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Tunisia
AfricaNorthern Africa
164 Thousand km²
Quick Facts
Capital
Tunis
Area
163,610 km²
Language
Arabic & French
Currency
Tunisian Dinar (TND)
Calling Code
+216
Drives On
Right
Internet
.tn
Timezone
CET (UTC+1)
Script
Arabic & Latin
Government
Presidential Republic
Independence
1956
Map tiles by CARTO. Data by OpenStreetMap.
Tunisia packs an absurd amount of history into the smallest country in North Africa. Carthage, the civilization that nearly destroyed Rome and sent Hannibal and his elephants across the Alps, was founded here in 814 BCE. The ruins sit in a Tunis suburb now, looking out at the same Mediterranean that Phoenician ships once dominated. Two thousand years of layered history - Punic, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, French - are visible in a single afternoon's drive.
The modern country is a study in pleasant surprises. It's where the Arab Spring began in 2010, where Star Wars' Tatooine got its name from the real town of Tataouine, and where you can ski in the morning and swim in the Mediterranean by afternoon. The food is North African with a French accent - brik pastry, harissa that can melt steel, and couscous served with fish along the coast. At 163,000 square kilometers it's compact enough to cross in a day, but varied enough to keep you busy for weeks.
Largest Cities in Tunisia
1
Tunis
Capital with a UNESCO-listed medina, French colonial new town, and the ruins of Carthage in its northern suburbs
2,700,000
2
Sfax
Tunisia's economic capital and second city, a major olive oil producer with a well-preserved medina
330,000
3
Sousse
Coastal resort city with a UNESCO-listed medieval medina and the nearby ruins of El Djem's amphitheater
275,000
4
Kairouan
Fourth holiest city in Islam, founded in 670 CE, home to the Great Mosque - a masterpiece of Islamic architecture
186,000
5
Bizerte
Northernmost city in Africa, a charming port town with a canal, old harbor, and nearby pristine beaches
160,000
6
Gabes
Oasis city on the Mediterranean coast, the only seaside oasis in the Mediterranean basin
130,000
Famous People from Tunisia
Hannibal Barca
PoliticsCarthaginian general who marched elephants across the Alps to invade Rome, considered one of history's greatest military strategists
Ibn Khaldun
ScienceBorn in Tunis in 1332, his Muqaddimah is widely considered the first work of historiography and modern sociology
Habib Bourguiba
PoliticsFather of Tunisian independence and the country's first president, modernized education and expanded women's rights
Ons Jabeur
SportFirst Arab and African woman to reach a Grand Slam tennis final, reached world No. 2 ranking
Claudia Cardinale
FilmInternational film star born in La Goulette, Tunis, appeared in classics like The Leopard and Once Upon a Time in the West
Dido
PoliticsLegendary founder and first queen of Carthage in 814 BCE, one of the most famous figures of ancient Mediterranean history
Oussama Mellouli
SportWon Olympic gold in the 1,500m freestyle (2008) and 10km marathon swimming (2012), Tunisia's greatest Olympian
Abou el Kacem Chebbi
LiteratureNational poet whose verse 'If the people will to live, destiny must respond' became the anthem of the Arab Spring
Traditional Cuisine of Tunisia
Couscous
Tunisia's national dish, steamed semolina served with lamb, vegetables, and spicy broth - every family has their own recipe
Brik
Paper-thin pastry folded around a whole egg, tuna, capers, and harissa, deep-fried until golden and shatteringly crispy
Harissa
Fiery chili paste made from dried hot peppers, garlic, and spices - Tunisia's national condiment, added to virtually everything
Lablabi
Hearty chickpea soup served over torn bread with olive oil, cumin, and a soft egg, a beloved winter street breakfast
Ojja
Eggs poached in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce with merguez sausage, Tunisia's answer to shakshuka
Mechouia
Smoky salad of grilled peppers, tomatoes, and onions, mashed together with olive oil and capers
Fricasse
Deep-fried sandwich stuffed with tuna, egg, olives, harissa, and potato - the ultimate Tunisian street food
Bambalouni
Ring-shaped doughnuts fried to order and coated in sugar, eaten warm on the beach or in the medina
Nature & Landmarks in Tunisia
Sahara Desert
DesertThe southern third of Tunisia stretches into the Sahara, with towering sand dunes at the Grand Erg Oriental
Ichkeul National Park
National ParkUNESCO World Heritage wetland and the last remaining lake in a chain that once stretched across North Africa
Chott el Jerid
DesertLargest salt lake in the Sahara, a shimmering flat expanse that produces spectacular mirages in the heat
Dougga
LandmarkBest-preserved Roman small town in North Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a stunning hilltop setting
Cap Bon
CoastFertile peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean, famous for vineyards, citrus groves, and sandy beaches
Atlas Mountains
MountainThe eastern end of the Atlas range crosses northwestern Tunisia, with pine forests and cool highland villages
El Djem Amphitheater
LandmarkThird largest Roman amphitheater ever built, rising improbably from a small Tunisian town, still used for concerts today
Matmata
LandmarkBerber village of underground troglodyte houses carved into soft rock, used as Luke Skywalker's home in Star Wars
Sports in Tunisia
Football
Africa Cup of Nations champions (2004) and regular World Cup qualifiers, the Eagles of Carthage punch above their weight
Handball
Multiple African championship titles and a strong World Championship presence, one of the top handball nations in Africa
Swimming
Oussama Mellouli won two Olympic gold medals, establishing Tunisia as a force in open water and distance swimming
Athletics
Growing tradition in middle-distance running with Mohamed Sghaier Ouadie and emerging track talent
Did You Know?
1
The Star Wars planet Tatooine is named after the real Tunisian town of Tataouine, and multiple films were shot across southern Tunisia
2
Carthage was founded in 814 BCE - over 600 years before Rome became an empire - and nearly conquered Rome under Hannibal
3
The Arab Spring that swept across the Middle East and North Africa in 2011 started in Tunisia in December 2010
4
El Djem's amphitheater could seat 35,000 spectators and is the third largest Roman amphitheater ever built, after Rome and Capua
5
Tunisia produces over 340,000 tonnes of olive oil per year, making it one of the world's top five producers
6
The Bardo Museum in Tunis holds the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics
7
Kairouan is considered the fourth holiest city in Islam, and seven pilgrimages here were once said to equal one to Mecca
8
Matmata's underground Berber houses maintain a constant temperature year-round, a brilliant adaptation to the desert climate
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