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Tunisia Introduction
Right in the heart of the Mediterranean and almost on the tip of Northern Africa, Tunisia is a magnificent multi cultural country with plenty of things to do and see. For those who like to explore, there are many ancient temples, the ruins at Carthage, stone age settlements, caves and historical buildings, and for the sports lovers there is a diverse range of things such as golf, yachting, water sports, jeep safaris across the desert and of course, its delightful beaches. You can see a lunar type landscape which is quite intriguing and very photographic.
Tunisia is famous for its wonderful carpets which you can buy from one of its wonderful markets or modern shops. It has a range of ceramics which reflects the rules of the Arabs, Romans, Spanish and Byzantines. Tunisia was also the country used to make some of the Star Wars films.
Tunisia today is a popular tourist resort with much to offer, nightlife, shops and restaurants. It is an ideal destination for all ages.
Tunisia Location
Tunisia is situated in a prime location in North Africa, resting on the Mediterranean Sea, and sitting between Algeria and Libya. It also sits just 80 miles from Sicily. In size it is approximately the same as that of the England and Wales together.
Weather in Tunisia
Tunisia's climate is temperate all year round. It has hot sunny days during the summer, being dry and the Mediterranean Sea temperatures remain good throughout the summer. Summer starts in April and continues until November with temperatures rarely dropping below 21°C.
The average daily sun light in July and August is 11 or 12, dropping to 8 in October. Winters are usually wetter and you will see more rain during November to March. When spring arrives at the end of March flowers start to blossom and the countryside of Tunisia is full of colour.
Tunisia rarely has snow, but there may be occasional frosts in the winter and the temperature can drop quite low, especially at night. If snow does fall, it might last for many days especially in the regions higher up.
In the south of Tunisia, the climate becomes very dry. The temperature can rise very high with a climate similar to the Sahara. On the rare time that rainfall does occur, it can be heavy especially during spring and autumn.
If you prefer temperatures not too high, probably the best times to visit are April and October when temperatures can still be a pleasant 20°C with a good 7 or 8 hours of sunshine, therefore visiting Tunisia gives you an extended holiday season.
Beaches in Tunisia
Tunisia has some stunning, delightful beaches full of sand and warm seas of the Meditteranean.
The beaches in Hammamet are beautifully sandy and stretch for miles. The beach has many hotels alongside it so you might find this area quite busy. It h
Mahdia has some pretty rocky coves and grottos where you might find a quiet spot of isolation.
Port El Kantaoui has an interesting harbour which is surrounded by a lovely beach.
Sousse is quaint and reasonably quiet although the hotels are just alongside the main beach. There is a promenade where you can take a nice walk and enjoy the surroundings.
Beware of salesmen touting for trade on the beaches, they can be troublesome at times, however the beaches alongside the hotels usually have security staff to ward them off.
Shopping in Tunisia
Tunisia is a magnificent place for shopping where you will enjoy many hours browsing the bazaars and trying to find a bargain. Tunisia is famous for its ceramics and handicrafts which are both made locally on Tunisia. It is also very good for finding jewellery, clothing, pipes, candles and silk items.
There are many good shopping malls, or equally good markets, which are often much cheaper and ready to accept your offer of haggling. You will not be expected to pay the actual price which is shown.
Tunis (the capital) and its Medina (the olden city) is where you will find the bargains for traditional Tunisian goods. Prices may differ from shop to shop or market stall to market stall. Tunis has a brilliant central market and here you will be in your element trying to find something to take back home, or a holiday souvenir.
Tunis has a very trendy shopping centre with more than 80 outlets, some selling designer brand names. It also has plenty of food facilities for people wishing to eat and shop. There is also something to keep the children happy by way of a leisure centre and a play area. There is also a hyper market called Carrefour, one of the biggest chains of shops from France which sells everything from food, cosmetics and electrical items.
Shopping hours tend to vary depending upon the season: during the summer months, shops are generally open Monday to Saturday, 07:30 to 13:30 and 15:00 to 19:00 whereas throughout the winter, they are open 09:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 19:00.
Hammamet is also a place to shop with plenty of malls and market stalls, or Souks selling the more traditional Tunisian items. To experience the atmosphere of North Africa, try going to the Nabeul market where you will see and breathe the sights and smells.
So, for plenty of traditional shopping, mixed in with something a little more modern you will find various Medina's around the bigger cities along with specialist shops. You will find English is widely spoken and the locals are very welcoming.
Eating out in Tunisia
Tunisian people like to take a long time over their eating, it is an occasion when friends and family get together to enjoy an exchange of information and fun. Tunisian food is full of spicy flavours, combining with a mixture of both Arabic and French cuisine.
Popular dishes for starters are called shorba frik which consists of lamb soup, tomato puree, coriander and other seasonings and then green spring wheat grains are slowly cooked to end up as a completely mouthwatering and tender dish. Another popular dish is slata mechouia which is grilled green peppers, tomatoes and garlic. It is mixed together with olive oil, seasoning and with a salad, it has tuna, eggs, olives and capers.
Main meals usually consist of a stew with lamb, veal or fish. Omelette's are also popular and can be served with meats, vegetables and cheese. Cous cous is the national dish which can be added to herbs and spices to give it a delicious flavour.
For desert you will find a selection of fresh fruit salads, fruit, pastry dishes and custard. A delicious desert is a Tunisian donut, or a sweet cake of honey.
You will find many restaurants serving international and Mediterranean cuisine with familiar dishes to suit all tastes and pockets. There are also a good selection of a la carte restaurants. If you are looking for fast food and take aways, chicken kebabs are popular and are very reasonable.
Wine made locally is quite popular and it has its own beer called Celtia which is cheap and easily available. Mineral water is Safia and soft drinks like Coca Cola and Fanta are widely served.
Nightlife in Tunisia
Nightlife in Tunisia is certainly entertaining with belly dancers, fire eaters, snake charmers and traditional folklore evenings. A lot of the bigger hotels have a disco and an interesting excursion you could try is a Bedouin Feast.
Nightlife is generally quite sedate in Tunisia and most nightlife is usually based around hotels. However you can enjoy a nice meal in a pleasant atmosphere in any of the Tunisian restaurants, and life is always more cosmopolitan at the marina. There are some discos which play a variety of international music
At the International Cultural Centre in Hammamet you can enjoy an evening of entertainment with theatrical shows.
Car Hire in Tunisia
There are many car hire agencies in the bigger cities of Tunisia, so renting a car is a good option of transport. Driving in Tunisia can be dangerous. It is recommended that visitors avoid driving after dark outside of Tunis or the major resort areas. Driving practices are poor. Drivers fail to obey the rules of the road even in the presence of the police. Traffic signs and signals are often ignored, and drivers sometimes drive vehicles on the wrong side of the road. Faster drivers tend to drive on the left while slower drivers stay to the right. Traffic lane markings are widely ignored. Bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles are operated without sufficient lights or reflectors, making them difficult to see darting in and out of traffic. Motorists should also be aware of animals on the roads, particularly in rural areas.
Transfers from the airport in Tunisia
Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>
Airport shuttle bus service in Tunisia
In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>
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