Tunisia
Tunisia fits Roman ruins, Saharan dunes and Mediterranean beaches into one compact, affordable country. Wander the souks of Tunis's UNESCO-listed medina, look out from blue-shuttered Sidi Bou Said above the remains of Carthage, stand in El Jem's colossal amphitheatre and ride camels into the Grand Erg Oriental from Douz. It's an easy, good-value introduction to North Africa.
Overview
Tunisia is North Africa's smallest country, with a green Mediterranean north, the olive-grove plains of the Sahel coast and a desert south that runs into the Sahara. A classic first trip starts in Tunis, with its medina, the Bardo Museum's Roman mosaics, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, then heads south via Kairouan's Great Mosque and El Jem's amphitheatre to the oasis towns of Tozeur and Douz, the troglodyte homes of Matmata and the island of Djerba. Many UK visitors instead base themselves at a beach resort such as Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir and add day trips.
Tunisia is excellent value: dinars stretch far in guesthouses, louages and café terraces, and even good hotels cost less than in southern Europe. Away from the resorts, tourism is low-key, and the medinas of Tunis, Sousse and Kairouan feel workaday rather than staged. French is widely spoken alongside Tunisian Arabic, which helps independent travellers. Summer heat in the south is fierce, so desert trips are best from autumn to spring. Expect some persistent hassle in souks and at big sites, and a slower pace during Ramadan. It suits history lovers, beach-goers on a budget and anyone wanting an easy first taste of the Sahara.
Map of Tunisia
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Sidi Bou Said
Blue doors and whitewashed walls tumble down a clifftop above the Gulf of Tunis. Sip mint tea with pine nuts at the Café des Délices or Café des Nattes, then take the TGM a couple of stops to Carthage's ruins.
- 2History
El Jem amphitheatre
Built in the 3rd century AD for around 35,000 spectators, this colossal Roman amphitheatre is one of the best preserved anywhere and towers over a small modern town. It's UNESCO-listed and rarely crowded.
- 3Adventure
Douz and the Grand Erg Oriental
The self-styled 'Gateway to the Sahara' is the base for camel treks, 4x4 trips and overnight camps among the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental. Ksar Ghilane's warm spring-fed pool makes a classic further stop.
- 4Sacred site
Great Mosque of Kairouan
Founded in 670 and largely rebuilt in the 9th century, one of North Africa's oldest mosques anchors Tunisia's holiest city. Non-Muslims may visit the vast courtyard and view the prayer hall from its doors; dress modestly.
- 5History
Dougga
A UNESCO-listed Roman town spread across a hillside of olive groves, with a superb Capitol, theatre, baths and a Libyco-Punic mausoleum. It's often called North Africa's best-preserved small Roman town, and you may have it to yourself.
Biggest cities
Tunis
The capital pairs a French-built Ville Nouvelle with a UNESCO-listed medina of souks and mosques; the Bardo Museum and the TGM train to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said fill two days easily.
Sfax
Tunisia's industrial second city has an intact walled medina with busy working souks and few tourists; it is also the ferry port for the quiet Kerkennah Islands.
Sousse
A resort city with a UNESCO-listed medina, a fortified ribat and a fine mosaics museum, plus long beaches north at Port El Kantaoui; a convenient base for El Jem and Kairouan.
Figures are approximate urban-area populations; the city communes alone are much smaller (2024 census: Tunis about 605,000, Sfax 274,000, Sousse 240,000).
When to go to Tunisia
Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Average climate in Tunis
Festivals & events
- Jul–AugInternational Festival of Carthage
Running since 1964, this summer festival fills Carthage's restored Roman theatre on warm nights with Arab pop stars, Tunisian classics and international acts.
- DecInternational Festival of the Sahara
Held in Douz, usually in late December, with camel races, horsemanship displays, sloughi hounds, Bedouin poetry and re-enacted desert weddings; book accommodation early.
