On this forum, I shared my first trip to Tunisia from mid-February to early March (voyageforum.com/...en-direct-d11460662/), a trip I enjoyed so much that six weeks later, I’m back in Tunisia for a full 15 days.
Hi there,
I traveled in June 2025 with Nouvelair Destinations to Hammamet.
I had one checked bag and one carry-on sized 40x24x30, which I usually take on low-cost flights, and I didn’t have any issues. But I just read on a website that Nouvel Air only accepts carry-ons of 40x20x15. I’m flying back to Djerba in June—what do you think? Especially since that size is impossible to find??????? Thanks
This time, I landed in Monastir on a direct flight from Nice, again with Tunisair. We left about ten minutes late, and the flight lasted around 1 hour 30 minutes. A meal was served on board (cucumber salad with Edam-like cheese, carrots, and two small portions of dishes I couldn’t identify—semolina with peppers, olives, and parsley, two small rolls, a square of processed cheese, and a chocolate cake). It’s worth noting because it’s not common on flights this short.
In February, France and Tunisia were in the same time zone, but now Tunisia is one hour behind. This time difference and the flight duration work perfectly for a short 15-day trip since it takes me a few days to adjust to jet lag.
Luckily, I’d asked my hotel about the taxi fare from the airport because the drivers (there were several around me) didn’t hesitate to quote outrageous prices. The actual fare is 20 dinars, but one asked for 120 dinars. I refused, and another offered 60 dinars. I replied, "That’s too expensive—I’ll take the metro!" (Having tried the Tunis metro, I had no desire to repeat the experience in Monastir with a suitcase!). I started walking toward the metro, and one of the drivers caught up with me, saying, "20 dinars is fine!" I’ll skip the details, but the negotiation took a little while.
When I arrived at the hotel, I told the receptionist someone had asked for 120 dinars. He put his hands to his head and said, "They’re awful!" He remembered our phone call two days earlier when I’d booked (he’s the one who told me I could take the metro).
The Mezri Hotel isn’t expensive. I got a sea-view room for 75 dinars (22 €). (I’d booked a balcony room for 90 dinars but wouldn’t have had time to enjoy it.) It’s well-located but noisy because there’s no double glazing.
The receptionist is a very kind older gentleman. He called a friend whose wife is from Tozeur to find out if I should take a bus or a *louage* tomorrow and what time.
I arrived at the hotel around 7:00 PM and had time to stroll along the corniche to the ribat. Despite some run-down buildings, the seaside seemed livelier and cheerier than Sousse’s.
Monastir is the hometown of former president Bourguiba. I passed his mausoleum by taxi. There are Tunisian flags along the avenue by the sea because every year on April 6—the anniversary of Habib Bourguiba’s death—the president of the Republic visits the Bourguiba Mausoleum in Monastir to pay respects.
The taxi driver mentioned other Tunisian presidents. He complained about rising prices and insecurity, blaming President Kaïs Saïed (I’d already heard that security was better under Ben Ali).
At the end of my stay, I’ll take time to explore Monastir, but tomorrow morning, I’m off to Tozeur—a long bus ride awaits me.
Hi there, a group of girlfriends and I are heading to Tunisia. We’d love to know how much cash we should bring for 6 days, considering everything’s already paid for at the hotel. Thanks for your tips!
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
For Avenue Bourguiba at nightfall, I wouldn’t say it was deserted—far from it! There were *so* many cats! During the day, you don’t see them much on this avenue. I think they’re scared off by the people and traffic, but in the evening, they come out—it’s incredible how many cats there are in Tunis!
I arrived in Tunisia this afternoon for a full 14-day stay.
I took a direct Tunisair flight from Nice, which departed about thirty minutes late (that’s nothing compared to the "nightmares" I’ve had on some of my recent trips).
The flight lasts around 1 hour and 20 minutes, and a small snack was served on board (a sort of quiche with chickpea purée, a small bread roll, a portion of cheese like La Vache qui rit, and a small chocolate cake). It’s worth mentioning because it’s becoming increasingly rare on short flights.
I was seated between two Tunisian gentlemen who gave me some great tips for my trip, especially about negotiating prices. One of them is a former cameraman for France Télévisions, very cultured and well-traveled—his daughter is a journalist at France Télévisions (I found some of her articles online). In short, the flight was very pleasant and quick.
