Tabarka

Coral, cork forests and a Genoese fort above the sea.

Tabarka doesn't look like the Tunisia of postcards. Hills covered in cork oak forest roll down to the sea, the water is famous for its red coral, and a Genoese fort sits on the rocky island facing the town.

Walk out to Les Aiguilles, the rock needles shaped by wind and waves, and stay for the summer music: the town's jazz festival has been running since the 1970s. In winter, the surrounding forests make it a base for walking.

Highlights

• The Genoese fort

• Les Aiguilles rock formations

• Diving and coral

• The summer jazz festival

Best for: Nature, diving, festivals

Photo: IssamBarhoumi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0