I visited the cheap African holiday island that feels like Mykonos and Santorini with new easyJet flights

Scottish Sun

6 hours ago

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TRAILING vibrant pink bougainvillaea frames white-washed buildings, spilling across blue window shutters and doors.
A confetti of tiny petals drifts in the breeze, dancing along the narrow, cobbled streets.
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The small town of Erriadh sits at the centre of the island of Djerba, just off the south coast of Tunisia
Credit: Getty
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Hotels line the soft white-sand beaches on the island's north coast
Credit: Shutterstock
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Houmt Souk's pedestrianised streets are lined with shops and restaurants
Credit: Getty
Around every corner comes another eye-catching piece of technicolour street art.
The walls and doors of the sleepy paths are a quirky, open-air gallery.
The resemblance to the alleyways of Mykonos and Santorini is striking and my arty stroll ends at a small cafe under a sprawling canopy of trees in a sunlit square.
But when I tell you a small cup of strong coffee here costs 25p, you'll know I am nowhere near the trendy Greek isles.
The small town of Erriadh sits at the centre of the island of Djerba —which was used as a filming location for Star Wars — just off the south coast of Tunisia.
And at its heart is Djerbahood, the passion project of a famous French art gallery owner who convinced some of the world's best street artists to travel to Djerba, and its inhabitants to allow their walls to be daubed.
Now, more than 250 murals and sculptures have transformed the heart of the neighbourhood.
Relatively undiscovered by us Brits, Djerba is a great-value option for those looking to explore beyond the Med favourites.
Low-cost giant easyJet has launched year-round flights to the island from both London Luton and Manchester, with fares from just £115 return, and easyJet holidays has packages from just £373pp.
The island's compact size means it's easy to explore its intoxicating mix of North African heritage and Mediterranean influences.
Sizzling in summer, temperatures remain high all the way through to November and rarely dip below the 20Cs, even in the depths of winter, making it ideal for out-of-season sunshine.
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Hotels line the soft white-sand beaches on the island's north coast, including our base, the 5H Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso.
The resorts' vast pool, surrounded by loungers and cabanas, leads down to small sand dunes and a broad stretch of sparkling white sands dotted with straw parasols.
Its contemporary rooms are spacious and bright, with marble-clad bathrooms and balconies or terraces to soak up that sunshine.
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The Sun's Lisa Minot exploring
Credit: Supplied
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The fortress of Borj El Kebir has been protecting the island's inhabitants from invading armies since the 13th century
Credit: Getty
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Our base, the 5-star Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso
Credit: Supplied
With four restaurants, three bars and the biggest Thalasso spa on the island, you could be forgiven for not straying far.
But the island's compact size means it's easy to explore its intoxicating mix of North African heritage and Mediterranean influences.
Troglodyte dwellings
In the island's capital Houmt Souk on the north coast, the minarets of mosques sit alongside the St Joseph's Catholic church.
Jutting out on a headland surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, the fortress of Borj El Kebir has been protecting the island's inhabitants from invading armies since the 13th century.
Today you can explore the impressive fortifications and admire the stunning sea views from its now thankfully peaceful ramparts.
Houmt Souk's pedestrianised streets lined with shops and restaurants lead on to covered souks and a spice market, as well as a rather less fragrant fish market.
There's plenty of opportunities for a bit of souvenir shopping, from local handi-crafts and clothes, to Pottery Square where you can buy colourful ceramics from just £2 with a little haggling.
If you're in need of sustenance after all that shopping, look no further than El Fondouk.
This fabulous conversion of an 18th-century caravanserai, or travellers' inn, is open daily for morning coffees and pastries in its sun-soaked courtyard – then fresh seafood with couscous, fish curries and meaty kebabs at lunch and dinner.
Prices are also excellent given the quality, with main dishes from £8 to £12.
Also worth a trip out from the excellent restaurants back at the hotel was Haroun, in the nearby marina.
Its outside terrace comes in the form of an actual ship's deck, complete with rigging and ropes, and is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or two as the sun sets.
Inside, the dishes coming out of the kitchen include traditional Tunisian specialities such as brik — crispy filo pastry parcels filled with meat or fish — as well as fried calamari and fresh fish.
Luke Skywalker grew up in a troglodyte home in Tatooine (get it!) and you can visit locations from the smash-hit franchise.
Again, prices are very competitive, with main courses from £13.50.
And while Djerba has more than enough to keep a holidaymaker happy for a week, it would be a shame to come this far and not head over on to the mainland and into a galaxy far, far away.
EasyJet has multiple tours you can take from Djerba, over the ancient Roman Road that crosses the sea to southern Tunisia.
The centuries-old causeway is essentially a bridge, and as you travel the five miles you're rewarded with stunning views of shimmering waters on both sides.
As you travel through the arid desert landscapes of the mainland, huge rock formations rise dramatically from the flat plains.
The rugged mountains are home to the Berber people, and at Chenini we peek into the unique troglodyte dwellings carved into the rocky hillsides and admire the palm trees and olive trees growing around the oasis by the Chenini Canyon.
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Strolling the streets of Tataouine, you can easily see how George Lucas was inspired to use the location for Star Wars
Credit: Getty
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Fans can visit locations from smash-hit franchise Star Wars
Credit: Rex
Strolling the streets of Tataouine, you can easily see how George Lucas was inspired to use the location for Star Wars.
Luke Skywalker grew up in a troglodyte home in Tatooine (get it!) and you can visit locations from the smash-hit franchise on the tour, including the Hotel Sidi Idriss and Ksar Hadada, an other-worldly Berber granary store that served as a key setting in The Phantom Menace.
LISA MINOT