Last updated: 21 Oct 2025

Tunisia

About

North Africa's smallest country packs in enough diversity for a continent. Beautiful beaches punctuate its Mediterranean coast. In the south lie the undulating Sahara, salt lakes and otherworldly Berber architecture.

Go desert trekking from Douz, either by camel or in 4-wheel drive vehicles; trips can last from an hour to three weeks. You can also go dune skiing, desert go-karting or take a flight in a light aircraft over the dunes.

Take a hammam (Turkish bath). There are baths all over Tunisia, where you can steam with the locals; many of the natural hot springs have been used for this purpose since Roman and Punic times.

Stroll through the bustling Tunis medina, honing your haggling skills. Try the 13th-century Souk el Attarine (the perfume-makers' market), which still sells scents and oils, or the Grand Souk des Chechias, the place to buy traditional handmade red felt caps.

See kaleidoscopic coral beds and sea life by scuba diving in Tunisia's clear waters.
Capital:  Tunis (TUN)
Currency:  Tunisian Dinar (TND - the symbol DT is also used commonly within Tunisia)
Language:  Arabic, French and Tunisian Arabic. English is also widely spoken, as is German and Italian.
Dialling code from SA:  + 216
Time Zones: UTC/GMT +1 hour (1 hour behind South Africa)
Side of the Road: Right
Best Time to go: Mid-March to mid-May
Best For: Mediterranean Beach Resorts and ancient empire of Carthage
Plugs: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style plugs with two round pins are used.
Drinking Water: Tap water is safe to drink in urban areas, however may cause abdominal upset.  Outside of resorts, only bottled water should be drunk and ice should be avoided. 
Health: Visitors should bring their own medication and a letter from their doctor.  Travel insurance is necessary, however most clinics / hospitals will require cash up front whether you have travel insurance or not. Medical costs can be high.
Customs: Tunisia is a liberal and tolerant Muslim society, however outside of the main resorts and especially in the more rural areas, visitors should dress modestly.   Visitors should also dress appropriately when visiting religious buildings such as mosques, where women will be required to wear a headscarf. Respect to religious customs should also be shown during the month of Ramadan. 
Local Offences / Laws: Homosexuality is illegal. 
Travel Tips / Warnings: Foreign travellers are advised to carry a copy of their passport at all times.
Duty Free: The following goods may be imported into Tunisia without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco.
• 1L of alcoholic drinks over 25% volume and 2L of alcoholic drinks less than 25% volume.
Prohibited Imports: Prohibited items include local currency, firearms (other than authorised hunting weapons), explosives, narcotics, counterfeit goods, used clothing (other than for personal use), palm trees and branches, henna, dangerous dogs, and anything considered harmful to good morals, health, public safety or state security. Restricted items include professional audio-visual material, some telecommunications equipment, plants and animals, hunting rifles, and weighing and measuring instruments.
Prohibited Exports: Local currency, antiquities and artworks, firearms (other than authorised hunting rifles), explosives, narcotics, counterfeit goods, endangered species, and anything considered harmful to good morals, health, public safety or state security.

Issuing Authorities

Embassy of Tunisia
850 Stanza Bopape Street, Cnr Eastwood Street, Arcadia 0007
Tel: 012 342 6282/3
E-mail: at.pretoria@diplomatie.gov.tn / at.pretoria@telkomsa.net
Web: www.diplomatie.gov.tn
Facebook: Embassy of Tunisia to South Africa

 

Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1; Mar 20, 30-31; Apr 1, 9; May 1; Jun 6-7, 26; Jul 25; Aug 13; Sep 4; Oct 15; Dec 17

Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1; Mar 20-22; Apr 9; May 1, 27-28; Jun 16; Jul 25; Aug 13, 25; Oct 15; Dec 17

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by SA passport holders for a stay of up to 90 days, provided the visit is for tourism or work purposes.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Passport valid for a minimum of 3 months with 2 blank pages. 
  • Return ticket
  • Hotel booking / Letter of Invitation 
  • Proof of sufficient funds

SA Representative

SA Embassy
7 Rue Achtart, Nord-Hilton, Tunis.
Tel: +216 71 800 311
E-mail: sa@emb-safrica.intl.tn
Web: dirco1.azurewebsites.net/tunis/

Travel Health

Compulsory:  None
Recommended:  Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio