Tunisia: Overview
The franc-Arabian Tunisia (officially Tunisian Republic) attracts hundred of visitors with its three-thousand-years history. This beautiful country is located between two very different landscapes: the Sahara desert and the African mediterranean coasts. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and by Libya to the east and south. North of the capital you can visit the famous ruins of the legendary Carthage, where time seems to go back many centuries and take you in a trip to a glorious past.
Climate
A mediterranean climate makes a paradise out of Tunisia. There you can enjoy warm waters and sunny days cooled by soft breezes all year round. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are wetter. The inlands are characterized by their high precipitations level in winter and their higher temperature during summer. Between October and May the days are cooler, while in July and August days are much hotter.
The best time of the year to visit the country are the coolest months or spring (March-May), when the landscape dresses with wild flowers. In January and February (the cooler and wetter months) hotel prices drop a little while during the high season they are much higher and it is more difficult to rent cars and museums and markets are very crowded.
Important information
Entry requirements vary according to the visitor’s nationality. The only people who can visit Tunisia without a visa are nationals from Argentina, Chile and the EU. They must have a valid passport and can only stay for up to 90 days.
The official currency is the Tunisian dinar and traveler's checks are broadly accepted. You can change foreign currency at banks and hotels. In most cities and tourist centres ATMs are abundant. The main credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are also accepted. You should change any local currency left before leaving the country since Tunisian dinar is impossible to change outside Tunisia.
Although tipping is not an obligation, some gratitude is always welcome. A 10% is enough for waiters and doormen.
Concerning health, there are no serious risks for tourist visiting Tunisia, although visitors coming from infected areas will be required a vaccination certificate against yellow fever. You may suffer from some diarreical or parasitical illnesses if you are not careful with what you eat and drink; you should drink only bottled or treated water and eat everything well cooked. Full medical insurance is essential for the trip, since medical treatments are very expensive and must be payed in advance. Some medications are not available, so you should take enough supplies of any personal medication.
Safety is an issue in some places, especially tourism-oriented ones since they can be targetted by terrorists. Visitors should remain alert and keep informed about the country’s situation before and during their trip. Violent crime rate is not high, but petty crime is frequent. You should avoid the border with Algeria and be extra careful if you are travelling alone by the southern desertic areas.
Tunisia has a Muslim majority, so visitors should abide to certain norms and customs. Women should dressed modestly, covering their arms and legs outside the beach areas. Only married couples can share hotel rooms and homosexuality is illegal.
Where to go
The best places in Tunisia are in the Medina, the historical and cultural center of the city. Some points of interest are Zituona and Youssef Dey mosques, the perfumes Souq el-Attarine and Souq el-Berka, where Muslim pirates used to sold slaves. Other interesting places to visit are the huge mausoleum Tourbet el-Bey, arts and popular traditions’ center Dar Ben Abdallah and the houses of Dar el-Haddad. Ville nouvelle, the modern French part of the city, is also an attractive place; there you can visit the eclectic cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul. West of downtown is the Museum of the Bard, located in the former official residence of the husseinits beys and home of many artistic collections dating from several periods. The old coliseum El-Jem, almost as big as the one in Rome and built between 230 and 238 b.C, is located in a plateau 210 km south of the capital.
The attractive Tozeur, 435 km south of the capital, is one of the most visited cities, anyone interested in the labyrinthine historical centre will enjoy it. You can go to Ouled el-Hadef that dates from the XIVth century b.C; the interesting Museum Dar Charait and the terraces of the great palmeral Chott el-Kebili.
The picturesque town of Sidi Bou Said has beautiful cobbled streets and blue houses like the ones of the Greek islands. The town is located in the summit of a cliff dominating the gulf of Tunisia. This place is ideal for spending some relaxing time, enjoying a coffee or visiting the souvenir shops arround Place Sidi Bou Said, the main square and center of the city. Another interesting place to visit is the lighthouse, a small fortress from the IXth century located near the beach.
Legendary Carthage has six main places very distant from each other, so you should be prepared to spend many time walking from one to another. Brysa hill where the huge St. Louis cathedral is will be the best starting point. Behind the cathedral is the National Museum, which has a permanent collection of Punic art and many other exhibitions which are constantly renewed. On the western side of to hill is the amphitheater that once was one of the biggest of the Roman Empire. Northeast of the amphitheater are the cisterns’ ruins, of difficult access. In front of the sea and south of the hill are the imposing thermal baths of Antonio and the archaeological park of Magon neighborhood. Another good choice is to visit Tofet sanctuary, a sacrificial place with an annexed cemetery.
105 km from the capital and dominating Oued Kalled valley are the Roman ruins of Dougga, the best kept in Tunisia. Some of the places you can visit here are the old theater where the Festival of Dougga takes place, the Winds Square and the temple of Saturn. Other very good visits are the house of Dionisos and Ulyses, once a luxurious residence, and the Capitol, one of the country’s most imposing constructions.
The old troglodyte village of Matma, from which underground houses (Berber) are still conserved is in the coastal area, 400 km south of Tunisia city. This is one of the most visited destinations in the country and one of the places where Star Wars was filmed. Its houses with underground backyards and its lunar landscape make of Matma an ideal place to escape for a while from everything and walk into a different world.
Besides being an important port, Susa is the third most important domestic city and, therefore, the most visited by tourists. There is a beach taht goes from the north area of the city to the enclave of Port the-Kantaoui. In the walled medina you can visit a series of important monuments, besides Susa Museum, the Great Mosque and Ribat fort.
Festivals
The Islamic calendar is ruled by moon so it has a difference of 11 days with the Gregorian year. Due to this reason you must check the dates of the festivals you would like to attend before travelling. Some of the most important festivals are Ras as-Sana (new year), Ramadan, fasting month which ends with Eid al-Fitr banquet. Other important celebrations are Moulid an-Nabi, Mohammed's anniversary, and Eid al-Adha, pilgrimage to Mecca.
In the middlde of the year there are many interesting activities sucha as the International Festival of Symphonic Music of El-Jem, the International Festival of Cinema of Carthage (only in the odd years), the Festival of Dougga and the Festival of Carthage.
