1. When to visit Tunisia and for how many days?
In Tunisia, there are different types of climates. The northern zone has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool, rainy winters. The central part of Tunisia has a semi-arid climate. Finally, the southernmost part of the country has a desert climate.
Taking this into account, the best time to travel to Tunisia is between March and June, or the months of September and October.
As for the time needed to get to know Tunisia, my recommendation is to spend a minimum of 10 days or even two weeks in the country. If you have less time, that’s fine. Below is an example of a one-week itinerary. If you have more days, perfect! You will be able to see many of the most interesting places to visit in Tunisia.
2. How to get to Tunisia
The easiest way to reach Tunisia from Spain is by plane. The airline AirEuropa offers direct flights between Madrid and Tunis. Vueling and Iberia have direct flights from Barcelona to Tunis. Finally, Tunisair has direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona to Tunis.
I always recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest flight. We flew with AirEuropa, and the flight cost us €100 per person round trip from Madrid.
3. Do I need a visa to travel to Tunisia?
Visitors from up to 97 countries can visit Tunisia for up to 90 days without a visa. Here’s a list of the 97 nationalities that don’t need a visa to enter Tunisia. You’ll need to get a visa if you intend to stay for longer than ninety days.
4. Is it safe to travel to Tunisia?
Tunisia was a fairly touristy country a few years ago until a series of terrorist attacks had a huge negative impact on tourism. Since then, this country is not usually one of the most popular choices among travelers.
To address this, the government has implemented more security measures in major cities and resorts, as in 2015 there was an attack on a resort in Sousse. Even so, the country is still sensitive to attack. In fact, when I was in Tunis, two terrorists blew themselves up next to the US embassy.
Despite this, do I recommend traveling to Tunisia? My answer is yes. The attacks in Boston, Paris, Barcelona, and Marseille, among others, showed us that such misfortunes can happen in any country. Besides, leaving this aside, we felt very safe traveling in Tunisia.
We moved around the country in a rented car and had no problems at all. The people were very nice to us and always willing to help us. Obviously, you have to take some basic safety precautions, as anywhere in the world. One thing that is important to keep in mind is that it is totally inadvisable to go near the borders with Algeria and Libya.
Travel insurance for Tunisia
For whatever may happen, it is always very important to travel with travel insurance. I have been using Heymondo’s international medical insurance for several years, which I advise you to take out for your trip to Tunisia.
This insurance covers medical expenses, luggage damage, delays in transportation, etc. In addition, as a reader of this blog, you can benefit from a 5% discount.
Regarding vaccinations for Tunisia, the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory if you come from a country where yellow fever exists (this is not the case in Spain). There are no other mandatory vaccinations for travel to Tunisia. Some recommended vaccinations are tetanus, MMR, and hepatitis A.
5. Getting around Tunisia
There are numerous ways to get around in Tunisia. Renting a car was our preferred choice, and I recommend it. You will have a great deal of freedom to explore the locations, and it is completely secure. Additionally, you’ll save time. Moreover, gas is really affordable. It was an amazing adventure to travel the nation in a leased automobile.
Rent a car in Tunisia
As I just mentioned, renting a car is the best option to get around Tunisia. You save time; it gives you more freedom; the roads are good; gas and tolls are cheap… There are only pros to renting a car!
I recommend you rent a car from Auto Europe or Discover Cars, platforms where you will find the best prices, and pick it up at the airport. As always, you will need a credit card. They don’t usually ask for an international driver’s license, but I recommend getting one just in case.
We didn’t have a credit card at the time, so we didn’t plan to rent a car. However, we told the owner of our Airbnb in Tunisia about it, and she told us about a place where we could rent a car without a credit card. The place is called Desert Car Rental. We had no problem at all.
Organized tours in Tunisia
If you do not want to worry about transportation, a very good way to travel to Tunisia is through organized tours. For example, you can book this 8-day tour of Tunisia, in which you can enjoy an organized trip with all expenses included. This way, you will only have to worry about enjoying yourself.
You can also go on your own and book day tours and excursions in each of the cities. You can see and book all the guided tours in Tunisia here in advance.
Getting around Tunisia by train and bus
If you don’t want to rent a car, another option to visit Tunisia on your own is public transport: buses and trains.
Trains are operated by SNCFT. We used it to go to Hammamet and back from Tunis before renting the car. The trip cost us € round trip per person. As you can see, it is very cheap to get around by train. Of course, our train was very old and not very well maintained, but I don’t know if it was just that train or if it is like that in general.
In any case, even though it doesn’t go to areas like Tataouine or Djerba, it’s still a fantastic alternative. The bus is an additional alternative to consider when traveling in Tunisia. It travels to places the train can’t get to. Sntri is the name of the bus business in Tunisia. Since we didn’t take any buses, I can’t talk based on personal experience.
Getting around by louage or cab
The louages are shared taxis that travel both short and long distances. Although they don’t normally follow a timetable, they close when they’re full. Every city has a railway station or stations of its own. Even though it’s a relatively cheap way to go about Tunisia, it’s not always the most comfortable choice.
Traditional cabs are a more comfortable option if you’d rather not use louages. Because cabs are so inexpensive, the cost will not be too high, even for lengthy distances. That being said, it is far more costly when compared to taking a bus or a limousine.
Traveling by plane
If you have little time in Tunisia, one option that will save you time is by plane. The airline that operates flights within the country is Tunisair. The cities that have airports are Tunis, Tozeur, Houmt Souk (Djerba), Sfax, Monastir, Gafsa, and Tabarka. Find the best price on Skyscanner.
