural layering — Jewish, Muslim, Berber, Ottoman, French, and now contemporary street art, all compressed onto a 514 km² island.
Spend one day at the beach. Spend the rest exploring. You'll come home with better stories.
