Money, cards and ATMs in Tunisia

The closed currency

• It is prohibited to import or export Tunisian dinars. Not limited - prohibited, in both directions.
• So you cannot buy dinars at home, and the exchange desk at your own airport does not stock them for a reason.
• And you cannot take the leftovers home. There is no keeping a note as a souvenir and no changing them back next year.

What that means for how much you change

• Change in stages rather than all at once. The airport bank on arrival is for the first day, not the trip.
• Keep your exchange receipts. Converting dinars back on departure is the official route and receipts are what the counter asks for.
• Do the last conversion landside, before you clear security, and leave time for it.
• Spend the coins. They will not convert.

Cards and ATMs

• ATMs are widely available in tourist areas and in every major centre.
• Cards are accepted in urban and tourist businesses, and much less so outside them.
• Cash still runs the country for taxis, cafes, markets and the medina. Assume cash unless you can see a terminal.

The tax nobody quotes you

• A hotel tax is charged per person per night: 8 TND at 3-star hotels and 12 TND at 4 and 5-star hotels, capped at ten nights.
• It is not in the room rate and it is collected at the property, in dinars, which you may not have brought with you.