Tunisia - Facts
- Tunisia is a North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert with Algeria to the west and Libya to the southeast.
- Arabic is the language of Tunisia but French is widely spoken. The population is 11.5 million.
Tunisia operates on Central European Time (UTC +1). - The currency used is the Tunisian Dinar. For specifics see General Info.
- Situated within the subtropical zone of the Mediterranean, the Tunisian climate is a mixture of that of the Mediterranean and of Africa. For more information see the Weather section below.
- All ports are within reach of colorful towns and the boat can be left in safety to visit the interior. For those wishing to get a taste of Africa, without actually leaving the Mediterranean, Tunisia is undoubtedly the best choice.
- Because of its good facilities and relatively low prices, Tunisia has become a popular wintering place, especially with owners of boats who wish to avoid spending too long in the EU. Three marinas are most suitable for wintering: Yasmine Hammamet, El Kantaoui and Monastir. They have similar amenities and long term fees are negotiable. Sidi Bou Said is usually full and is much more expensive than the other marinas.
- Yachting facilities are the best in North Africa. For more information on yachting services see Yachting Essentials.
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This information, especially about how long you can leave your yacht in Tunisia is not correct. Yachts can not stay longer than 6 months without immobilization.
Hello all – We are considering wintering in Tunisia (partial on the boat and partially leaving the boat unoccupied). We have recently been warned about increased political instability but nothing specific. Any recommendations from folks familiar with the area / situation? And any recommendations on marinas and boat yards for DIY work? Thanks, Chris
Mike Turner from Hammamet Yacht Services and OCC Port Officer responds:
Not sure where this info has come from but all is ok here, the president is trying too bring the country forward, sort out the economy etc, we have a newly elected parliament. Tourism is back to 2019 levels plus. There have been some shortages of sugar, coffee, bread, but this is now ok, I think a lot caused by the amount of tourists arriving so consumption goes up. We have had quite a few American and Australian boats arrive here and all enjoyed it. We organized trips to the desert etc. for them, all went well as usual and they all had a great time.
A useful article on Noonsite covering wintering spots in the Med (including Tunisia) is https://www.noonsite.com/report/wintering-in-the-mediterranean/
Taking extracts from the new Imray North Africa pilot from the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation (see publications – https://www.noonsite.com/place/tunisia/view/related-books/), Imray’s Commissioning Editor William Thomson explores why Tunisia makes the ultimate base for year-round Mediterranean cruising:
Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa but offers the most varied and established cruising area of all, with many harbours, small fishing ports and marinas to enjoy. From Cap Bon to Djerba, olive groves line the coast and journeying south from Monastir, the coastline begins to flatten out and transform into desert, with isolated oases under date palms. Ashore, there is a rich palimpsest of history and culture with extensive Punic and Roman ruins, mountainous Berber villages and Bedouin camps in the desert.
With a warm climate and miles of wide sandy beaches, it should come as no surprise there has been a surge in UK-flagged yachts basing themselves here to overcome the hurdles of a 90-day Schengen visa and enjoy year-round cruising in the Med. Looking at a chart makes you realise how perfectly positioned the country is, with easy access to Greece and Croatia in the east or Sardinia and the Balearics to the west.
Tunisian weather is generally moderate. The storms resulting from depressions sweeping through the Mediterranean tend to stay further north, up in the Golfe du Lion and northern Italy. Their effects do not normally reach the east coast with such severity but can affect the coastline from Cap Bon to Bizerte.
Summer cruising is usually accompanied by west, northwest or east winds, keeping temperatures down. The Bay of Tunis usually experiences a brief spell of hot humid weather in late July and early August. Winter cruising can be very pleasant in the south, and the climate makes it an ideal overwintering destination too.
A cautionary tale for sailors envisaging using Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia for haul out and/or storage.
Just prior to Covid 2019, we booked our Elan 434 RUSALKA, into the Rodriguez yard in Hammamet. We were enticed by cheap rates for storage and a lack of adverse commentary from other yachties. Not long after we arrived people who were regulars told us we should cancel our booking and take our boat to Monastir. All too late!