I’m staying at the Hôtel Royal Victoria. I booked it yesterday afternoon by email without providing my credit card number. The room costs 241 TND (71 €) with breakfast included. It has heating, a small fridge, a safe, a hairdryer, Wi-Fi, and a TV with international channels.
There’s a police van permanently parked in the square where the hotel is located.
This hotel is housed in the former British consulate and later embassy. It has a lot of charm with its painted wood ceilings and doors, and its bathroom covered in ceramic tiles. The tiny elevator is from another era.
The main advantage of the hotel is its location between the medina and Avenue Bourguiba. Nearby, there’s the Magasin Général, where you can find groceries and some typical products like rose water, geranium water, and tons of halwa (a customer kindly explained how to eat it and which is the best).
After nightfall, I took a short stroll down Avenue Bourguiba. There weren’t many people around—it’s windy and cold.
I’ve already noticed the warm welcome from Tunisians. The supermarket cashier welcomed me to Tunisia, and a gentleman I asked for directions to the Magasin Général (I was about to climb stairs leading to a mosque!) insisted on inviting me for coffee, but I declined.
The rest of my itinerary will depend on the weather. If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I might visit Carthage since the Bardo Museum is closed on Mondays, as are the museums in Sidi Bou Said.
We’re traveling as a family to Tunisia for the first time from 07/24/26 to 08/07/26.
My kids are 16 and 13, and I’d love to show them the south of Tunisia by 4x4 (if possible) over two or three days. They’ve been dreaming of seeing the desert!
The hotel I booked offers excursions, but I’ve read online that prices are high at hotels and it’s better to go through locals.
There are four of us, and our budget is already stretched with the hotel.
Do you know any reliable companies in Hammamet where I could book this mini circuit while keeping costs under control?
Thanks in advance for your tips
I'm planning a trip to Tunisia for March 2026. I ran some comparisons across different airlines, and Nouvelair is significantly cheaper than Transavia and Tunisair. That said, the reviews I’ve read are really negative. Could anyone share more recent feedback if possible?
Thanks
Hello,
From November 9 to 16, 2025, I’ll be in Hammamet with my husband. I’m looking for a French-speaking driver-guide who could show us around Hammamet and the surrounding area.
We’re open to any great tips!
Best regards,
I'm urgently planning a trip to Tunisia in November, backpacker-style (no agency, no guide or taxi, public transport, youth hostels or small hotels, local restaurants). I'm not interested in the beach, and I like to take my time at archaeological sites and museums (twice as long as the average visitor). I'm aiming for about two weeks, give or take.
First, I'm trying to roughly outline a route/schedule so I can book my flight as soon as possible (no desert in the south this time—I went there years ago and want to stay independent).
I’ve sketched out the following itinerary, knowing that apparently, there are quite a few towns without budget-friendly hotels (even on Airbnb), which means I’ll be staying longer where they’re available.
Three questions:
1. Does this seem reasonable overall (time spent in each city)?
2. Should I add other cities, maybe in the northwest?
3. For hotels, in November, is it better to scout options on booking sites first, then book on the spot for cheaper rates (no site commission + possible negotiation)? Also, are hotels not listed online and found randomly on-site much cheaper?
ROUGH ITINERARY (order to be confirmed)
TUNIS 5 days (cheap accommodations: 13 or 19 €)
2 days: Medina, souks, Bardo Museum, Royal Mausoleum of Tourbet El Bey, Zitouna Mosque (exterior)
1 day: Sidi Bou Said
1 day: Carthage
1 day: A-R Dougga (bus to Tebersouk 2h + taxi) – pack a picnic
+ option: hike to Zaghouan (750m+, 10km round trip) – worth it? Doable alone?
KAIROUAN 2 days (very expensive room: 40-50 €!)
Great Mosque, Medina, Three Doors Mosque, medieval cemetery, Sidi Sahbi Mosque...
SOUSSE 3 days (room 15 €)
2 days: Medina, archaeological museum, Port El Kantaoui, the Ribat (fortress), Contemporary Art Museum Dar Am Taïeb, Dar Essid (17th-century traditional house)
1 day: A-R El Jem (60km away)
+ option: 1 day A-R Monastir? Worth it?
+ option: 1 day A-R Mahdia (or 2 days sleeping there)?
