Tunisia Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Arabic in culture and tradition, Tunisia is nevertheless one of the more liberal and tolerant Muslim countries. The nomadic Bedouin still follow their traditional way of life in the southern desert. The Tunisians’ varied origins are shown in the architecture, crafts, music and regional folk dances. Tunisia has also developed an international reputation as an intellectual and cultural center. Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. Hospitality is very important and a small gift in appreciation of hospitality or as a token of friendship is always appreciated. Dress can be informal but should respect the conventions of Islam when visiting religious monuments, ie shoulders and knees must be covered. Outside tourist resorts, scanty beachwear should not be worn.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The national airline is Tunis Air (TU) (website: www.tunisair.com).

Departure Tax
None.

Main Airports
Tunis (TUN) (Carthage International) is 8km (5 miles) northeast of the city (journey time - 15 to 30 minutes). To/from the airport: An airport-city coach and buses are available. Return is from Hotel Africa Meridien (city air terminal). Taxis are available; a surcharge is levied at night. Facilities: Duty-free shop, banks/bureau de change, restaurant and car hire.

Monastir (MIR) (Skanes) is 8km (5 miles) west of the city. To/from the airport: Buses are available to the city center.

Tozeur (TOE) (Nefta) is 10km (6 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: Taxis are available at all the airports. Facilities: All the above airports have bars, restaurants, both incoming and outgoing duty-free shops, bank and car hire.

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Tunisia has seven major ports.

SNCM (Ferry Terranée) (tel: (8) 2588 8088; website: www.sncm.fr) runs ferry services from France and Italy to Tunisia. The major routes are Marseilles- Tunis (journey time - 23 hours) and Genoa-Tunis (journey time - 23 hours).

A hydrofoil service is available from Sicily between May and September.

Costa Cruises (website: www.costacruises.com) offer summer cruises from Savoa to Tunisia.

Getting There by Road
Theoretically, there are several points of entry by road from Algeria, normally served by buses and long-distance taxis: Annaba (in Algeria) to Tabarka (following the coast road); Souk Ahras (in Algeria) to Ghardimaou and El Oued (Algeria) to Gafsa. However, political unrest means that it is difficult for tourists to cross the border. Entry by road from Libya is via the coast road at Gabès, via Ben Gardane and Ras Ajdir.

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Tunisia by anyone, irrespective of age, without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g of tobacco; 1l of alcoholic beverages; a reasonable quantity of perfume; gifts up to a value of TD100.

The export of antiques is subject to a permit from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Pets must have a health certificate from the Veterinary authorities, stating they are free from any diseases.

Firearms (unless for hunting), explosives, narcotics, walkie-talkies, obscene publications, any other items which may be regarded as dangerous to public security, health, morality and so on.

Internal Travel:

Introduction
Travelers to Port el Kantaoui are advised to take the train to Sousse, and travel the remaining 7km (4 miles) by taxi. For Monastir they should change in Sousse for the Metro Leger. For Jerba, they should take the train to Gabès and then the shuttle-bus.

Getting Around By Air
Tuninter runs regular services seven to eight times a day between Tunis and Djerba airports (flight time - approximately one hour). There is a daily flight to Sfax from Tunis Tuesday to Friday, with two flights on Monday. There are flights to Tozeur on most weekdays. Tuninter is represented internationally by Tunis Air (tel: (020) 7734 7644). Prices are reasonable and services are normally heavily subscribed, so it is advisable to book ahead.

Getting Around by Water
Ferries operate between Sfax and the Kerkennah Islands twice daily, and between Jorf and Jerba Island regularly during the day.

Getting Around by Rail
Regular trains (run by SNCFT) connect Tunis with major towns. The main route is between Tunis and Gabès, via Sousse, Sfax and Gafsa. It is essential to purchase a ticket before boarding the train or double the fare may be charged. Several daily trains run on each route, many with air-conditioned accommodation and a buffet. The superb views of the Selja Gorge can be seen from the Lezard Rouge (Red Lizard), a restored old-fashioned train that runs daily between Metaloui and Redeyef. It is highly advisable to book in advance, if possible, especially for the more popular air-conditioned routes.

Getting Around by Road
Tunisia has an extensive road network. In case of breakdown, the Garde Nationale (National Guard) will assist free of charge (they usually contact the nearest garage). Traffic drives on the right. Bus: The green and yellow colored national buses, run by SNTRI, are air conditioned and travel daily to most towns across the country. Other services include the intercity buses which are cheap and reasonably comfortable. The destination is written in French and Arabic on the front of the bus. Passengers are allowed 10kg of luggage without additional charge. Each piece of luggage must, however, be registered. Taxi: Long-distance taxis (usually large Mercedes or similar), called louages, are authorized to carry five passengers. They have no fixed schedule and leave their respective departure points when full. They serve the whole of Tunisia. This is the quickest form of public road transport. There are many louage stations and prices are similar to those of buses and trains. Car hire: This can be very expensive. To rent a self-drive car, the driver must be over 21 years of age. A full driving license, which has been valid for at least one year, is acceptable. Speed limits: 50kph (30mph) in towns; 110kph (60mph) on major highways. Documentation: Log books, valid national driving licenses and insurance are essential. Both the AA and RAC are affiliated to the National Automobile Club (NACT) based in Tunis. Insurance valid for up to 21 days can be purchased at the border.

Note
For safety reasons, it is forbidden to drive a car in the Sahara without first contacting the National Guard post at the nearest town, giving the planned itinerary and the expected point of exit from the area. Full provisions, a suitable vehicle and an experienced guide are necessary for any travel in the Sahara.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
A suburban train line (TGM) links Tunis with the northern suburbs. Tunis and Sousse also have a modern and convenient tram system (métro léger). Taxi: Within Tunis and other cities, city taxis are numbered and have meters. The price on the meter is what you should pay. There is a 50 per cent surcharge on night fares. Bicycle: Bicycles and motorcycles are available for hire in most major towns and do not require a license.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Tunis to other major cities/towns in Tunisia.

	Air	Road	Rail
Monastir	0.35	3.00	3.00
Sfax	0.50	4.00	4.00
DJerba	0.60	7.00	-
Tozeur	1.10	6.00	-

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