We returned to Australia believing our boat was safe and we would only be away a few months. Covid restrictions quickly followed and we were denied permission to leave Australia until March 2022. We arrived back and found the screen protector on our chartplotter had “blown off in the wind” and the screen had been exposed to two years of direct sunlight and rain. Our power had been unplugged and all five gel batteries were dead and needed replacing.
We decided we would cut our losses, get the boat serviced and anti fouled and put back in the water.
I asked the manager what the cost would be to wash, and anti foul the boat and service the main engine and generator. The response was, “don’t worry, you have been a very good client and paid for three years so we will look after you”. And look after us they did. The bill for washing and polishing the hull and decks, servicing the engine and one coat of anti foul was 15,500 dinar or approximately 7,500 Australian dollars.
The account was written in French and the office card reader was not working so we were told to get cash plus bank transfer. We paid thinking that would be the last we saw of the shipyard and we’d count this as a lesson learnt.
If only it was that easy.
Some how water had made its way through the exhaust, through and open valve in the engine and into the cylinders, thus seizing the engine. We were told there must have been a fault with our brand new exhaust elbow.
So the boat yard once again offered to help out with an engine rebuild. Over 9,000 dinar for parts and 2,500 dinar for labour. A little over 5,500 Aust dollars.
The parts took nearly two months to arrive and we were told a different story every day as to why the parts weren’t there. As we’re about to leave we were hit with a 5,300 dinar, 2,500 Aust dollar bill for putting the motor back in the boat and the cost of water and power we used while at the yard waiting for the parts. This despite the fact we had previously paid the yard fees of over 10,000 dinar, 5,000 Aust dollars to have the boat there up until October 2022. At any time I queried an account, the manager would be unavailable or belligerent. We paid the yard 18,000 Aust dollars for this experience, a large portion of that was demanded in cash. On top of that we had to source three batteries to get the boat working.
We were always polite and always accepted the explanations that were given to us and I think our naivety cost us dearly.
If you are planning to visit Tunisia, let our experience guide you in your decisions.
Hi,
We moored for 7 months in Port El Kantaoui.
Foreign travelers that stay more than 3 months in Tunisia, have to buy at the “Recette de Finance” fiscal stamps (timbres fiscaux) for an amount of 20DT per week per person to show with Passport to the Police Control before leaving Tunisia + One travel stamp (timbre de voyage) of 60DT per person.
After Police control you have to pass through the Custom control on board.
You can’t do both controls the day before but the same day of your departure. So you should plan well your departure.
Recently the Custom introduced a new tax on boats owner staying more than 6 months, based on exaggerate boat evaluation . This is a main issue in this moment because you can’t leave Tunisia without paying that tax!
This is the only negative side, people are very nice and always pleasant. The country, specially the South is wonderful but dying for the economical tourism crise.
Alberto
Hi gang. We’re looking to set off from the UK in the next 2 weeks and will winter in the Mediterranean. We thought mooring up in Tunisia. Does anyone know about what is required visa wise for a Kiwi and a Brit to stay in Tunisia for say 6 months? Thanks in advance
Hi Ivan, check out the Tunisia Immigration section on Noonsite – https://www.noonsite.com/place/tunisia/formalities#immigration-section
As Kiwi and UK citizens, you can enter for 3 months visa-free. You then just need to leave for 24 hours and return and you’ll get stamped in for another 3 months.
As I have been keeping you all up to date on new local covid protocols
The arrival protocols for incoming travellers have been updated.
AS OF TODAY 30/06/21 ALL arrivals regardless of vaccination status or mode of arrival will need to present a negative PCR test this is in addition to the other protocols already laid out by the Government.
Obviously, the regulations change as the current situation evolves and we will endeavour to keep everyone as up to date as possible but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Yacht Services Tunisia via info@ys-tunisia.com.
TAXIS.
They are yellow. Some have a meter (compteur) and some do not. You take your chances with a non-metered taxi. Never accept the first price.
Some are metered. This is when you find out what the locals pay. The meter will be set at 0.56 TDN when you get in – just over 15 cents in Euro.
Once the meter is running it is approx 30 cents a mile !
As an example we paid an unmetered taxi 10TND to get from Gammarth marina into La Marsa, about 2.5 miles. We returned from at least twice the distance away in a metered tax for 9TND.
Hello sailors !
