Independent travel in Tunisia is easier than most people would expect.
This country has a fantastic transport network to help you discover all of the highlights and more.
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Many visitors, particularly Europeans, head to Tunisia as part of a week-long all-inclusive package deal.
The drawcard is the beaches along the Mediterranean coastline of Tunisia and the competitive prices for many chic resorts.
But if you’re interested in discovering Tunisia beyond just the resorts and tourist towns, you’re in for an exciting time.
For adventurous travellers looking for a destination to explore in more depth, I’d recommend Tunisia.
If you ask us, this North African nation is so underrated. We had an amazing few weeks of discovering this country and its diversity.
Read our best tips for travel in Tunisia below and our detailed 14-day itinerary for Tunisia, and you’re all set!
We travelled to Tunisia in late November and early December 2021.
The prices quoted in this itinerary for Tunisia are in local currency, Tunisian Dinar (TND).
At the time, 1 USD = 2.9 TND
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The wifi and internet are not very reliable in Tunisia so I’d recommend picking up a SIM Card for your phone with one of the providers at the airport.
There are several to choose from and they all offer similar data plans. I got an Orange SIM Card for free at the airport, then topped it up with 10GB for 20 TND (USD $7). You can also get 2GB for 10 TND.
Alternatively, an easier option would be to get an eSIM for Tunisia. This eSIM gives you 1GB data for 7 days. The price is $9.50; you can download it on your phone within minutes. Once you’ve arrived in Tunisia, you’re all set to go.
Note: Before buying an eSIM, you must ensure your phone is compatible. Check this on Airalo website before making any purchase.
It means you can access the BOLT app and order a ride, book your hotels on the go with Booking.com and find reviews on the best places to eat in Tunisia.
If you’re a food-lover like me, don’t miss my post on the 8 most popular street foods in Tunisia that you must try.
Download the BOLT App before you arrive, (or when you’re here). It will save you time and money.
If your French or Arabic language skills are non-existent, this app will help you get from A to B without hassle.
It’s a useful tool to learn what fares typically costs from A to B and it works similarly to Uber.
The main difference is that you must pay cash (Tunisian dinar) for your fare directly to the driver once your ride is complete.
There is no good reason why you should still be paying International transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees in 2022. Banks have come a long way over the years.
If you haven’t signed up for a bank account with ING Direct yet, then you’ll most likely be paying unnecessary bank fees when you travel to different countries.
During my trip to Tunisia (read our 14-day itinerary for Tunisia here) I was charged 12 TND ($4.20) each time I withdrew local currency from an ATM.
But, because I have a bank account with ING Direct, every ATM bank fee was reimbursed to me. It’s fantastic! I’m also refunded for any foreign transaction fees charged while travelling abroad with this bank.
For more information about ING and why it’s the best debit card for travellers, read our post with more information.
One of the best tools to get around Tunisia is the Maps.me app. You can download offline maps of the country, so you never have to use mobile data to get around.
The map also shows hiking trails and walking paths, which Google Maps doesn’t have.
Although Tunisia has a great train network between cities and buses, it is much faster to use louage. Louage is the name for small vans that connect all cities and towns.
You go to the dedicated station in town, buy a ticket from the ticket office, and sit in the van that fits 8 people.
Once the van is full, it departs directly to the final destination. It is the fastest way to get from A to B in Tunisia whiteout using taxi or your own car.
We love Booking.com. It’s one of the most used apps on our phones. This is our go-to for booking accommodation on our adventure to visit every country worldwide.
Time and time again, Booking.com offered us the best accommodation and prices as we travelled around Tunisia.
The best part is that the app is straightforward, and you pay in local currency or credit card once you arrive at your accommodation provider.
In many cases, the app gives you the option to reserve the hotel for your selected date, and if you need to change it or cancel, there are often no cancellation fees.
Avoid drinking the tap water in Tunisia and stick to bottled water. Large bottles of water (1.5L) can be purchased from small shops and supermarkets for about $0.25.
Better yet, bring along a LifeStraw filtered water bottle. You will be helping the environment reduce plastic waste, and you can take it with you on your future travelling adventures.
