The most useful Tunisia travel tips are the unglamorous ones — the practical details you only ever discover the hard way at the airport. The first time I helped a friend pack for Tunisia, she asked whether she could buy “a few hundred dinars from the Post Office” before she flew. She couldn’t, and that small fact — the dinar is a closed currency you can only get once you land — sums up why this country rewards a bit of homework. Get the handful of practical things right and Tunisia is one of the easiest, friendliest, best-value winter-sun and culture trips a UK traveller can take. Get them wrong and you’re the person stuck at the airier end of arrivals wondering why your card won’t work.
The essential Tunisia travel tips in one breath: British passport holders get 90 days visa-free; your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your stay. The dinar is a closed currency, so change money on arrival and spend it before you leave. Tap water’s a no; bottled is pennies. Your GHIC is useless here, so travel insurance is non-negotiable. Resorts are relaxed; towns and mosques want modest dress. And yes, it’s safe in the places you’re actually going.
I’ve written this as the guide I wish my friend had had — a complete, no-nonsense pre-trip brief aimed squarely at UK visitors, especially the millions who fly into Enfidha, Monastir and Djerba on a package or all-inclusive to Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui and the island. Independent travellers will find everything they need here too. Every price is in Tunisian dinar (TND) with a pound conversion, every safety claim is quoted from the Foreign Office and date-stamped, and where the official sources don’t give a firm figure I tell you so rather than guess. Last updated 10 June 2026.
Tunisia at a glance: quick facts for first-timers
If you read nothing else, screenshot this. It’s the reference card I’d hand anyone going for the first time.
| Thing to know | The short version |
|---|---|
| Visa (UK) | None needed for stays up to 90 days |
| Passport | Must be valid for the duration of your stay; don’t travel on a damaged one |
| Currency | Tunisian dinar (TND); ~3.9 TND to £1 (June 2026); closed — get it there, spend it there |
| Languages | Arabic (official), French everywhere, English in resorts and tourist areas |
| Plugs | European two-pin, types C and E, 230V — bring an adaptor |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1, no daylight saving (same as the UK in summer, +1hr in winter) |
| Flight time from UK | Around 3 hours |
| Driving | On the right; UK visitors need a 1968 International Driving Permit |
| Dialling code | +216 |
| Emergency numbers | Police 197 · Ambulance 190 · Fire/Civil Protection 198 |
| Tap water | Stick to bottled (it’s cheap and everywhere) |
| Tourist tax | 4–12 TND per person per night, paid at your hotel (see below) |
Beyond the basics, the rhythm of a Tunisia trip is genuinely gentle: short flight, no jet lag, a currency that makes a pint and a plate of grilled fish feel like a steal, and a coastline built for doing very little. The friction is all front-loaded into the planning, which is exactly what this guide is for. If you want the inspiration side — the sights, the souks, the day trips — start with our roundup of the best things to do in Tunisia and come back here for the logistics.
Do UK visitors need a visa for Tunisia?
No. If you hold a full British Citizen passport you can visit Tunisia without a visa for up to 90 days. There’s no form to fill in beforehand, no fee, and no e-visa to apply for — you simply turn up, hand over your passport at immigration, and get a stamp. The Foreign Office confirms the 90-day allowance; overstaying without a good reason means a fine you settle on the way out, so don’t drift past it.
Passport validity and condition
This is where a lot of older guides get it wrong, so let me be precise. For Tunisia, the UK government says your passport just needs to be valid for the duration of your stay — there’s no “six months beyond your return date” rule like some destinations impose, and any blog telling you otherwise is recycling a generic default. What does matter is the state of your passport: the FCDO specifically warns that a damaged or torn passport can cause you problems leaving the country, so if yours is held together with optimism, renew it before you book.
Is there a Tunisia e-visa or visa on arrival?
For British, Irish, US, Canadian and Australian tourists, none of that applies because you’re visa-exempt in the first place. There’s been talk for a couple of years of Tunisia launching an online visa platform, but as of June 2026 there is no general tourist e-visa system, so ignore any site trying to sell you a “3-day Tunisia e-visa”. If you hold a passport from a country that does need a visa, that’s arranged through a Tunisian embassy in advance — check your own government’s advice.
