Travel to Tunis

Flying to Tunis

Tunisair operates direct flights to Tunis from the UK. Otherwise, there are plenty of options with one stopover. Tunisia is a year-round destination, with flight prices peaking during mid-summer and winter-sun holidays around Christmas. There are no direct flights from the USA.

Flight times

From London: 3 hours
From New York:12 hours (including stopover)
From Los Angeles: 15 hours (including stopover)
From Toronto:13 hours (including stopover)
From Sydney: 25 hours (including stopover)

Travel by road

Tunisia's road network is excellent. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years old. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in towns and 90kph (56mph) on the open road. Although most drivers obey the rules of the road, watch out for aggressive overtaking, erratic scooters and pedestrians.

If you're driving, you can use either your national driving licence or an International Driving Permit. The major international car hire companies all have offices in Tunis.

Emergency breakdown services

There is no emergency breakdown service available in Tunis, although major international car rental companies will provide a replacement car.

Routes

Tunis is well connected by road to other Tunisian cities. A good motorway connects Tunis with Bizerte in the north, and Hammamet, Monastir and Sousse in the south. The road network in the north is dense but good, while roads in the south are fast being updated, and all major cities and sites are easily reached.

A tarmac road leaves Tunis to Tabarka, and then on to Annaba in Algeria. Communal taxis run between Tunis and Annaba, Constantine and Algiers in Algeria.

Coaches

There are two main bus stations in Tunis. Gare Routière Nord (SNTRI) Bab Saadoun, on the road to Bizerte, has departures to the north and northwest of the country, including Bizerte, Tabarka, Sousse, Hammamet and Nabeul. You can reach it by taxi or by Métro Léger (Bouchoucha station, line 4).

The Gare Routière Sud, Bab el-Fellah has departures for the south, and can be reached by taxi or Métro Léger from the centre (Bab Alioua, line 1).

Time to city

From Bizerte: 1 hour
From Nabeul: 1 hour
From Kairouan: 2 hours
From Sousse: 2 hours
From Sfax: 2 hours
From Gafsa: 5 hours
From Gabès: 5 hours
From Tozeur: 6 hours

Travel by Rail

Services

Tunisian trains are punctual, clean, efficient and relatively inexpensive.

Tunis Gare Centrale is located on place de Barcelone. Daily services depart from the centrally located railway station to major Tunisian towns including Hammamet, Nabeul, Sousse, Monastir, Sfax, Gabes, Gafsa, Béja, Tozeur and Bizerte.

Operators

The national railway company in Tunis is the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT) (tel: +216 71 345 511; www.sncft.com.tn). Timetables are available at the stations, tourist office and online.

Journey times

From Hammamet: 1 hour
From Béja:From 1 hour
From Bizerte: 1 hour 15 minutes
From Nabeul: 1 hour 30 minutes
From Sousse: 2 hours
From Monastir: 3 hours
From Sfax: 4 hours
From Gabes: 5 hours
From Gafsa: 7 hours 30 minutes
From Tozeur: 8 hours 30 minutes

Travel by boat

Several ferries connect Tunis with Europe, a good option if you want to bring in your car.

Ferry operators

The Grandi Navi Veloce (tel: +39 010 209 4591, in Italy; www.gnv.it) operates regular ferries from Civitavecchia, Palermo and Genoa in Italy. Reservations are essential, particularly in summer.

Transfer

Ferries to Tunis arrive in the port of La Goulette, 12km (7 miles) from the city centre. Only use the official yellow metered taxis waiting outside the port, since the private taxis waiting inside the port often overcharge.