Sousse and Port el Kantaoui

Sitting on Tunisia's sand-lined eastern coast and lapped by the azure Mediterranean, Sousse, and its northern neighbour, Port el Kantaoui, have a good balance of child-friendly attractions, such as an amusement park and zoo, and cultural sights such as a UNESCO-listed medina, Roman catacombs and a 9th-century mosque.

Stroll through the colourful roofed souk and browse the curiosities on offer, take a horse-drawn carriage tour of its pretty streets, enjoy a slice of north African history at the town's excellent museum, and discover a clutch of great eateries happy to cater for picky youngsters.

Sweeping around the coastline, Sousse boasts more than 10km of golden beaches backed by a bevy of hotels to suit family travellers. Hotel Tour Khalef, for instance, is a beachfront all-inclusive family hotel with great facilities that include a kids' club and entertainment programme. The large and lively Hotel Marhaba Salem is another good all-inclusive option for families. On the beach, there are a good range of exciting aqua-based activities to entertain all the family – kayaking, sailing, snorkelling, banana boat rides and pedalos.

Nearby, Port el Kantaoui is one of north Africa's most well-appointed resort towns, built in the signature dazzling white Moorish style but catering almost exclusively to tourists. Constructed around an exclusive marina, the port is a popular calling-point for smart yachts, and the resort ticks all the boxes for family holidays too. What the resort lacks in history and authenticity, it makes up for in terms of facilities. Pizzerias, cafes and fish restaurants serve a range of delicious fare and tourist shops and mini markets ensure you can buy all you need during your stay. The mini amusement park and zoo offer plenty of entertainment for little ones if you can tear yourself away from the wide sandy beach that offers all manner of inflatables, banana boat rides and non-motorised water-sports.