The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- Tunis · Djerba · Monastir · Sfax
- Best season
- September to June, from Tunis’s normals
- Length
- Allow at least 8 days for these 4 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Ideal
November
Tunis: mean maximum 22 °C, 53 mm of rain · dry and mild.
- Mean maximum
- 22 °C
- Rain
- 53 mm
- Station
- Tunis
Source: Wikipedia (climate normals)
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. French travellers: see France Diplomatie (https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/tunisie/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour).
- To enter Tunisia, your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
- 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.
- For details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Tunisia guide.
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip:
- There’s no provision for free medical attention for foreign nationals in Tunisia. All doctors’ fees, medication and treatment in private clinics must be paid for on the spot (and sometimes before treatment). These costs can be high.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
Vigilance zones published by France Diplomatie (in French) · page updated on 15 Sept 2026 · see the official map
- Red · Zones formellement déconseillées (en rouge sur la carte)
Extrême Sud du pays
La région saharienne proche des frontières avec la Libye et avec l’Algérie est formellement déconseillée. Elle correspond à une zone militaire instaurée au mois d’août 2013 par les autorités tunisiennes, les…
- Orange · Zones déconseillées sauf raison impérative (en orange sur la carte)
Sud du pays
Les déplacements sont déconseillés, sauf raison impérative, dans la zone désertique au sud et à l’Est de la ligne Bir Rijm Maatoug - Borj Bourguiba -Ben Guerdane (cette dernière ville étant comprise dans la zone…
- Yellow · Zones de vigilance renforcée (en jaune sur la carte)
Dans le gouvernorat du Kef, il est recommandé d’effectuer la visite du site de la Table de Jugurtha dans le cadre de circuits organisés par des guides de voyage en lien avec les autorités locales.
Le reste du territoire est en vigilance renforcée.
- The majority of visits to Tunisia are unaffected by crime. The most common crime experienced is theft. Sensible measures to reduce this risk include not displaying expensive items or leaving them unattended, and not carrying unnecessary valuables when in public.
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- The sale of alcohol is permitted in Tunisia but is banned from sale in supermarkets on Fridays. You can still order and drink alcohol in hotels and bars. During Ramadan, sale of alcohol is banned and the consumption of alcohol is restricted to fewer restaurants and bars.
Currency
Tunisian dinarViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
- There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Tunisia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 12,348,573
- Time zone
- no time difference with Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and E plugs · 230 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the right
- Calling code
- +216
- Languages
- Arabic
- Area
- 163,610 km²
- Highest point
- Jebel ech Chambi, 1,544 m
- Main religions
- Muslim 99%, other 1%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- TUNTunis–Carthage International AirportTunis6.4 M passengers · official site
- MIRMonastir Habib Bourguiba International AirportMonastir3.5 M passengers · official site
- NBEEnfidha–Hammamet International AirportEnfida2.3 M passengers · official site
- DJEDjerba–Zarzis International AirportDjerba2 M passengers · official site
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in Tunisia, see information on driving abroad. You can drive in Tunisia for up to one year with a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Destinations
The essentials.
Tunis
Tunis (Arabic: تونس, ) is the capital and largest city of Tunisia.
Djerba
Djerba (; Arabic: جربة, romanized: Jirba, IPA: [ˈʒɪrbæ]; Berber languages: Ǧerba; Italian: Meninge, Girba), also transliterated as Jerba or Jarbah, is a Tunisian island and the largest island of North Africa at 514 square kilometers (198 sq mi), in the…
Monastir
Monastir (Arabic: المنستير, romanized: al-Munastīr, pronounced [ælmunæsˈtiːr]; from the Greek μοναστήριον monastḗrion, 'hermit's cell, monastery'), also called Mestir (Tunisian Arabic: المستير, romanized: il-Məstīr; ), is a city on the central coast of…
Sfax
Sfax ( s(ə-)FAKS; Arabic: صفاقس, romanized: Ṣafāqis, Tunisian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈsˤfɛːqəs] ) is a major port city in Tunisia, located 270 km (170 mi) southeast of Tunis.
Activities
What to do, sheet by sheet.
Starting point, season, tips and sources: each sheet says only what its sources say.
