Tunisia Travel Guide

Tunisia — Shopping

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Shopping

Special purchases include copper and brassware (engraved trays, ashtrays and other utensils), articles sculpted in olive wood, leather goods (wallets, purses, handbags), clothing (kaftans, jelabas), perfume oils, vibrantly painted pottery and ceramics, silver and enamelled jewelry and sheeshas (water pipes). Rugs and carpets are a good buy. The two major types are woven (non-pile) and knotted (pile). Look out for traditional Berber pieces, called alloucha. The quality of all carpets is strictly controlled by the National Handicrafts Office, and a label attached to the carpet shows its quality seal and grading.

The medinas of Tunisia’s larger towns, such as Tunis, Sousse and Sfax, are great places to buy Tunisian crafts, with an amazing range, but you will have to haggle. If you prefer not to enter the fray, there are Société de Commercialization des Produits de l’Artisinat (SOCOPA; website: www.socopa.com.tn) workshops and stores throughout the country where visitors can buy items at fixed prices.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1300 and 1700-2000, Sat 0800-1200 (summer); Mon-Fri 0900-1230 and 1430-1800, Sat 0800-1200 (winter).

Currency

Tunisian Dinar (TND) = 1,000 millimes. Notes are in denominations of TND30, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of TND5 and 1, and 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 millimes.

Currency Exchange

All banks change money. They may require your receipt for traveler's checks and will want to see your passport. Post offices change cash only.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Credit cards (mainly MasterCard and Visa) are accepted in a few places in major resorts and towns. American Express and Diners Club are accepted in few places in tourist areas. There are ATMs in most towns and every tourist resort.

Travelers Checks

Readily cashed in banks and the usual authorized establishments; the most convenient currencies are Euros or US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, but the amount exported must not exceed that declared upon arrival.