Tunisia

Arabic is the official language, and Tunisian Arabic (Derja) is what you'll hear on the street. French is widely spoken as a second language — used in business, on menus, and on most signage — so a few French phrases go further than English outside major hotels and tourist sites. Road signs are usually bilingual Arabic/French near cities, but can switch to Arabic only in rural areas, so it helps to recognize a destination's name in Arabic script too.

Local SIM cards from Ooredoo, Orange, or Tunisie Telecom are cheap and widely available at the airport and in city kiosks — bring your passport, since registration is required. An eSIM from an international provider is an easy alternative if you'd rather set up data before you land.

Tap water is treated and technically drinkable, but it often tastes strongly of chlorine or minerals, so most locals and visitors stick to bottled water, which is cheap and sold everywhere. Pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are common in every town and can handle minor ailments; many pharmacists speak French. No vaccinations are required for entry, though routine ones should be up to date, and sun protection matters year-round, especially in the desert south.

Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada, and many other countries can enter Tunisia visa-free for stays of up to 90 days with a passport valid for at least three months beyond arrival. Travelers from countries without a visa-free arrangement can usually apply for a visa through a Tunisian embassy or consulate before travel.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Tunisia is a Muslim country but a relatively relaxed one for visitors, especially in tourist areas and coastal resorts.

• Dress modestly at mosques and religious sites — shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women at some sites. Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall of most active mosques, including Great Mosque of Kairouan, though the courtyard is usually open to visitors.
• Greetings matter. A handshake and a few words of Arabic or French go a long way; take a moment for small talk before getting to business.
• Bargaining is expected in souks and markets, but not in shops with marked prices or in supermarkets.
• During Ramadan, many restaurants close during daylight hours outside tourist hotels — plan meals accordingly, and avoid eating or drinking in public during the day out of respect.
• Ask before photographing people, especially women.

Public holidays can close banks, government offices, and some shops for the day, though transport still runs, often less frequently.

Most shops open Monday to Saturday, often with a long midday break in summer, and run reduced hours on Fridays and Sundays. During Ramadan, opening hours shift later in the day and many businesses close before sunset for iftar.

• By train: The SNCFT network links Tunis with the coast down to Sfax, including stops at Sousse and Monastir — slow but comfortable and inexpensive. Book at the station or through SNCFT.
• By louage: Shared taxis (louages) connect almost every town, leaving as soon as they fill up. They're faster than the train and the main way to reach southern and Saharan towns like Tozeur.
• By bus: SNTRI runs long-distance coaches to towns the railway doesn't reach, including the far south.
• By air: Domestic flights aren't really necessary given Tunisia's small size — a train or louage covers most routes in a few hours.

Tunisians eat a light breakfast of bread, olive oil, and coffee, then take lunch as the main meal of the day, often with a rest afterward in summer. Dinner is later and lighter, and hospitality runs deep — being invited to share a meal, even briefly, is common, and it's polite to accept at least a little.

Couscous is the everyday staple, but the dish that defines Tunisian food for most visitors is its heat: nearly every meal comes with harissa, the country's signature chili paste, and dishes lean spicier than elsewhere in North Africa. Street food centers on brik, a crisp egg-filled pastry, alongside grilled fish and merguez sausage sandwiches.

Mint tea, poured strong and sweet with pine nuts, is the default drink at any café, and coffee culture runs deep in cities. Alcohol is available in licensed restaurants, hotels, and some bars in tourist areas, though it isn't part of everyday life outside them.

Tunisia's cities cluster along the coast, with the Sahara reachable within a day's drive from the south.

Tunis, the capital, sits beside the ruins of ancient Carthage and the hilltop village of Sidi Bou Saïd. South along the Sahel coast, Sousse and Monastir are resort towns with well-preserved old medinas, and Sfax is Tunisia's second city, a working port with a less touristy character.

Inland, Kairouan is one of the holiest cities in Islam and home to North Africa's oldest mosque. On the northern coast, Tabarka is a quieter beach and diving town near the Algerian border. In the south, Djerba is a laid-back island known for its whitewashed architecture and Jewish heritage, while the oasis town of Tozeur is the usual gateway to the Sahara, the troglodyte village of Matmâta, and the desert further south around Douz and Tataouine.