Practical A–Z
Entry & Visa
Visa
Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not require a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Required:
- Passport: Valid at least 6 months beyond the stay. ID card is NOT sufficient (exception: organized package tours with tour operator certificate).
- Return or onward flight ticket: May be requested upon entry.
- Hotel reservation: Occasionally asked for, rarely checked.
Entry by plane
Upon arrival, you receive an entry stamp and an entry form (sometimes distributed on the plane). Keep the form section — it will be collected upon departure!
Customs
Import allowed (duty-free):
- 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g tobacco
- 1 liter of spirits and 2 liters of wine
- Personal items and electronics
Important: The import and export of Tunisian Dinar (TND) is prohibited! Dinars must be exchanged back before departure (keep exchange receipts).
Money & Currency
Tunisian Dinar (TND)
1 Dinar = 1,000 Millimes. Coins: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Millimes, 1, 2, 5 Dinar. Bills: 5, 10, 20, 50 Dinar.
Exchange rate (indicative 2025): 1 EUR ≈ 3.3 TND / 1 TND ≈ 0.30 EUR
Currency exchange
- Airport: Exchange counters right after passport control. Fair rate (state-regulated). Opening hours adjusted to flights.
- Banks: Best rate, but note opening hours (Mon–Fri 8:00–12:00, sometimes in the afternoon). Expect queues!
- Hotels: Exchange possible, rate slightly worse.
- Black market: Exists but is illegal and not recommended.
Credit cards & ATMs
ATMs are available in all cities and tourist areas. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Withdrawals usually 100–500 TND per transaction. Fees: 3–5 TND per withdrawal + fees from your home bank.
Credit cards are accepted in hotels, upscale restaurants, and larger stores. In souks, eateries, and rural areas: cash only!
Tipp
Withdraw small amounts more frequently and always carry enough cash — outside tourist zones, cash is king. Small bills (5 and 10 TND) are invaluable for taxis, tips, and souks.
Achtung
The Tunisian Dinar is a closed currency — import and export are FORBIDDEN! Exchange all remaining amounts before departure. You will need the original exchange receipts (keep them!).
Health
Vaccinations
No mandatory vaccinations for entry from Germany. Recommended are:
- Standard vaccinations: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio (refresh)
- Hepatitis A: Recommended (transmission through food/water)
- Hepatitis B: Recommended for longer stays
- Typhoid: Only for travel to rural areas with basic hygiene conditions
Tap water
Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is cheaply available everywhere (0.20–0.40 TND for 1.5 liters). Tap water is generally unproblematic for brushing teeth.
Heat & Sun
The greatest health risk in Tunisia:
- Sun protection: SPF 50+ is mandatory! In the south, the sun shines 300+ days a year.
- Head covering: Essential, especially in the Sahara.
- Drinking: At least 3 liters per day, in the desert 5+ liters.
- Midday heat: Seek shade between 12 and 4 PM (like the locals).
Medical care
In cities, there are hospitals and private clinics with acceptable standards. Pharmacies (Pharmacie) are well-stocked and frequent — many medications are available without a prescription. In rural areas, care is limited.
Travel health insurance with repatriation is mandatory! Statutory health insurance is not valid in Tunisia.
Gastrointestinal issues
The classic "traveler's diarrhea" can occur. Prevention: Drink bottled water, peel fruit, buy street food at busy stalls (high turnover = fresh). Bring Imodium and electrolyte powder.
Safety
General security situation
Tunisia is generally safe for tourists. After the 2015 terrorist attacks (Bardo Museum, Sousse beach), the country has invested heavily in security: Tourist areas are policed, hotels have security checks, and the security situation has significantly stabilized.
Security zones
| Zone | Rating | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist centers (Tunis, Sousse, Hammamet, Djerba, Tozeur) | Safe | Normal caution as in Southern Europe |
| Sahara tourism (Douz, Ksar Ghilane, Matmata) | Safe | Prefer organized tours |
| Algerian border area (western mountain region) | Caution | Military zone, some areas closed |
| Libyan border area (southeastern Sahara) | Avoid | Foreign Office warns — do not travel! |
Crime
Violent crime against tourists is very rare. What occurs:
- Pickpocketing: In medinas, souks, and public transport. Do not carry valuables openly, keep backpack in front.
- Souk scams: Inflated prices for tourists, aggressive carpet and souvenir sellers (especially in Tunis and Sousse). Haggling is normal — but you are never obliged to buy. Firmly say no.
- Taxi tricks: "Defective" meter, detours. Insist on the meter, agree on price beforehand for long-distance rides.
- Fake guides: In medinas, "friendly helpers" offer their services and then demand money. Politely but firmly decline.
Women traveling alone
Tunisia is relatively safe for women traveling alone — safer than many other countries in the region. Catcalling can occur (especially in tourist areas), but is usually harmless. Tips:
- Dress conservatively (shoulders, knees covered)
- Avoid eye contact with harassers, walk on firmly
- Do not walk alone through dark alleys at night
- Take a taxi instead of walking in the dark
- If in doubt, approach other women or families — Tunisian women will help immediately
Communication & Internet
SIM card & Mobile data
A local SIM card is the cheapest and best option:
- Providers: Ooredoo (best network), Tunisie Telecom (largest coverage), Orange Tunisia
- Price: 5–15 TND (1.50–4.50€) for a SIM with 5–20 GB data, valid for 30 days
- Purchase: At the airport, in any mobile phone shop or tobacco kiosk. Passport required!
- Network coverage: 4G in all cities and tourist areas. In the Sahara and remote mountain areas, coverage can be patchy.
WLAN
Most hotels and many cafés offer free WLAN. The speed varies greatly — acceptable in big cities, sometimes frustratingly slow in rural hotels.
Language
Communication is easier than expected:
- Arabic (Derja): The everyday language. The Tunisian dialect is difficult to understand even for Arabs.
- French: Quasi second official language — almost all Tunisians speak it. Dominant in tourism, trade, and education. If you speak French, you will manage everywhere.
- English: Understood in tourist areas, but rarely outside them. Younger Tunisians increasingly speak English.
- German: In some large hotels and with tour guides working with German tourists.
Tipping & Haggling
Tipping (Pourboire)
Tipping is customary in Tunisia and an important part of the income for many service providers:
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | 5–10% (for good service) |
| Café | Round up coins (200–500 Millimes) |
| Hotel room cleaning | 2–3 TND per day |
| Taxi driver | Round up to the next Dinar |
| Tour guide (half-day) | 10–20 TND |
| Tour guide (full-day) | 20–40 TND |
| Camel guide | 5–10 TND |
| Parking attendant (Gardien) | 0.50–1 TND |
| Hammam staff | 3–5 TND |
Haggling
Haggling is mandatory in souks and with informal vendors — it is part of the culture and expected. Fixed prices apply in supermarkets, restaurants, and official shops (ONAT craft shops).
The golden rules:
- Do not show excessive interest. Do not admire the goods too obviously.
- Ask for the price and show surprise (no matter what he says).
- Start at 30–40% of the quoted price.
- Agree in the middle — usually at 50–60% of the starting price.
- Smile and humor make haggling enjoyable. It is a game, not a fight.
- Turning away is the strongest weapon: "Thank you, too expensive" and walk away slowly. Often the best price follows.
- Never haggle if you do not want to buy. An accepted price is a deal.
Tipp
In the ONAT craft shops (Office National de l'Artisanat Tunisien), you can find fixed-price, quality-checked craft products. They are perfect for assessing real market prices before haggling in the souks.
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