I’m looking for info about refitting a 35 ft sailboat in Tunisia :
– What kind of work was done / cost
– Quality / workmanship
– delays
My prospective next buy requires a lot of TLC and I’m considering having it taken care of in Tunisia (I’m based in Malta currently)
At the time of writing the rules on arrival at Bizerte from Sardinia were a period of five days quarantine and a test after that at 60 euro. Passage time was counted in the five days. We actually quarantined for just three days before being tested and cleared in. New arrivals are put on the long north/south wall around from the fuel dock. Provide a list of alcohol on board.
Few people bother with a mask, either in or outdoors.No one asked for baksheesh.and the staff bend over backwards to be helpful.
ATMs are readily available and spit out Tunisian Dinar, which are about three to a Euro. Euros are accepted in the marina.
Diesel is 2TND a litre, approx 60 cents, and petrol a little more. You are not allowed to fill cans. Our 11m boat was 30 euro a night. Internet via a pay as you go dongle from the office. Loos and showers are clean and hot. Well, not the loos . . . which are only clean. The port is spacious, virtually empty and an easy walk to the heart of the town.
The outdoor market is a riot of colour and fresh everything, including chicken killed to order.
Tunisia is pleasantly cheap after Italy and an excellent out-of-Schengen bolt hole. Eating out, especially the excellent street food, is almost cheaper than shopping. Booze is available at the back of Carrefour Express, but expensive. Whisky 90 euros a bottle. Taxis are very cheap.
WE did not find chandlery, but that does not mean there isn’t any. My partner had no trouble finding a nail bar ! We are still trying to find a laundry.
Thank you Mark for this great feedback!
Covid-19 Protocols Update 10/06/2021 (social media)
Once again, the arrival protocols for incoming travellers have been updated.
Much remains the same, the curfew from 22:00 -0500LT remains, negative PCR tests on arrival for those who are NOT fully vaccinated and the 7-day quarantine is still in effect.
If you are FULLY VACCINATED you will need to be able to provide evidence of this with a QR code from a recognised health authority and STILL quarantine for the full 7 days but a negative PCR test is no longer required.
Obviously, the regulations change as the current situation evolves and we will endeavour to keep everyone as up to date as possible but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Yacht Services Tunisia via info@ys-tunisia.com.
Covid-19 Update 07/05/2021
Tunisia will, once again be moving into a FULL COUNTRY LOCKDOWN to begin on 09/05/2021 with a view to reopening on 16/05/2021.
During this time, we will be able to provide customs clearance with the previous restrictions but NO duty-free fuel will be available.
Obviously. The regulations change as the current situation evolves and we will endeavour to keep everyone as up to date as possible but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Yacht Services Tunisia via info@ys-tunisia.com.
Covid-19 Update 09/04/2021
Tunisian regulations have been updated, much remains the same but several important additions have been made.
ALL crew members of visiting yachts are required to provide negative PCR (swab) tests, the tests CAN NOT be Rapid tests as these are not accepted in Tunisia. The results are valid for 120 hours from the time of the yachts’ departure from the last port of call, with some discretion for delays, for instance, delays caused by adverse weather.
On arrival to Tunisia, all crew members must always remain on board. Should your stay be over five days, these are classed as quarantine, an additional PCR test can be arranged and if negative, you will then be free to disembark and enjoy the sights of Tunisia.
Should a yacht, for any reason, arrive without test results it is possible to arrange this in Tunisia. However, please note that the crew will be quarantined on the yacht until the test results are known. Test results are normally available within eight hours and then the entry clearance can commence as usual.
In addition, a curfew has been introduced starting from the 9th of April 2021 from 19:00 -05:00LT should any emergency assistance be required within these hours marina security staff will be able to arrange this.
Obviously, the regulations change as the current situation evolves and we will endeavour to keep everyone as up to date as possible but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Yacht Services Tunisia via info@ys-tunisia.com.
Thanks for this update, much appreciated.
You’re very welcome. Hopefully, it will make everyone’s life a little easier if we keep on top of the situation.
Covid-19 Regulations Update.
New Tunisian regulations released now require ALL crew members of visiting yachts to provide negative PCR (swab) tests, the tests CAN NOT be Rapid tests as these are not accepted in Tunisia. The results are valid for 120 hours from the time of the yachts’ departure from the last port of call, with some discretion for delays, for instance, delays caused by adverse weather.