What border officials can ask for
Entry is usually a 60-second formality, but the rules give officers the right to ask for a few things, and a small number of travellers each year get pulled up for not having them. Be ready to show a return or onward ticket and proof of where you’re staying — a hotel booking confirmation on your phone is plenty. Names are checked against an immigration database, and occasionally a coincidental name match causes a delay or a bag search; it’s rare, it’s not personal, and patience is the only tool that helps. There’s no landing card to fill in.
One thing you can’t bring in: drones
If you were picturing sweeping aerial shots of the dunes, leave the drone at home. It is illegal to bring drones into Tunisia without authorisation, and in the Foreign Office’s blunt words, “any drones detected will be confiscated and stored until your departure.” People do get them taken at the airport. Not worth it.
Getting to Tunisia (and which airport you want)
Almost every UK holidaymaker arrives at one of four airports, and which one you fly into shapes your whole trip far more than people realise. Here’s how they break down.
| Airport | Code | Best for | UK service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enfidha–Hammamet | NBE | Hammamet, Yasmine Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui, Monastir | TUI, easyJet (8 UK airports) |
| Monastir Habib Bourguiba | MIR | Sousse, Skanès, Mahdia, the Sahel | TUI (seasonal) |
| Djerba–Zarzis | DJE | The island of Djerba and the south-east | TUI; easyJet via Enfidha for most |
| Tunis–Carthage | TUN | The capital, Sidi Bou Said, Carthage, the north | Tunisair, Nouvelair (no easyJet from the UK) |
Which airlines fly from the UK
TUI is the workhorse, running package and flight-only services from a long list of UK airports to Enfidha and Djerba. easyJet flies to Enfidha–Hammamet from eight UK airports (Gatwick, Southend, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow and Belfast) — note that easyJet’s UK routes go to Enfidha, not Tunis, so if you specifically want the capital you’ll be looking at Tunisair or Nouvelair, or a connection. Flights take around three hours, there’s no time difference to speak of in summer, and the longest part of your journey is often the coach transfer from Enfidha down to your resort.
One persistent myth worth killing: Jet2 does not fly to Tunisia. It pulled out after 2015 and its Enfidha and Monastir routes are both listed as terminated — so if a comparison site or an out-of-date article tells you to “grab a Jet2 deal to Tunisia”, it’s wrong for summer 2026. Book through TUI or easyJet instead. If you’re weighing up where to base yourself once you land, our guide to where to stay in Tunisia breaks down every resort area, and there are dedicated deep-dives on Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba.
Money in Tunisia: the closed dinar, explained
This is the single most important practical thing to understand, so I’ll spend a bit of time on it. The Tunisian dinar is a closed currency. That has three consequences that catch first-timers out every week.
You can’t buy dinar before you go
It’s actually illegal to import or export Tunisian dinar, which is why your UK bank, the Post Office and the airport bureau de change won’t sell it to you. Don’t waste an afternoon trying. You change money once you arrive — there are exchange desks and ATMs in the arrivals hall at every airport, and the rate there is fine for a first tranche. As a rough anchor, in June 2026 you’re getting around 3.9 dinars to the pound and about 2.9 to the US dollar, though it floats, so treat that as a guide rather than gospel.
Bring some cash — and mind the declaration rules
Plenty of people bring sterling or euros to change on arrival. Euros in particular are widely accepted to change and, in resort areas, sometimes accepted directly. Two official wrinkles: there’s a small stamp duty of 10 TND payable when you bring foreign currency in, and if you’re carrying a large amount of cash you may need to declare it. The published thresholds (declare at the equivalent of 25,000 TND, or 5,000 TND if you’re a non-resident who wants to re-export it) come from the airport customs authority, but the figures are a few years old, so if you’re travelling with serious cash, check the current rules before you fly. For a normal two-week holiday this never comes up.
Keep your exchange receipts
Here’s the tip that saves money at the end: keep the receipt every time you change money or withdraw dinar from a bank counter. To convert leftover dinar back into pounds or euros at the airport when you leave, you have to show that receipt — and the Foreign Office is explicit that cash-machine receipts are not accepted for this. The simpler move, honestly, is to spend down to a few coins before you reach the airport: a closed currency is worthless the moment you’re home, so blow the last of it on dates, olive oil or a final round of mint teas.
