01/ 07
Light like nowhere else
Whitewashed walls, blue shutters and a sea that changes colour by the hour. Sidi Bou Saïd has inspired painters from Paul Klee to today's Instagram.
Explore →
An independent travel guide to Tunisia
Mediterranean · Sahara · 3,000 years of history
Tunisia, north to southأهلا وسهلا
Blue-and-white villages above the sea, Roman cities in wheat fields, holy Kairouan and the dunes of the Sahara. Most of Europe is two to three hours away by plane.
Why Tunisia?Seven reasons to come
02/ 07
1,300 km of Mediterranean
Fine white sand, warm shallow water and coves you can still have to yourself, from Kelibia to Djerba.
Explore →03/ 07
The Sahara, a short drive away
Europe's easiest door to the great desert: sleep under the stars in the Grand Erg Oriental and wake to silence.
Explore →04/ 07
Rome, without the crowds
The amphitheatre of El Jem rivals the Colosseum, and you can walk its arena almost alone.
Explore →05/ 07
Berber villages on the edge of the sky
Hilltop granaries and cave homes in the south, built by Amazigh communities and still lived in today.
Explore →06/ 07
Hospitality you will remember
The baker frying bambalouni at dawn, the shopkeeper pouring tea, the family who invites you to lunch. Tunisia's people are its greatest attraction.
Discover Tunisian culture →07/ 07
Islands that move at their own pace
On Kerkennah, fishermen still set palm-frond traps at sunrise, a technique on UNESCO's heritage list.
Explore →And there's more
One small country, a whole continent of experiences
Tunisia is about the size of England and Wales, so a single week can hold a beach, a medina, a Roman city and a night in the desert.
Sea and Sahara in one trip
Swim in the Mediterranean in the morning and watch the sun set over the dunes a few hours' drive south.
3,000 years of history
Punic Carthage, El Jem's arena, the Great Mosque of Kairouan and ten World Heritage sites.
Good value
Hotels, meals and guides cost noticeably less than in most of southern Europe.
Close and easy
Two to three hours' flight from most European capitals. No visa needed for most of Europe, North America and the Gulf.
Famous food
Couscous, brik, fresh fish, harissa, olive oil and sweet mint tea with pine nuts.
Warm welcome
Tunisian hospitality is famous. Expect to be offered tea, directions and a lot of conversation.
Find your Tunisia
What are you in the mood for?
Pick a feeling and we'll suggest three places to start.
10M+international visitors in 2025
1,300 kmof Mediterranean coast
10UNESCO World Heritage sites
24governorates to explore
Breakfast by the Mediterranean.
Sunset over the Sahara.
Travel with confidence
What first-time visitors want to know
Do I need a visa?Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada, the Gulf and many other countries can visit without one. Check yours in ten seconds.Check your passport →
Is it safe?More than 10 million people visited in 2025. Tourist areas have a visible police presence. Read the honest details.Safety guide →
What about money?The dinar is a closed currency: you change money on arrival and keep the receipts. Cards work in hotels and bigger shops.Money guide →
What happens at the airport?Passport check, customs, then a bank counter, SIM desk and taxis. Here is the step-by-step.Arrival guide →
Start exploring
Where do you want to begin?
Moments
The Tunisia you feel, not just see
Bread from the clay oven, henna before a wedding, drums at midnight, the last boats coming in. Small moments that stay with you long after the trip.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors, credited in each photo and in the Travel guide. See the full gallery →
Why this guide
One guide for the whole country
Made to make Tunisia easy to discover and easy to visit, from the first idea to the flight home.
24Every governorateEach region has its own page and link, so inland and southern regions get the same spotlight as the coast.
12Months of reasonsDesert winters, spring heritage, summer beaches and festivals: a reason to visit in every season.
0Unanswered questionsVisa checker, money, SIM cards, safety, airports and customs answered before travellers have to ask.
1Click to a full planThe itinerary builder turns "maybe Tunisia" into a day-by-day route in seconds.
