Tabarka is just 6 miles (10km) from the border with Algeria. It is well known for its magnificent beach. Until recently the residents of this old port town prospered from coral fishing and exporting the cork which is grown and harvested in the hilly forests of Khroumiria, just south of the town. 

During the summer months, Tabarka is alive with tourists who enjoy the slow pace of the city, the beach and the local sights.

 Just offshore is an island with a lighthouse and a Genoese fort still remaining. It can be reached at low tide along a causeway. Les Anguilles are the needle-sharp rock formations just offshore from the harbour which is a popular natural attraction too. 

Another local treasure is the statue of the Old Man Bourguiba, resting on a roundabout on the road into Tabarka. Depicted sitting with his dog at his feet it is typical of the charm and pace of life in this area. The local Hotel de France was where Habib Bourguiba was placed under house arrest for revolutionary activities in 1952. He was later transferred to France, but waiters still reserve his place in the restaurant and refuse to let anyone else sit there! The dining room may come as quite a surprise as it is full of stuffed animals, so be prepared!

Modern day Tabarka has seen the development of a new 18-hole golf course overlooking the ocean, set beneath pine and eucalyptus trees. The town now has an airport and Porto Corallo is the new yacht marina. More luxury hotels and restaurants have appeared to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Tabarka hosts a Jazz Festival every July/August and a Festival of Diving in September. Diving is popular here to explore the tunnels and caves along the reef and see the red coral which is made into jewellery. Whatever draws you to visit Tabarka, you can be assured of a warm welcome and an interesting mix of modern and traditional life here.