What to See in Hergla: Simple Sousse Day Trip

Visit Tunisia’s best-kept secret, the tiny village of Hergla, which sits along the Mediterranean Coastline.

Hergla is one of several small Tunisian cities along the Mediterranean coastline, in the Gulf of Hammamet. With a population of just 6000 people, Hergla has that small-town charm and a lack of famous tourist attractions. It is a place to come and relax. A place to find peace. Very few tourists come to Hergla, so it is a bit of a hidden gem in Tunisia.

Hergla was once populated by Greeks and it shows. White buildings with blue trim the color of the sea dominate the scenery. This is a historic fishing village, and everything seems to move slowly here. Don’t come expecting big parties, bustling medinas, or big attractions. But do come to Hergla expecting to relax, walk along the seaside promenade, and soak in the sun. While there are not many things to do, this blog post will outline the best places to visit in Hergla, including the mosques, cemetery, promenade, and where to eat and sleep.

I came to Hergla during Ramadan in March 2024 on a day trip from Sousse. Unfortunately, I was not able to see Hergla in all its glory as so many things were closed due to Ramadan. But I did get a nice taste of it. I spent a half day strolling the promenade, and what felt like every street in town. It was still enjoyable and peaceful during Ramadan, but I hope to return one day to see Hergla in its regular state, outside of Ramadan. It’s a great stop to add to your Tunisian road trip itinerary.

Read More: 21 Things to Know Before Visiting Tunisia

Where is Hergla Located?

Hergla is located along the Gulf of Hammamet in Tunisia. It is 30 minutes north of Sousse, Tunisia’s third-largest city. It is 122km south of Tunis, about an hour and a half by car.

When Should I visit Hergla?

The best time to visit Hergla is in the summer. There are amazing beaches and many cute places to stay. Going in the spring and fall is also a good time as well, as the weather is still nice but you’ll have less competition for booking your stay in Hergla.

The worst time to go to Hergla is during Ramadan, so check your calendar before you go! I went during Ramadan and still enjoyed it, but I would have liked to see how the city is during a more normal time with restaurants and cafes fully open.

Read More: Tunisia’s 7 Best Beach Towns

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Read More: 31 Things to Do in Tunisia

What to See in Hergla

Below are the best things to see in Hergla. While I was walking around, I met a local guy who filled me in on a lot of the history and details of this small Tunisian town.

Observe the Mosques

There are two mosques in Hergla. One for men and one for women.

Hergla Male Mosque

The mosque for men in Hergla is pictured above on the left. It has the town’s traditional white and blue architectural style and a sea view. I was not able to go inside but it is stunning from the outside.

Hergla Female Mosque

The female mosque of Hergla is hidden a bit in the center of town and does not have a sea view. However, from the back of the mosque, you can go up the stairs and have a decent view of the rest of the town.

Check out a Traditional House in Hergla

My local friend took me to this house, but it was unfortunately closed during Ramadan. However the windows were open, so I was able to peek inside and see the antique furnishings. The building allows you to see what a traditional home in Hergla was like. Inside there are several antiques and Andalusian tiles. My friend told me that tourists usually like to come here and see this home. I believe it also doubles as a guesthouse in the summer months.

Buy Some Local Hergla Handicrafts

Many Tunisian cities and towns have a medina where you can find the souk and go shopping. There is no Hergla Medina. No old city walls. However, there are several small shops around town where you can buy local handicrafts being sold. Hergla is famous for Halfa Grass baskets, lamps, mirrors, etc. They pick the wild grass, soak it overnight in the sea to soften it, and then create these beautiful items. Workshops are also available in town if you want to learn this skill.

Stroll Along the Hergla Promenade

One of the best things to do in Hergla is stroll along the promenade. There is a path that extends nearly the entire length of town. Some sections are more scenic than others but the views are incredible. You will find many restaurants along the promenade if you want to stop for lunch or coffee with a view. You can also find a few small beaches along the promenade, as well as many benches to take a rest. The restaurant in the photo below to the right is called Esplanade Belle Vue.

Get Creeped out in the Hergla Cemetery (Cimetière de Hergla)

At first glance, the Hergla cemetery looks to be just a simple cemetery on the cliffs overlooking the sea. But taking a closer look is worth your time as it is quite historical. Fortunately, I met a local while I was walking nearby and he told me so many interesting things.