Tunisia
The site of Carthage
The ancient city was destroyed in 146 BC by Rome, after a siege of nearly three years in the Third Punic War.
Tunisia
The Medina of Tunis
Founded in 698 around the Zitouna Mosque, the Medina of Tunis holds some 700 monuments: palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains.
Tunisia
Sidi Bou Saïd, the blue and white village
Some 20 km north-east of Tunis, Sidi Bou Saïd is celebrated for its white houses with blue doors and windows.
Tunisia
The amphitheatre of El Jem
Built around AD 238 in ancient Thysdrus, the El Jem amphitheatre held an estimated 35,000 spectators.
Tunisia
The site of Dougga
For UNESCO, which listed it in 1997, Dougga is “the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa”.
Tunisia
Djerba island
North Africa’s largest island at 514 km², in the Gulf of Gabès, Djerba has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023.
Tunisia
Douz, the gateway to the Sahara
Known as the “gateway to the Sahara”, Douz was an important stop on the trans-Saharan caravan routes.
Tunisia
Kairouan and its Great Mosque
Founded around 670 under the Umayyads, Kairouan became a major centre of Sunni Islamic scholarship.
Tunisia
Tozeur and its palm grove
With hundreds of thousands of palm trees, Tozeur is a large oasis between Chott el Djerid and Chott el Gharsa.
Tunisia
The troglodyte homes of Matmata
In Matmata, some Berber residents still live in traditional underground troglodyte homes.
Sidi Bou Saïd
Habib M'henniMust-try food
Six dishes, and where to taste them.
Couscous
Couscous is a traditional North African dish of small steamed granules of rolled semolina that is often served with a stew spooned on top. Pearl millet, sorghum, bulgur, and other cereals are often cooked in much the same way in West Africa, and the resulting
Lablabi
Lablabi or lablebi (لبلابي) is a traditional Tunisian dish based on chickpeas in a thin garlic- and cumin-flavored broth, served over small pieces of stale crusty bread. It is a staple comfort food in Tunisia and is also found in variations in Iraq and other p
Baklawa El Bey
Un baklawa El Bey est une pâtisserie tunisienne à base d'amandes en poudre, de sucre et d'eau de rose. Elle est souvent composée de trois couleurs : le vert, le rouge et le blanc. (summary in French)
Tajine tunisien
Le tajine tunisien est une préparation à base d'œufs. Son nom vient du fait qu'il est à l'origine cuit dans un tajine en terre cuite. (summary in French)
Brik
Brik or burek is the North African version of borek, a stuffed malsouka pastry which is commonly deep fried. The best-known version is the egg brik, a whole egg in a triangular pastry pocket with chopped onion, tuna, harissa and parsley. With a slightly differ
Ojja
L'ojja est un plat tunisien à base de sauce tomate épicée et d'œufs, connu pour sa facilité de préparation. (summary in French)
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Salamسلامhello, peace
- Shukranشكراthank you
- Min fadlakمن فضلكplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Muslim 99%, other 1%.
- Languages: Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight.
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011) ; independence: 20 March 1956 (from France).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Jebel ech Chambi, reaches 1,544 m.
12,348,573 inhabitants in 2025 on 163,610 km², about 75 per km².
Independence on 20 March 1956 (from France).
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)4.7World Bank · 2025GDP growth2.5 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)5.2 %World Bank · 2025Unemployment (ILO estimate)15.1 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals2 ,000World Bank · 2020
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 20 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · Tunisia (Q948)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Tunisia · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Tunisia · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Tunisia · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (Arabic)
- Wikipedia · Couscous
- Wikipedia · Lablabi
- Wikipedia · Baklawa El Bey
- Wikipedia · Tajine tunisien
- Wikipedia · Brik
- Wikipedia · Ojja
- Wikipedia · Tunis
- Wikipedia · Djerba
- Wikipedia · Monastir
- Wikipedia · Sfax
- CIA World Factbook · Tunisia (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- France Diplomatie · Tunisie · Travel advice · Security (zones, in French) (page updated on 15 Sept 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · Tunis · monthly normals (Institut National de la Météorologie (humidity 1961-1990, sun 1981–2010){{cite web) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.