In short
In Tunis, ships dock at the La Goulette cruise terminal, about 10 km from the centre. The TGM light railway runs from La Goulette to Tunis Marine, near the medina, and the other way to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said; taxis wait at the port gate. In a day you can see the medina and its souks, or Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. Tunisia is outside the EU and Schengen.
The port at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where the ship berths | Alongside at the La Goulette cruise terminal, by the channel between the Gulf of Tunis and the Lake of Tunis. Occasionally a ship uses the nearby port of Radès instead — check the daily programme. |
| To the city | About 10 km to central Tunis. The TGM light railway runs from La Goulette to Tunis Marine station, at the end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba, in about 15–20 minutes; the nearest stations are a 10–15-minute walk from the terminal. Taxis wait at the port gate. |
| Typical call | Usually 8–10 hours, often a full day. The exact times are in the ship’s daily programme. |
| Money | Tunisian dinar. It is a closed currency: you get it only in Tunisia — at exchange offices, banks or ATMs — and should spend it or change it back before you leave. Cards work in larger shops and restaurants; in the souks and for taxis you need cash. |
| Language | Arabic, with Tunisian Arabic spoken day to day; French is widely understood. In the medina, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said many people also speak some English. |
| Documents | Tunisia is outside the EU and Schengen, and there is a passport check when you go ashore, usually arranged by your cruise line. Entry requirements depend on your passport — check yours in advance and with your cruise line (what to check, do you need a visa). |
| Mobile data | Tunisia is outside the EU’s roam-like-at-home zone, so roaming with a Dutch or Belgian SIM can be expensive. Check your plan before you go ashore or use Wi-Fi. |
| Traffic | Drives on the right. Traffic in Tunis is busy and drivers do not always stop at crossings, so cross with care. |
| All aboard | Usually 30–60 minutes before departure. Go by the time in the daily programme and on your cruise card. |
- Wind13 km/h
- Sea24°
- Sunset17:37
- Mon26°22°💧70%
- Tue27°22°💧63%
- Wed28°20°💧0%
- Thu24°19°💧5%
- Fri24°17°💧2%
- Sat24°18°💧7%
- Sun20°17°💧8%
Forecast by Open-Meteo, updated hourly. Check the forecast again the day before your stop.
What to fit in
Tunis is spread out: the medina and Avenue Habib Bourguiba are in the city centre, while Carthage and Sidi Bou Said lie along the coast north of La Goulette. You will not see everything in one call, so pick one direction. The TGM line ties it all together: Tunis Marine one way, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said the other.
The medina of Tunis
TGM or taxi to the centre, then a walk along Avenue Habib Bourguiba, with its cafés and the Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul, and on along Avenue de France to the Bab el Bhar gate. Beyond it lies the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site: covered souks of perfume, spices and fabrics lead up to the Zitouna Mosque, the heart of the old city.
Carthage and Sidi Bou Said
North by TGM or taxi. In Carthage: the Antonine Baths by the sea, once among the largest baths of the Roman world, Byrsa Hill with the Carthage Museum and a view over the gulf, and the round basins of the Punic ports. Then on to Sidi Bou Said for its blue-and-white lanes and a mint tea at Café des Délices above the sea.
The Bardo Museum
The Bardo National Museum, in a former palace of the beys west of the centre, holds one of the world’s great collections of Roman mosaics: gods, sea creatures, hunting scenes and the famous mosaic of Virgil. Go by taxi — allow about 40 minutes each way from the port, depending on traffic — and check before you go that it is open.
Sidi Bou Said and the seafront
A short taxi ride to Sidi Bou Said: a stroll through white lanes with blue doors, a terrace with a view over the bay and sweet bambalouni doughnuts. Back in La Goulette, a walk past the old Karraka fortress and lunch at one of the fish restaurants near the port.
Places on the map
The places from this guide, ready for your phone. The numbers on the map match the list. “Map” opens Google Maps; “Walk from the pier” shows the walking route from where ships usually dock.
Map images are loaded from OpenStreetMap servers. Your choice is remembered in this browser.
- ⚓Cruise pierMap
- 1Medina of TunisMap
- 2Zitouna MosqueMap
- 3Avenue Habib BourguibaMap
- 4Bardo National MuseumMap
- 5Carthage – Antonine BathsMap
- 6Byrsa Hill and the Carthage MuseumMap
- 7Sidi Bou SaidMap
- 8La Goulette waterfront and Karraka fortMapWalk from the pier
- ⏱Will I make it back?Plan your day here by the minutePlan →
Which pier your ship uses depends on the day: check the daily programme.