Digital nomads & remote workersYour office, with a Mediterranean viewSame time zone as Europe, fast mobile data, coworking spaces and a cost of living far below southern Europe.Work from Tunisia →
Online · Tunis 09:00 = Paris 09:00
Tunisia Through Your Eyes · تونس بعيونكم
Your photo could be next month's top 10
Took a beautiful photo in Tunisia? Send it with the story behind it. Every month we feature the top 10 on our site and in our newsletter, and thank everyone who took part.
Plan in three steps
From idea to boarding pass
- Check your entry rulesMost visitors need only a passport valid for six months. Use the visa checker.Visa checker →
- Pick your season and regionCoast in summer, desert and Roman sites in spring and autumn.Seasons →
- Choose a routeA classic week, a film-set road trip or a slow food tour.Routes →
Top attractions
28 places you shouldn't miss
Filter by what you love, save favourites with the heart, and build your own shortlist.
Your shortlist is empty. Tap the heart on any place to save it.
Things to do
Twelve ways to fill your days
From coral reefs to camel treks, with a link to where each happens.
Culture & hospitality
Ahla w sahla: you are welcome here
The people, traditions, music, crafts and everyday rituals that make a trip to Tunisia memorable.
Hospitality
Expect to be invited in
Tunisians are famously hospitable. Ask for directions and you may be walked to the door; stop at a shop and you may be offered a glass of mint tea. In the countryside, visitors are often invited home for couscous or fresh bread with olive oil.
The greeting you will hear everywhere is ahla w sahla, "welcome". Reply with yaishek, "thank you", and you will make a friend.
Tea firstBusiness, bargaining and friendships often start with a glass of sweet mint tea.
Bread is sharedBread is torn and passed around the table; leaving it on the ground is avoided.
Right handUse your right hand to eat, give and receive.
Accept, then declineIt is polite to accept a second helping before saying you are full.
A day in Tunisian life
From morning coffee to the evening stroll
- Café and bambalouniEspresso or capucin with a sugared doughnut from a street stall.
- Market timeFresh fish, olives, herbs and spices at the central market.
- Family lunchThe main meal: salads, harissa with olive oil, then couscous or a stew.
- Tea and pastriesMint tea with pine nuts and makroudh or baklawa.
- Evening promenadeFamilies stroll the corniche, cafés fill up and the streets come alive.
Did you know
A country of firsts
1956The Code of Personal Status abolished polygamy and gave women new rights, among the most progressive family laws in the Arab world.
1966The Carthage Film Festival was founded, the oldest film festival in Africa and the Arab world.
2015The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet won the Nobel Peace Prize.
3,000years of layered heritage: Berber, Punic, Roman, Arab, Andalusian, Ottoman and French.
Music
Three sounds of Tunisia
Press play on the rhythm to feel each style.
Malouf
Andalusian classical music brought by refugees from Spain, played with oud, violin and darbouka. Testour hosts a festival every year.
Mezoued
Popular music named after its bagpipe, heard at weddings and parties across the country.
Stambeli
Trance music with roots in sub-Saharan Africa, built on iron castanets (shqashiq) and the gumbri lute.
Handmade
AI-generated backgroundEvery souk has a workshop behind it
Potters in Nabeul, weavers in Kairouan, chechia makers in Tunis, coppersmiths in the medina. Ask before you photograph, and buy straight from the maker when you can.
Crafts
Made by hand, made to last
Traditions
Rituals worth joining
Tap a card to learn more.
"If, one day, a people wills to live, then fate must answer."
Abu al-Qasim al-Shabbi (1909–1934), lines that appear in Tunisia's national anthemAbout & legal
About this guide
Last updated October 2026.
About Tunisia Unfolded
Tunisia Unfolded is an independent, non-commercial guide that helps travellers discover all 24 governorates of Tunisia. We don't sell trips or take bookings. This website is not affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts or the Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT); for the official tourism site visit discovertunisia.com. Contact: hello@tunisiaunfolded.com.
