Holidays in Tunisia

Looking like a well-driven wedge cleaving Algeria and Libya, Tunisia is dwarfed by its African neighbours, though it's not much smaller than most Mediterranean European nations. The Mediterranean laps at roughly 40% of the country's border, with Sardinia and Corsica lying directly to the north and Malta and Sicily off to the northeast. This hospitable land of colours and contrasts, spices and scents invites you to enjoy its natural beauty, ancient cities, lively festivals and warm friendliness of its people. An ideal climate, a long and gentle seacoast, Tunisia, the northernmost country of Africa has for over 3000 years witnessed the passage of Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Turks, Spanish and French.

• Country Profile - Tunisia Holidays
• Getting Around Tunisia
• Climate for Tunisia Holidays
• Places of Interest in Tunisia
• Eating/Drinking in Tunisia
• Activities in Tunisia
• General Information for Holidays in Tunisia
• View Google Map of Tunisia

View Map of Tunisia

Country Profile - Tunisia Holidays

Tunisia is located on the north coast of Africa boasting a 700 mile Mediterranean coastline, there are no shortages of golden sandy beaches where water sports come in abundance, particularly diving which seems to be growing in popularity.

Discover the hustle and bustle of the bazaars in Hammamet, Sousse and Monastir. Explore the narrow streets, little changed by the passage of time and enjoy the fascinating mix of culture both ancient and modern. But don't forget to spend some time enjoying the coastline of long white beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

Away from the beaches there are striking examples of Arab-Islamic architecture to be explored - the Great Mosque of Kairouan to name but one and visit superb museums such as the Bardo with its vast collection of pretty mosaics, as must for holidays in Tunisia.

Capital: Tunis

Population: 10 million (approx.)

Language: Arabic and French

Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TND)

Religion: Muslim

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Getting Around Tunisia

Taxis: Cheap and readily available in all main beach resorts. Most cabs have meters, or sometimes you can agree a fare in advance.

Buses: Local services are extremely good value and the network covers most of the country.

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Climate for Tunisia Holidays

Northern Tunisia has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers (June-August) and mild, wet winters (December-February). Tunis' high temperatures top out around 32°C (90°F) and drop no lower than 6°C (40°F). The mountains of the northwest occasionally get snow, while the farther south you go, the hotter and drier it gets.

Tunisia Holidays - View 5 Day Forecast

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Places of Interest in Tunisia

13th Century kasbah in Hammamet: Hammamet's centre is a miniature cape jutting out into the sea with the well preserved 13th century Kasbah offering pleasing views over the gleaming domes of the Medina (the old walled city) and the white sands of the coastline.

The Blue Ice - Yasmine Hammamet: Spread over three floors and is home to a games room, ice cream parlour, coffee shop, self-service restaurant, fast-food restaurant, as well as the main attraction, Tunisia's first ever ice rink, which can accommodate up to one hundred skaters in a single session.

During the day the ice rink offers training sessions to those who wish to learn to ice skate, or those just wanting to perfect their style. It is open to adults and children alike.

Disco's are organised every night of the week, where skaters can enjoy music ranging from disco and dance to RnB and hip-hop. During the school holidays games and competitions are also organised.

The whole complex is open all year round. During the summer it is open until midnight on a Saturday and 10pm the rest of the week.

Trip to Carthageland: The theme park Carthageland, which opened in August 2003, takes you through the history of Tunisia, from the Carthaginians, Romans and Berbers to the Muslims of the present.

Set in the scene of ancient Carthage, you can go back in time and relive the Punic Wars, the conquering of Rome over the Alps, a journey through Africa and experience the Turkish pirates on a number of thrilling rides.

Within the grounds of the complex a small zoo can also be found, as well as some excellent dining facilities (there are five restaurants!) and numerous shops.

Great Mosque of Kairoun: Kairouan is home to more than 50 mosques making it the fourth most important city in the Islamic world. The biggest attraction here is the Great Mosque. Though non-Muslims are forbidden to enter the prayer hall, visitors can peek through one of the 17 heavy wooden doors to see one of the world's oldest pulpits decorated with 250 carved panels. You can also climb the 128-step staircase, made from Christian tombstones, for superb panoramic views of the city.

Bardo museum: Has a vast collection of pretty mosaics. The beaches at Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet and Djerba have the finest sand beaches, crystal waters and some provide great water sports facilities.

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Eating/Drinking

Tunisian food has been influenced by the influx of different inhabitants over the years. It remains essentially a mixture of Mediterranean (French, Spanish & Italian) and traditional Tunisian recipes, although the Jewish community contributed enormously to enriching Tunisian gastronomy as well. International cuisine is also freely available in Tunisia.

