Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN) — The Complete Master Guide 2026

🛫 Main Terminal — the aérogare principale (Terminal 1 on Priority Pass)

Airlines: Tunisair (the dominant carrier), Nouvelair, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Egyptair, Royal Air Maroc, Transavia.

The Privilege Lounge Tunis (Priority Pass) is also airside in the main terminal.

🛩️ Terminal 2 (Charter & Regional)

Airlines: Charter operators (TUI, Corendon, Sun Express seasonal), some Tunisair domestic (Djerba, Sfax, Tozeur).

Note: If your charter flight specifies T2, the kerb is different — confirm before arrival. T2 is the smaller, more basic building; allow extra time for security and check-in.

Visa: Most EU/UK/US Visa-Free 90 Days

EU, UK, US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Australia, NZ — visa-free entry for tourist stays up to 90 days. Other nationalities (notably some African and Asian) need an advance visa from a Tunisian embassy. Check the official Foreign Office page for your nationality before booking.

TND Is a Closed Currency

The Tunisian Dinar cannot legally be imported or exported. Exchange foreign currency on arrival at the airport bank counters or in town. On departure, exchange residual TND back to your home currency at the airport before boarding — receipts from your initial exchange may be required to convert back. Bring euros or USD as the universal entry currencies.

Customs: Strict on Alcohol & Drones

Tunisia is largely Muslim with strict customs. Alcohol limit: 2 litres under 25° plus 1 litre over 25°; over this is confiscated. Drones are banned for tourist import — declare or leave at home. Cigarettes 200 / cigarillos 100 / cigars 50 / rolling tobacco 500 g. Currency declaration required for amounts over 25,000 TND equivalent, and that declaration is valid three months. Non-residents re-exporting foreign currency worth 5,000 TND or more must declare it on the way out too.

⭐ Licensed White Taxi — 8–12 TND Plus the 4.5 TND Rank Supplement

Tunisia’s licensed white taxis are reliable and metered. Official ranks at the kerb outside the main terminal’s arrivals. Insist on the meter (compteur) from the start; the meter opens at 0.9 TND and the airport→Tunis fare typically runs 8–12 TND (~$3–5). A mandatory 4.5 TND supplement is added on top of the metered amount for any journey starting from the airport’s taxi rank, plus 1 TND for each bag over 10 kg or 45 cm — so budget above the meter reading rather than assuming the meter always wins. Cash payment in TND only; no cards in most taxis.

📱 Ride-Hail Apps — Bolt Is Gone (2025)

Bolt no longer operates in Tunisia. The government suspended foreign ride-hailing apps in a March 2025 crackdown over tax and licensing allegations, and Bolt formally withdrew in May 2025 — ignore older guides that tell you to open it. The app that works today is Yassir, the Algerian-founded ride-hail, with in-app pricing and card payment. inDrive also operates in Tunis and Sousse, on a model where you propose the fare and drivers accept or counter. Coverage on both is thinner than the white-taxi supply, so if neither app shows cars the white-taxi rank is always the fallback.

🚌 TRANSTU Bus 635 — The 0.5 TND Option

TRANSTU operates bus line 635 from outside the main terminal on the circuit Aéroport Tunis Carthage – Ariana – Tunis Marine (the TGM interchange). 0.5 TND fare, journey ~25 minutes, hourly from 06:40 out of the airport and hourly from 05:40 in the other direction. Cash only, exact change preferred. Useful for backpackers and budget travellers; not suited if you have lots of luggage.

✨ Privilege Lounge Tunis (main terminal airside, post-security)

If you eat once at TUN, eat the brik à l’oeuf — a thin warqa pastry triangle wrapped around a runny egg yolk and tuna or chicken filling. ~5–8 TND at the airport restaurants. The Tunisian couscous (lighter and more aromatic than Moroccan) at 12–18 TND is the staple alternative. Skip the airport McDonald’s — Tunisia has them, but you’ve come this far.

Harissa is Tunisia’s national hot sauce — fermented red chillies, garlic, caraway, coriander, olive oil. Le Phare or Sicam brands at the duty-free are reliable, ~5–10 TND for the 100g tin. Travels well, easy to clear customs. Don’t buy the “tourist harissa” in souvenir shops at Sidi Bou Said — the supermarket brands at the airport are 60% cheaper.

The take-home picks: Tunisian Deglet Nour dates (the “date of light” — among the world’s most prized dates), extra-virgin olive oil (Tunisia is among Mediterranean’s biggest producers), jasmine-essence perfumes at airport duty-free, and Berber rugs / kilims from the Medina (NOT the airport — airport prices are 3× the Medina price). Tunisian wine is an underrated take-home; the airport duty-free has Magon and Domaine Atlas.

Tunisian tap water is technically chlorinated and meets local standards, but tourists are widely advised to drink bottled or filtered water due to mineral content and occasional contamination concerns, particularly outside Tunis. At the airport, the bottled water at the kiosks is 3–5 TND for 500 ml; refill stations don’t exist the way they do at European airports. Buy a sealed bottle airside and refill from sealed sources during your trip.

Mediterranean climate: hot dry summers (June–September peak 35°C+), mild wet winters (Dec–Feb 15°C). Sirocco wind events in summer can ground operations briefly. Friday-Saturday weekend cycle reduces Sunday traffic; book Friday-evening departures for the most predictable ATC operations.

During Ramadan (18 February – 19 March in 2026, with Eid al-Fitr on 20 March; the dates shift annually), restaurants open late and the airport food scene is thinner. Friday-noon prayers may briefly slow service at some non-airport airport-area outlets. Plan accordingly if you’re a Ramadan-time visitor.

Ooredoo, Orange Tunisie, and Tunisie Telecom all sell tourist SIMs at the arrivals kiosks. ~10–20 TND for a tourist plan with calls and 10 GB data. Show passport at activation. EU roaming via your home plan does NOT cover Tunisia — your EU phone plan’s “Roam Like At Home” rule does not apply outside the EU/EEA. Buy a local SIM or eSIM (Airalo / Holafly) before landing.

The Tunisian Dinar is a closed currency — it cannot legally be imported or exported. Bring euros or USD as the universal entry currencies. Exchange at the bank counters in the main terminal’s arrivals hall (rates are competitive — better than hotels). Save your initial exchange receipt; it may be required to convert residual TND back to your home currency on departure. The airport bank counters are the right place to exchange residual TND before boarding.

Tunisia is generally regarded as among the safer North African countries for solo female travellers, and central Tunis is well-policed during the day. Modesty in dress (covering shoulders/knees) is generally advised in non-tourist areas. For a 23:00+ arrival, book a ride on Yassir or use the official white-taxi rank rather than accepting an offer from the crowd. Hotels offer 24-hour reception. Carthage / Sidi Bou Said areas are tourist-oriented and very safe.

Tunisia has strict rules against drones for tourists (declare or leave at home — they will be confiscated at customs). Photographing government buildings, military installations, or police is prohibited — penalties are real. The airport itself is generally fine for photos, but the surrounding government / police areas are not. Don’t engage in political conversations with strangers; Tunisia has had political tensions in recent years.