Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    Kerkennah Islands
    Atef Ouni / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Tunisia

    Kerkennah Islands

    Point of Interest

    The Kerkennah Islands are located in the Gulf of Gabès off Sfax and are reachable by ferry from Sfax.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Tunisia
    7. Sahel & Kairouan
    9. Kerkennah Islands
    The Kerkennah Islands are located in the Gulf of Gabès off Sfax and are reachable by ferry from Sfax. This flat archipelago is a tranquil destination away from the major seaside resorts and is known for Charfia fishing, which has been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2020.The two main islands, Gharbi and Chergui, together cover approximately 160 square kilometers and are home to around 15,400 people (2024 census). The largest town is Remla on Chergui, and sandy beaches are found primarily around Sidi Fredj.

    Sights in Kerkennah Islands

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Borj el Hassar
    Historic Landmark

    1Borj el Hassar

    Archaeological site with a fortress on the coast near Sidi Fredj. Beside the remains of a Roman-era settlement stands a fort that the Ottomans reconquered in the 18th century.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Kerkennah Islands

    1

    Restaurant La Sirène

    Budget-friendly fish restaurant on Chergui, described by guests as a firm island favourite.
    Show on Google Maps

    Culture and Fishery

    Charfia FishingFishermen place palm fronds into the shallow seabed, forming a triangular barrier. At low tide, this guides fish into catch chambers, where they remain alive until collected.Season: from the autumn equinox until June, after which the sea restsUNESCO: since December 2020 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of HumanityHistoryOn the west coast near Sidi Fredj lies Borj el Hassar, an archaeological site with a fortress that was re-captured by the Ottomans in the 18th century. In El Abassia on Gharbi, a private island museum opened in 2004.Island CuisineDishes include fish such as mullet and sea bream, along with barley groats. Sun-dried octopus is particularly prized.

    Access

    Ferry from SfaxSonotrak ferries connect the Sfax ferry port with Sidi Youssef on the western tip of Gharbi. There are several daily departures; times vary by season.Weather: Crossings are frequently cancelled in strong winds or fog; check current schedules with Sonotrak.Getting to Sfax: by train, louage, or plane, see SfaxGood to knowBeaches: Sandy beaches are mainly found in the Sidi Fredj hotel zone; otherwise, the coast is mostly rocky.Summer: In summer, many families return from the mainland, and the islands become noticeably busier.

    Accommodations in Kerkennah Islands

    Find perfect stay in Kerkennah Islands

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Nearby

    Sfax

    Sfax

    Sfax, with approximately 274,000 inhabitants (2024 Census), is Tunisia's second-largest city, located about 270 kilometers southeast of Tunis on the Gulf of Gabès. Its Medina is still completely enclosed by a roughly 2.75-kilometer-long city wall with 69 towers and is largely untouched by tourism.Sfax is a commercial and port city: Its port is one of the country's most important fishing ports, and about 40 percent of Tunisian olive oil originates from the surrounding area. You can explore the Old City with its Great Mosque, Kasbah, and Dar Jellouli on foot, and ferries depart from the port to the Kerkennah Islands.
    El Djem

    El Djem

    The Amphitheatre of El Djem is one of the largest in the Roman world, situated in a small town in the Sahel, about an hour by train south of Sousse. It was built in the first half of the 3rd century in ancient Thysdrus and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. With the same ticket, you can visit the Archaeological Museum with its mosaics and a reconstructed Roman villa.
    Mahdia

    Mahdia

    Mahdia lies on a narrow peninsula on the east coast and is the southern terminus of the Metro du Sahel from Sousse and Monastir. The Fatimids founded the city as their capital in 916; the fortified gate Skifa el Kahla and the Great Mosque date from that time. North of the old town stretch white sandy beaches with hotels; the port is among Tunisia's largest fishing ports.
    Djerba

    Djerba

    Djerba is a flat island in the Gulf of Gabès, in southeastern Tunisia, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2023. You go there for long sandy beaches on the northeast coast, the souks of Houmt Souk, and villages like Erriadh and Guellala, where Jewish, Ibadite, and Berber traditions coexist. The island, covering approximately 514 km², has a population of just under 190,000 (2024 census). Its main town is Houmt Souk in the north, and hotels are primarily located along the coast around Sidi Mahrez. Public transport is limited; most journeys are made by taxi, rental car, or bicycle.
    Sahel & Kairouan

    Sahel & Kairouan

    The Sahel is the coastal plain in eastern Tunisia, home to Sousse, Monastir, and Mahdia, a good two hours by train south of Tunis. Inland lie two of the country's most famous World Heritage Sites: the Medina of Kairouan with its Great Mosque and the Roman Amphitheatre of El Djem. Behind the beaches, olive groves stretch over flat hills.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI