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Voykit pocket guide · Tunisia
Tunis
تونس
Tunis is a morning city: do the medina and the Bardo before the midday heat, keep the afternoon for shade or the sea, take the coast train or a taxi to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said — and carry small dinar notes.
Tunis spreads along a lake and a bay: the medina, the 19th-century French-built new town, the Bardo museum and the ancient site at Carthage are all a short taxi or light-rail ride apart, but not a walk. The trips that go wrong walk the medina at noon in July, take large suitcases into its stepped lanes, or turn up at the Bardo on its weekly closing day. Five clusters cover a first visit; the sea-side villages are half a day from one kept bed.
- Country
- Tunisia
- Local name
- تونس
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
- Time zone
- Africa/Tunis
- Stay
- 2 days: Medina + Bardo Museum
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TND
- Money
- Dinar in cash for taxis, cafés, souks and small restaurants; cards work in hotels, upmarket restaurants and some shops. The dinar is closed: you cannot buy it abroad, so change money on arrival and keep receipts.
- Daily spend
- Budget TND 60–120 excl. bed · Mid TND 120–300 excl. bed · High TND 300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Buy a prepaid SIM from Ooredoo, Orange or Tunisie Telecom at the airport or a shop with your passport; coverage is good in Tunis and the coast.
- Emergency
- Police 197 · Ambulance (SAMU) 190 · Fire and civil protection 198
- Plugs
- 230 V, two-pin round sockets (types C and E). Bring an adapter for UK and US plugs.
- Tipping
- Round up taxis; 5–10% in restaurants if service is not included; TND 1–3 for a porter or a café waiter.
- Water
- Tap water is treated and drinkable in most areas, but many visitors prefer bottled; use bottled in the south and after heavy rain.
- Toilets
- Cafés, museums and hotels; carry tissues and small coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or mint tea | TND 2–6 |
| Fricassé or brik | TND 1.5–6 |
| Meal at a local restaurant | TND 20–40 |
| Yellow taxi, short ride | TND 3–10 |
| Taxi, airport to the centre | TND 10–20 |
| TGM to Sidi Bou Said | TND 1–2 |
| Bottle of water | TND 1–2 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN)
- TUN to central Tunis: one metered yellow taxi or a pre-booked hotel car, 15–45 minutes — the risk is a driver who quotes a flat high fare, not the distance.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Tunis Ville railway station | Trains to Sousse, Sfax and other cities (check current timetable) | Walk 5–10 min |
| Louage stations (Bab Alioua, Moncef Bey) | Shared taxis to Hammamet, Kairouan, Sousse and the north | Taxi 10–15 min |
| La Goulette ferry port | Ferries to Genoa, Marseille and Palermo (check) | Taxi or TGM 20–30 min |
| Hotel or operator pick-ups | Day trips to Dougga and Kairouan | Already there |
Typical fares
- Taxi, airport to the centre
- TND 10–20 (2026 estimate); night rate higher
- TGM to Sidi Bou Said
- TND 1–2
- Yellow taxi, short ride
- TND 3–10
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster by day; use a taxi between clusters and after dark; take the TGM to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside the medina and Ville Nouvelle by day |
| Yellow taxi (metered) | TND 3–10 for a short ride; TND 10–20 airport to centre | Between clusters, with bags, at night |
| TGM light railway | TND 1–2 | Tunis Marine to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said |
| Light metro (métro léger) | TND 0.5–1.5 | The Bardo and inner suburbs (check the line) |
| Bus (Transtu) | Low | Budget hops if you know the route |
| Louage (shared taxi) | TND 8–20 for day trips | Intercity trips to Hammamet or Kairouan |
| Hire car with driver | TND 150–300 a day (check) | Dougga, Kairouan or Bizerte |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Yellow taxis should use the meter; insist on it or agree the fare before you get in.
- Late at night
- TGM runs until late evening but the last train time is not printed until verified; ask the hotel to book a taxi back from Sidi Bou Said.
See and do
01Bardo National Museumمتحف باردو
One of the largest Roman mosaic collections in the world.
Hours: best Opening · Price: TND 13–20 · Time: 2 h · 36.8092, 10.1345
02Carthage: Byrsa Hillقرطاج
The museum, the Punic quarter and the best view of the bay.
Hours: best Morning · Price: About TND 12 · Time: 1.5–2 h · 36.8528, 10.3235
03Antonine Bathsحمامات أنطونينوس
The largest Roman baths in Africa, by the sea.
Hours: best Morning or late afternoon · Price: Combined ticket · Time: 45–60 min · 36.8466, 10.3312
04Sidi Bou Saidسيدي بوسعيد
A blue-and-white village and mint tea with pine nuts.
Hours: best Before 09:30 or after 16:00 · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 hHours: best Before 9:30 AM or after 4:00 PM · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 h · 36.8703, 10.3414
05Zitouna Mosqueجامع الزيتونة
The medina's main mosque and its courtyard.
Hours: best Morning · Price: TND 5–10 · Time: 20–35 min · 36.7986, 10.1710
06Souk el-Attarineسوق العطارين
Perfume, incense and chechia caps.
