Tunisia flag

Tunisia

History

Phoenicians founded Carthage, which became a Mediterranean power.
Rome destroyed Carthage and made Africa a province.
Kairouan was founded and became an early centre of Islam in the Maghreb.
France imposed a protectorate.
Independence came on 20 March under Habib Bourguiba.
The uprising that began the Arab Spring ended Ben Ali's rule.
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CapitalTunis
Population12M
Area164k km2
CurrencyTunisian dinar

Short facts

RegionNorth Africa / Maghreb
LanguageArabic
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Carthage: Punic and Roman remains above the Gulf of Tunis, a UNESCO site.
  • El Jem: A Roman amphitheatre that held some 35,000 spectators.
  • Medina of Tunis: Souks and madrasas around the Zitouna mosque, a UNESCO site.

Find a city in Tunisia

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Planning questions

What is Tunisia known for?Carthage, El Jem, Medina of Tunis.
What is the capital?Tunis.
Which language is useful?Arabic.
When is the national day?20 March.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Tunis as the first planning anchor for Tunisia, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

CarthageEl JemMedina of TunisTunisStreet foodCoffee
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