Four Seasons Hotel Tunis

Four Seasons Hotel Tunis stands on the beachfront at Cap Gammarth, the resort coast just north of La Marsa, and it is the choice for travellers who want a full-service luxury hotel by the sea within easy reach of Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the capital. The building is arranged around courtyard gardens, and many rooms face the Mediterranean.

The rooms and suites cover a wide range. Deluxe Garden-View Rooms look over the courtyard gardens, Premier Rooms have private balconies, and the suites add space and sea views: the Sea-View Suites have separate living and sleeping areas, the Executive Suites have sea-view balconies and Tunisian-inspired design, and the Mediterranean Suites come with a private terrace and plunge pool. Ask for a sea-facing room or suite when booking if the view matters to you.

Dining is one of the hotel's strengths. BLU Seafood Kitchen & Bar, inspired by the Greek Riviera, serves seafood and a crudo bar in an open-air setting with sea views, and The CREEK Bistro Chic on the top floor offers French and Italian Riviera-inspired cooking. Azur moves from an international breakfast buffet to a Tunisian lunch menu, Salon Alyssa is the lobby lounge for afternoon tea and light meals, and The Creek Lounge serves cocktails and wines in the evening. In-room dining runs around the clock.

The spa offers ceremonial hammam rituals drawn from Tunisian bathing traditions, and there is an outdoor pool beside the beach. The hotel also arranges experiences, including guided tours of Sidi Bou Said, Carthage, the medina and the Bardo Museum, boat trips, diving in the Bay of Tunis from the nearby marina, camel or horse rides on the beach, tennis lessons and olive oil tastings.

The hotel suits couples, families and business travellers who want resort facilities rather than the atmosphere of a medina guesthouse. Bear in mind that Gammarth is a drive from central Tunis, so you will rely on taxis or hotel transport for the medina; the hotel's own tours note around 35 to 45 minutes by road to the Bardo and medina and 20 to 25 minutes to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. Book directly or through the hotel's website, and contact the concierge in advance for tours and restaurant reservations in busy months.