Hours: best 09:00–11:00 · Price: Free to walk · Time: 30–45 minHours: best 9:00 AM–11:00 AM · Price: Free to walk · Time: 30–45 min · 36.7987, 10.1704
07A roof-terrace tea in the medinaمقهى المرابط
A quiet seat above the souks.
Hours: best Mid-morning · Price: TND 5–15 · Time: 30 min · 36.7990, 10.1708
08Avenue Habib Bourguibaشارع الحبيب بورقيبة
The tree-lined boulevard and Art Nouveau cafés.
Hours: best Evening · Price: Free · Time: 30–60 min · 36.7997, 10.1830
09Lablabi breakfastلبلابي
The cheapest hot local breakfast.
Hours: best 07:00–10:00 · Price: TND 3–6 · Time: 20–30 minHours: best 7:00 AM–10:00 AM · Price: TND 3–6 · Time: 20–30 min · 36.7998, 10.1728
10Dougga
The best-preserved Roman town in Tunisia.
Hours: best Spring or autumn · Price: Car with driver · Time: Full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dougga (UNESCO Roman town) | Hire a car with a driver or a tour, 1.5–2 h each way | Full day |
| Kairouan | Louage or tour, about 2.5 h each way | Full day |
| Hammamet and Nabeul | Louage or train, about 1–1.25 h each way | Full day |
| Bizerte | Louage or car, about 1–1.5 h each way | Full day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lablabi breakfast stall (type, confirm locally) | Lablabi (chickpea soup) · Medina | TND 3–6 | Budget |
| Fricassé and brik counter (type, confirm locally) | Fricassé and brik · Ville Nouvelle | TND 3–8 | Budget |
| Bambalouni doughnut stand (type, confirm locally) | Bambalouni doughnut · Sidi Bou Said | TND 1–3 | Budget |
| Marché Central (covered market) | A market grazing lunch · Ville Nouvelle | TND 5–25 | Mid-range |
| Café M'rabet | Tea and a light lunch · Medina | TND 5–25 | Mid-range |
| Café des Nattes | Mint tea with pine nuts · Sidi Bou Said | TND 5–15 | Mid-range |
| Café des Délices | Tea on the terrace · Sidi Bou Said | TND 6–20 | Mid-range |
| Dar El Jeld (restaurant in an old house) | A set menu in a restored house · Medina | TND 100–180 | Splurge |
| Coastal seafood restaurants in La Marsa and Gammarth | Grilled fish and a Tunisian wine · North coast | TND 80–150 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | TND 80–150 | Ville Nouvelle and medina guesthouses | Budget hotels and guesthouses |
| mid | TND 200–400 | Ville Nouvelle, restored medina houses | 3–4 star hotels and dars |
| splurge | TND 500–1,000+ | Les Berges du Lac, La Marsa, Gammarth | 5-star hotels and boutique houses |
Per room per night in Tunisian dinar, 2026 estimate (about TND 3 to US$1).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Aslemaah-SLEH-mah |
| Thank you | ShukranSHOOK-rahn |
| Goodbye | Bslemab-SLEH-mah |
| How much? | Qaddeh?KAH-deh |
| Please | S'il vous plaîtseel voo pleh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Dress: Cover shoulders and knees away from the beach and the hotel; women may cover their hair at mosques (check).
- Mosques: Non-Muslims cannot enter prayer halls; remove shoes; do not photograph worshippers.
- Ramadan: Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public by day; cafés open after sunset.
- Greetings: A handshake for men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; say "Aslema" or "Bonjour".
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; never police, military or government buildings.
- Haggling: Expected in souks; keep it friendly and walk away politely if you do not want to buy.
Red lines
- Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer halls of mosques; dress modestly and follow the signs.
- Do not photograph police, military or government buildings.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women and stall holders.
Scams and watch-outs
- Self-appointed guides in the medina and at Carthage who "help" and then ask for money: decline politely or agree a price first.
- Shopkeepers who insist a carpet or perfume is cheaper "today only" or invite you for tea to sell: you can say no.
- Unmetered taxis: insist on the meter or agree the fare before you get in; night rates are higher.
- Fake "closed today" claims by touts outside a museum or site: check the sign or the ticket desk.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover or a day between flights. Skip: The Bardo and Carthage: they need a morning each.
- 08:308:30 AMZitouna Mosque and the perfume souk
- 10:3010:30 AMTea on a roof terrace
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch in the Ville Nouvelle
- 14:002:00 PMRest in the shade or your hotel
- 16:004:00 PMTGM to Sidi Bou Said for tea and the view
- 19:007:00 PMTaxi back to the Ville Nouvelle for dinner
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tunisia National Tourist Office (official): www.discovertunisia.com/
- Wikivoyage — Tunis: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tunis
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tunisتونس
Emmenez-moi à, s'il vous plaît
Please take me to
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- متحف باردوBardo National Museum
- قرطاجCarthage archaeological sites (Byrsa Hill)
- حمامات أنطونينوسAntonine Baths of Carthage
- سيدي بوسعيدSidi Bou Said village
- جامع الزيتونةZitouna Mosque
- سوق العطارينSouk el-Attarine (perfume souk)
Foreign embassies are in Tunis, mostly in Les Berges du Lac and the centre; write your own below.
Carry small dinar notes and coins for taxis and cafés.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tunis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.