Legal notice
Publisher: the Tunisia Unfolded team. Contact: hello@tunisiaunfolded.com. Hosting: Netlify, Inc., San Francisco, USA. Travel information is provided as a general guide in good faith. Entry rules, prices, opening hours and dates change; always confirm with official sources before you travel. Venues listed are independent businesses and are not endorsed by us.
Privacy
We only collect what you choose to send us through our forms: your email address for the newsletter, and your name, email, photo and caption for the photo of the month. Form submissions are stored by our hosting provider, Netlify, and used only for that purpose. We never sell or share personal data. Newsletter emails include an unsubscribe link; photo entries are kept for up to 12 months. To see, correct or delete your data, email hello@tunisiaunfolded.com.
Cookies & storage
We don't use advertising or tracking cookies. Your saved places, packing list and itinerary are stored only in your own browser so they're there when you come back; you can clear them at any time in your browser settings.
Photos, videos & AI content
Photos come from Wikimedia Commons contributors under Creative Commons licences, credited on each photo and in full in the Travel guide. Some background textures, ambient videos and illustrations are AI-generated (Higgsfield) and are labelled as such; they do not show specific real places or venues.
Photo submissions
By sending a photo you confirm you took it and allow us to show it on this website and our social pages with your name as credit. You keep the copyright and can ask us to remove it at any time.
Monthly community photo feature
Tunisia Through Your Eyes
تونس بعيونكم
Send us your best photo of Tunisia. Every month we feature the top 10 on this page and in our newsletter, with your name, the place and the story behind it.
Partagez vos plus belles photos de la Tunisie · شاركونا أجمل صوركم
- ShootAny corner of Tunisia: a street, a face, a sunset, a market, a family meal.
- SubmitUp to 3 photos a month, each with the place and the story behind it.
- Get featuredWe pick the top 10 at the end of each month for this page and the newsletter.
- Everyone is thankedEvery participant appears on our wall of thanks.
Top 10
This month's top 10
Our first selection will be published at the end of the month. Your photo could be number one.
Wall of thanks
Thank you to everyone who shared Tunisia with us
Every photographer who takes part this month will be thanked here by name.
Digital nomads & remote workers
Work from the Mediterranean
Same time zone as Paris and Berlin, sea views, good coffee and a cost of living far below southern Europe. Here is what you need to know about working remotely from Tunisia.
UTC+1Same hours as most of Europe, all year
2–3 hFlights to most European capitals
4GMobile data across towns and the coast, fibre in big cities
FR · EN · ARFrench widely spoken, English common in cities
Where to base yourself
Six bases for six moods
Capital · communityTunis & La MarsaThe most coworking spaces, cafés and meet-ups, with Sidi Bou Saïd and the beach next door.
City + beachSousse & MonastirA lively medina, marinas and long beaches, with two airports close by.
Calm & greenHammametGardens, quiet beaches and long-stay apartments an hour from Tunis.
Island slow lifeDjerbaSunny winters, beaches and a creative scene around Djerbahood.
Wild coastBizerteAn old port town with cliffs and coves, for those who want space to focus.
Winter sunTozeurPalm oases and desert light from October to April. Check connectivity before you book.
Time-zone overlap
Will your workday line up?
Choose where your team or clients are. The bar shows their 9:00–18:00 workday in Tunis time.
Monthly budget
What does a month cost?
A rough guide for one person in 2026, including a furnished apartment, food, transport, coworking and leisure. Prices vary a lot by city and season.
Estimated monthly total€0Indicative only. Prices vary by city and season.
Practical
Visas, tax and staying connected
Visa
Tunisia has no dedicated digital nomad visa. Many nationalities can stay visa-free for up to 90 days (some longer). For longer stays, you need a residence permit, so check the rules for your nationality before you plan.
Check your nationality →Tax
In many countries, spending 183 days or more in a year can make you tax resident. Get advice from a tax professional about your home country and Tunisia before a long stay.
Internet
Mobile 4G is usually faster and more reliable than home DSL. Buy a local SIM with a large data plan (Ooredoo, Orange or Tunisie Telecom) and keep it as backup.
