A clear-water corner of Salakta's coast

Salakta's beach is a long, straight-fronted ribbon of pale sand — running for several kilometres along this stretch of the Sahel — and the Ejjol corner sits at its heart, just off the coastal road a short way from the village centre. The sand is fine and the seabed shelves very gradually, so you can wade out comfortably and the water stays shallow and calm close to shore, which is exactly why families rate it so highly. Reviews from recent summer visitors talk about beautifully clear sea and striking water colours, and about the warmth of the local crowd.↗↗

In summer the sea is at its best: August brings air temperatures around 28°C and water that warms to a similar level, while the spring and autumn months remain mild enough for a swim if you go early in the day. Basic facilities — showers, toilets and parasol hire — support a full day on the sand, and the beach is easy to reach by car or taxi with no long walk from the road.↗

The beachfront pavilion and café

The 'Ejjol plage' name is tied to the beach pavilion and café that front this stretch of sand. The seaside café here, known locally as the Grand Bleu Ejjol spot, places you literally at the water's edge with a wide, panoramic view over the Mediterranean, and it keeps long hours through the day and into the evening — a handy base for a cold drink after a swim, a coffee at sunrise, or a relaxed lunch watching the sea. Treat it as the social heart of the beach rather than a resort facility: the charm is in sitting close to the water in a quiet, local setting.↗↗

Where the sand meets an ancient port

Salakta is far older than its modest size suggests. The village grew up around the Roman port of Sullecthum — a name usually translated as 'blessed place', coined for the beauty of this very beach — which shipped wheat, olive oil and wine across the Mediterranean and was successively used by Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs. A small archaeological museum at the site, founded in 1980, displays terracotta and finds from the surrounding excavations, and nearby lie catacombs, an ancient cemetery and a Punic necropolis, only a short stroll from the shore.↗↗

One of the treasures of Tunis's Bardo National Museum — a monumental 3rd-century mosaic of an African lion, some three metres high — was discovered here in 1958. Much of the ancient town now lies submerged below the sea along this coast, so swimming at Ejjol is, quite literally, drifting over the fringes of a Roman port.↗

Planning your visit

Ejjol works best as an unhurried half-day: arrive, swim at the shallow edge of the sand, then take a drink at the beachfront café before heading into the village to the museum, mosque and necropolis within a kilometre. It is easy to pair with the historic coastal town of Mahdia to the south or the small port of Ksour Essef to the north, both a short drive away.↗↗

A couple of practical notes from recent visitors: the approach road can be uneven, the sand is reportedly eroding year by year in places, and cleaning on the beach is uneven — so bring water, sun protection and a bag to carry your rubbish out, and expect a laid-back, lightly serviced beach rather than a managed resort strip.↗