Tunisia holidays

Things to do

Explore your destination

Here’s a little taste of what’s on offer. For more excursion ideas, speak to your Holiday Advisor.

Tunisian Desert Explorer
Whether you want to stop by the Troglodyte hotel, which was used as a Star Wars film set, or wander in the sandaled footsteps of a Roman centurion, there’s a two-day safari for you. Whichever you choose, you’ll see pretty oasis villages and the Sahara Desert’s golden dunes.

Bedouin Feast
A touch of the exotic, get ready to tuck into a delicious Bedouin feast, complete with fakirs (magicians), belly dancers, musicians and, of course, couscous.

Golf
Whether you fancy yourself the next Tiger Woods or just enjoy the companionship of the green, Tunisia’s a great spot for golf. Not only does the yearly average 300 days of sunshine make rain delays unlikely, but there are loads of courses to choose from.

Highlights

• Visiting the must-see World Heritage site of Carthage, on your Tunisian holiday, an ancient Roman city with baths from the reign of Roman Emperor Antoninus, ports and an amphitheatre
• Locating the lunar landscape settings of the Star Wars films on your holiday in Tunisia, with trips to Tozeur and Matmata
• Wandering around Tunis Medina, a World Heritage site with winding streets filled with history, souvenir shops and markets; a real contrast to this capital city’s modern quarter
• Swinging into action on holiday in Tunisia, hitting some of the country’s best fairways at Port El Kantaoui, Tabarka and Hammamet
• Seeing priceless mosaics at Bardo Museum, in Tunis, which has one of the world’s largest collections of 3rd and 4th century mosaics
• Discovering where gladiators battled to the death, watched by 30,000 spectators, at the world’s third largest Roman Colosseum
• Getting close to the animals at Friguia Zoo, between Sousse and Hammamet, it’s great fun for the whole family; residents include giraffes, monkeys and lions
• Viewing the beautiful salt lakes in Chott el Jerid, where salt crystals sit on the surface of this extremely dry area
• Haqgling for a bargain in the souks to take home from your Tunisian holiday, one street worth visiting for some retail therapy is Rue Djamaa Ez-Zitouna, in Tunis.
• Doing a spot of diving in Hammamet and Cap Bon and discover old shipwrecks and brightly coloured fish darting through the water

Food and drink

The country’s national dish, couscous is eaten regularly for lunch and dinner, served with vegetables, lamb, poultry or fish.

Tunisia’s other top feast is harissa: red chilli sauce, which is very spicy made from crushed red peppers, garlic and spices, and eaten with meat and, of course, the ever-present couscous.

Whether you’ve got a sweet or savoury tooth, Briq is a popular pastry, filled with anything from eggs, chicken and potatoes to almonds and honey.

To wash down its delicious dishes, Tunisia has plenty of local tipples, such as mint tea, coffee, Celtia beer and good locally produced wines: the rosé is particularly refreshing.

Evening Flavour

If you fancy a night on the tiles, Hammamet is the best place to go, with its choice of open-air nightclubs. If you’d rather relax over a meal and a few drinks, Sousse’s restaurants and cafes are just the ticket.

For a more laid-back vibe, head to Port El Kantaoui for a stroll along the marina, something to eat and drink in the cafes and restaurants and fantastic scenery.

Monastir also has a beautiful marina, with bars and restaurants offering refreshment; the perfect way to wind down after a day on the beach or wandering the souks.

Shopping

Souvenir shopping is a big part of any holiday in Tunisia, whether you’re in the markets, souvenir shops or Socopas, which are government-run shops selling items at reasonable prices.

Big sellers include small, red felt hats, called Chechias, spices, gold jewellery, perfume, leather goods, sandals, essential oils, perfume, pottery, sheesha pipes and, of course, rugs and carpets. Grab yourself a great deal at the souks, market places where you can practice your haggling skills, enjoy the banter and, hopefully, walk away with a bargain.

Dates for the Diary

The religious event of Ramadan takes place between 2 September and 2 October, when most Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, so some bars and restaurants may be closed outside of the tourist areas.

For the Family

• Strap on your sandals and visit the largest colosseum in North Africa at El Diem. In its heyday this colosseum held 35,000 spectators - almost as many as White Hart Lane today
  
• Tuck into some couscous and dance to the music at a Bedouin feast.
  
• See the sands of the Sahara Desert from the back of a camel on a one-humped ride.

Information

Language: Arabic and French. Currency: Tunisian Dinar. Standard GMT: +1hr. Tunisian Tourist Office: 77a Wigmore Street, London W1H 9LJ. Tel: 020 7224 5561. www.cometotunisia.co.uk

Travel money

Dinar

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.