Cash, cards and ATMs
Tunisia is still very much a cash society. Big hotels, smarter restaurants and supermarkets take Visa and Mastercard, and ATMs are easy to find along the coast — but cafés, taxis, souk stalls, medina shops and anywhere off the tourist strip want dinar in hand. A few realities worth knowing: American Express is rarely accepted, contactless is still patchy outside international hotels, and ATMs thin out dramatically once you head into the south, so draw what you need before a desert trip. Tell your bank you’re travelling, carry a card and a backup, and keep a cash float for the small stuff.
The Tunisian tourist tax, by hotel star rating
Almost nobody mentions this and then everybody’s surprised by it at check-in. Since a reform that took effect on 1 November 2024, Tunisia charges a flat accommodation (tourist) tax per person, per night, scaled to your hotel’s star rating. It’s small, but it’s per person per night, so on a family fortnight it adds up.
| Hotel rating | Tax per person, per night | ≈ in £ |
|---|---|---|
| 4 & 5-star | 12 TND | ~£3.10 |
| 3-star | 8 TND | ~£2.05 |
| 2-star | 4 TND | ~£1.05 |
The details that matter: it’s only charged for the first 10 nights of any stay (nights 11 onward are free), children under 12 are exempt, and it’s collected at the hotel — usually at check-in, in cash, in dinar. It isn’t included in your package price and you can’t reclaim it if you leave early. The Foreign Office publishes the 8 and 12 TND figures; the 2-star rate and the under-12 exemption come from the Tunisian hotel industry’s own briefings on the 2024 reform. Budget a few dinars a head per night and you’ll never be caught out. Picking the right base for those nights is its own decision — our where to stay guide weighs up the resort areas and all-inclusives.
Tipping in Tunisia: who, how much, in what
Tipping here is customary rather than compulsory, and a little goes a long way. The golden rule: tip in dinar, in cash — handing over a foreign coin nobody can change isn’t a kindness. Here’s the cheat sheet I use.
| Who | Customary tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Round up or ~10% (check first — a service charge is sometimes added) |
| Cafés / bars | Leave the small change, a dinar or two |
| Taxis | Not expected; round up to the next dinar |
| Hotel porter / housekeeping | 1–2 TND a bag; a few dinars left at the end of the stay |
| All-inclusive bar & restaurant staff | A dinar or two for good service, or an envelope at the end |
| Local guides / drivers | Customary, scaled to the length and quality of the day |
| Hammam attendant | A small tip, ~5 TND, is the norm |
On an all-inclusive in particular, a few dinars slipped to the bartender on day one tends to be repaid in attentive service all week — and it’s appreciated in a country where tourism wages are modest. None of it is obligatory, so don’t feel strong-armed; tip for service you were happy with.
Staying connected: SIM cards, eSIMs and Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and cafés, but it’s patchy and slow often enough that I always sort mobile data. You have three good options.
Tunisia has three networks — Ooredoo, Orange Tunisie and Tunisie Telecom — and all three have desks in the arrivals halls at the main airports. A local tourist SIM with a chunky data bundle is cheap, somewhere in the region of 10–30 TND (£2.50–£8) depending on how many gigabytes you want, though exact bundles shift, so treat that as ballpark. You’ll need to show your passport to buy one — that’s a legal requirement, not a shop being awkward. Ooredoo and Tunisie Telecom generally have the broadest coverage if you’re heading inland or south.
If you’d rather land already connected, an eSIM is the modern answer: buy one before you fly (Orange’s travel eSIM or a third-party provider), install it, and it switches on when you arrive. It’s slightly dearer per gig than a local SIM but saves the airport queue. Whatever you do, don’t just roam on your UK plan without checking — Tunisia sits outside most UK networks’ inclusive zones, so standard roaming can be eye-watering. Check your tariff’s North Africa rates before you assume.
Health, water and travel insurance
None of this is scary, but it’s the area where cutting corners genuinely costs you, so read this bit properly.