OPTIONS
-> Gabes to mix things up? But is it easy to find cheap lodging and get around/visit alone?
-> Other sights or stops to sleep: Sfax, El Kef, others?
-> Kerkenna Islands (easy accommodation?)
Thanks for your thoughts and opinions on these options.
Once I’ve adjusted the duration, I’ll book my tickets for early November!
(By the way, do you think I should arrive and depart from two different airports?)
Hi there,
Looking for advice on how to get from the cruise stop at La Goulette to Sidi Bou Said on my own.
Cruise is planned for November.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hester
Hi there,
After hearing so much about Djerba, especially the GO clubs, is it risky for a young, pretty newly-retired woman to visit the island alone?
Thanks in advance.
Hello, I’m preparing for a Tunisia-Algeria road trip.
I need to know if we can cross the Sahara to reach Djanet and Tamanrasset by road freely,
After that, obviously off-road in the desert with a guide.
What do the authorities say?
My trip: northern and southern Tunisia, a stroll in the desert.
Crossing the Tunisia-Algeria border via the Taleb Larbi customs.
I’ve already done this route through an agency, but this time we want to do it on our own.
Then heading down to Djanet for eight to fifteen days in the desert with Mouloud, a local guide.
Direction Tamanrasset: road and tracks, the mountains of the Assekrem, the Hermitage of Père de Foucauld.
Return via the Trans-Saharan Highway.
Visit to northern Algeria, then back by boat from Oran to Spain.
Dates: late December to mid-February.
We’ve got plenty of time.
If another crew is interested, we’re already two vehicles.
Looking forward to your replies.
Hi,
We have a trip to Tunisia planned for late October, and we’ve just realized that some family members’ passports expire in early January (which is just under 3 months after our entry into Tunisia).
Has anyone been in a similar situation?
We’re hesitating to cancel our trip.
Thanks so much for your insights!
We’re planning a week-long trip to southern Tunisia in early September and we’d like to rent a car in Djerba. We don’t have a credit card, only a debit card.
Any good tips on rates and reliability?
Hi there,
I’m planning to spend 7 to 10 days in Monastir in mid-September, with half-board and a mid-range budget.
Which hotels would you recommend? Thanks for your tips!
Hi there, new to this awesome forum—what a gem!
I’m heading solo to Tunisia for 8 days in mid-September.
I land in the late afternoon with Tunisair at Tunis-Carthage Airport.
A few questions: what’s the cheapest way to get to downtown Tunis, where I need to book a night? Then the next day, I’m heading to Hammamet by *louage* from the Bab Alioua stop.
I’ve planned 6 days at this seaside resort in a hotel with a pool.
In the meantime, I might visit Nabeul and nearby Yasmine Hammamet, and also take a *louage* to Sidi Bou Said (Café des Délices, Café des Nattes), La Goulette, Carthage, and La Marsa.
If you’ve got any ideas for sights, activities (quad biking?), or tips, I’m all ears.
Thanks.
we’re heading to the Coralia Venus hotel near Yasmine Hammamet this summer.
can you suggest some family-friendly activities? I’d love to take my kids on a quad bike tour. How long does it last and how much does it cost, please?
Hi there! So, when you sometimes attend weddings over there, does the sound—like the tabl with the zokra, darbouka, bendir, mezoued, etc.—and the music played by the organist, sometimes accompanied by gunshots or those 8 huge firecrackers each, not just absolutely *destroy* your ears with how loud it is? Like, your spit practically flies out of your mouth so fast you could walk on Anis Zen’s stomach, right? I mean, do you ever cover your ears during these festive events? Because my brother’s getting ready for his wedding there this August, and I remember back in 2016, I *suffered* through my maternal uncle’s wedding—especially with the tabl, ugh. How do you all handle the noise? Do you just not worry about it too much? Have a great day! https://youtu.be/tH_IidGm_wg?si=nYUrlfgq7jkwiZRl
Hi, I’ve got a long morning in Tozeur in mid-April (I need to be at the airport by 2 p.m.). I’d like to visit the palmeraie and the main sights in Tozeur and the immediate surrounding area within a few kilometers. Looking for ideas and tips—what to see and how to do it? If needed, I can keep my rental car (or take a taxi). Thanks so much!
), a trip I enjoyed so much that six weeks later, I’m back in Tunisia for a full 15 days.
