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.