SIM card guide →Coworking
Tunis has the most coworking spaces, and there are more in Sousse, Hammamet and Djerba. Many cafés welcome laptops outside peak hours.
Long-stay rentals
Monthly rates are often much lower than nightly prices. Ask for a written agreement, check the Wi-Fi speed and air conditioning before you sign.
Money
Withdraw dinars from ATMs and keep exchange receipts. Cards work in larger shops; carry cash for markets and taxis.
Money guide →Ready to work from Tunisia?
Plan your stay
Check the entry rules for your nationality and set up your phone and internet on arrival.
Experiences
Choose your Tunisia
Beaches, medinas, desert nights, spas, food and festivals.
Experiences
Choose how you want to feel
Start with a mood, then follow the links to the governorates that do it best.
Fine sand, clear water
Long Mediterranean beaches on the east coast, coral coves in the north and island calm in the south.
Layers of history
Punic Carthage, Roman cities, holy Kairouan and medinas that are still lived in every day.
The light of the desert
Dunes, salt flats, palm oases and nights under a sky full of stars.
Sea water and hot springs
Tunisia is one of the world's leading thalassotherapy destinations, with natural hot springs as well.
Sunshine on the table
Olive oil, harissa, fresh fish, couscous and the sweetest dates of the oases.
Dive, hike, play golf
Diving off Tabarka, forest trails in the north-west, golf courses on the coast and in the oasis.
Made by hand
Sejnane pottery is on UNESCO's list. Kairouan rugs, Mahdia silk, Nabeul ceramics and Guellala clay are also worth seeking out.
Taste of Tunisia
AI-generated ambient sceneSlow down, the tea is ready
Meals here are long and generous: a glass of mint tea with pine nuts, bread straight from the oven, a plate of something spicy to share.
Taste of Tunisia
Six things to eat and drink
After dark
Nightlife in Tunisia
Nights here are relaxed rather than wild: long dinners, cafés that stay busy until late, rooftop lounges and beach clubs in summer, and open-air concerts at the festivals.
23:00when lounges fill up
1–3 ampeak time in the clubs
Jun–Sepbeach-club season
365nights of café life
Where to go out
Six ways to spend a night out
Lounges · beach clubsGammarth & La MarsaThe capital's most stylish evenings: sea-view lounges, restaurants and summer beach clubs.
Cafés · live musicTunis centreEvening walks on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, theatre, jazz and live music, and late cafés in the medina.
Clubs · marinaHammamet & YasmineThe busiest resort nightlife, with clubs, bars and the marina at Yasmine Hammamet.
Resort nightsSousse & Port El KantaouiHotel bars, clubs and the harbour promenade, busy from spring to autumn.
Easy-goingDjerbaQuieter evenings: hotel bars, beach dinners and live music in the tourist zone.
July – AugustSummer festivalsConcerts under the stars at the Roman theatres of Carthage and Hammamet, and in Tabarka.
Clubs, lounges & live music
Find your night
Pick a city and a mood. These are well-known names travellers and locals go to; venues open, close and change name often, so check their social pages for this week's events before you go.
A typical night out on the coast
- Sunset & dinnerSeafood on a terrace, or a long dinner in the marina.
- Lounge or rooftopCocktails or mint tea while the music warms up.
- Club or beach partyDoors open earlier, but nobody arrives before midnight.
- Peak & wind-downMost venues close between 2 and 4 am.
- Late bite, taxi homeA sandwich from a night snack bar, then an official taxi.
Beyond the clubs
Night attractions worth staying up for
July – AugustConcerts in Roman theatres
The Carthage and Hammamet international festivals fill open-air theatres every summer, and El Jem's amphitheatre hosts a symphonic music festival (11 July – 15 August in 2026).
All yearCafé nights in the medina
Mint tea with pine nuts, coffee and shisha under lanterns. Café M'rabet in the Tunis medina and Café des Nattes in Sidi Bou Saïd are classics.
RamadanRamadan evenings
After the evening meal the medinas stay awake: concerts, Sufi music and street food, with the Medina Festival in Tunis.
