Radio, television and newspapers are the three mediums by which you can stay in touch with events around the world during your holiday in Tunisia. The three French newspapers available daily are Le Renouveau, La Presse and Le Temps. A number of international newspapers are also available in the bigger cities, but they always arrive a day late. The radio and television networks are controlled by the government and most of the broadcasts are in Arabic. The only French language program is Antenna 2 while BBC World Service is the only English language program available on Tunisian the network. BBC signals can be easily picked up in Tunisia.

The currency used for all financial transactions in Tunisia is the Tunisian Dinar (TD). One TD is made up of 1,000 millimes. The paper notes of the TD are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, while the coins are available in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 millimines. The exchange rate of a TD against a pound is fixed at around 2, i.e.: £1 is equivalent to about 2 TD. The Central Bank of Tunisia fixes the currency rate. Traveller’s cheques can be cashed and foreign currency can be exchanged easily at banks, bureau de change and hotels. Keep receipts of all your exchange transactions so that you can change back any remaining TD to your country’s currency at the time of your departure. Money can also be withdrawn from the many ATMs located in the big cities. Credit cards are widely accepted by Tunisian businesses.

220/110 volts AC, 50Hz. Electric plugs have two round pins (as in continental Europe).

For a list of Tunisian embassies around the world and foreign embassies within Tunisia, check out EmbassyWorld.com.

Population: 10.4 million (official estimate 2008).
Total Area: 163,610 sq km (63,170 sq miles).
Capital: Tunis (2 million).
Time Zone: GMT + 1.

For current time in Tunis, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.

Tunisia is located at the northernmost protuberance of Africa. It points out towards Sicily and forms a natural divider between the eastern and western Mediterranean Sea. Algeria borders Tunisia on the west while Libya is south of Tunisia. The coastal plains stretch from the east and rise gently to meet a north-south ridge. The plains then slope gently westwards. The Sahara Desert covers the southern part of Tunisia while northern Tunisia is more mountainous. The Atlas Mountains begin in Algeria and continue onwards in Tunisia.

The public healthcare system of Tunisia provides excellent care in the big towns but it has to be paid for, and most frequently in cash. Investing in a health insurance scheme before travelling in Tunisia is recommended. Private polyclinics function as hospitals in the big towns and they offer a wide range of healthcare services. Inoculation rules and regulations are known to change at very short notice.

Travellers must take the necessary precautions against diphtheria, malaria, rabies and typhoid. All travellers above the age of one must produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate if travelling from an infected region. Unpasteurised milk must be boiled before consumption. It is best to buy UHT milk, which is easily available. When eating meat, fish and vegetables, make sure it is well-cooked and eat it hot. Fruits must always be peeled before eating.

Tunisia’s history dates back to more than 3,000 years ago – begins from the time of the Phoenicians and lasts till the 19th century when the French were in power. Nomadic tribes called the Berbers were the first settlers of Tunisia. The recorded history of the country begins from the tenth century BC when the Phoenicians settled on the coastal areas of Tunisia. The Phoenicians lost their power to the Romans who conquered Carthage during the last Punic War. The Phoenicians were sold off as slaves by the conquering Romans. The Romans colonised several parts of Tunisia and established some wonderful towns such as Sbeitla and Dougga. After the Roman conquest, Christianity became the religion of the land and Latin became the language of the region.

In 436 AD, the Spanish Vandals wrested power from the Romans and ruled Tunisia until the arrival of the Arabs in 670 AD. The Arabs took over most of North Africa and set up the city of Kairouan. The Ottoman Turks arrived in Tunisia more than 900 years later in 1574 and ruled Tunisia for more than 300 years. The French took over the reins of power in Tunisia in 1881 and established the French protectorate in 1883. World Wars I and II saw thousands of Tunisians fight for France. The Tunisians expected the French to grant them liberation after the World Wars as appreciation for their support but the Tunisians were sorely disappointed. They rose up in revolt against the French and obtained independence on March 20, 1956. Habib Bourguiba was declared the first president of independent Tunisia.

Arabic is the national language of Tunisia but since Tunisia has very strong historical connections with France, French is very widely spoken too. In fact, although French has no official status, it is taught to Tunisian children from the age of six. French is the language of choice used in foreign diplomacy, international trade, military matters, the media, education and the sciences. Almost every educated Tunisian can speak French. English is gradually gaining a foothold too with schools promoting the language. Although Arabic is the official language of Tunisia, the local people speak Tunisian Arabic, a local dialect that is closely related to Maltese, which is the national language of Malta. The use of a local dialect of Arabic for colloquial purposes is a practice common to all the Arab countries. A small group of people also speak Shelha, which is a Berber language. A large number of Tunisians, especially those living in the cities, easily switch between French and Tunisian Arabic.

Tunisia is located in North Africa. To view a map of Tunisia, click on this link to WorldAtlas.com.

The nomadic Berbers were the first settlers in Tunisia and they were followed by the Phoenicians, Romans, Spanish, Arabs, Turks and lastly, the French. Today’s Tunisia includes a harmonious blend of all these civilizations that influenced the culture and traditions of the country down the ages. Each race made a deep impact on the nation and modern Tunisia reflects all these influences.

Follow the link  to view a current list of public holidays in Tunisia.

Berbers are the largest group of people living in Tunisia. The Sunni sect of Islam is the official religion of Tunisia and most Tunisians practise it. Cities such as Tunis and Djerba do have small communities of Roman Catholics and Jews too. Some Tunisians are known to visit the graves of marabouts or holy men for spiritual guidance. They often believe in the existence of jinns or evil spirits, and amulets that have the verses of the Holy Koran are worn to fight off the jinns. Another popular charm is “the right hand of Fatima”. Tunisia is the most liberal of all the Islamic countries. In comparison to the women of other Islamic nations, Tunisian women enjoy the most freedom. In earlier times, a Tunisian woman’s role was confined to that of a wife and mother. Today’s Tunisian women, however, are entitled to equal legal rights in terms of property ownership, inheritance, divorce, and child custody. The practice of polygamy has been banned in Tunisia since 1956.

US nationals can stay for a maximum of four months in Tunisia without a visa. Their passport however, must be valid for the period of stay. Similarly, passport holders of UK, whatever the nationality, and Canada can stay in Tunisia for up to three months without a visa, provided they have a valid passport for the duration of the stay. Australians, South Africans and New Zealanders must possess a visa and a valid passport for the length of the stay. Visas are available on arrival and Australians can stay for a maximum of three months. South Africans can obtain their visas on arrival too and they are permitted a stay for up to 30 days. The visa fee is 3 TD. Irish nationals do not require a visa for up to three months of stay but their passports must be valid for the duration of the stay. Visitors to Tunisia must possess all travel documents, including tickets, for their return journey or trip onward.

All visitors to Tunisia must have a passport that is valid for at least six months.