Travel Tips | Tunisia (Eng.)

TRAVEL TIPS

TUNISIA

OVERVIEW TRANSPORTATION VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES

WHERE TO STAYONDE WHERE TO EAT SHOPPING COMPRAS FICAR ONDE COMER

OVERVIEW Tunisia or Tunisian Republic, is a region of the

Tunisia is a country of contrasts. On the north

Maghreb, which is in North Africa. The country

there are mountains and palm trees forests. On

is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on the

the south, there are deserts inhabited by Berber

north and on the south, it is also bordered by

communities. With a history of over 300,000

Italy, Libya and Algeria. 40% of its territory is

years, Tunisia is a truly unique country. You will

composed of the Sahara Desert, and the rest of

see landscapes that look like the moon, deserts,

the country has a fertile and productive soil.

many beautiful beaches, and their traditional culture influenced by the Arabs and the French

It has been for many decades a vacation

that attracts tourists from all over the world. It is

scenery for Europeans, and some years ago

the most European country from Arab origin.

the country also became a destination chosen

by Brazilian people. The country is the setting

Tunisia has a unique climate on the

of the tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,

planet, due to the Sahara desert and the

and it has stunning landscapes, like the

Mediterranean sea. On the north, where there

mysteries of the Sahara desert and the beauty

are mountains, the winter is rainy and the

of many beaches.

temperatures are pleasant.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS TUNISIA

Almost 40% of the Tunisian territory is

most countries. For Tunisians, there are only

composed by the Sahara Desert, which is

two holy dates: Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha,

on the south of the country. During the

when they celebrate the end of Ramadan

summer the climate is usually dry, but as

(fasting) and the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage to

you get closer to the Mediterranean Sea, the temperatures are not as high.

It is nice to visit Tunisia all year long. July and August are the warmest months of the year, perfect for those who like to dive and go to the beach.

If you prefer mild temperatures, go to Tunisia during spring or autumn, when the

Mecca). Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar and Eid ul-Adha on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the year.

CURIOSITIES The Tunisian culture encourages people to bargain. So negotiate when you go shopping, because you may end up paying less than what you expected.

temperatures are not so high. During the

The Tunisians really wear those Aladdin shoes,

winter, the temperatures are not very low.

the pointy ones in the front. And they are very

HOLIDAYS

comfortable.

Tunisia follows the Islamic calendar which is different from the Gregorian one, followed by

TRANSPORT Travelling in Tunisia is very easy. The country offers many kinds of transportation such as airplane, train, bus and car.

By air: There are flights to the main destinations in the country.

Train: train lines run throughout the country, from Morocco to Algeria. At Barcelona Square, from Tunis central station there are trains that go to all over the country. At this station you can buy the Blue Card pass, valid up to three weeks. Even if you have the Blue Card pass, you need to make reservation in advance, especially during the high season.

Bus: You can get to the main cities in Tunisia by bus routes through the bus stations (“Gara

ATTRACTIONS

de autobus�). At the Bab Saadani station there are buses to the north of the country, and from

There are several attractions in Tunisia. The

Tunis-Bab el Fallah or Bab Alioua leave the

fact that the country has the best of historical

ones that go to the south.

and new attractions only adds to the fun.

Some of the most interesting are:

Car: It is very easy to drive through the Tunisian coast. Even though the roads are in good

Bardo Museum: where one of the largest

condition, tourists should be always with a guide.

collections in the world of Roman, Byzantine and Carthaginians mosaics is. Not much is known about the daily life of the city of Carthage, founded in 800 b.C. by the Phoenicians and destroyed by the Romans in 146 b.C, at the end of the Punic wars against Rome.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS TUNISIA

Carthage: even though there is not much left from the old city after the Roman destruction, the visit at Carthage is a true history class. Go to the base of Mount Byrsa and take some time to visit the St. Louis Cathedral. From the top of the hill there is a great view of Tunis, capital of Tunisia.

Antoine Baths: At the Antoine Baths you will find the ruins where the public baths of Antoninus Pius happened. In the past, there were spa hot baths, cold baths and sauna, but today, all that there is left are the caves. Built between 145 and 165 a.C., Antoine Baths is one of the largest buildings of the Roman Empire.

