Tourism is well developed in Tunisia, although maybe not quite at par with other countries in Northern Africa, like Egypt and perhaps even Morocco.

Map of Africa   ♦   Hotels in Tunisia

Tunisia is the northernmost country on the African continent. It totals 163,600 sq. km., and is the smallest of the nations along the Atlas mountain range. Around 40% of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, while much of the the rest consists of fertile soil and over 1,200 kilometer coastline towards the Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia is located midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile Valley. It is bordered by Algeria in the west and Libya in the south-east. An abrupt southern turn of its shoreline gives Tunisia two faces on the Mediterranean.

The capital of Tunisia is Tunis, with around 1.3 million inhabitants in the city and 3 million in the urbanized area. Tunis is located largely by the Mediterranean Sea, behind the Lake of Tunis and the port of La Goulette, the city extends along the coastal plain and hills that surround it. In the center of the city lies the Old Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The medina contains some 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains dating from the Almohad and Hafsid periods. Among the ancient buildings are: the Great Mosque; Aghlabid Ez-Zitouna Mosque, built in 723; the Dar-al-Bey Palace; and the tenth century palace of Ziadib-Allah II al Aghlab. The ruins of Carthage are nearby, along the coast to the northeast, the old capital of the Carthaginian Empire, with many ancient ruins.

Tourism is well developed in Tunisia, although maybe not quite at par with other countries in Northern Africa, like Egypt and perhaps even Morocco. Hotel star ratings are not up to European or US standard and a 4 star hotel is more likely the equivalent to a 3 star compared with international standards. Well known seaside areas include Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet, Nabeul, Djerba and Tabarka, places that offer visitors the finest sand, and crystal clear water and many choices of waterfront hotels.

There are several ways to enjoy a vacation in Tunisia, including spending it on the gorgeous Mediterranean beaches, or planning a circuit of Tunisia. Numerous charter flight companies can arrange package holiday tours. There are also some travel agencies that have ongoing tours for groups and private travelers.

Tunisia's main international airport for scheduled flights is Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN) near Tunis. Its second airport is Habib Bourguiba, Skanes-Monastir (MIR) which is served by low cost charter flights from all over Europe. Monastir is nearer to most of the holiday destinations. Other international airports include Tozeur and Djerba.