Your GHIC won’t help here — you need travel insurance
Let me be unambiguous, because it’s the mistake that turns a stomach bug into a four-figure bill. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), and the old EHIC, are not valid in Tunisia. Tunisia isn’t in the scheme. The Foreign Office puts it plainly: “there’s no provision for free medical attention for foreign nationals in Tunisia,” and in private clinics “all doctors’ fees, medication and treatment must be paid for on the spot.” So comprehensive travel insurance with medical cover and repatriation is essential — not a nice-to-have. Buy it when you book, make sure it covers any activities you’re planning (quad bikes and diving often need a bolt-on), and carry the policy number on your phone. Care in the resort towns is decent and pharmacies are excellent; it’s the bill that bites without cover.
Vaccinations
No vaccine is legally required to enter Tunisia from the UK, and there’s no yellow fever certificate requirement. For your own protection, the UK’s TravelHealthPro service advises that most travellers be up to date on hepatitis A and tetanus, with hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies and MMR recommended for some travellers depending on what you’ll be doing. Tunisia is malaria-free, so no antimalarials. Book a GP or travel-clinic appointment six to eight weeks before you go if you’re not current, and don’t bin your routine UK jabs in the process. (Note for any old guides you stumble on: FitForTravel has been retired — use NHS, TravelHealthPro or the CDC instead.)
Don’t drink the tap water
Stick to bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, especially outside the big cities and down south. It’s sold everywhere for small change, hotels hand it out, and it removes the most common cause of a ruined day or two. Be a little cautious with ice and unpeeled salads at the cheapest end, go easy on the harissa if your stomach’s sensitive, and pack rehydration sachets just in case. Showering and washing are completely fine.
Medicines, pharmacies and the sun
Bring any prescription medication in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription or a GP letter, and check anything unusual before you travel — controlled substances and some products (CBD and cannabis-derived items among them) are illegal to bring in and can land you in real trouble. Pharmacies (pharmacie) are widespread, well stocked and staffed by people who usually speak French and often English; there’s a rota for late-night opening. The bigger day-to-day health risk for most visitors is simply the sun — summer highs are fierce, the south can sit above 40°C, so high-factor cream, a hat and water are not optional.
Is Tunisia safe? What the FCDO says in 2026
Short version: the places UK package tourists actually go — Hammamet, Yasmine Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui, Monastir, Mahdia, Djerba and the Tunis–Carthage–Sidi Bou Said corner — are not subject to any Foreign Office travel warning, and millions of Europeans holiday there every year without incident. But Tunisia does have border and mountain regions the FCDO advises against, and because that advice can affect your travel insurance, you should know exactly where the lines are. We keep a full, regularly updated breakdown in our honest guide to whether Tunisia is safe; here’s the essential version.
The areas the Foreign Office advises against
As of its latest update (the FCDO page is marked “Updated: 23 February 2026” and “Still current at: 17 May 2026”), the Foreign Office advises against all travel to: “the Chaambi Mountains National Park” and the designated military operations zones of “Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila”; “the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba”; areas “within 20km of the rest of the Tunisia-Libya border north of Dhehiba”; and “the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area.”
It advises against all but essential travel to a wider band including: areas “north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba Governorate, including El Feidja National Park”; within “20km of the Tunisia-Algeria border” in El Kef and Jendouba south of Jendouba; “Kasserine Governorate, including the town of Sbeitla”; within “10km of the rest of the Tunisia-Algeria border” south of Kasserine; “Mount Mghila” and “Mount Orbata”; and within “75km of the Tunisia-Libya border, including Remada and El Borma but excluding Zarzis, the C118 road and all areas in Medenine Governorate north of the road.”
Read that list and you’ll notice what’s not on it: every mainstream resort and sightseeing area. Crucially for Djerba travellers, the island, Zarzis and the C118 road are explicitly excluded from the Libya-border zone. The practical takeaway is simple — book the coast and the classic cultural circuit and you’re well clear of anywhere the FCDO flags. One firm rule we follow on this site: we never present the off-limits inland areas (Sbeitla, the Kasserine and border zones) as holiday destinations, because the Foreign Office advises against going and your insurance “could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO.”