6. Prices in Tunisia and currency
The Tunisian dinar is used in Tunisia. $1 USD is approximately 3.11 TND. Both changing money and withdrawing it from an ATM are good options. I changed money at the airport upon arrival. The exchange rate was very good, so I recommend you change money at the airport when you arrive.
Another option is to withdraw money from an ATM. In this case, I recommend that you have a bank card that does not charge commissions for withdrawing money abroad or that the commission is low. I use and recommend the N26 card. I have been using it for several years, and it has never given me any problems.
Budget for a trip to Tunisia
Regarding costs, Tunisia is an inexpensive nation. However, as I often say, if your goal is to visit upscale hotels, fine dining establishments, etc., a country can be as pricey as you choose. However, you won’t have any issues in Tunisia if you would rather spend less money.
The approximate prices in Tunisia are shown below:
- A double room in a nice place costs around $20–$30.
- A meal at a local place can cost around $2–$3 per person (or around $1 if you go to a fast food place).
- A large bottle of water in a store costs around 0.30 cents.
- Entrance fees to archaeological sites, museums, etc. are around $2.50.
- Public and private transportation (cabs) are also inexpensive.
7. Things to do in Tunisia
Tunisia has a myriad of places to see. Below, I give a brief introduction to the most popular places in the country:
City of Tunis
Tunis is the capital of Tunisia and the most developed city in the country. It is usually the starting point of any trip in Tunisia, so it will be your first contact with its people and customs. The main tourist attraction of the city of Tunis is its Medina.
Sidi Bou Said
It is a very picturesque and pretty seaside village located only 17 km from the city of Tunis. Here you will find white houses adorned with plants and flowers, beautiful doors, and lovely sea views. Nearby are the ruins of Carthage.
Roman ruins in Tunisia
Tunisia was occupied by the Romans, so there are many ruins all over the country. From Tunis, you can make an excursion to several of these ruins: Bulla Regia, Dougga, Thuburbo Majus, and Uthina. A little further south in the country are the ruins of Sbeitla.
Hammamet
It is a charming fishing village. Noted for its charming Medina and its kasbah (fortress). I recommend having a drink or lunch at Café Sidi Bou Hdid, a very cool cafe.
Sousse
Sousse is another city that I recommend you visit during your stay in Tunisia. We did not spend the night there, but we visited it on our way to El Djem. It also stands out for its Medina and its fortress.
El Djem
This Tunisian town has no more charm than its Roman amphitheater, but for that alone, it is worth a visit. When you are there, it will be difficult not to think of the Colosseum in Rome.
Djerba
This island hides some of the best beaches in Tunisia. In addition, you will find many charming corners, such as the Djerbahood (Erriadh) neighborhood full of street art, the beautiful historic center of Houmt Souk, Guellala, or the famous Ghriba Synagogue (Djerba is home to the largest Jewish community in the country).
Kairouan
This Tunisian town draws attention to the Great Mosque of Kairouan, the most important mosque in the country and one of the oldest sanctuaries in the Muslim West.
Tataouine
This small village at the gates of the Sahara is the best base to visit Chenini, Guermassa, the oasis of Ksar Ghilane, Ksar Ouled Soltane, and Ksar Hadada.
Douz
If you want to be surrounded by dunes and dunes, I recommend you go to Douz. The best way to visit this place is to stay in a camp in the Sahara.
Tozeur
Ozeur is another popular destination in Tunisia. From here, you can visit several places that were the scene of Star Wars. Don’t miss the Mides Canyon, the Chebika Oasis, the Chott el Djerid Lake, etc.
Other places to see in Tunisia are Monastir, Sfax, Nabeul, Matmata, Mahdia, Tabarka, or Bizerte.
8. My hotels in Tunisia
In most cities in the country, you can find a wide variety of accommodations: hostels, apartments, airbnbs, homestays, luxury hotels, etc. In other destinations, there is less choice, but there is always a good option.
Below, I show you all our accommodations in Tunisia. In some of them, we did not get to stay because, due to the coronavirus, we had to interrupt our trip and return home earlier.
- Tunis: this apartment (airbnb).
- El Djem: Hotel Julius.
- Djerba: Resa Dar Sema Djerba.
- Tataouine: esta casa familiar (airbnb).
- Douz: Camp Mars.
- Tozeur: Résidence Loued.
- Sidi Bou Said: Villa Kahina.
9. More Tunisia travel tips
Here are some last-minute tips to visit Tunisia on your own!
Language in Tunisia
The official language in Tunisia is Arabic. However, the majority of the population also speaks French. Both my partner and I speak some French, and it was great for us to be able to communicate with the locals. I recommend learning a little French, if you don’t already know the language, to make your trip to Tunisia more enjoyable.
Food in Tunisia
Apart from the famous couscous, other dishes you can try are chorba, lablabi, mechouia salad, shakshuka, tajine maadnous, etc. Sheep, ox, or camel meat is also widely used. Fish dishes are also very popular.
If you do not like this type of food, in Tunisia it is very easy to find fast food places (sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, etc.).
Going from the airport to the city center
The easiest way to get from the airport to the center of Tunis is by cab. The trip usually costs 12 TND. If you arrive in the wee hours of the morning, as we did, it will cost you more, around 24 TND. The cab driver wanted to charge us 40 TND (he was taking advantage a bit), but in the end I managed to get it down to 30.
Internet in Tunisia
If you want to have internet access on your trip to Tunisia, you will have no problem. At the airport itself, when you arrive at the baggage claim hall, there is an orange booth where they give you a free SIM card with a few data points. Then you can recharge the data at the airport or in the city. Right now, I don’t remember how much money it cost me to put in the data, but it was very cheap.
I hope these Tunisia travel tips have been very useful for you to organize your trip to this North African country. If you have any questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or write me an email. See you next time!
