Tunis
Travelers come to Tunis for a UNESCO-listed walled medina, a national museum of Roman mosaics, and the ruins of Carthage a short drive away.
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Tunis is the capital of Tunisia, on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, on the shore of a large gulf and a short drive from the ruins of ancient Carthage. The walled medina, with its souks, mosques, fondouks and narrow lanes, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Roman, Arab and Ottoman history sits close together here. The Bardo National Museum holds a large collection of Roman mosaics.
Tunis suits a stay of two to three days for travelers who want history and a working city. It pairs well with a half-day trip to Carthage and the whitewashed village of Sidi Bou Said, which is about 30 minutes away by TGM light rail. The TGM links the city with both towns. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the medina; summer is hot. Plan the medina and the Bardo as the core of your visit, and have mint tea and brik in the old quarter between sights.
Tunis in five
- Get a local SIM or eSIM before you reach the medinaTunisie Telecom, Ooredoo and Orange sell prepaid SIMs and data. Download offline maps before you go into the medina, since the signal in its narrow lanes is often weak.Phones and eSIM
- Ride the TGM light rail to Sidi Bou Said and CarthageThe TGM line runs from Tunis Marine station to La Marsa, Sidi Bou Said and Carthage. One ride covers both day-trip towns, so you do not need a taxi for them.Getting around
- Carry dinars in small notes for shops and taxisMany cafés, small shops and taxis take only cash, so change money at a bank or exchange office. Export of dinars is limited, so do not plan to change large sums back at the airport.Money and costs
- Insist on the meter before a taxi movesAsk the driver to start the meter at the beginning of the ride, especially from the airport. Keep small notes, since drivers may not have change for large ones.
- Dress modestly and expect Ramadan hoursCover shoulders and knees when you visit mosques and religious sites. During Ramadan, many cafés and restaurants close by day, so plan lunch around it.
Things to do in Tunis
See all attractions in Tunis
Need to know
- Currency
- Tunisian dinar (TND)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check yours before booking
- Emergency
- 197 police, 190 ambulance, 198 fire
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants; round up for taxis
- Time
- UTC+1, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Cool, rainyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rainy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Cool, rainyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rainy
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Mild, springMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, greenAprilClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, pleasantMayClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, pleasant
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Hot, dryJuneClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh34°Low24°Hot, busyJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh34°Low24°Hot, busyAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Warm, quieterSeptemberClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Warm, mildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Mild, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Cool, rainyDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rainy
Average daily high and low in Tunis, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul International Festival of Carthage · Aug International Festival of Carthage
Right now in Tunis
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 53%
- Wind
- 25 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Tunis
01:50 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today21°13°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed24°13°13%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Thu24°16°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri24°14°3%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat23°15°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun26°16°3%Sunday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 3%.
Updated 11:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.013 TND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- Jul–AugInternational Festival of CarthageTunis
- Jul–AugHammamet International FestivalHammamet, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Sidi Bou Saidabout 30 min by TGMA village of white walls and blue doors above the sea.
- Carthageabout 30 min by TGMRuins of the Punic city and Roman remains, on the same rail line.
- Hammametabout 1 hour by carA beach resort with an old walled town, best as a longer day or a night away.Read the guide
Before you go to Tunis
Rules for Tunis, checked
- Many nationalities enter visa-free for short stays. Check the rules for your passport with Tunisia's consulate before you book.
- Limits apply to taking dinars out of Tunisia. Check the current amount with Tunisian customs before you leave.
- Cover shoulders and knees at mosques and religious sites, and remove your shoes where staff ask you to.
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours, as many people are fasting.
Plan around Tunis
Regions, entry rules and transport for a Tunisia trip
Read the guideGetting aroundLight rail, louage shared taxis and city taxis
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices in dinars
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to check before you fly
Read the guideWhere to stayMedina guesthouses and central hotels
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData for maps and transport apps on the road
Read the guideTunis FAQ
Is Tunis worth visiting?
Yes. The medina, the souks and the Bardo museum are the draw, with the Roman ruins of Carthage a short train ride away. Give it at least two full days.
How do you get from Tunis airport to the city?
By taxi or a pre-booked transfer. The city centre is a short drive, so insist on the meter at the start of the ride.
Can you visit Carthage and Sidi Bou Said on a day trip?
Yes. Both are on the TGM light rail from Tunis Marine, so one day covers both. Go in the morning, when it is cooler.
How many days do you need in Tunis?
Two full days cover the medina, the Bardo and a day trip to Sidi Bou Said or Carthage. Add a third day if you want to see Hammamet.
When is the best time to visit Tunis?
April and May, or October and November, when days are mild and the city is not too hot. Summer is hot, and winter is cool and rainy.