Visa requirement, Wi-fi info, cash exchange, SIM cards, safety tips…and more! A guide to the beautiful country of Tunisia.
Just in case you’re too lazy to flip through a guidebook, here’s a quick rundown of etiquette, Wifi info, cash exchange, SIM cards…and more!
Things to avoid:
UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns travelers in Tunisia to stay away from these areas:
- The Chaambi Mountain National Park area (located in central western part of Tunisia.)
- The Tunisia-Algeria border crossing points at Ghardimaou, Hazoua and Sakiet Sidi Youssef.
- The militarized zone south of, but not including, the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba.
- Within 5km of the Libya border area from north of Dhehiba up to but not including the Ras Ajdir border crossing.
Weather:
Due to its geographical diversity (from Mediterranean coast to the Sahara desert,) climate will change drastically from day to night. Check weather listings before your trip, but the further south you travel, the hotter it will be.
Average temperature during summertime is in the 30°C, with coastal breeze in cooler evenings with occasional rain. Winter gets cold in Tunisia with temperature dropping below zero at night. Mediterranean region is rainy from October to January.
Time:
Local time is GMT plus one hour.
Visa requirements:
All travelers will need a passport valid for at least 90 days following your departure date from Tunisia. Be sure to leave at least two free pages in Visas section of your passport before the trip.
Most countries don’t require special visas for entering Tunisia. European countries including: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland can enter via a national ID card if traveling with an organized tour with hotel confirmation.
Language:
Arabic and French.
Etiquette:
Tunisians are extremely friendly. Shaking hands when you first meet people is a common etiquette.
When bargaining for souvenirs (which is typical,) don’t go overboard and don’t abuse the policy. If you don’t intend on buying anything, then don’t stay for 30 minutes to bargain. If you’re good natured about it, you’ll even make friends with the store owner who may invite you to dinner with his family.
Safety:
According to Gov.UK’s website:
The threat from terrorism in Tunisia is high. Further attacks remain highly likely, including against foreigners. Security forces remain on a high state of alert in Tunis and other locations. You should be vigilant, avoid crowded places and follow the advice of the Tunisian security authorities and your travel company, if you have one.
Money:
Tunisia uses Tunisian Dinars. 1 TND = 0.4 euro/USD $ 0.45.
Money exchange:
Since it’s illegal to export Tunisian money, which means your bank won’t be able to exchange money and you cannot take dinars entering or exiting Tunisia, the best places to exchange money is at the airport or at your hotels.
Before leaving Tunisia, you can exchange back all the local money you have, including coins.
ATM:
There are many ATMs available in tourist areas and in big cities. The machines only provide Tunisian dinars and accept most credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and Maestro.
Credit cards:
Most major hotels and shops in tourist areas accept most major credit cards: Visa & MasterCard. But in smaller shops, they only accept cash.
Tipping:
Tipping is not required in Tunisian restaurants, but you may be asked several times by airport porters, hotel bell men…etc. How much is completely up to you, sometimes a few dinars will suffice. If you don’t have dinars handy, they also accept euros too.
International calls:
Skype, Google+ Hangouts and FaceTime are still the best options when calling international. The country code for Tunisia is +216.
SIM card:
At the Tunis airport you’ll see a bright red Ooredoo kiosk where you can by a prepaid SIM card for 15 dinars. It’ll allow you to talk on the phone with internet access.
Wi-Fi:
Most hotels will provide free Wi-Fi. If it’s not accessible from your room, you’ll at least receive adequate connection in the lobby area.
Electricity:
Voltage in Tunisia: 220-240 Volts (U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts).
Water:
Always drink from bottled water, since tap water is not considered safe to drink.
Taxi:
You’ll find taxis all over cities, and they’re inexpensive. Be sure the meter is on, and leave the taxi if the meter isn’t turned on. Give the driver exact address or clear directions of where you want to go so he doesn’t circle you around for added cost. Screenshot your phone via Google Maps prior to getting in the taxi is a good idea.
If you loved the service, feel free to tip around 20% in addition to the fee of your ride.
Guided tours:
If you’re not traveling with a private guide for the entire duration of your trip (which is highly recommended,) here are some other reliable guides you can consider: Tours By Locals, Voyages Jules Verne, or Peregrine.