Petty crime, scams and fake “guides”
Violent crime against tourists is rare; the everyday stuff is low-level and easily handled. In the medinas and around the big sights you’ll meet friendly strangers who happen to be steering you toward a particular carpet shop, “free” gifts that aren’t, and the occasional taxi driver whose meter is mysteriously “broken.” None of it is dangerous — it’s commerce — but a polite, firm “la, shukran” (no, thank you) and walking on works wonders. Agree taxi fares or insist on the meter before you set off, don’t accept an unsolicited medina “guide” unless you want to pay for one, keep valuables in the hotel safe, and watch your bag in crowds exactly as you would in any European city. That’s the whole of it.
Culture, customs and etiquette
Tunisia is one of the more relaxed, secular countries in the region, and as a visitor you’ll be met with genuine warmth. A handful of cultural pointers will keep you on the right side of local custom without turning your holiday into a lesson.
What to wear: beach versus medina versus mosque
The Foreign Office sums the dress code up well: “beach-appropriate clothing in holiday resorts is acceptable, however when visiting religious sites or remote areas of the country, local custom is to dress modestly.” In practice that means swimwear and shorts are completely normal around the pool and on resort beaches in Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba — nobody blinks. Step into a working medina, a market town, a village or anywhere inland, though, and you’ll feel more comfortable (and draw less attention) with shoulders and knees covered. For mosque visits where non-Muslims are admitted, cover arms and legs, and women should carry a scarf for their hair. It’s about reading the room, not a rigid rulebook, and it applies a touch more to women than men. Pack one light long-sleeved layer and a scarf and you’re set for anywhere.
Alcohol: where, when and the Friday rule
Alcohol is legal and easy to find for visitors — served in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants, and sold in the alcohol sections of larger supermarkets like Magasin Général and Carrefour. Two quirks to file away. First, the Foreign Office notes that alcohol “is banned from sale in supermarkets on Fridays” — bars and hotels still serve, but you can’t grab a bottle from the shop that day, so stock up on Thursday if you’re self-catering. Second, during Ramadan supermarket sales pause and choice narrows, though the FCDO confirms these restrictions “do not apply at holiday resorts,” where the bar carries on as normal. The drinking age is 18, and drinking in the street or public parks is not done and can get you fined — keep it to licensed venues and your hotel.
Ramadan and how it affects your trip
If your trip lands during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, expect a different rhythm: many cafés and restaurants outside resorts close or run reduced hours during daylight, the pace slows, and it’s respectful not to eat, drink or smoke conspicuously in the street while locals are fasting. Resorts and tourist hotels run normally, so a package holiday is barely affected. Dates move each year with the lunar calendar — Ramadan in 2026 ran roughly 18 February to 19/20 March, and in 2027 it begins on or around 8 February. Because the exact start depends on a moon sighting, and because opening hours and festival dates shift around it, double-check anything time-sensitive close to your travel date.
Photography, greetings and small courtesies
Tunisians are hospitable and generally happy to chat, but a few etiquette notes smooth the way. Always ask before photographing people, particularly women and older people, and never photograph government buildings, police or military sites — the FCDO is explicit: “do not take photographs of or near government buildings or military sites.” A handshake and a “salaam” or French “bonjour” opens doors; accept the offer of mint tea if you have a minute, as refusing outright can seem cold. Eat and pass things with your right hand, dress and behave a little more conservatively away from the coast, and steer clear of lecturing on politics or religion. Common courtesy, basically — it just travels especially well here.
LGBT+ travellers
This is a point to be honest about. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Tunisia under Article 230 of the penal code, which carries a prison sentence of up to three years, and the Foreign Office notes that “members of the LGBT+ community have been targeted by criminals.” Prosecutions and arrests do happen. Many LGBT+ travellers visit Tunisia without issue by being discreet in public, but you should go in with a clear-eyed understanding of the legal position and read the FCDO’s dedicated LGBT+ travel advice before you book. I’d rather tell you this straight than have you find out the hard way.
Do they speak English?
Arabic is the official language and Tunisian Arabic the language of the street, but French is the everyday second language — on signs, menus and in business — and a huge practical help if you have any school French at all. English is widely understood in resorts, hotels and tourist areas, less so once you go rural. A few words of Arabic (shukran for thank you, la for no) are warmly received. You will not struggle to be understood on the coast.