The medina, the mosques and the dinar: good to know
- Dress modestly in the medina. Cover shoulders and knees, especially around the Zitouna Mosque and in the old city. A light scarf is handy.
- Mosques from the outside. Non-Muslims generally cannot enter the prayer halls of most mosques, including the Zitouna. Admire the minarets and doorways from the street, and follow any instructions on site.
- Bargaining in the souks is normal. Prices for carpets, ceramics and leather are rarely fixed. Take your time, stay friendly and agree on the price before you buy. Be wary of “helpful” strangers who steer you to a particular shop or a “terrace with a view”.
- The dinar stays in Tunisia. Change only what you expect to spend, and spend or change back any dinars before you return on board.
- Carthage is spread out. The archaeological site of Carthage, also on the UNESCO list, is scattered over several kilometres among villas and gardens. Combine the TGM, short walks and taxis, and choose two or three sites rather than all of them.
On your own or on a ship’s excursion
Tunis works well on your own if you choose one direction: the TGM to Tunis Marine for the medina, or north to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. Taxis are common and handy for short hops; agree on the fare or ask for the meter before you set off.
A ship’s excursion makes more sense if you want the medina, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Bardo all in one day, or would rather not deal with bargaining and taxis. Traffic in Tunis can be heavy. The ship will usually wait for its own excursions if they run late — it will not wait for independent passengers.
How to be back on board in time
- Traffic. The road from the centre or the Bardo back to La Goulette can be slow at rush hour. Keep at least an hour and a half in hand.
- The TGM gets crowded. Trains are often full and do not always run to the minute. Allow time for waiting, especially on the way back.
- Ship’s time. Tunisia does not switch to summer time, so from late March to late October it is an hour behind Italy, France and Spain. Your ship may keep its own time — go by the clocks on board.
- Spend your dinars. Change back any leftover dinars before you return to the terminal: they are of little use outside Tunisia.
- Take with you. Your cruise card, the document your cruise line asked for (here often your passport), some cash in dinars and a phone with the ship’s emergency number.
Where cruises calling here start
Tunis features mainly on Western Mediterranean itineraries, often together with Sicily, Italy, France and Spain. If you would like a cruise that calls here, look at these departure ports:
- Cruises from Genoa — week-long Western Mediterranean routes, some with a call at Tunis.
- Cruises from Civitavecchia (Rome) — routes heading south to Sicily and North Africa.
- Cruises from Marseille — some western routes include Tunis.
- Mediterranean cruises — seasons and routes in full.
Common questions
Where does my ship dock in Tunis?
At La Goulette, the port of Tunis, about 10 km from the city centre. Cruise ships berth alongside at the cruise terminal, so there are no tenders. Occasionally a ship uses the nearby port of Radès instead. The exact berth and times are in the ship’s daily programme.
How do I get from La Goulette to the medina?
By TGM light railway or by taxi. The TGM runs from La Goulette to Tunis Marine in about 15–20 minutes; from there it is around 20 minutes on foot along Avenue Habib Bourguiba to the Bab el Bhar gate and the medina. A taxi from the port gate to the medina takes about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Can I see Carthage and Sidi Bou Said in one day?
Yes, that is the most popular combination. Both are on the TGM line north of La Goulette, and Sidi Bou Said is only a few kilometres beyond Carthage. Allow four to five hours for two or three sites in Carthage plus a stroll and a mint tea in Sidi Bou Said.
Can I go inside the Zitouna Mosque?
Generally not into the prayer hall: in most mosques in Tunisia it is open only to Muslims. You can see the minaret and the gates from the surrounding souks. Dress modestly in the medina in any case, with shoulders and knees covered.
What money do I need in Tunis?
Tunisian dinars. It is a closed currency, so you get it only in Tunisia — from ATMs, banks or exchange offices — and you should spend it or change it back before you leave. Cards are accepted in larger shops and restaurants, but in the souks, cafés and taxis you pay in cash.
Do I need a visa to go ashore in Tunisia?
It depends on your passport. Tunisia is outside the EU and Schengen, and the rules differ by nationality. Check the requirements for your passport in advance, for example with our visa tool, and with your cruise line, and take the document it asks for, usually your passport, plus your cruise card.
How the club fits in
Cruises calling at Tunis that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club’s search, or ask us and we will tell you which itineraries calling at Tunis are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Practical port information is summarised from public sources as of October 2026: berths, call times, entry rules and visiting arrangements may change. Before you travel, check the ship’s daily programme and the requirements for your passport. Percentages describe the club’s rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.