Golden hourSunset in Sidi Bou Saïd
Watch the gulf turn pink from the terraces of Café des Délices, then walk down to La Marsa or Gammarth for dinner.
October – AprilA night in the Sahara
Camps near Douz and Ksar Ghilane serve dinner by the fire, with drums, songs and a sky full of stars.
SummerMarinas & promenades
Port El Kantaoui, Yasmine Hammamet and the corniche in Sousse are busy until late, with ice cream, music and people-watching.
Apart from the Ramadan photo, the night scenes above are AI-generated illustrations (Higgsfield), not photos of specific venues.
Festival nights through the year
SpringJazz à CarthageJazz and soul concerts in the Tunis area.
Jul – AugCarthage International FestivalBig-name concerts in the Roman theatre.
Jul – AugHammamet International FestivalMusic and theatre by the sea.
Jul – AugEl Jem Symphonic FestivalOrchestras inside the amphitheatre.
SummerTabarka festivalsJazz and world music on the north coast.
Late DecemberSahara Festival, DouzPoetry, music and fantasia in the desert.
Nights the Tunisian way
For many Tunisians a night out means a café terrace with mint tea, coffee or shisha, often until after midnight, and dinner with family or friends.
Ramadan nights
After sunset the streets come alive: families eat together, then cafés, medinas and cultural festivals stay busy late into the night. Bars are quieter and alcohol is harder to find.
Drinks
Alcohol is served in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants, not everywhere. Drinking in public streets or on the beach is not acceptable.
Season
Beach clubs and many resort venues open from about June to September. Outside summer, the best nights are in Tunis and its northern suburbs.
Getting home
Use official taxis, or ask the venue or your hotel to call one. Agree the fare or check the meter is on, especially late at night.
Women & solo travellers
Lounges, hotel bars and the well-known clubs are used to mixed and foreign crowds. Go out in a group if you can, keep an eye on your drink and take a booked or official taxi home.
Good to know
Carry ID: some clubs and the casino check it. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Tunisia, so LGBTQ+ travellers usually keep things discreet in public.
Dress & entry
Smart-casual works almost everywhere. Popular clubs may ask you to book a table, check your ID and have a dress code.
Interactive map
24 governorates, 2 islands
From Cap Blanc in Bizerte, the northern tip of Africa, to the ksour of Tataouine.
Explore by governorate
From Bizerte to Tataouine
Click a city on the map to open its governorate. Every governorate has its own link, so you can share just one.
Simplified map. Each dot is a governorate capital.
Themed routes
Follow a story across the country
Film sets in the dunes, a food trail and the UNESCO circuit.
Themed routes
Follow a story across the country
Three routes that link governorates around one theme. Each stop opens that governorate's page.
The film route
Tunisia's landscapes have stood in for distant planets and ancient lands.
- MonastirThe ribat appears in Monty Python's Life of Brian.Monastir →
- KairouanIts streets played Cairo in Raiders of the Lost Ark.Kairouan →
- MatmataThe Hotel Sidi Driss was Luke Skywalker's home in Star Wars.Gabès →
- Ong JemelStar Wars sets still stand in the dunes near Tozeur.Tozeur →
- Ksar Ouled SoltaneThe granaries appear in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.Tataouine →
The culinary route
Taste your way from the citrus groves of the north to the date palms of the south.
- NabeulHarissa, orange blossom and Cap Bon citrus.Nabeul →
- ZaghouanRose-scented kaak warka pastries.Zaghouan →
- KairouanMakroudh, fresh from the medina bakeries.Kairouan →
- SfaxFish couscous and Kerkennah seafood.Sfax →
- TozeurDeglet Nour dates straight from the palm groves.Tozeur →
The UNESCO route
Ten World Heritage sites, from the northern lakes to the island of Djerba.
