This Tunisia Transportation Guide lists details about both getting to and from Tunisia, as well as getting around Tunisia once you are there. One excellent option for getting around and exploring the country is taking a Tunisia tour. For information about local transport, you can go directly to our Hammamet Transportation Guide.

Tunisia Transportation Guide

Getting to Tunisia

By Air

Visitors to Tunisia usually arrive by air. International flights, mostly chartered, operate out of the airports at Jerba, Monastir, and Tunis Carthage. A few flights land at Tabarka and Tozeur as well. Tunisair is the national carrier and it flies to several destinations in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. There are no direct flights connecting Tunisia with Asia, North and South America or Oceania. No departure tax needs to be paid to travel out of Tunisia.

By Ferry

Arriving by ferry from Italy and France is commonly done and travellers sometimes bring across a car or motorcycle too. That part is rather cumbersome though. It is possible to travel to and from Algeria in a shared long-distance taxi or louage. Taxis leave from Place Sidi Bou Mendil in the Tunis medina to Constantine and Annaba in Algeria. Travelling between Tunsia and Libya is not easy, and there are very few chances of getting a visa in Libya. It is easier to make travel arrangements through a tour operator.

Getting Around Tunisia

Tunisia has an excellent transport network with almost every town having connections with Tunis.

By Air

Tunisia's domestic flights connect Tunis to Tozeur, Sfax, Jerba and Gafsa. No flight is more than an hour long. Tunisia is a small nation and most of the other towns and cities are too close to Tunis to justify a flight.

By Bus

Société Nationale du Transport Interurbain or SNTRI (pronounced as "sintry") is Tunisia's national bus company and it runs air-conditioned and affordable bus services to almost every corner of the nation. The buses avoid the daytime heat and operate at night during summer. Tickets are best booked in advance. Several regional bus companies also operate on the same routes and at much lower rates, but the services are slower and they rarely include air-conditioned buses.

By Train

Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT) runs Tunisia's rail services, which is modern and efficient but does not have a very large network. Several trains run on the main line between Tunis and Gabès via Sousse and Sfax. One line splits from the main line at Mahrès and goes to Gafsa and Metlaoui. Other stations connected to the rail network are Bir Bou Rekba, Bizerte, Ghardimao, Jendouba, Kalaat Khasba, Mahdia, Mateur, Monastir and Nabeul. The Lezard Rouge or Red Lizard is a biblical train that has been restored and offers daily connections between Metlaoui and Redeyef, affording stunning views of the Seldja Gorge on the way. A must-see for train enthusiasts.

By Taxi

Tunisia's louages accommodate five passengers each and they rarely move until all five seats are taken, which happens quite fast. They are the best way to travel around and are just a little more expensive than buses. The white Peugeot station wagons with identification signs and roof racks are easily spotted.

By Ferry

Of the two regular ferry services operating in Tunisia, one runs between Sfax and the Kerkennah Islands, which are about 25 km (15 miles) off the coast, and the other runs between Jorf on the mainland and Ajim on Jerba Island. Ferry services are pretty cheap.

By Bicycle

You can hire bicycles anywhere in Tunisia. The conditions are ideal for biking around. The hot summers and the cold winters are best avoided; make sure you carry a repair kit as good spare parts are not easy to find.

By Tram and Train

A modern tram or métro léger service is available in Tunis and it is more convenient to use than the bus services. The suburban train line known as TGM connects the northern suburbs to the city centre.