Zaghouan: near the city, visit the Roman ruins of a 60 km long aqueduct, which, in the second century, supplied the north coast of the country. Next to the Bardo Museum in the capital, it is possible to see some of their structures, but they will only appear in all its splendor near Thuburbo Majus, an archaeological site west of Zaghouan.

Medina of Tunis: the old city, built in the seventh century, have a huge market that is

Sanctuary of Tophet: an archaeological site

in the heart of the city’s culture and history.

was excavated in the beginning of the century

There you will see a typical characteristic of any Arab country, the famous market bargains.

A business that starts at $ 100 may end up at $ 5. This is culture!

Zitouna Mosque: is one of the oldest in the world, and was rebuilt in the nineteenth century on a structure of the seventh century. It is one of the few Mosques in the world that allows the entry of non-Muslim visitors. Over 200 columns were removed from the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage, which can be observed in the colonnade around the courtyard.

as a sanctuary of sacrifice. Walking through it

The city founded by the Berber people is in

is possible to see tombstones with bas-reliefs

ruins, and is proud of being the city that has

showing human figures.

more churches and temples in Africa, one for each Greek god. Dougga is the right destination

Dougga / Thugg: Tunisia is a city by the sea, and, just like the Medina, is a World Heritage.

for those traveling to Tunisia.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS TUNISIA

WHERE TO STAY

the influence of Arabic, French and Greek cuisine, its dishes and flavors are unique and delicious.

The starters of a typical meal is a tomatoes

In Tunis there are several options to stay,

and lettuce, sour cream and cucumber salad

hostels, hotels and apartments. With prices

with a wonderful pastel named Brik (stuffed

ranging from $ 107 up to $ 356 per night, you

eggs). Usually it is served with a fish soup with

can have the best of Tunis. Depending on the

tomatoes called Chorba. The fish and mutton

price and the neighborhood it may be included

are mostly found in hot dishes. In Tunis, is quite

all meals or at least the breakfast.

common to serve as starters bread and harissa paste, red pepper with olive oil.

DINING OUT

Another typical dish is a fried dumpling stuffed with egg and tuna served with a soup of vegetables and cereals. And do not forget to try the famous dates that are sold

The country’s cuisine is a result of many

all over the country.

different cuisines, the result of several people who occupied the country, such as the Berbers,

A good place to eat is in Monastir, a town in

Andalusian, Persians, Turks and Egyptians, and

the center of the country. There are restaurants

for tourists, with a typical Tunisian menu, but without the more exotic dishes. There, you can

SHOPPING

taste the food without spending a lot and also enjoy a fantastic view.

As the Dinar is worth about a dollar, shopping in Tunisia is very attractive. It is worth buying

In the region of Tunis there are also excellent

liquor, perfumes and clothes.

places for a good meal. For those who prefer a simple meal the tip is to go to coffee shops.

Shopping in Tunisia is a real adventure! With

Just like the European coffee shops, they serve

many colors, scents and spices Tunisia is

cappuccinos and croissants, pizzas and burgers.

nothing like the other Muslim countries. Prices

It is a great option for those who do not like to

are very good, and there is always a chance

try different seasonings.

to bargain. You can buy necklaces, perfumes, lamps, roses from the desert and other typical

For those who enjoy the nightlife the Avenue Bourguiba Fattouma is the place to be, perfect

objects around the city.

for young people. There are many kind of

MARKET STREET

bars, from Rock to Jazz music, it is worth

A good place to get typical Tunisian items is at

checking them out!

the Medina of Tunis. It is quite interesting to see how life is in this country, where the culture is so unique. The Medina is an extraordinary place with its mix of stalls selling jewelry, vegetables, fruits, sweets, meats and spices.

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CURRENCY The national currency is the Tunisian dinar,

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

equivalent to about one dollar. The U.S. Dollar and Euro are accepted almost everywhere. The exchange is possible in banks, airports and some hotels. There are ATMs for Visa Electron.

216 190 198 197

COUNTRY CODE EMERGENCIES FIREMEN POLICE

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

216 (0) 71 754 000 TOURIST INFORMATION

00216 93 614 067