One of the main reasons why I wanted to visit Djerba, the popular island in Tunisia, was Ar-Rijad, known also as Djerbahood. And I was not disappointed!

The town is a street art oasis, with a few hundred murals all over the place. I was over the moon visiting Djerbahood and admiring them all, as some works were absolute masterpieces.

Even if you are not a big fan of street art, there is no doubt the town is worth visiting during your holidays in Djerba.

If you are considering visiting Djerbahood, I put together this guide to help you plan your trip there so you can enjoy the town to the fullest. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, you will find many photographs in this article showing the beauty of Djerbahood.

Where is Djerbahood

Djerbahood, or Ar-Rijad as that’s the official name of the town, is located in the central part of Djerba island. The nearest seaside spot is in the north part of Djerba, some 8 km away from Djerbahood; Houmt El Souk, the main town of Djerba, is 6.5 km away.

Why visit Djerbahood

While Djerba is a popular destination among tourists, they mostly stick to the seaside areas, not really venturing further into the island. It was the same with Ar-Rijad – the town didn’t have many visitors, and those who came here only wanted to see El Ghriba Synagogue – the oldest one not only in Tunisia but in Africa.

That changed in 2014 when the Parisian artist Mehdi Ben Cheikh (originally from Tunisia) came up with the idea of transforming the walls of Ar-Rijad into one of the largest street art galleries in the world. That’s how the project “Djerbahood” was created.

Mehdi Ben Cheikh invited over a hundred artists from thirty countries, including some renowned names (and my favorites like Inti, ROA, or Phlegm), to work their magic on Djerba. They spent three months on the island, creating over 250 beautiful works in that time.

At first, the local community wasn’t very welcoming to the idea, but after many discussions and explanations, they warmed up to the idea. Some of the house owners had special requests for what they wanted to see on their walls, while others left the creative freedom to the artists.

With time, some of the original works faded away or were removed. However, new ones appeared, and still today, Djerbahood is a colorful and creative community that attracts numerous visitors from all over the world. What sounded like the crazy idea of the brave artists changed the face of the small town, literally and figuratively.

How to visit Djerbahood

Since the public transport in Djerba isn’t the most efficient, the best way to reach Djerbahood is by taxi. I arrived here directly from the airport (why waste time) and paid 15 TND for the ride. Once I was done exploring Djerbahood, I found a taxi on the main street that took me to my hotel for 10 TND.

You can also take the Djerba tour that covers Djerbahood too. Here are some available options:

• Half-Day Djerba Island Tour
• Erriadh Djerbahood E-Bike Tour
• Tour of Djerba island
• Tour of the island of Djerba the island of Lotophages

Best time to visit Djerbahood

I recommend visiting Djerbahood in the morning before all the tours start arriving in the town. Not only it’s so much better to enjoy the place without too many people around, but you will also be able to take better pictures and truly enjoy all the masterpieces on the walls.

I arrived in Djerbahood around nine in the morning, and at first, there was literally no one around; I had the whole place to myself. After about one hour, more and more tours appeared. Still, during my time in the area, the neighborhood was never too packed or overcrowded (I was there in early January, so maybe that was the reason, too).

How to see Djerbahood murals

Even if you have a map of all the Djerbahood murals, the best way to explore the area is simply by wandering around. There’s one main square in Ar-Rijad where you will be dropped off by taxi, a good starting point for your Djerbahood sightseeing.

You can venture into all the backstreets, and once you are done exploring one side of the town, you can go back to the main square and start with another side. That’s what I did, and I tried my best not to miss any streets, but I probably did not see some works anyway – there are so many of them around!

Seeing all the murals in Djerbahood should take you more or less two hours, and that’s with a relatively slow pace and taking many pictures of the beautiful art around.

What are other things to do in Djerbahood

Besides street art, you can also admire some picturesque doors Tunisia is known for – they are pretty here too! There are also some interesting traditional houses around, and the overall atmosphere of the town is very relaxed and laid-back.

Not far from the Djerbahood (around 1 km away), you can visit the oldest synagogue in Tunisia and probably in the whole of Africa – El Ghriba Synagogue. Originally, it dates back to the 6th century BC, but it was renovated in the 19th century, and that’s when the beautiful interior you can see today comes from. It’s a truly stunning place that you should not miss.

Once you are done with all the sightseeing in Ar-Rijad, you can sit down for a coffee or lemonade on the main square, relax a bit, and enjoy the creative vibe of Djerbahood. Or you can do some souvenir shopping in one of the small shops around.

Further reading

I published many articles about Tunisia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• Tunisia Travel Guide – All About Visiting Tunisia
• Tunisia Itinerary – What to See in Tunisia in 10 Days
• 11 Great Things to Do in Tunis, Tunisia
• 11 Amazing Things to do in Djerba, Tunisia
• 7 Must Things to Do in Sousse, Tunisia
• Visit Carthage, Tunisia – a Perfect Day Trip from Tunis
• Your Guide to Visiting El Jem Amphitheatre, Tunisia
• Visit Kairouan, Tunisia – a UNESCO Holy City
• and more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations).

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