On arrival to Tunisia, all crew members must always remain on board. Should your stay be over two days an additional PCR test can be arranged and if negative, you will then be free to disembark and enjoy the sights of Tunisia.
Should a yacht, for any reason, arrive without test results it is possible to arrange this in Tunisia. However, please note that the crew will be quarantined on the yacht until the test results are known. Test results are normally available within eight hours and then the entry clearance can commence as usual.
Obviously, the regulations change as the current situation evolves and we will endeavour to keep everyone as up to date as possible but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Yacht Services Tunisia via info@ys-tunisia.com.
Coronavirus
We was intended to visit Monastir as we have done the last three years but with the coronavirus problem we decided to make enquiry before going.
This is what we found, speaking to friends in Monastir and other cruisers in Hammamet is seen to there fast rule what being said and done .
In Port Hammamet cruisers are saying When a vessel arrive from out side Tunisia they will be directed to an area where to wait until sanitary inspection once that done if all ok check in formalities are carried out normally, there been no indication how long this will take
On the other hand in Cap Monastir there a very different stand,
It’s seen they are discouraging boats from going there here a copy of the email that arrived from the captain on the port.
capitainerie@marinamonastir.tn
ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD IS CORRECT WE ARE A LITTLE AFRAID OF THE CORONAVIRUS WE ARE NOT LETTING ANY BOAT ARRIVING FROM ITALY
BUT WE ARE ACCEPTING SOME CASES IF WE HAVE DO ALL THE PROCEDURE REQUIRED TO CHECK IF HE HAVE THE VIRUS OR NOT . AND THE
PROCEDURE TAKE TIME , THE BOAT WILL BE ISOLATED FOR 14 DAYS WITH CHEKING THE CREW OF THE BOAT EVERY DAY .
-CAPITAINERIE MARINA MONASTIR-
Update regarding Tunisian long term boat storage:
The rule for how long a boat can stay is max 24 months at which time the boat has to be sailed away for a min of 24 hrs preferably check-in and check out at the nearest country and return to Tunisia and check-in again for another 24-month cycle.
Cruising within Tunisia: One can get a 6-month cruising permit but you still need to check-in and out of every port.
Immigration: 90 days in 90 days out same as most other countries
Extensions: there are no extensions to any of the above that we could clearly obtain for officials at Customs and Immigration.
This is what happened to us while in Monastir, due to serious medical issue we brought the boat here for a 1-year contract in June 2017 and left for Canada. We extended the contract for another year via emails and wire transfers till June of 2019. We booked a flight for May 2019 but had to cancel the flight due to medical complications and had to renew for another year till June 2020. At the time I asked the Marina Office if this would be a problem with customs and the answer was no. In Jan 2020 we visited the boat for the first time in just over 30 months, I went straight to the customs office and I was told that I will have to pay a fine and was directed to go to the freight custom’s office at Monastir Airport. Here we were told that we are only allowed 24 months stay in Tunisia, so mine had expired 7 months which is 2 six month periods After much discussion with a very polite and considerate officer and in consideration of the medical issues we still have to pay a fine.
So to those boat owners that plan to leave the boat here remember 24 months id the max.
TUNISIA – important information regarding check in and out formalities
After speaking with a few of our French dock neighbours upon their latest experiences with authorities during check in and out (they suffer less language barrier than us) we have identified items that can cause issues during check in and out of the country by boat.
Note that if any of these items are carried onboard they should be declared on arrival and probably they will be kept with Customs Aduane services until departure (when they should be returned).
1. Drones.
2. Satellite phones(unsure if this includes iridium go).
3. Night vision binoculars.
4. Guns.
5. Large quantities of Alcohol (especially if still unopened).
6. Cigars.
7. Cash (not sure on the amount but would be more than a couple 1000€)
Be aware also that it is illegal to take Tunisian money out of the country.
Hello The Dream,
We’re planning to sail from Valencia (Spain) to Tunisia. We’re a little concerned about security and how to deal with autorities and other stuff, Could you give us a hand sharing your experience? Thanks a lot
viviravela@viviravela.com
Sergi & Raquel
I just visited Bizerte for a week and it was trouble free and nice. I used YST (Yacht Services Tunisia) as agents to make sure all went smoothly, and they were absolutely great. It is not a tourist town, but that was just fine. People were friendly and nice. And thanks Noonsite, I relied on you as the primary resource for the trip.
