The Sidi Salem beach, just north of the modern port, is the most central swimming beach within walking distance of Bizerte's old town. It is a fine sandy crescent perhaps a kilometre long, backed by low scrub, cafés, and a handful of summer-only beach restaurants. The shore shelves gently and the water is calm — fine for families and beginner swimmers.
It is busy in July and August, when Tunisian families on summer holiday pack the sand from about ten in the morning. Outside that window — June, September, even October — it can be almost empty on weekdays. The beach is open to anyone; some sections have parasols and loungers for hire, others are entirely public.
The promenade behind the beach extends north past several seasonal cafés and a couple of older hotels. The water is rated as clean by the national environmental agency; the only caveat is the proximity to the modern port channel south of the beach.