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Important information
It is more convenient to exchange dollars or euros for Tunisian dinars in hotels. In Tunisia, the exchange rate is almost the same everywhere. When exchanging the currency, you shall take a receipt to be able to exchange the remaining dinars back for dollars or euros at the airport before the return flight. According to the Tunisian laws, hotels are prohibited from performing the reverse currency exchange.
At the airport, reverse currency exchange is carried out after the check-in procedure for the flight but before passing through passport control, and only upon presentation of a receipt for currency exchange made at the hotel with a bank stamp. After passing through passport control, currency exchange is no longer possible, and Tunisian dinars that were not exchanged in the designated area and are detected by customs control officers during random passenger inspections will be confiscated. Upon confiscation, customs service officers prepare an official act and provide a copy to the tourist. Based on this act, the tourist can receive a refund of the confiscated Tunisian dinars upon returning to Tunisia. The refund of confiscated dinars is carried out only at the airport where the confiscation occurred, and only to the tourist in whose name the act was issued. Refunds of the confiscated amount of Tunisian dinars to third parties, as well as refunds for departure from another airport in the country, are not permitted.
When departing from Tunisia, customs control officials may request to produce the cash. If in the course of calculation it is discovered that the amount exceeds 5,000 Tunisian dinars, which is approximately 1,500 euro, and if the tourist has no personal declaration for the amount in question which was supposed to be filled in when entering Tunisia, the entire amount of currency will be subject to confiscation. According to Tunisian laws, apart from the confiscation, a fine may be imposed on the passenger (up to 500% of the confiscated amount). If the passenger refuses to pay the fine, he or she may be arrested until the fine is paid or deported with a ban on further entries into Tunisia.
Since Tunisia is heavily dependent on the tourism industry, in practice, the customs service usually limits itself to confiscating only the excess amount of funds, and no fine is imposed. However, this established practice may change at any time, which is why we strongly recommend declaring large amounts of money upon entry into Tunisia.
Travelers who have had their funds confiscated by customs officers are provided with a QR code to upload documents confirming the origin of the money to a special website within 30 days. There is no statistical information available in public sources regarding refunds to tourists. The current experience of the DMC shows that the link provided by the QR code can only be accessed within Tunisia and is not accessible from any other country. Therefore, despite the officially announced 30-day period to confirm the origin of the money, travelers only have a short amount of time between passing through customs and their flight departure from Tunisia. Additionally, when filling out the form via the link, travelers are required to provide a personal mobile number registered in Tunisia. Given the limited time and the lack of Tunisian phone numbers for most travelers, confirming the origin of the money becomes impossible.
Neither the DMC nor the tour operator can influence the resolution of such situations, as this is a matter of the tourist’s personal responsibility for complying with Tunisia’s currency legislation. Government officials do not negotiate with third parties unless it is a Tunisian lawyer hired by the tourists to represent their interests.
Tourists are recommended to study current rules for currency import and export in order to avoid problems and worries before departing from Tunisia.
Important information
For reasons of national security in Tunisia, it is prohibited to photograph objects with the national flag and infrastructure facilities (including but not limited to: administrative buildings, airports, seaports, railway stations, bridges, police stations), as well as police officers, military personnel, other government employees, and people praying. It is also strongly recommended not to attend mass events, rallies, strikes and not to photograph such events.
If such actions are detected, Tunisian law enforcement officers have the right to request that the tourist provide access to the technical device used for filming to delete the relevant files or confiscate the technical device without the possibility of return. In both cases, the tourist may additionally be subject to administrative liability. A law enforcement officer, while on duty, may not be in uniform (some units operate in civilian clothes), which is not a basis for disobeying their instructions.
If criminal intent is suspected in the tourist’s actions, he may be detained. The DMC will provide assistance to the tourist, but neither the tour operator nor the DMC can influence the resolution of such situations, as it is a matter of the tourist’s personal responsibility to comply with Tunisian law. Police authorities do not negotiate with third parties unless it is a Tunisian lawyer hired by the tourists to represent their interests or an official representative from the embassy/consulate of the tourist’s country of citizenship.
Important information
Currently there are three main mobile operators in Tunisia: Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo and Orange.
A SIM card of any of the Tunisian mobile operators can be purchased at the airport and at sales points throughout the city. Tourists can contact the hotel guide who will suggest the nearest place for buying a SIM card. Before making a purchase, it should be taken into account that tourists are required to produce the passport or its photocopy.
For short-term trips to Tunisia (lasting less than 1 month), it is recommended to choose special tariff plans for tourists that «expire» after a month. For example, the Tourist SIM plan from Tunisie Telecom for 30 days costs 45 Tunisian dinars, which is approximately $15.For using a mobile phone in Tunisia for more than a month, it must be registered on the website http://sajalni.tn/verify-device. Otherwise, after a month, the device will be automatically blocked.
Important information
A particular feature of the All Inclusive and Ultra All Inclusive meal options in Tunisian hotels is the availability of local alcoholic beverages only (unless otherwise provided for by the hotel’s policy). Tunisian-made alcoholic beverages are of good quality; many brands get highly rated at international wine exhibitions year after year. In Tunisia, only dry wines with the alcoholic content of 11-13% are produced; no popular semi-sweet or sweet varieties are common there. The price of Tunisian wines is not excessive: for example, a 0.75 L bottle of quality wine in a shop costs from 30 to 60 Tunisian dinars (~9-19 US dollars).
Alcoholic beverages in Tunisia are sold exclusively in specialized stores with a license to sell alcohol, which are sufficiently numerous not only in cities but also in resort areas. Depending on the size of the store, the range of beverages varies, with the widest selection available in stores located in the capital, Tunis.
Alcohol imported into Tunisia is on the list of excisable goods with a high excise duty rate, hence it has a fairly high cost for the end consumer. Imported alcohol is available for order in hotel restaurants (for an additional fee), in restaurants outside the hotel, and for purchase in stores located in the capital.
During the holy month of Ramadan, the serving of alcoholic beverages in hotels, as well as in licensed establishments outside the hotel for foreigners, is not restricted. However, the sale of alcoholic beverages in specialized stores is completely prohibited not only during the holy month of Ramadan but also year-round on Fridays. In 2026, the holy month of Ramadan falls in the period February-March.
Important information
Tunisia has many mosques, and most of its residents profess Islam. However, guests of this country are not required to observe a strict dress code or adhere to fasting rules during the holy month of Ramadan. Yet, tourists should not visit non-tourist areas in revealing clothing, short shorts/skirts and tank tops in lingerie style. When leaving the hotel grounds, additional clothing must be worn over a swimsuit. Visiting religious sites is possible only while adhering to the dress code (consult with your hotel guide about this).
We kindly ask tourists to treat both local residents and other tourists respectfully, not to take photographs of people without their permission, and not to visit public areas in a state of alcoholic intoxication.
Gratitude expressed through tips is not mandatory and is at the tourists’ discretion. While in the hotel, tourists can leave a reward for the good work of the maid, bartender, waiter or bellboy. The amount of tips usually ranges from two to three dinars or more, at the tourists’ discretion. The amount of tips left in a restaurant outside the hotel is determined by the guests. The unspoken rule is 10% of the bill amount.
When in public places, tourists must exercise caution and not leave their personal belongings unattended to avoid theft. When tourists leave the hotel grounds, it is recommended to carry a photo or copy of their passport, while leaving valuable belongings and documents in the hotel room safe.
