Tunisia - media.lonelyplanet.com · Tunisia Highlights. 1. Kick back in gorgeous bougainvillea-clad...
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Why Go? It’s but a slim wedge of North Africa’s vast expanse, but Tu- nisia has enough history, cultural diversity and extremes of landscape to fill a country many times its size. With a sand- fringed, jasmine-scented coast, it’s a destination usually equated with Mediterranean sun holidays. But get beyond the beaches and you’ll find stunning Roman sites, forested hinterland, Saharan dunes and mountain oases, all of which can be experienced in a few days. The country’s tourist sector has struggled mightily since the historic Jasmine Revolution of 2011. Isolated incidents of instability grab international headlines, but it’s essentially business as usual. Tunis, the capital, continues to offer an enthralling mix of tradition and modernity, Islamic serenity and seaside hedonism. Surprisingly, while much of the tour- ist industry founders, there’s a number of new guesthouses and small hotels popping up throughout the country. Now, more than ever, Tunisians will welcome you with open arms. Tunisia 216 / POP 10.67 MILLION When to Go Mar–May Explore Roman ruins and hike the wildflower-strewn countryside. Jun–Sep Balmy beach frolics and music festivals. Nov–Jan The Saharan south’s high season. F D N O S A J J M A M J Tunis °C/°F Temp 0/32 10/50 20/68 30/86 40/104 Rainfall inches/mm 0 4/100 8/200 12/300 16/400 20/500 Best Places to Eat ¨ Dar Slah (p170) ¨ Au Bon Vieux Temps (p171) ¨ Patisserie Segni (p175) ¨ Saffoud Abid (p181) ¨ Bougainvillea (p189) Best Places to Stay ¨ La Chambre Bleue (p169) ¨ Dar Fatma (p171) ¨ Dar Gaïa (p189) ¨ Dar Nejma (p183) ¨ Camping Desert Club (p186) Tunis ......................... 166 Tabarka ....................... 172 Le Kef .......................... 173 Dougga ....................... 174 Kairouan ..................... 175 Mahdia ........................ 178 El-Jem ......................... 179 Sfax ............................. 179 Tozeur .........................182 Douz........................... 184 Matmata .................... 186 Jerba & Houmt Souq .......................... 186 ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Transcript of Tunisia - media.lonelyplanet.com · Tunisia Highlights. 1. Kick back in gorgeous bougainvillea-clad...
Why Go?It’s but a slim wedge of North Africa’s vast expanse, but Tu-nisia has enough history, cultural diversity and extremes of landscape to fill a country many times its size. With a sand-fringed, jasmine-scented coast, it’s a destination usually equated with Mediterranean sun holidays. But get beyond the beaches and you’ll find stunning Roman sites, forested hinterland, Saharan dunes and mountain oases, all of which can be experienced in a few days.
The country’s tourist sector has struggled mightily since the historic Jasmine Revolution of 2011. Isolated incidents of instability grab international headlines, but it’s essentially business as usual. Tunis, the capital, continues to offer an enthralling mix of tradition and modernity, Islamic serenity and seaside hedonism. Surprisingly, while much of the tour-ist industry founders, there’s a number of new guesthouses and small hotels popping up throughout the country. Now, more than ever, Tunisians will welcome you with open arms.
Tunisia216 / POP 10.67 MILLION
When to Go
Mar–May Explore Roman ruins and hike the wildflower-strewn countryside.
Jun–Sep Balmy beach frolics and music festivals.
Nov–Jan The Saharan south’s high season.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Tunis°C/°F Temp
0/32
10/50
20/68
30/86
40/104
Rainfall inches/mm
0
4/100
8/200
12/300
16/400
20/500
Best Places to Eat¨¨ Dar Slah (p170)
¨¨ Au Bon Vieux Temps (p171)
¨¨ Patisserie Segni (p175)
¨¨ Saffoud Abid (p181)
¨¨ Bougainvillea (p189)
Best Places to Stay¨¨ La Chambre Bleue (p169)
¨¨ Dar Fatma (p171)
¨¨ Dar Gaïa (p189)
¨¨ Dar Nejma (p183)
¨¨ Camping Desert Club (p186)
Tunis ......................... 166Tabarka ....................... 172Le Kef ..........................173Dougga ....................... 174Kairouan ..................... 175Mahdia ........................178El-Jem .........................179Sfax .............................179Tozeur .........................182Douz........................... 184Matmata .................... 186Jerba & Houmt Souq .......................... 186
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia H
igH
LigH
TS
165
M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A
GabèsGulf of
HammametGulf of
Gulf of Tunis
SEA
Chott el-Fejej
MEDITERRANEAN
el-JeridChott
el-KhadraBorj
al-JedirRas
Babouch
Wazin
SoltaneKsar Ouled
TamerzaChebika
Douiret
Souq
Chenini
Makthar
Meknassy
El-Fahs
Rebaa
Aïn-Beida
Nalut
Ajim
Zaafrane
Tebersouk
KhasbaKalaa
Medenine
Annaba
TUNIS
Jendouba
Nefta
Kebili
Douz
Gabès
Matmata El-Jorf
Ghomrassen
Remada
TataouineGuerdane
Ben
Zarzis
Houmt
Sfax
Gafsa
MahdiaEl-Jem
MonastirSousse
Kairouan
SbeitlaKasserine
Tébessa
Souq Ahras
Ain Draham
Tabarka
Zaghouan HammametNabeul
Kélibia
El HaouariaMateur
Bizerte
Mountains
Kroumirie
Mountains
Tebersouk
(1163m)Jebel Biada
(1544m)Chambi
Jebel
IslandsKerkennah
D o r s a l e
FarinaCap
Cap BlancCap Serrat
Dahar
Jebel
OrientalGrand Erg
BonCap
A L G E R I A
L I B Y A
ALGERIA
AirportHammamet
Enfidha-
Bulla Regia
Dougga
Raqqada
Bardo
SaïdSidi Bou
JerbaTozeur
Le Kef
0 100 km0 60 miles Tunisia
Highlights1 Kick back in gorgeous bougainvillea-clad village Sidi Bou Saïd (p171), with its nonstop views of the intensely blue gulf of Tunis.
2 Take in the splendour of Roman Africa, the mysteries of Carthage and the elegance of islamic decoration all in one museum at Tunis’ Bardo (p167).
3 Find desert-island bliss on Jerba (p186), with date palms, white-sand beaches, evocative architecture and ancient cultural traditions.
4 Sip mint tea in the cool of an enchanting palmeraie in Tozeur (p182), a bustling southern oasis.
5 Slow down and experience traditional Tunisian life in Le Kef (p173), against a spectacular natural backdrop.
