Travel Essentials › Tunisia
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C and E, 230 V. Emergency: Police 197, Ambulance 190, Fire 198. Tipping: Leave about 5-10% in restaurants and small change for taxis and porters. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..
Types C and E, 230 V
| Police | 197 |
| Ambulance | 190 |
| Fire | 198 |
Leave about 5-10% in restaurants and small change for taxis and porters.
Greetings. A handshake is standard; close friends may greet with cheek kisses. Ask about family and health before getting to business.
Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees away from beach/resort areas, especially in medinas, mosques and rural towns; women may want loose clothing to reduce unwanted attention.
Ramadan etiquette. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours out of respect for those fasting.
Tunisia is generally safe for tourists with manageable risks centered on petty crime and scams rather than violent crime, though some border regions near Algeria and Libya are higher risk and best avoided.
Aggressive vendors / fake guides. In medinas, unsolicited 'guides' or shopkeepers pressure tourists into shops with inflated prices; agree on a price up front or politely decline.
Taxi overcharging. Insist drivers use the meter ('compteur') or agree a fare beforehand, especially from airports and tourist sites.
Carpet/souvenir high-pressure sales. Carpet and souvenir shops can use hard-sell tactics and inflated 'first price'; bargaining hard is expected and normal.
Women travelers. Street harassment, catcalling and staring are common though usually verbal; modest, loose-fitting clothing reduces unwanted attention, and women should avoid solo walks at night outside tourist areas.
Criminalized
Same-sex relations are illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison; there are no anti-discrimination protections, so LGBTQ+ travelers should be discreet in public and with accommodation bookings.
| Coffee (café) | TND 2.5 | $0.85 |
| Local bus or metro ride | TND 1-2 | $0.35-0.70 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | TND 30-40 | $10-13 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | TND 45-75 | $15-25 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | TND 300-420 | $100-140 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | TND 200-245 | $67-83 |
2026-09
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-early November) offer the mildest, most comfortable weather; summer is hot but good for beaches, and winter is cooler and rainier but suits Sahara excursions.
Tunisia visa requirements by nationality
Basic Arabic phrases · Basic French phrases · Basic Arabic (Tunisian) phrases