- IchkeulWetland on the bird migration route.Bizerte →
- Carthage, Tunis & Sidi Bou SaïdPunic ruins, the capital's old city and the blue village, listed in 2026.Tunis →
- DouggaRoman town above the valley.Béja →
- Kairouan & SousseHoly city and a walled medina.Kairouan →
- El JemThe great Roman amphitheatre.Mahdia →
- DjerbaIsland settlement listed in 2023.Djerba →
UNESCO World Heritage
Ten sites, 2,800 years
From Punic Carthage to the blue village of Sidi Bou Saïd.
UNESCO World Heritage
2,800 years of history, ten World Heritage sites
Tunisia's ten World Heritage sites, in the order they were built. Tap a site to see when UNESCO listed it.
Travel guide
Everything you need before you go
Entry, arrival, money, transport, safety, health, customs and culture, updated October 2026.
Paperwork and preparation
Passport
Bring a passport valid for at least six months after your arrival date, with a blank page for stamps. Airlines may also ask for a return or onward ticket.
Visa
Visitors from the EU, UK, US, Canada, the Gulf states and many other countries need no visa for short stays. There is no e-visa system yet.
Check your nationality →Travel insurance
Take a policy that covers medical treatment and repatriation. Private clinics expect payment up front.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required to enter. Make sure routine vaccines are up to date and ask your doctor about hepatitis A and typhoid.
Driving licence
If you plan to rent a car, bring your licence and an International Driving Permit. Driving is on the right.
Register your trip
Many governments offer free traveller registration, such as the US STEP programme, so they can reach you in an emergency.
Landing in Tunisia
| Airport | Code | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tunis-Carthage | TUN | Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Saïd, the north. Main international airport, about 8 km from the city centre. |
| Enfidha-Hammamet | NBE | Hammamet, Sousse and the resort coast |
| Monastir Habib Bourguiba | MIR | Monastir, Sousse, Mahdia |
| Djerba-Zarzis | DJE | Djerba, Zarzis, Tataouine and the deep south |
| Tozeur-Nefta | TOE | Oases, Chott el Djerid and the Sahara |
| Sfax-Thyna | SFA | Sfax and the Kerkennah Islands |
| Tabarka-Aïn Draham | TBJ | The north-west coast and forests |
Step by step at the airport
- Passport controlHave your passport and your hotel address ready. You may be asked to fill in an arrival card.
- Baggage & customsUse the green channel if you have nothing to declare. Declare large amounts of cash, drones, satellite phones or professional camera gear.
- Change moneyBank counters in arrivals offer official rates. Keep every exchange receipt so you can change dinars back when you leave.
- Get a SIM cardOoredoo, Orange and Tunisie Telecom sell tourist SIMs. Bring your passport. SIM guide →
- Into townTake an official taxi from the rank and agree the fare or check the meter is on, or use the transfer your hotel arranged.
Airport security and customs tips
- Drones are banned without prior permission from the Ministry of the Interior. Leave yours at home.
- You cannot take Tunisian dinars out of the country. Change leftover dinars at the airport bank before security, with your receipts.
- Duty-free allowances: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, and 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine or beer (travellers 18+).
- Narcotics, including CBD and medical cannabis, are illegal. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
- Departures can be busy in July and August. Arrive at the airport at least 2 to 3 hours before an international flight.
By sea
Car ferries link La Goulette (the port of Tunis) with Italy (including Genoa, Civitavecchia and Palermo) and France (Marseille).
Staying connected
A local prepaid SIM is the cheapest way to get mobile data in Tunisia. Three operators cover the country, and all of them have counters in the arrivals hall at Tunis-Carthage.
OOoredooLarge 4G network, many shops in cities and resort towns.
OOrange TunisieGood coverage in cities and on the coast, easy to top up.
TTTunisie TelecomThe national operator, often the best signal in rural areas.
How to get one
- Bring your passportSIM cards must be registered by law, so the seller will scan or copy your passport.
- Buy at the airport or in townAirport counters are quick. Official operator shops in town often have cheaper bundles and more choice.
- Choose a data bundleA tourist SIM with a few GB usually costs around 15–20 TND. Bigger bundles for a week or a month cost a little more.
- Test before you leave the counterAsk the seller to activate the SIM and check that data works on your phone.
