Old Town Ouled el Hadef
Tozeur's oldest quarter, with architecture dating back to the 14th century. Facades of light mud bricks feature raised patterns reminiscent of carpets and calligraphy. Covered alleys and old wooden doors define the walk.
Tunisia
Tozeur
City
Tozeur is the main town of the Djerid in southwestern Tunisia, about 450 kilometres southwest of Tunis on the northern edge of the Chott el Djerid salt lake.
by Felix Gillen
Tozeur is the main town of the Djerid in southwestern Tunisia, about 450 kilometres southwest of Tunis on the northern edge of the Chott el Djerid salt lake. You come for the Ouled el Hadef old town with its patterned brickwork and for the palm grove with around 400,000 date palms.The town has just under 40,000 inhabitants and is easy to explore on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage. Tozeur lies on the edge of areas covered by official travel warnings: check the current travel advice, such as the UK FCDO Travel Advice, before you go.
Sights in Tozeur
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Museum
Eden Palm
Small museum in the Palmeraie dedicated to the date palm. Exhibits showcase what can be crafted from the palm: baskets, furniture, ropes, hats, and roof structures.
Museum
Chak Wak Park
Theme park on the edge of the Palmeraie, also an idea by Abderrazak Cheraït. Sculptures tell the story of Earth, humanity, and world religions, including a model of the Great Mosque of Kairouan.
Museum Dar Cheraït
Founded in 1990 by Abderrazak Cheraït, it is considered Tunisia's first private museum. On display are artworks and everyday objects of Tunisian families from various eras. The founder died at the end of 2024; check before your visit whether and when the museum is open.
Zoo
Zoo du Sahara
Small zoo in the south of the city with desert animals like fenneks, gazelles, hyenas, dromedaries, snakes, and scorpions. Adjacent is the Jardin du Paradis, created in 1936, with apricots, palm trees, and bougainvillea.
Belvédère (Ras el Aïn)
Rocky park in the west of the city, on the site of former springs and dedicated to the poet Abou el Kacem Chebbi. Steps carved into the rock lead to Tozeur's highest viewpoint with views over the Palmeraie, the city, and the Chott. The central rock is artificially created.
Restaurants in Tozeur
Tunisian cuisine on Avenue Abou el Kacem Chebbi. Known for couscous and stews from a clay pot, the decor incorporates the palm motif.
Simple restaurant with Tunisian dishes on Avenue Abou el Kacem Chebbi, just next to Le Soleil. Popular with locals and travellers.
Restaurant on the edge of the Old Town with a fixed menu of Tunisian dishes, served in a courtyard.
Simple restaurant with outdoor seating in the Old Town, serving Tunisian dishes.
Centrally located restaurant in the Arcades, near El Ferdous Mosque. Lively and popular, particularly with travelers.
Best Time to Visit
When is the best time for your trip?
17–24°C·10–13 mm(little rain)
In spring and autumn, daily averages are between 17 and 24 °C. From June to August, daily highs average 37 to 40 °C; in winter, nights drop to 7 to 8 °C.
Tozeur has a hot desert climate with around 97 millimetres of precipitation per year and over 3,100 hours of sunshine. Data: Institut National de la Météorologie, normal values per Wikipedia.
Seasons
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Enjoyably warm
Mild, cool nights
Very hot
Best Time to Visit
▶Show detailed monthly data
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sun (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.9 | 14 | 6.7 |
| February | 13.6 | 7 | 8.0 |
| March | 17.4 | 11 | 7.9 |
| April | 21.3 | 13 | 8.6 |
| May | 25.9 | 4 | 9.1 |
| June | 30.4 | 4 | 10.5 |
| July | 33.3 | 1 | 11.2 |
| August | 33.2 | 2 | 10.5 |
| September | 29.2 | 10 | 8.4 |
| October | 24.2 | 10 | 7.7 |
| November | 17.5 | 11 | 7.1 |
| December | 12.9 | 9 | 6.5 |
Culture
Brick architectureThe old town of Ouled el Hadef is built entirely of light, fired clay bricks. The façades show raised geometric patterns reminiscent of carpets and calligraphy. A municipal rule still requires new buildings to be partly clad in local brick.Water and datesThe palm grove covers around 1,000 hectares. Tozeur is known for the Deglet Nour date and supplies about a third of Tunisia's date harvest.Ibn Chabbat: the scholar, born in Tozeur in 1221, is credited with the system for sharing the oasis waterToday: the former 150 to 200 springs have largely dried up, and most irrigation now comes from deep wellsPoet and festivalsTozeur is the home town of the poet Abou el Kacem Chebbi (1909 to 1934). The Belvédère viewpoint (Ras el Aïn) on the west side of town is dedicated to him, with views over the palm grove and the chott.Festival international des Oasis: four days of camel and horse races, music and poetry contests, traditionally in December
Getting to and Around
Getting ThereBy Plane: Tozeur-Nefta Airport is located about 3 kilometres north of the city. Tunisair Express flies from Tunis-Carthage, Transavia occasionally from Paris-Orly. Check current flight schedules, as services fluctuate significantly.By Bus: Long-distance buses to Tunis take around 7 hours.Louage: Shared taxis (louages) run to Nefta; for Douz, you change in Kebili.By Car: The road to Douz and Kebili crosses the Chott el Djerid on a causeway.Getting Around LocallyOn Foot: The old town and city centre are close to each other.Bicycle and Horse-drawn Carriage: For the Palmeraie, rent a bike or take a horse-drawn carriage.Taxi: No meter, agree on the fare beforehand.Travel and Safety AdviceCheck the current official travel advice before you go, for example the UK FCDO Travel Advice for Tunisia. The German Federal Foreign Office advises against travel to areas south of the line from the Algerian border via Tozeur/Nefta to Douz, and against individual, unorganised desert tours.
Accommodations in Tozeur
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