Tunisia Dinar – TND

There are several countries in the world that use a form of the dinar as their currency. These include Algeria, Jordan and of course Tunisia. The dinar used here has 1,000 subunits called millimes. This is the plural for milim.

What coins and notes are available for this currency?

There are lots of coins in use here, denominated into both millimes and dinars. The milim coins are available as 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 milim coins. There are another four coins used as dinars, which are the ½, 1, 2 and 5 dinar coins.

Aside from this you can also use four banknotes that are all denominated as dinar notes. These are the 5, 10, 20 and 50 dinar notes.

From past to present – the history of the dinar

You can date this particular dinar back to 1958 although it did not come into use officially in circulation until 1960. Before this the country used the franc and when the new currency was brought in it was worth 1,000 of the old francs. The dinar was then valued and pegged to the US dollar.

How to get hold of the Tunisian dinar

There is one thing you need to be aware of to begin with here – the Tunisian dinar is not available anywhere outside of Tunisia. This means you will be unable to order any currency in advance of your trip to this country. The good news is you won’t have any issues getting hold of it when you get there. The Tunisian authorities are incredibly strict about their currency which is why you cannot get it anywhere else. It is also against the law to export their currency, even the smallest amount. There have been some cases where people have taken this law rather casually and assumed that taking home a few coins would be okay. This is not the case – you are not allowed to take home even one coin. Many officials at the airport will stop people to search them and see if they have any coins or currency on them. In short – don’t take a chance, even if it means giving any excess cash to someone who has just arrived for their holiday!

You can get cash out at cash machines and banks so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your dinars. Alternatively you can pay for goods with a credit card but you should remember to notify your card issuer in advance that you are making the trip to Tunisia. This will minimise the odds of having your card stopped simply because you have tried to use it abroad. This might be assumed to be fraudulent and that’s the last thing you want when you are relying on it to make payment.

How to find out the latest exchange rate between your home currency and the Tunisian dinar

A currency converter is the best tool to have on your side in this respect. Just select your own currency and find the Tunisian dinar by typing in TND to locate it as quickly as possible. This should enable you to get the information you need.

If you need to find out a bit more about Tunisia it is definitely worth visiting the website for the Embassy of Tunisia in London. This can be found at http://www.at-londres.diplomatie.gov.tn/.

Travelling safely with Tunisian dinars

The majority of the country is safe to visit but it is advisable to check the latest information as provided by the UK government prior to making any trip to Tunisia. The areas near the borders with Libya and Algeria, along with much of the southern part of the country, are generally not advisable to visit unless you have very good reason to go there. Furthermore there is a small area to the west of the country that is not advisable to visit. The rest of the country including its capital is relatively safe but do check the latest details.

Crime is a problem insofar as petty crimes occur from time to time. They are not rife but they do happen and the best bet is often to minimise the chances that you will be affected. For example split up your valuables and cash so you don’t lose everything if that one pocket is picked or your bag is taken. Keep an eye on your bag or valuables at all times so you are aware of them. For the most part criminals do tend to pick the easiest targets so by making sure you are not one of them you will minimise the odds of being affected.

Where to spend your dinars in Tunisia – and what to spend them on

In case you didn’t already know Tunisia is in Northern Africa. It is a relatively small country bordered by two significantly larger countries – Algeria to the west and Libya to the south-east. The rest of its borders face the Mediterranean Sea, which is one of the main reasons why this country is a well-known one among sun-loving holidaymakers.

The capital of Tunisia is the appropriately named Tunis. It can be found in the north of the country near the coast, and it has a long history stretching way back into the past. Some signs of this history still stand today and this alone makes a trip to Tunis well worth the effort. A trip out to the Lake of Tunis nearby will enable you to see this naturally occurring lagoon that looks set to become a major tourist destination thanks to further investment. Another option is to see the Bardo Museum. This is home to a large collection of Roman mosaics that are in quite stunning condition, especially when you consider how old they are.

Make sure you see the Medina too, as this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Medina of Tunis boasts hundreds of monuments of all kinds including the Great Mosque. This is quite the history lesson as you will see when you take the time to wander round the area. The Medina Alleys offer a great experience too as they are chock-full of sellers and their wares. Indeed Tunis is a superb place to go for those who want the full experience of the souks, the busy streets that offer a wide selection of goods of all kinds.

Elsewhere in the country you have the option to try travelling by camel across the Sahara Desert. It’s a famous image, isn’t it? Well, you can try it for real if you are up for the experience. There are plenty of experiences to be had in this part of the world including a trip to the so-called Blue and White Village. This is better known to the masses as Sidi Bou Said and the village offers a true blue and white experience everywhere you look. It provides a refreshing way to see another part of Tunisia, and it certainly provides you with a great reason to take some time out of visiting the larger cities.

As you might imagine Tunisia offers the chance to find out a lot about its history, given that it has such a long one. This is a city dating back to ancient Rome and it has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The ruins here are quite spectacular and offer some insight into Roman times and what it would have been like to be around back then. The town is in northern Tunisia so if you base your holiday in this area you will easily be able to fit in a trip to see it. The theatre – or what remains of it – is one of the most notable sights here but there are many others too. They include a trifolium villa, a marketplace and various dolmens. You can also see tombs at the site.

Of course many people travel to Tunisia for the beaches – and there are plenty of them too. The Mediterranean coastline offers plenty of opportunities to find the perfect stretch of sand. Typical examples include La Marsa, Tabarka Beach and Hammamet Beach. Many beaches, such as Monastir Beach for example, offer plenty of facilities, not to mention the chance to enjoy some water sports. As you can see, simply coming to Tunisia to have a great beach holiday would be a pretty good idea.

Conclusion

Tunisia has long been a popular destination for many people. When you find out more about it you can see why – it has lovely beaches, interesting cities and towns and lots of history to explore. To think of it as nothing but a holiday destination for beach lovers is to do it an injustice. It would be wrong to assume this was the case and indeed there is far more to discover of Tunisia than you may at first assume.

Now you know more about it and how to get hold of the cash necessary to spend during your time in the country, you can start planning your first trip to Tunisia. Have a great time once you get there!