Getting around once you’re there
Most package travellers barely move beyond a pre-booked transfer and the odd excursion, but if you want to explore independently, here’s the lay of the land.
Taxis
Town taxis are cheap, metered and the easiest way around the resorts and cities — just make sure the meter is running rather than accepting a “special price.” A genuinely useful thing to know: the meter switches to a night tariff (roughly +50%) between about 9pm and 6am, so a fare that feels steep after dinner is often legitimate. One big 2025 change that out-of-date guides miss: Bolt has left Tunisia (operations ceased in May 2025), there’s no Uber, and the local app Yassir really only works in Greater Tunis. So in the resorts you’re back to metered street taxis and your hotel desk — no app to fall back on.
Louages, trains and buses
For getting between towns on a budget, louages — shared inter-city minibuses that leave when full from a dedicated station — are the local lifeblood: cheap, frequent on popular routes and a proper slice of Tunisian life. The national railway, SNCFT, links Tunis down the coast through Sousse and on toward Sfax, plus the handy Sahel metro around Sousse–Monastir; it’s inexpensive and fine, if a notch below UK standards and with the usual advice to keep an eye on your bag. Long-distance SNTRI coaches cover the bigger intercity hops. For most resort-based visitors, though, an organised excursion or a half-day taxi hire is the path of least resistance — and our roundup of things to do in Tunisia and the Tunisia itinerary plans show what’s realistically reachable from each base.
Hiring a car and driving
Car hire unlocks the country, but drive in with your eyes open. UK licence holders need a 1968 International Driving Permit (buy it for a few pounds at a UK Post Office before you fly — you can’t get one once you’re there) plus a Green Card to prove insurance. You drive on the right. Roads between major centres are good and the A1 motorway is fast, but watch for potholes on minor roads, livestock and unlit vehicles at night, and the occasional police or military checkpoint — slow down, be polite and have your documents ready. Drink-driving limits are strict and enforced. If a long touring route tempts you, the itinerary guide maps out sensible distances; for the deep south, factor in that fuel stations and ATMs get sparse.
When is the best time to visit Tunisia?
The sweet spots are spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October), when the coast is warm, the sea’s swimmable and the inland sights aren’t an endurance test. July and August are hot and busy — glorious by the pool, brutal at midday in the desert, where temperatures routinely top 40°C. Winter is mild and green on the coast and a lovely, cheap time for cities and culture, if too cool for sustained beach days. Sea temperatures peak in late summer (warmest around August–September) and Djerba runs a degree or two warmer than the mainland. For a proper month-by-month breakdown of weather, sea temperatures and crowds, see our best time to visit Tunisia guide, and for where the sand’s nicest, the best beaches in Tunisia.
Timing also shapes what you do. A summer trip is for the beach and a single early-morning excursion; spring and autumn open up the Sahara and the deep south, the Roman sites and walking the medinas of Tunis without wilting. If you can be flexible, the shoulder seasons give you the best of everything.
What to pack for Tunisia
Beyond the obvious swimwear-and-sandals, the things people forget: a European two-pin travel adaptor (types C/E), high-factor sun cream and a hat, a light long-sleeved layer and a scarf for medinas and mosques, insect repellent for summer evenings, any prescription medicines in their original packaging with a doctor’s note, a small cash float mindset (you’ll be using notes and coins constantly), rehydration sachets, and comfortable shoes for cobbled medinas and Roman sites. Leave the drone at home, as we covered. A reusable water bottle you can refill from the big bottled multipacks saves money and plastic.
Tunisia travel tips: frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for Tunisia?
No. British passport holders can visit Tunisia visa-free for up to 90 days. There’s nothing to apply for in advance and no fee; you simply get a stamp on arrival. Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay and undamaged. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days you’ll need to arrange permission locally.
Can you drink the tap water in Tunisia?
It’s best not to. Stick to bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, particularly outside the main cities and in the south. Bottled water costs very little and is sold everywhere, and most hotels provide it. Washing and showering in tap water is perfectly fine — it’s drinking it that can upset an unaccustomed stomach.
Is my GHIC or EHIC valid in Tunisia?
No. Neither the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) nor the old EHIC is valid in Tunisia, because the country isn’t part of the scheme. There’s no free healthcare for visitors and private clinics expect payment on the spot, so comprehensive travel insurance with medical cover and repatriation is essential. Buy it when you book and check it covers your activities.
