| Northern Tunisia | |
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| State | Tunisia |
|---|---|
Northern Tunisia is a region of the Tunisia.
To know
Geographical notes
The Tunisian north is made up of three areas that are very different from a geographical point of view and from tourist attractions.
The coast, to the north and east, is the object of mass tourism, mainly focused on the beach, the sea and the sun. The corresponding sites, Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir, in the Sahel, or Bizerte is Tabarka, on the northern coast, have no particular originality, compared to equivalent sites in the rest of the Mediterranean (coast of Languedoc, France, Costa del Sol, Spain, Southern Turkey, etc.)
The mountains (Atlas Tellien, Kroumirie), in the north-west of the country, are little frequented and have only a weak tourist infrastructure. They offer the characteristic landscapes of the Mediterranean massifs of low altitudes.
The hinterland, occupied by semi-desert steppes, only attracts travelers interested in heritage. Among the main sites, we can mention Thugga, an ancient Roman city, with many fairly well-preserved vestiges, or Al-Kairouan, which offers an Islamic heritage of primary importance. Finally, the city of Tunis it is a must for those who really want to get to know Tunisia.
When to go
The climate of northern Tunisia is Mediterranean. The winters are mild, the summers are hot and dry and the seasons are dwindling. Summer is not necessarily the best time to visit the area. If, on the coast, the influence of sea temperatures alters slightly, while they can quickly become difficult to resist indoors.
Territories and tourist destinations
Northern Tunisia: full screen map.Urban centers
- Tunis (تونس) -
The quiet capital of Tunisia from which it is easy to visit the remains of Carthage. - Bizerte (بنزرت Bizerte) - Coastal city 65 km northwest of the capital.
- El Jem (الجمّ, Il-jām) — Known for its amphitheater; one of the best preserved in the world.
- El Kef (الكاف) - Byzantine and Ottoman architecture in this small town in the northwest.
- Hammamet (حمامات) - Tourist and seaside resort. In Italy it is famous for being the residence of Bettino Craxi where he died and is buried there.
- Kélibia (قليبية, Qalibya) - Coastal city with a fort.
- La Goulette (حلق الوادي) - Coastal town located 10 km from Tunis, of which it is the outer port.
- La Marsa (المرسى, Il-Marṣā) - Tunisian town located 18 km northeast of Tunis.
- Mahdia (المهدية, Al-Mahdīya) - former Tunisian capital.
- Monastir (مـنسـتير, Monāstīr / Mīstīr) - Historic city dating back to the Phoenician era. It has a secondary airport used mainly for charter flights.
- Port El Kantaoui (مرسى القنطاوي) - Popular tourist center located 10 km north of Sousse.
- Sidi Bou Said (سيدي بو سعيد, Sīdi Bū Sɛīd) - Picturesque seaside town with white houses with blue doors and windows, located 20 km from the capital.
- Susa (سوسة Sousse) - Tourist and seaside resort. Its medina is part of the heritages ofUNESCO.
- Tabarka (طبرقة, Tbarqa) - Tourist and seaside resort and ancient Phoenician / Roman port city near the border with theAlgeria to the northwest.
- al-Kairouan (القيروان Kairouan) — Holy city, destination of Islamic pilgrimages and heritage ofUNESCO.
The quiet capital of Tunisia from which it is easy to visit the remains of Carthage.Other destinations
- Bulla Regia (بولا ريجيا) - Roman archaeological site with several buildings still standing and beautiful mosaics.
- Carthage — Remains of the Phoenician capital not far from Tunis; one of the assets ofUNESCO most important in the country.
- Kerkouane (كركوان, Karkwān) — Almost intact remains of a Punic settlement that is part of theUNESCO.
- Thuburbo Majus
- Thugga (دڨة, Doggā) - Impressive archaeological site of a remote Roman city.
