Tunisia is a small country on the North African shores of the Mediterranean, a crossroads between east and west that marks the center division of the Mediterranean. Wedged between Algeria and Libya, Tunisia has been called “Africa with a European accent.” It is one of Africa’s most popular vacation destinations, replete with sun and sand on its beaches and where it fringes the Sahara. It is a peaceful and calm Arab nation, more liberal and tolerant than many, with ancient sites and traditional cultures blending into modern facilities and infrastructure.
Tunisia is one of the most economically healthy countries in Africa, exporting a moderate amount of oil. Visitors enjoy miles of sparkling beaches on the coast, the multinational atmosphere of Tunis and the coastal resorts, the ancient city of Carthage, souvenir hunting in the Souk, and many other exotic delights. At only three hours flying time from the UK, it’s no wonder many Europeans frequent Tunisia for a warm holiday.
Daily flights arrive at the following international airports: Tunis (TUN) (Carthage International), Djerba (DJE) (Melita), Monastir (MIR) (Skanes), Sfax (SFA), Tabarka (TBJ), and Tozeur (TOE) (Nefta). These airports have restaurants and duty-free shops as well as taxi services. Tunisia’s national airline is Tunis Air (TU); see Tunisair. Flights are serviced directly from all over Europe; however, there are no direct flights from Asia, Australia, South America, or the U.S.
Departure tax
For visitors: none. For residents and nationals: TD45.
Tunisia maintains a rather warm climate, and the most temperate periods are during spring and fall. Although temperatures can be very high inland, the winters are mild and have the highest rainfall.
Country code: 216. Outgoing international code: 00. Complete IDD is readily available. Mobile phone operators include Tunisiana and Tunisie Telecom (GSM 900 network). Fax services are obtainable in main urban areas, most hotels, and post offices. For internet, common ISPs include 3S Global Net (website: Gnet.tn), ATI (website: Ati.tn) and Planet Tunisie (website: Planet.tn). Internet cafes with email accessibility can be found in Tunis, Nabeul, Sousse, and Tahar ben Amar. Also, there are telegraph facilities available at the Central Post Office in Tunis, and telegraphs can be sent from many hotels.
Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TD) divided into 1000 millimes. Travelers are advised to check with credit card and debit companies for details of merchant acceptability, but American Express, Diners Club, Visa, and MasterCard are generally taken. Large towns and tourist areas have ATMs. Travelers? checks are easily cashed in banks; and travelers? checks in US Dollars are recommended to avoid additional exchange rates.
Passport and Visa
All travelers require a valid passport as well as a return ticket.
The following nationals are excluded from requiring a visa: Australia; Algeria; Antigua & Barbuda;; Bahrain; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Brunei; Bulgaria; Chile; C?te d’Ivoire; Croatia; Dominica; Fiji; Gambia; Ghana; Gibraltar; Gilbert Islands; Guernsey; Guinea Republic; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Kiribati; South Korea; Kuwait; Liberia; Libya; Liechtenstein; Former Yugoslavia; Republic of Macedonia; Malaysia; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Monaco; Montserrat; Morocco; Niger; Norway; Oman; Qatar; Romania; St Helena; St Kitts & Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent; Grenadines; San Marino; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Switzerland; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; Vatican City.
Tunisia operates on a 220/110V/50Hz cycle electric current. An adaptor with two pins is necessary.
Bottled water is advised; although tap water is normally chlorinated, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Milk must be boiled if not pasteurized, and powdered or canned milk is available—-but be sure it’s reconstituted with sanitary water. Avoid dairy products which may have been made from non-boiled milk. Eat well-cooked meat and fish, and do not eat raw vegetables or unpeeled fruit.
- For travelers 1 year of age or older arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, a certificate is required.
- A vaccination against typhoid is strongly recommended.
- Occasional cases of cholera occur in this area, and a doctor’s opinion should be obtained before deciding which precautions to take (the effectiveness of a vaccination is a medically debated opinion).
Official language: Arabic. French is the second most popular language, and Italian is spoken in major cities. English and German are recognized in tourist areas.
Although Tunisia is most likely safer than the tourist spots of southern France and Italy, use common sense at all times. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings especially in crowds and at beach resorts.
Tipping is not an obligatory custom, but waiters and taxi drivers usually expect at least 10%.