We were just in Hammamet last week, and had no issues at all with being asked for “gifts.” The check-in and check-out were bureaucratic but trouble-free. Fuel, as reported before is clean and very cheap. The marina staff was pleasant, and there are some excellent restaurants in the marina. A positive experience for sure.
Update for Monastir – Tunisia.
We just spent a month here to haul out and do our antifouling.
The boatyard in the Marina was as good as it was last time we were here, hauling us out without any problems. We ended up letting them do the top side cleaning and polishing at a very fair price.
The haul out, pressure wash and three days on the hard, plus cleaning and polishing was 680 DT – that’s around 230 Euros.
One month’s Marina fees for our 12.5m yacht was 185 euros plus water, power and tax.
Checking in was straightforward, although they did ask us to remove the plywood off our water tanks to check underneath. No gift was offered this time and looking back, maybe a small gift would have saved us some work.
There are plenty of security guards around the Marina day and night and other than the odd person walking on to the boat to have his photo taken, we had no problems at all. Most are very honest people, although like anywhere else you have to take care.
The Marina is very clean; two or three times a day the staff would go around and collect any rubbish that’s in the water. It’s the only Marina that I have ever seen the cleaners removing the bins from the post and washing them out!
We weren’t once bothered by shopkeepers trying to get you into their shop and if we did enter they were polite and let us look around without any pressure to buy.
Fuel is very cheap at around 45 cents a litre, so it’s worth buying cans and filling up.
As it happened, the money we saved on fuel will cover our haul out costs!
Vic – bluewater sailor
Winterization in Port Yasmine Hammamet, WARNING:
We left our catamaran Libellule in Hammamet from Aug-15 to May-16 and experienced the following difficulties:
1. When arriving we had a medical urgency and my wife needed to go urgently to the hospital. However, Immigration took our passports away and wanted money. The whole thing took about 90 minutes to resolve, the officers told us literally they didn’t care if my wife died or not.
2. I sent a propeller from France to Hammamet, the parcel took 2 days to Hammamet and then 5 months, about 30 emails, and about EUR 1,000 of bribes to get it through customs.
3. We took the boat out of the water and left it in the shipyard Rodriguez. The antifouling they applied was of so poor quality that it lasted about 4 weeks before it partially started coming off and we had a real jungle under the boat; they did not even bother to put ground paint below the antifouling, nor did they sand the underboat before applying the antifouling.
4. The repairs we had asked them to execute were not done; no spare parts available locally, and poor/unreliable workmanship.
5. On the way out of Tunisia customs wanted money again, but this time we got away with paying nothing.
So if you consider winterizing your boat there, make sure you do it in a smarter way than us (bring your own spare parts, no antifouling job, no taking it out of the water, bring more time to fight bribes, no medical emergencies.
Sorry, Tunisia used to be a really nice country, and I had really good experiences there in the past, but this time it was just really really bad. People were friendly, though.
Philipp Cottier, s/v Libellule, Switzerland
We visited Gammarth Marina in April/May this year and were very pleased with the service and security provided by the marina as well as the customs and police authorities. We were asked for a gift from the customs authorities on departure, and they were pleased with a bottle of wine.
Other cruisers we know have been visiting Bizerte (after it opened in May 2016) and they were not too happy, especially because they were asked for corruption money from the police and customs. We visited Gammarth together with the boat and were treated with respect and politeness. For entering Tunisia we can recommend Gammarth.
I would like to say that Tunisia is open for business and the people are friendly. We keep our Catamaran in Port Yasmine and life is good there. We have no second thoughts about going there. Just came back at Christmas. (Canadians)
this tax is no more and the Alcohol tax has also been reduced
Update Aug 2015
New Tax has been introduced in October 2014 it will now cost 3 TD to check in and 30TD/person to check out. This is at Cap Monastir Marina I will assume that every harbour is the same as this is a government tax and has nothing to do with the marina. All taxes are paid to the customs officials and a receipt is issued every time.
Mario Borg
SY Maltese Falcon