Local SIM, travel eSIM or roaming?
| Option | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Local SIM | Cheapest data and a Tunisian number for calls, taxis and restaurants. | Your phone must be unlocked. You need your passport to buy it. |
| Travel eSIM | Data that works as soon as you land, bought online before you travel. | Usually data only, with no local number. Check your phone supports eSIM. |
| Home roaming | Short trips when you just want it to work. | Tunisia is not part of EU roaming, so prices can be high. Check with your provider first. |
Good to know
- Top up with scratch cards (recharge) from kiosks, newsagents and supermarkets, or in the operator's app.
- 4G covers the cities, the coast and the resorts. 5G launched in 2025 and is growing in the big cities.
- Signal is weak or missing on desert tracks and in remote mountains. Download offline maps before you head south.
- WhatsApp is the usual way to message hotels, drivers and guides.
- Most hotels and many cafés have free Wi-Fi, but speeds vary. Remote workers should keep a SIM as backup.
The Tunisian dinar
The currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into 1,000 millimes. It is a closed currency: you can only buy it inside Tunisia, and you may not take it out.
- Bring euros, dollars or pounds in cash, or withdraw dinars from ATMs, which are common in towns and resorts.
- Change money at banks, exchange offices and hotels. Keep the bank receipts: you need them to change dinars back. ATM slips are not accepted.
- Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets. Carry cash for markets, cafés, taxis and louages.
- If you bring a lot of foreign cash, declare it on arrival so you can take it out again.
- Tipping: around 10% in restaurants is appreciated; round up taxi fares; small tips for guides and porters.
- Bargaining is normal in souks. Fixed-price shops and supermarkets don't bargain.
Currency converter
337.78TND
Interbank rates of 10 August 2026: 1 EUR = 3.3778 TND, 1 USD = 2.9269 TND. Exchange offices give slightly less. Check today's rate before you travel.
Typical prices
Rough guide for 2026. Prices vary by city and season.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | 1–3 TND | 3–6 TND | 6–12 TND |
| Lunch or street food | 5–15 TND | 20–40 TND | 50+ TND |
| Dinner for one | 15–30 TND | 40–80 TND | 100+ TND |
| Room per night | 80–150 TND | 180–400 TND | 450+ TND |
Trains, louages and taxis
Trains
SNCFT trains run from Tunis down the coast to Sousse, Sfax and Gabès, and west to Béja and Jendouba. The Sahel metro links Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia. Cheap and comfortable.
TGM light rail
The TGM line runs from central Tunis to La Goulette, Carthage, Sidi Bou Saïd and La Marsa. The easiest way to see all three.
Louages
Shared minibuses that leave when full and link almost every town. Fast and inexpensive; fares are fixed.
Taxis
City taxis are yellow and should use the meter. Agree the fare in advance for long trips and airport runs.
Domestic flights
Flights connect Tunis with Djerba and Tozeur, which saves a long day of driving to the south.
Car hire & ferries
A car with driver is the easiest way to explore the south. Ferries cross from Jorf to Djerba and from Sfax to Kerkennah.
Travelling safely
Millions of people holiday in Tunisia every year without trouble. Hotels, resorts and major sites have a visible police and security presence, and Tunisians are generally welcoming and helpful to visitors.
Like most governments, the US State Department asks travellers to exercise increased caution (Level 2, May 2026), mainly because of a terrorism risk, petty crime and occasional demonstrations.
- Avoid the border zones with Algeria and Libya (except Tabarka and Aïn Draham), the Chambi, Salloum, Sammama and Mghila mountains in Kasserine, Mount Orbata in Gafsa, and the military zone south of Remada.
- Watch for pickpockets in medinas, markets and on public transport.
- Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.
- Avoid long drives at night outside the main cities.
- Use licensed guides for desert trips, and tell your hotel where you are going.
Always check your own government's latest travel advice before you go.
Emergency numbers
- 197
- Police
- 190
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 198
- Fire & civil protection
- 193
- National Guard (outside cities)
Save your embassy's phone number and your hotel's address on your phone.