- Uthina (أوذنة, Oudna) - Roman archaeological site with a beautiful theater.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Tunis-Carthage Airport (8 km from the center of Tunis). The Tunis-Carthage airport is served by numerous flights from France. Tunisair is the national airline, leader of flights between France and Tunisia. Its flights are almost always delayed, ranging from one hour to ten hours.
- 2 Monastir-Habib Bourguiba Airport (مطار الحبيب بورقيبة الدولي, IATA: MIR).
- 3 Enfida-Hammamet Airport (مطار النفيضة الحمامات الدولي, IATA: NBE).
By car
From the central Tunisian coast, Tunis and the Sahel are accessible from the A1 motorway, in good condition, but very busy. The steppe zone is reached by the RN 2 road, with a good quality but narrow road used by many vehicles.
There are connections with the ports of Sicily from Tunis and from Susa.
How to get around
By car
The roads are in good condition, with the exception of the mountain roads which are often under construction and have numerous potholes. The indications are generally bilingual Arabic-French. Respect for the highway code by Tunisians is very relative. Buses, in particular, travel at excessive speeds and do not hesitate to overtake cars in dangerous conditions. As in all countries where this type of transport exists, collective taxis (rentals) stop everywhere without notice. It is advisable to follow them with extreme caution.
In the city, traffic and parking are practically impossible. Also, there aren't too many road signs. Vehicles, especially two-wheelers, do not hesitate to use prohibited paths and pavements. It is therefore preferable to use taxis for urban travel.
It is easy to rent a car. Most major rental companies have a counter at Tunis-Carthage Airport, with the exception of Avis.
From Tunis several highways depart. The A3 connects the west of the country and there is a toll of 3.30 dinars (Nov 2019) if covered entirely. The A1 connects the east and follows the course of the coast overcoming Sfax, and continuing south. The toll from Hammamet in Tunis it costs 1.40 dinars (Nov 2019), while that between Susa and Hammamet 2 dinars (Nov 2019).
By taxi
Taxis are a very convenient means of transport in large cities, especially in Tunis, where traffic is very dense. They are very numerous and their drivers know the cities in which they operate. On the other hand, not everyone speaks French very well. Traditional taxis are yellow. In the city, taxis parked near hotels and tourist sites are generally more expensive than those stopped on the street. It is often advantageous to take a few steps on foot.
What see
- 1 Zaghouan aqueduct (Aqueduct of Carthage) (25 km south of Tunis next to the DJRN3). The aqueduct of the first half of the 2nd century BC it measured 132 km and carried water to Carthage and it probably ended up in one of the cisterns on the site as well. The name of the aqueduct derives from Zaghouan, the city from which the waters were captured.
- 2 Abandoned tanks (30 km west of Hammamet. Quad tours from Hammamet pass through here. The last 2 km of the route are in poor condition. If you go by car, be careful and consider leaving your car and walking the last 2km before getting stuck.). In this semi-desert area there are three abandoned tanks, perhaps from the Second World War or linked to the colonial period.
Sebkha
- 3 Sebkhet de Sidi El Hani (accessible from the RN 12 and RR 87 roads). The sebkhet of Sidi El Hani is a chott, a temporary salt lake, bordered by olive groves.
- 4 Sebkha Kelbia. A periodic lake which is also a protected natural site.
- 5 Sebka of Moknine. Salt lake not far from Mahdia.
What to do
Diving
The Tunisian coast offers numerous diving sites.
- 1 Tabarka. Scuba diving on the coral coast of northwestern Tunisia.
- 2 Sidi Mechrig.
- 3 Teskraya.
- 4 Ghar el Melh.
- 5 Menzel Horr.
- 6 Bou Ficha.
- 7 El Kantaoui.
At the table
Safety
It is highly recommended not to leave valuables in hotel rooms as thefts are the order of the day. Furthermore, it is always necessary to check the currency that is returned, in a hotel or restaurant, as "errors" are numerous and frequent.
