Suggested Length of Stay
Allow 5-10 Days to get a good overall experience of Tunisia. 10-15 if you want to include the Sahara.
Modes of transport
Road
Tunisia has a good road network. All but the most minor roads are tar sealed, though smaller roads can be bumpy. Potholes are more common in the south. Many of the roads that are marked as unsealed on maps have now been sealed, particularly in the south where the army has heavily involved itself in the road-building effort. Of the unsealed roads in the south, most are graded regularly and can usually be driven easily with a 2WD vehicle. Of course, negotiating unsealed roads wherever you are in the country depends on the weather conditions.
Public transport
Trains
Trains are run by the SociƩtƩ Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (www.sncft.com.tn). The rail network is extensive and train travel is relatively comfortable, but trains are slow and frequently run late.
Buses
The national and regional bus companies usually operate from a public bus station (ask for the gare routiĆØre).
Ferry
There are two regular scheduled ferry services in Tunisia.
A car ferry connects Sfax with the Kerkennah Islands, about 25km off the coast (one hour). In summer there are up to nine crossings daily, but fewer in winter.
The second service runs from El Jorf on the mainland to Ajim on the island of Djerba throughout the day and night (15 minutes).
Health Precautions
No vaccines are required for Tunisia, but check the status of standard injections (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella), as boosters in adulthood are now recommended for many. Also, consider the following:
Hepatitis A and B Administered together or separately, at least two weeks before travel.
Rabies Only if youāll be in remote areas near animals.
Tap water is safe to drink throughout Tunisia.
Food and Drink
Breakfast traditionally consists of milk, coffee, eggs, assida (a belly-filling pudding made with flour or semolina, oil and dates), fritters, sohlob (sorghum, sugar, cinnamon and ginger), or, in winter, hsou (spicy semolina and caper-based soup). The French influence, however, means that youāll more likely find people tucking into coffee and a perfect pain au chocolat.
For lunch and dinner, starters include soups, salads, vegetables, tajine (unlike its Moroccan namesake, a frittata-like egg dish with various meat, fish or vegetable fillings) or fish, followed by a plain dish of couscous or pasta.
Money
The currency unit is the Tunisian dinar (DT), divided into 1000 millimes (mills). There are five, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 millimes coins and one-, five- and 10-dinar coins. Dinar notes come in five, 10, 20, 30 and 50 denominations. Changing 50-dinar notes can be a problem.
ATMs are widely available in most towns. Credit cards can be used at the top-end and many midrange establishments.
Time Zone
Central European Standard Time
Time zone in Tunisia (GMT+1)
Visas
Tourists may be eligible for a visa exemption for up to 90 days.
Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Tunisia
Australia doesn’t have an Embassy in Tunisia. For consular assistance, contact the Australian High Commission in Malta
Australian High Commission, Malta
Ta’ Xbiex Terrace
TA’ XBIEX, XBX 1034
Malta
Phone: +356 21338 201
Email: consular.malta@dfat.gov.au
Electricity
In Tunisia, the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Getting there (stopovers)
Qatar Airways flies daily to Tunis from most Australian capital cities via Doha, Emirates flies 5 days a week to Tunis via Dubai.
A brief history
The Phoenicians founded Carthage in Tunisia in the 8th century BC. Carthage became a major world power fighting Rome in the Punic Wars until they were finally defeated in 146 BC. The area then became a Roman province for over 500 years.
In the 7th century the Arabs invaded Tunisia and brought with them the religion of Islam. Today nearly 99% of Tunisians are Muslim. Tunisia remained a center of Arab culture and became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Then in 1881, the French took control and remained in control until Tunisia became an independent country in 1956.
Tipping
Even so, you shouldn’t feel obliged to tip. You should tip only if you receive good service and how much you tip is entirely up to you; Any tip will be appreciated. Use a 5-15% tip as a guideline or round up the bill to the nearest 10 dinar.
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