How much is the tourist tax in Tunisia?
It’s an accommodation tax of 12 TND per person per night at 4 and 5-star hotels, 8 TND at 3-star and 4 TND at 2-star (roughly £1–£3 a head). It’s charged for the first 10 nights only, under-12s are exempt, and you pay it at the hotel, usually in cash at check-in. It isn’t included in package prices, so budget a few dinars per person per night.
Can you buy Tunisian dinar before you travel?
No. The dinar is a closed currency that can’t legally be taken in or out of the country, so UK banks and bureaux won’t sell it. Change money on arrival at the airport or a bank, keep your receipts so you can convert leftover dinar back when you leave, and aim to spend down to small change before you fly home.
Can you drink alcohol in Tunisia?
Yes. Alcohol is legal and served in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants, and sold in larger supermarkets — except that supermarket sales are banned on Fridays. During Ramadan, shop sales pause and choice narrows, but resort bars and hotels carry on as normal. The drinking age is 18 and drinking in public streets or parks is best avoided.
What should women wear in Tunisia?
Around resort pools and beaches, ordinary swimwear and summer clothes are completely fine. In medinas, towns, villages and rural areas it’s more comfortable and respectful to cover shoulders and knees, and a scarf is handy for visiting mosques. Tunisia is relatively liberal, so this is about blending in rather than strict rules — a light layer and a scarf cover every situation.
What plug adapter do I need for Tunisia?
Tunisia uses the European two-pin plug, types C and E, running on 230V at 50Hz — the same setup as France and much of mainland Europe. UK travellers need a European travel adaptor (a standard “Europe” adaptor works). Most modern phone and laptop chargers handle 230V automatically, but check any older appliances are dual-voltage.
Is Tunisia safe for tourists right now?
The mainstream resort and sightseeing areas — Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui, Monastir, Mahdia, Djerba and the Tunis area — carry no Foreign Office travel warning and host millions of visitors a year. The FCDO does advise against travel to certain mountain and border regions well away from the resorts. Check the latest official advice before you go, and see our dedicated guide to whether Tunisia is safe for the full picture.
How do you get around Tunisia without a car?
Metered town taxis are cheap and the easiest option in resorts and cities (note the +50% night tariff after 9pm). Between towns, shared louage minibuses and SNCFT trains are inexpensive, and SNTRI coaches cover longer routes. Note that Bolt left Tunisia in 2025 and there’s no Uber, so there’s no ride-hailing app in the resorts — use street taxis or your hotel desk.
Final thoughts
Come back to my friend at the start, the one trying to buy dinars from the Post Office. Once she understood the closed currency, packed a European adaptor, bought proper insurance instead of relying on her GHIC, and learned that her passport just needed to outlast the trip, the planning took an evening — and the holiday itself was the easy, sun-drunk, ridiculously good-value week Tunisia does so well. That’s the whole point of these Tunisia travel tips: front-load the small stuff so the trip can be effortless.
None of it is complicated once you know it. Change money on arrival and spend it before you leave, drink bottled water, dress for the room you’re in, keep your safety information current and quoted from the source, and treat people with the warmth they’ll show you. Do that and you’re free to get on with the good bit. When you’re ready to plan the days themselves, our guides to the best things to do, where to stay and the ready-made itineraries pick up exactly where this one leaves off. Have a brilliant trip.
Photo credits
All images via Wikimedia Commons. Hammamet beach by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) (CC BY 3.0); Tunis medina lane by Rais67 (public domain); Tunisian dinar by Timo Schmidt (copyrighted free use); Great Mosque of Kairouan by Dennis G. Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0); El Jem amphitheatre by Agnieszka Wolska (CC BY-SA 3.0); Ribat of Sousse by Sharon Hahn Darlin (CC BY 2.0); Douz camel caravan by Dennis G. Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0); Sidi Bou Said doorway by Mstyslav Chernov (CC BY-SA 3.0); Sidi Bou Said street by Rene Cortin (CC BY-SA 4.0).
And once the practicalities are sorted, the fun: what to eat in Tunisia, and the Star Wars filming locations half the country doubles for.