Staying well
Water
Drink bottled water, which is cheap and sold everywhere. Avoid ice from unknown sources.
Sun & heat
Summer temperatures inland can pass 40°C. Carry water, wear a hat and avoid the midday sun in the desert.
Clinics & pharmacies
Big cities have good private clinics. Pharmacies are well stocked, and every town has a night pharmacy on duty.
Etiquette and local laws
Dress
Swimwear is fine on beaches and at hotel pools. In medinas, towns and religious sites, cover shoulders and knees.
Mosques
Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims. You can visit the courtyard of the Great Mosque of Kairouan and several others at set times.
Ramadan
Many cafés close by day, and evenings come alive after sunset. Avoid eating and drinking in the street in daylight. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin in early February.
Alcohol
Sold in hotels, licensed bars and restaurants. Drinking alcohol in the street is illegal.
Photography
Ask before photographing people. Never photograph military sites, police, government buildings or embassies.
Laws to know
Drug laws are strict. Same-sex relations are criminalised, and public displays of affection are frowned upon for all couples.
Women travellers
Many women travel independently. Expect some unwanted comments in cities; dressing conservatively and ignoring them usually works.
Fridays
Friday is the main prayer day. Shops and offices may close for a while around midday.
Quick facts
PlugsType C & E230 V, 50 Hz
Time zoneUTC+1No daylight saving
Dialling code+2168-digit numbers
LanguagesArabic & FrenchEnglish in tourist areas
CurrencyDinar (TND)1 TND = 1,000 millimes
Day of restSundayMany offices also close Saturday
DrivingOn the rightIDP recommended
Internet4G widelyWi-Fi in most hotels and cafés
Seasons
Ideal everywhere
Pleasant
Beach season, hot in the south
Mild and quiet, good for the desert
Spring Mar–May
Wildflowers in the north, green wheat fields and mild days. The best time for Roman sites and hiking.
Summer Jun–Aug
Hot, dry and sunny. Head for the coast, the islands and the open-air festivals.
Autumn Sep–Nov
The sea is still warm and the desert cools down. The date harvest begins in the oases.
Winter Dec–Feb
Cool on the coast, crisp and sunny in the Sahara. Festival of the Sahara season in Douz.
What's on through the year
Festival dates change each year. Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar and move about 11 days earlier each year.
A few words go a long way
Tunisian Arabic (Derja), with French as backup. Tap a card to see the French.
What to bring
Tick items off as you pack. Your list is saved in this browser.
Photo credits
Entry requirements
Do I need a visa for Tunisia?
Pick your nationality for a quick answer. Rules change, so confirm with a Tunisian embassy or your airline before you book.
Your answer will appear here.
Everyone needs
- A passport valid at least six months after arrival
- A blank page for the entry stamp
- Proof of accommodation and a return or onward ticket, if asked
Staying longer
To stay beyond your visa-free period, apply for a residence permit at the central police station before it ends. Overstaying leads to fines.
Organised tours
Some nationalities that normally need a visa can enter without one on an organised tour with a hotel voucher. Ask your tour operator.
No e-visa yet
Tunisia does not yet have an online e-visa. Where a visa is needed, apply at a Tunisian embassy or consulate. Beware of websites selling "Tunisia e-visas".
Customs allowances
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine or beer, and personal goods up to 800 TND duty-free.
Not allowed
Drones and satellite phones without a permit, narcotics (including CBD), weapons, counterfeit goods and pork products.
FAQ
Questions travellers ask
Straight answers about safety, money, visas, customs, food and getting around.
Photo gallery
Tunisia in pictures
Hundreds of photos from all 24 governorates: coasts and oases, medinas and Roman cities, food, festivals and nights out. Tap any photo to see it full size.
All photos come from Wikimedia Commons contributors under Creative Commons licences. Tap a photo to see the photographer and licence. Full credits
Plan your visit · free
Build your own Tunisia itinerary
Choose how many days you have and what you love. We'll suggest a route across the country, day by day, with links to every region.
Your suggested route