The cemetery has two layers: Byzantine and Muslim. The Byzantine section is closer to the edge of the cliffs. It was tradition then to bury bodies underneath 5 giant stones. They would bury men alone and put two women together. Due to time and erosion, the rocks have begun to shift and you can find human bones sticking out of the ground if you look closely. My local friend showed me several places where human bones were sticking out of the edges of the cliffs.

The Muslim section began around 1930. Muslims do not believe in cremation. They cover their dead in a white cloth and place them in the ground. They mark the space with these large stones. The female headstones have one bump on top (a rock covered in pavement). Male headstones have two bumps. Families are placed together. The richer families were able to add words near their headstones. If a baby died, they would put it in a large jar. As you walk through the cemetery, you can see the corners of several pottery jars sticking out of the ground, which hold baby remains inside.

See the Sea Views From the Hergla Outdoor Theatre

Along the Hergla Promenade, you’ll a giant outdoor theatre. It’s unclear if some shows or plays occur here, but it is a great viewing point to look out over the blue and green sea. I saw several groups of teens and couples hanging out here.

Watch the Boats at the Hergla Marina

You can sit on the cliffs above the Hergla Port and watch all the activities going on. Boats coming in and out, workers doing their thing. You can stroll down to the port to see the boats up close if you want, or you can observe from the cemetery up above. Many people sit on the cliffs here watching the port and the sea.

Go Kite Surfing in Hergla

If you’re into kite surfing, you can head to Spot Kite Surf Hergla, which is about 30 minutes by foot north of town. It is located at Plage Privée al Madfoun.

Hang out at the Beach

Hergla sits right along the Mediterranean Coast, in the Gulf of Hammamet. There are a few small beaches near town. One is slightly north of town near the rock wall. Though there was a lot of sea kelp and grass on the sand (photos below). There is also another small beach to the south of town near the Guesthouse Hergla Plage, which is a great place to hang out.

Continue walking 20 minutes along the coast to the north, and you’ll find a larger beach, Plage Privée al Madfoun. If you have a car or don’t mind walking for 45 minutes, you can find a bigger and better beach to the south of town called Hergla Beach (Plage Hergla). In the summer, you may be asked to pay for an umbrella.

Excursions in Hergla

Hergla Visit and Sousse Medina Heritage Tour

This is a 4-hour activity that leads you around both Hergla and the medina of Sousse. You will have the opportunity to shop and sightsee in both places. The price includes transportation, pick-up, and a guide.

Day Trips from Hergla

If you are staying in the Tunisian town, there are many great day trips from Hergla you can take.

Takrouna

Takrouna is a traditional Amazigh village that is built into the side of a rock. It is not far at all from Hergla. To reach Takrouna from Hergla, you first need to take a louage to Enfidha. From there you can take a taxi to Takrouna.

Hammamet

You can see Hammamet in the distance across the water from Hergla. It is less than 50 minutes from Hergla on the louage.

Read More: 20 Things to Do in Hammamet

Sousse

If you are staying in Hergla instead of Sousse, then you should absolutely visit Sousse for at least one day. The Sousse medina is not to be missed. You can see the ribat, great museums, shopping, and good food there. Take a stroll along the promenade as well.

Read more: 21 Things to do in Sousse

Monastir

Monastir is just one hour south of Hergla. You can take a louage there, though you may need to transfer in Sousse if they don’t go directly. The driver will let you know.

Read more: Visit Monastir, an Easy Day Trip from Sousse

Getting to Hergla

Hergla is not very commonly added to a tourist’s Tunisia itinerary, nor is it one of the most popular cities in Tunisia. But if you want to go, it’s very easy to reach Hergla.

Read more: Complete Guide to Renting a Car in Tunisia 2024

Hergla by Plane

Tunisia is a small country, but there are still plenty of airports around. The nearest airport to Hergla is the Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport. It is just 20 minutes north of Hergla. You can take a taxi or order from Bolt to Hergla from the airport.