How much does Tunisia cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Couscous
Steamed semolina topped with a harissa-red stew of lamb, chicken or, along the coast, fish; part of a Maghreb tradition inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Brik
Paper-thin malsouka pastry folded around a raw egg, tuna, capers and parsley, then deep-fried; eat it carefully with your fingers so the yolk doesn't escape.
Lablabi
A cheap, garlicky chickpea soup ladled over torn stale bread and spiked with harissa, cumin and olive oil; a working-class breakfast served at small cafés everywhere.
Getting around
SNCFT trains run from Tunis down the coast to Sousse, Sfax and Gabès, and the Sahel Metro links Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia. Louages, shared minibuses that leave when full, reach almost every town quickly and cheaply. The TGM light railway connects Tunis with Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa. Tunisair Express flies to Djerba and Tozeur. Hire a car or driver for the desert; city taxis are metered.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CE230V — bring a UK-to-C/E adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Ambulance: 190
- Fire and car accidents: 198
- Police (when in towns and cities): 197
- National Guard (when in rural areas and small villages): 193
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +216
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Varies — bottled or filtered is safer
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Around 10% in tourist restaurants is appreciated; round up taxi fares, leave small change at cafés and tip guides and camel handlers a few dinars.
- Etiquette
- Dress modestly in medinas and away from beaches, especially in Kairouan and the south. During Ramadan avoid eating or smoking in public by day, ask before photographing people and haggle good-humouredly in souks.
- Main airports
- Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN), Tunis; Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport (NBE), Enfidha; Djerba–Zarzis International Airport (DJE), Djerba
Visas & entry for Tunisia
Shown for a British passport.
Visa on arrival
You can visit Tunisia without a visa for up to 90 days, except for holders of Crown Dependency passports, who may need to buy a visa on arrival. Contact the Tunisian Embassy in the UK for information on how to apply.
Make sure you get your passport stamped.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Hepatitis BMeaslesRabiesTyphoid
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Tunisia
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Thu 14 Jan 2027 | Revolution and Youth Day |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Wed 10 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr Holiday (date may shift) |
| Thu 11 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr Holiday (date may shift) |
| Sat 20 Mar 2027 | Independence Day |
| Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Martyrs' Day |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Sat 15 May 2027 | Day of Arafah (date may shift) |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha Holiday (date may shift) |
| Tue 18 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha Holiday (date may shift) |
| Sun 6 Jun 2027 | Islamic New Year (date may shift) |
| Sun 25 Jul 2027 | Republic Day |
| Fri 13 Aug 2027 | Women's Day |
| Sat 14 Aug 2027 | Prophet's Birthday (date may shift) |
| Fri 15 Oct 2027 | Evacuation Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Tunisian Arabic
| English | Tunisian Arabic | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | عالسلامة | ah-SLEH-mah |
| Thank you | يعيشك | yah-AYSH-ek |
| Please | من فضلك | min FAD-lek |
| Excuse me | سامحني | SAH-mah-nee |
| How much is this? | بقدّاش هذا؟ | b-kad-DESH HEH-dha |
Know before you go
- The dinar is a closed currency, so you can't buy it in the UK; use ATMs or change cash on arrival, and keep exchange receipts if you want to change leftovers back.
- In Tunis, insist that taxi meters are switched on, and agree prices up front for camel rides, quad bikes and the unofficial guides who approach visitors at big sites.
- Check the FCDO travel advice before planning trips into the far south or near the Algerian and Libyan borders, where it may advise against some travel.
Tunisia travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Tunisia?
The best time to visit Tunisia is generally Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Peak months are April, May, June, September and October. Average highs in Tunis range from 16°C to 34°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Tunisia cost per day?
Roughly £35 a day on a tight budget, £75 mid-range and £160+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Tunisia?
Tunisian dinar (TND).
What plug type does Tunisia use?
Type C and E sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Tunisia?
Traffic drives on the right in Tunisia, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Tunisia?
Varies — bottled or filtered is safer.
Do I need a visa for Tunisia?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit Tunisia without a visa for up to 90 days, except for holders of Crown Dependency passports, who may need to buy a visa on arrival. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Tunisia before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Tunisia?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies and Typhoid sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
