Tourism options

We are not going to waste your time talking about the geographic position of Tunisia, its state system or climate - information on those themes you could easily find on any tourist site at any moment.

We would like to share facts, impressions and even small secrets that may help you to understand better many events which you will be able to observe while visiting this magnificent country.

National currency in Tunisia is Tunisian dinar. You may change dollars or euros for dinars in exchange offices which you can find in any hotel or bank. But if you still keep some dinars by the end of your visit you may change them back only in the airport and if you have the bill from the exchange office and not more than the sum shown in the bill.

On the territory of Tunisia only national currency is permitted. Don't try to pay in dollars or euro, they won't take them. The law against illegal cash operations is very severe and leads to a court case.

Tunisia is a rather expensive country. Especially the city of Tunis which is really as expensive as any other capital, and the city of Sousse which is one of the oldest and the most promoted country resorts.

At the same time, salary level in the country is rather low. It is obviously not for foreign specialists from Europe working in Tunisia according contract, but for local population only. In the tourist business there is a following level: maid - 200 TND, waiter - 250 TND, receptionist - 300 TND, coach driver - 350 TND.

It is clear that the international tradition to thank the serving personnel with tips is very desirable and effective. In the hotels of the middle and rather low class tips is often the only way to solve your problems. Never offer tips to leading managers of your hotel: to the director, to the restaurant chief manager or to the security chief, such initiative can make the situation worse. These people are of another status and they can be offended with your intention to give them money.

There is a common opinion that Tunisian men are too persisting with female tourists but it is just a myth. On the territory of Tunisia there is only one resort - Sousse - where you will regularly meet so called "beach boys". Their habitual place is on the beaches and in the discotheques. We should warn our young girls: beach boy is a profession.

At all the other resorts nice ladies can be calm: nobody will bother them in their solitude. Men will be rather reserved. If somebody tries to cross borders you should remember that the word "police" sound almost equally in all the languages of the world. We can ensure you that at this stage of the dialogue an intruder will loose any interest to you. Women have equal rights with men and sometimes even more.

It is a bit difficult for tourists to buy alcoholic drinks for carry-over. You can buy alcohol in the state supermarkets "General" only; they work from 7.30 a.m. till 3.00 p.m. and from 4.00 till 6.45 p.m. If you want to bring alcoholic beverage to your hotel room you should put bottles in a non-transparent bag and don't keep them in hands, otherwise the receptionists or any other personnel may ask you to throw it away.

If you order a drink in a restaurant and don't finish your bottle you are not allowed to take it with you, because the restaurant may lose it’s license and heavily fined. At the same time, the most part of restaurants of high class offer the following service for their clients: you may leave an opened bottle up to your next visit to this restaurant. In this case they put your name on its label as well as information on the left measure of alcohol. This service is free.

An answer to an eternal question "What should I get for presents?" is not a big problem in Tunisia. Even more: making a purchase you will have no doubts whether it's good enough for your friends or relatives - it would be very easy.

Excellent presents from North Africa would be exciting dry red wine "Vieux Magon" or date liquor "Thibarine" 43 grades. Here is an important detail: you can save several dollars if you buy "Thibarine" in the airport in the Duty Free zone. It is more rational to buy "Vieux Magon" in one of the supermarkets "General".

You can surprise your relatives with fresh dates of an excellent quality. You shouldn't put dates into your luggage; you should keep them in your hand bags: it is very cold in the luggage sector of the plane and dates don't bear big temperature changes and will decay.

One more pleasant and useful gift is a wonderful olive oil made in Tunisia. If you really want to bring oil of high quality with thin aroma and without any additions, you shouldn't buy it in large trade centers and supermarkets. You should find a small shop where local people purchase their everyday food. Here indeed you can buy that very thing - olive oil of the first extraction which is light-green in color.

The next information for coffee-fans. In any resort city there are small coffee-shops where you can buy grinded coffee of high quality. You have no need to ask for direction - the inspiring aroma of coffee is spreading through several quarters. Grinding of coffee beans is hand-made and it is done in your presence. As a rule, you will be offered to choose from three or four brands of coffee. According your desire, you may ask to add some spices to your coffee: cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Don't worry: all the proportions will be kept. You may order any volume of coffee - from 100 grams up to several kilograms. You will bring a hot package of freshly grinded coffee.

We hope sincerely that our advices and recommendations will be useful for you.

Welcome to Tunisia!
Tunisia is a wonderful country!
We will be happy to open it for you.