Tunisia has some amazing highlights and places to visit. There’s so much to see from visiting Star Wars film set locations, desert day trips in the south, or the epic amphitheatre in El Jem.
If you’re travelling solo or want to share the experience, consider checking out either Viator or GetYourGuide website.
Browse and book activities for travel in Tunisia and all over the world. We love that if plans change, you can cancel most bookings for free up to 24 hours before they start.
We’d highly recommend this cooking class in Tunis and this day trip to Kairouan and El Jem.
This is a tip we’d recommend for travel in Tunisia and for every country you visit. We regularly use XE Currency Converter to convert currency and exchange rates when on the go.
I’d recommend downloading the app to your phone and adding the Tunisian Dinar (local currency) to your browser.
Whenever you need to withdraw currency at an ATM or change other foreign currencies in Tunisia, you can double-check you’re getting the right rate within seconds on XE.
I frequently use my XE app to calculate the prices of goods in supermarkets and at markets if I’m buying souvenirs or food.
As you explore and travel in Tunisia, remember to keep any foreign currency receipts or ATM currency withdrawal receipts with you.
Before departing Tunisia, ensure you convert all of your Tunisian dinars to Euros/USD (or another hard currency) before you depart. Tunisian Dinars are impossible to exchange once you’ve departed the country.
If you exchange currency at the airport before your departure, you may be asked for the receipt proving where you got the cash initially.
Read more about the 2 Best Travel Insurance Companies
Most flights from around the world will likely arrive in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia.
My final tip for independent travel in Tunisia is to reserve at least your first-night accommodation here to begin your trip. My recommendations for affordable, comfortable, and well-located hotels, for any budget are listed below.
Budget: Dar Ya – A great budget option in the heart of Medina. Rooms are clean and comfortable, yet only shared bathroom facilities are available. Breakfast is included in the price.
The staff is very welcoming and helpful in providing local knowledge to explore Tunis and the surrounding area. Check prices here.
Midrange: Dar Ben Gacem – A beautifully restored old Tunisian home, now a boutique hotel. The rooms are beautiful, and an amazing breakfast is included in the rate (the best omelette and coffee in Tunisia).
The young staff is always around to help with anything you need, even if it’s to prepare you a hot pot of tea or coffee after a long day of exploring. Check prices here.
Luxury: Treat yourself: Hôtel Belvédère Fourati – If you’ve got the budget that allows a swish stay in this hotel in Tunis, I recommend it. Check prices here.
Get Connected with eSIM
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We recommend you read our post about the Perfect 14 Days Itinerary for Tunisia. This is the route we took, and it was ideal.
We’ve included prices and details of local transport, where to stay, and essential information to ensure smooth travels here.
Check out these 5 unique things to do in Medina, Tunis. And, our post explaining 8 of the best street eats in Tunisia cannot be missed!
Also, it’s worth checking out our ESSENTIAL Packing List for Africa. We used this exact packing list to travel to all 54 African nations.
If you’re interested to read about some of our crazy adventures, our 2019 recap of our travels in West Africa will give you an idea of how it was. And, if you’re considering travelling to West Africa yourself, read these 17 Important Things to Know Before Travelling to West Africa.
Our African Food Map – A Food Guide to 54 Countries is a great read, so be sure to check it out.
For more travel advice, tips, and useful websites we use to travel the world, head to our Travel Resources Page.
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3 Comments. Leave new
Very helpful and essential tips, especially in regards to the SIM Card… I mean you gotta have wifi , thanks for sharing
Thank you for all the great tips! I’m curious if you would recommend driving in Tunisia? Additionally, are credit cards accepted, or mainly cash is needed?
Hi Miko,
Yes, we recommend driving around Tunisia. We saw several groups of travellers doing so, most of them in 4WD vehicles. We used credit/debit cards to pay for accommodation and restaurants (we use and recommend WISE, read more here https://transferwise.com/invite/u/racheld364), but we always had local currency to pay for shared taxis/local transport, street food snacks and some entry fees to some cool attractions. Hope you have a great time, we really loved exploring this underrated country 🙂