Good Time to Visit
Weather
The weather in Tunisia is warm all year, although temperatures can be extremely high inland during the summer (up to 36°C). Winter is mild and has the highest rainfall. The best periods to visit are usually spring and autumn. (For more detailed information, see Climate in Tunisia).
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight clothing in summer, or mediumweights and rainwear in winter.
Festivals
There are many religious events based around the lunar year calendar. Other festivals include the International Carthage Festival in July, Festival of the Oases in November (featuring camel racing) and the Sahara Duoz Festival, celebrating desert folklore.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Tunisia:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 20 March | Independence Day |
| 21 March | Youth Day |
| 9 April | Martyrs' Day |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 25 July | Republic Day |
| 13 August | Women's Day. |
| 7 November | New Era Day |
| Variable* | Hegire (Islamic New Year) |
| Variable* | Mouled (Prophet's Birthday) |
| Variable* | Korité (End of Ramadan) |
| Variable* | Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
* Although Muslim holidays always fall on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date they are celebrated on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar whilst the Gregorian calendar is solar. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year. The method used to determine when each Islamic month begins also varies from country to country.