Tunisia Travel Guide: Essential Facts and Information

One of the most popular tourist destinations in North Africa, Tunisia offers an incredibly diverse range of experiences. Along the Mediterranean coast, resort towns like Hammamet provide an abundance of sun and sea; while the southern Sahara is populated by dramatic desert landscapes, fascinating Berber villages and abandoned Star Wars sets. Tunisia's status during Roman times is evident in the well-preserved ruins at El Jem and Carthage, while Tunis offers all the cultural and culinary opportunities you'd expect from a major capital.

Note: check the latest travel warnings before booking your trip to Tunisia.

Location

Tunisia is located in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and Libya to the southeast.

Geography

With a total land mass of 59,984 square miles/155,360 square kilometers, Tunisia is slightly larger than the state of Georgia. It is mountainous in the north and extends into the Sahara Desert in the south.

Capital City

The capital of Tunisia is Tunis, located in the far north of the country.

Population

According to a CIA World Factbook estimate, Tunisia's population stood at just over 11.4 million people in July 2017.

Language

The official language of Tunisia is Arabic. French acts as a language of commerce and is spoken by around two thirds of the population, while Berber is the principal language of the south.

Religion

Tunisia's official religion is Islam and approximately 99% of the population identify as Sunni Muslims. The remaining 1% is made up by Christians, Jews and Shia Muslims.

Currency

Tunisia's currency is the Tunisian dinar; for accurate exchange rates, use this online converter.

Climate

Northern Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The further south you go, the climate gets more arid; and in the southern desert, it is hot, dry and sunny all year round. Rainfall is almost non-existent, though winter nights in the desert can get chilly.

When to Go

Tunisia is a year-round destination, but if you're heading to the north, the best weather occurs between May and October. In the Sahara, summers are typically scorching and those with a low tolerance for extreme heat may prefer to travel during the winter (November to February).

Key Attractions

Tunis

With its safe, laid-back vibe and incredible heritage, Tunis is a great place to start your Tunisian adventure. Spend the day exploring the winding streets and souks of the medina, or admiring Roman ruins at nearby Carthage. The French Ville Nouvelle quarter has many excellent restaurants while the Bardo Museum houses some of the country's most famous ancient mosaics.

Sidi Bou Said

With its white domed houses and blue-painted doors, the clifftop town of Sidi Bou Said is Grecian in its beauty. Visitors come to admire panoramic Mediterranean views and to explore a plethora of art galleries, boutiques and open-air cafés. To discover the history behind Sidi Bou Said's unique architecture, visit the Neo-Moorish home of Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger.

Grand Erg Oriental

Comprising 40,000 square kilometers of pristine desert, Tunisia's section of the Grand Erg Oriental is a wonderland of sweeping dunes and hidden oases. You can choose to explore by 4x4 or as people have done since Biblical times: on the back of a camel. Keep an eye out for rare desert wildlife and revel in the splendor of wilderness sunrises and sunsets.

El Jem

A 2.5-hour drive south of Tunis takes you to El Jem, a Punic city that became an important center of commerce during Roman times. Today it is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, of which the most famous is the UNESCO-recognized Amphitheatre of El Jem. Built in the 3rd century, this magnificent monument once hosted 35,000 spectators.

Getting There

The main port of entry for most overseas visitors is the Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN), located in the capital. It is served by many different airlines including Tunisair, Air France, Lufthansa, EgyptAir and Royal Air Maroc. At this time, there are no direct flights to Tunis from the United States. Visitors from many countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand can enter without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days.

Medical Requirements

In addition to ensuring that your routine vaccines are up to date, the CDC recommends that travelers to Tunisia be vaccinated for hepatitis A and typhoid. Depending on your planned activities, some travelers may want to consider rabies and hepatitis B injections as well. There is no risk of malaria in Tunisia.