Tunisian cuisine is based on the use of olive oil and spices with the appropriate quantities of ingredients blended together. All recipes use natural products and simple ingredients of a high quality. These simple ingredients are used to make refined dishes. Frozen foods are shunned and the emphasis is on fresh, wholesome ingredients.

In restaurants customers will always be served fresh bread, olives and harissa, which is a hot chili dip, made of crushed, dried red peppers, garlic and spices. This is also the main stay of many Tunisian dishes.

Couscous is the national dish and is served with vegetables, lamb, poultry or fish. The couscous is steamed and served covered in a sauce. The ingredients of the sauce give each type of couscous its own unique taste.

The culture of wine making in Tunisia dates back to Carthaginian and Roman times and has developed over the centuries. Nowadays, Tunisia produces between 300 - 350,000 hectolitres of wine per year. Tunisian wine is widely exported throughout the world.

There are two traditional liqueurs in Tunisia: Thibourine and Boukha. Thibourine is made from dates and Boukha is a fig brandy.

Celtia is the refreshingly light local beer. International beers are also available in Tunisia.

Mint Tea is the traditional drink of Tunisia, served with fresh mint leaves and pine nuts in some regions.

Nightlife: Evening entertainment is generally low-key, with most nightlife centred around hotel bars and discos. However, in some of the larger resorts and towns you will find some excellent restaurants and pavement cafes as well as the odd disco or two where you can let your hair down and dance the night away. In Monastir you will find bars, cafes and eateries clustered around the modern marina and its adjacent shopping centre.

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Activities in Tunisia

Watersports: Tunisia's clear waters, coral beds and diverse sea life make it a popular destination for scuba diving. Tabarka Yachting Club and the International Diving Centre at Port el Kantaoui are recognised by the World Confederation for Diving and offer fully equipped lessons and trips.

Golf: There are excellent courses at Port el Kantaoui near Sousse, Monastir, Tabarka, Carthage at Tunis, Tozeur, Djerba and Hammamet. Players of all abilities will find very high-quality facilities. The Open Golf Championships there have already attracted many leading competitors from all over the world. Created by eminent golf-course architects, the courses are dotted with palm, olive and pomegranate trees, and are next to the sea. The courses are well suited to all players.

Birdwatching: Tunisia has many species of birds, most of which are protected in national parks. The cork-oak forests of Ain Draham, the lake and marshes of Ichkeul near Bizerta, the coastal lagoons round Tunis and Sousse, the rocky hills and steps from Kef to Kasserine, and the oases and deserts of the south all have their characteristic birds.

Health Spas: There are many hot-spring stations throughout Tunisia - mostly in the north of the country. Many of the spas have been used for this purpose since Roman and Punic times. The most important stations are run by personnel specialised in the medical and paramedical fields, and treatments are available for rheumatism, arthritis, a variety of lung and skin complaints, circulatory troubles and gynaecological problems. More information is available from the National Tourist Office.

Film Tours: Tunisia's desert near Tozeur has featured in numerous films, most notably in The English Patient and Star Wars. More information is available from the National Tourist Office.

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General Information for Holidays in Tunisia

Time: +1 hours GMT

Electricity: 220 Volts/50 Hertz.

Weights and Measures: Kilo and Metric system.

Passport/Visa: No Visa required for British citizens. UK passport holders, irrespective of national status, may enter Tunisia with a passport valid for at least the period of stay and stay for up to three months without a visa.

Business hours: Shops are generally open from 8am until noon, and 3pm until 6pm, though during the summer, afternoon hours tend to be from 4pm until 7pm (to avoid the hottest part of the day). Bank hours also change with the season. In summer, they're open only in the morning, from 8am until 11am. During the rest of the year (September 16 through June 30), they open up again in the afternoon, from 2pm until 4:15pm (Fridays 1pm-3:15pm). During Ramadan, banks are open 8am-11:30am and 1pm-2:30pm, and shops tend not to reopen in the afternoon.

Shopping: Souks:Experience the clamour and hurly-burly of a North African souk market. Most of Tunisia's old towns, including Monastir, stage these colourful bazaars, packed full of fascinating little shops and stalls.

Outside of the official, quality and price, controlled Artisanat (handicraft) shops, where everything from carpets to birdcages bears a price tag, and carpets a stamp of origin and calibre, shopping in Tunisia is definitely an art. Located in the old city (the Medina), the Souks offer a selection of objects of unsurpassed beauty and distinction , excellent arts and craft and traditional work. Remember to haggle with shopkeepers - it's all part and parcel of the fun of a souk. If the hustle and bustle is not for you, Monastir also offers the option of a modern shopping centre.

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