Tunisia Mini Guide
   Source: World Travel Guide

Overview

North Africa's smallest country packs in enough diversity for a continent. Vestiges of former rulers dot the landscape: the remains of the mighty city-state of Carthage; Roman ruins that demonstrate this was Rome's richest imperial province; medieval medinas (walled cities) built at the beginning of the Arabic era; and elegant 19th century French colonial boulevards. The country's cuisine is also a delicious hotchpotch - French, North African, Middle Eastern and Turkish.

Beautiful beaches punctuate its 1,400km (875 miles) of Mediterranean coast. In the south lie the undulating Sahara, salt lakes and otherworldly Berber architecture, used as locations for Star Wars and the English Patient. In the north, mountains are cloaked in cork forest, while the Cap Bon peninsular and central Tunisia are rich in fruit trees, olive groves and vineyards.

This is Arabia at its most relaxed. Women's rights are better served than anywhere else in the Arabic world. Alcohol is freely available. After independence in 1956, Tunisia was ruled for three decades by Habib Bourguiba, a great paternalist and moderniser. Since his fall, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has continued along a similar path, focusing on a separation of state and religion, exerting strict media control and discouraging Islamic fundamentalism and any type of opposition.

Passport/Visa

Passports

Passport valid six months after return date required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months (up to one month for nationals of Greece; up to four months for nationals of Germany and USA), with the following exceptions:
(a) 1. nationals of Australia who do need a visa;
(b) 2. nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Slovak Republic, who must travel on a recognised package holiday, and nationals of Cyprus who do need a visa.
Note: Visas are not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above if transit passengers, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport or ship or continuing their journey within 48 hours of arrival.

Visa Note

(a) All visitors must hold sufficient funds for the duration of stay. (b) 1. Nationals of Australia who do need a visa, can obtain it on arrival at the point of entry. Check with the embassy for details of length of stay. (c) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Short-stay: US$34.

Validity

Short-stay usually for stays of up to three months. For up-to-date lengths of stay, contact nearest consulate.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Approximately three weeks, for both postal and personal applications.

Money

Currency

Tunisian Dinar (TND) = 1,000 millimes. Notes are in denominations of TND30, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of TND5 and 1, and 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 millimes.

Currency Exchange

All banks change money. They may require your receipt for traveller's cheques and will want to see your passport. Post offices change cash only.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

Credit cards (mainly MasterCard and Visa) are accepted in a few places in major resorts and towns. American Express and Diners Club are accepted in few places in tourist areas. There are ATMs in most towns and every tourist resort.

Traveller's Cheques

Readily cashed in banks and the usual authorised establishments; the most convenient currencies are Euros or US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1600 (winter); Mon-Fri 0730-1300 (summer).

Health

Vaccinations

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.

Food and Drink

Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available. Milk should be boiled when unpasteurised. UHT milk is available and is advised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other Risks

Vaccinations against Hepatitis B are recommended.

Health Care

Health insurance is essential. Tunisia's public healthcare system often provides excellent care in larger towns, but you have to pay for treatment, usually in cash. There are a few private 'polyclinics' available in the larger towns, which function as hospitals and provide a range of procedures.

Getting There

Getting There by Air

The national airline is Tunis Air (TU) (website: www.tunisair.com).

Approximate Flight Times

From London to Tunis is 2 hours 30 minutes, to Djerba is 3 hours, to Monastir is 3 hours and to Sfax is 3 hours 15 minutes.

Main Airports

Tunis (TUN) (Carthage International) is 8km (5 miles) northeast of the city (journey time - 15 to 30 minutes). To/from the airport: An airport-city coach and buses are available. Return is from Ave Habib Bourguiba. Taxis are available.

Monastir (MIR) (Skanes) is 8km (5 miles) west of the city. To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city centre.

Tozeur (TOE) (Nefta) is 4km (2.5 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: Taxis are available.

Facilities: All the above airports have bars, restaurants, both incoming and outgoing duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change and car hire.

For more information on airports in Tunisia, contact the Tunisian Civil Aviation and Airport Authority (OACA) (website: www.oaca.nat.tn).

Departure Tax

None.

Getting There by Water

Main ports: Tunis.

SNCM (tel: 0825 88 80 88; website: www.sncm.fr), CTN (tel: 71 341 777; website: www.ctn.com.tn) and Viamare Travel (tel: (020) 8206 3420; website: www.viamare.com) run ferry services from France and Italy to Tunisia. The major routes are Marseilles-Tunis (journey time - 21 hours) and Genoa-Tunis (journey time - 22-24 hours). Ferries also run from Tunis to Palermo (Sicily), Cittavecchia, Naples (from June to September), Salerno and Livorno. Cruises in the Western Mediterranean also stop in Tunisia.

Getting There by Road

Theoretically, there are several points of entry by road from Algeria, served by louages (shared taxis): Annaba and Constantine (in Algeria) to Tunis. However, political unrest means that it is difficult for tourists to cross the border.

Entry by road from Libya is at Ras al-Jedir, east of Ben Guerdane. There are daily buses to Tripoli from Tunis (journey time - 16 hours), and louages from Tunis, Sfax, Gabès, Medenine, Houmt Souq and Ben Guerdane.

Climate

Tunisia has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters, when there is the most rainfall. Best periods are spring and autumn. Summer temperatures can be extremely high inland and in the south.

Required Clothing

Lightweights in summer, medium weights and rainwear in winter. Sunglasses are advised.

Contacts

Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in the UK

29 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1QG, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 8117 (for enquiries) or 0906 550 8977 (24-hour visa information line; calls cost £1 a minute).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 (consular section); Mon-Fri 0930-1300 (visa submissions).

Tunisian National Tourist Office in the UK

77A Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QF, UK
Tel: (020) 7224 5561.
Website: www.cometotunisia.co.uk

Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in the USA

1515 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 862 1850 or 680 6006 (tourism enquiries).