Sousse to Hergla by louage

Because of its proximity to Sousse, it is exceptionally easy to travel between the two cities. You can hire a taxi if you would like (it takes 30 minutes), but the easiest, cheapest, and best way to get to Hergla from Sousse is via louage. Louages are shared taxis, like white/yellow minivans, that connect cities all over Tunisia. The cost to travel via louage between Sousse and Hergla is 3 TND ($1). The louage will leave as soon as it’s full. It takes about 35 minutes.

Sousse to Hergla

The louage station in Sousse to go to Hergla is located at the Gare routière BAB BHAR, next to the medina entrance (see bottom photo below). It is near the Sousse Ribat. The louage will leave as soon as it fills up. I only had to wait 3 minutes before our louage took off. A few people will get off, and new people will get on along the way. The cost is 3 TND ($1). The louage will stop in the center of town next to the Banque de Tunisie (photo below right).

Hergla to Sousse

When you want to return to Sousse from Hergla, you simply need to return to the spot where you got dropped off. Across the street, there will most likely be a louage waiting, facing in the direction of Sousse. Pay your 3 TND and wait until the louage fills up. In my case, the louage left once we were 4 people. Then it picked up several other people along the road back to Sousse. The louage will end back at the Gare routière BAB BHAR, but you can get out earlier if you want, depending on where you’re staying. I was staying in the Khezama neighborhood of Sousse, so I was able to get out just 3 blocks from my apartment.

Read More: How to Take a Louage in Tunisia

Hergla Restaurants

Despite being a sleepy fishing village, Hergla has several quality restaurants to try, the majority of them with a great ocean view.

Artifex Restaurant

The Artifex Restaurant has a cool vibe. It’s very artsy and has an outdoor patio full of plants and blue outdoor chairs and tables. You can enjoy a delicious meal with a fantastic view. They were open during Ramadan with a limited menu.

Espace Sidi Ali

This restaurant is located at the north end of town, right along the beach. It has spectacular views. A local told me this is his favorite restaurant because the food is good with fair prices. They are closed during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan.

Esplanade Belle Vue

This is the most central restaurant along the Hergla promenade with incredible views on the outdoor patio.

Read More: Guide to Tunisian Street Food

Is Hergla Worth Visiting?

The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a Tunisian city with a lot of tourist attractions and UNESCO World Heritage sites, then Hergla is not it. If you want to experience small-town Mediterranean life in Tunisia, then Hergla is perfect. It’s very calm and chill, especially during Ramadan. It’s the perfect place to come for a stroll in the sun, or a chill day eating with a view of the sea.

Is Hergla Tunisia Safe?

Hergla is incredibly safe. It is very sleepy and quiet. This Tunisian town is very different from any of the others I’ve visited. No annoying teenagers were trying to outcool each other, and no pushy salespeople (there is no medina). Hergla is noticeably small and has the safety of everyone knowing one another.

Where to Stay in Hergla

Hergla may be small and off the beaten track, but it is still along the sea, making it a great place to spend a quiet few nights near nature.

Hergla L’Artisan

This artistic hotel is right in the center of town. It’s within walking distance of everything- 2 minutes to the beach, market, and restaurants. It’s a very affordable option and has an exceptional breakfast included. You can also enjoy your meals from the front patio or the top terrace.

Check availability HERE for this artistic hotel in the center of Herlga.

Dar Yessine Boutique Hôtel

This beautiful Boutique hotel is just 1 minute from the sea, which you can see from the rooftop. Rooms are clean and modern. A continental breakfast is included. It is very affordable and worth the value you pay for it.

Check availability and BOOK NOW for this incredible Boutique Hotel in Hergla.

Dar Khadija Hergla

Dar Khadija is one of the more well-known guesthouses to stay in Hergla. It is a beautiful white building, in the Greek style, with a swimming pool in the inner courtyards. There are also amazing terraces for relaxing. Breakfast is included.

Check availability HERE for this popular Guesthouse in Hergla.

What to See in Hergla Final Thoughts

While Hergla is not a big city, nor on the standard tourist path in Tunisia, it is still worth a visit. If you’re looking for a calm and peaceful place to spend the night, Hergla is what you need. If you’re staying in Sousse, and want to visit another town nearby, Hergla is a great option. It may not be full of tourist attractions, but visiting the mosques, learning the handicrafts, and strolling along the Hergla promenade makes for a great day in Tunisia.

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