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.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS TUNISIA
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