Travelling through Tunisia - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

The transport infrastructure in Tunisia is quite well developed. The most popular form of public transportation is buses. Depending on the carrier’s company, the technical condition of the automobiles also varies. However, every tourist is generally guaranteed a safe and relatively comfortable travel on this type of transport. Also, within the cities, there are particular types of minibuses that stand out among all the others with regards to their color (white with a red horizontal stripe). They are known to commute passengers much faster than regular buses, and their ticket price is also cheaper. It should be noted that in the major cities of Tunisia there is the so-called TGM transport. In fact, it is a regular European tram. The local government regularly allocates money for the purchase of new trams and as a result, moving around the city using this kind of transport is quite comfortable.

The condition of roads in the country is also good, with the best asphalt pavement found in the northern part of the country. Naturally, cars are a fairly common mode of transport among the local population, even though the driving culture in Tunisia is very low and also, every now and again, emergency situations arise on the road. Road signs and markings correspond to international standards. Vehicles used in the country are right-hand driven. Almost the entire territory of Tunisia is accessible by a railway. There are daily train runs between the major cities. Trains do not always meet the high standards of comfort, but most of them are clean and equipped with air conditioning.

In the country also, water transport has received great development. Tourists often choose ferries that transport people from Tunisia to neighboring countries. The advantage of traveling by ferry is that it also provides you with the opportunity to transport your own car or other means of mobility. Also in the coastal areas you will find a variety of cruise ships and yachts, boats and sightseeing boats making regularly runs. The aviation sector has also received considerable development. Within the territory of the country, you will find a local airline called “Tuninter”. It specializes in conducting domestic flights. Flight within the country usually does not take more than 60 minutes. In addition, Tunisia has six air harbors, which are designed to receive foreign aircraft.

Tunisia is one of the most popular tourist destinations at the height of the beach season, which is why the air transport interchange in the country is at a very high level. In Tunisia, ten airports are currently operating successfully, four of which are international. The main airport of Tunisia is the airport called Tunis-Carthage. This air harbor is situated just a few kilometers from the Country’s Capital. Its infrastructure can be described as comfortable and modern. There are comfortable rest compartments, rooms for VIP guests, conference rooms, various shops with colorful souvenirs, as well as Duty Free shops. There are facilities for passengers with children and passengers with disabilities. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The second airport in Tunisia is Enfidha Hammamet. This is a relatively young air Harbor, as it has only been in operations for 6 years. The airport is located on the coastline between Hammamet and Sousse. This is perhaps why it is often chosen by tourists, as from the terminal, it is very convenient to reach the most popular resorts of the country. One thing to note however is that such air harbors as these, are mostly focused on conducting charter flights. The infrastructure is also well developed. The airport is very spacious and provides tourists with everything they need for a comfortable stay. Here you can have a delicious snack, buy souvenirs and gift items, visit the nursery, withdraw money, rent a car, as well as visit shops selling leather goods, European cosmetics and perfumery stores.

Tunisia’s next international airport is Habib Bourguiba’s air harbor. Not long ago, this airport enjoyed full operations. It however now accepts only foreign charter flights. It is most convenient to fly to this airport if you plan to rest in Monastir, in Mahdia, or in Sousse. The airport of Djerba-Zarzis is considered the most southern of all the international air Harbors of Tunisia. Despite having only a fairly modest infrastructure, all that is necessary for offering passengers a good service has been made available within its territory. There is a small waiting room, decent cafes and bars, a small Duty Free shop, several shops with local products, as well as an ATM, a currency exchange office, and the branch of an international bank.

The most common form of public transport in Tunisia are buses and trams. There are quite comfortable buses equipped with air-conditioners, shuttling between large cities of the country. Tickets can be purchased at newspaper kiosks or directly from the driver. In addition to one-off tickets, there are reusable tickets that provide you an opportunity to save a lot on transportation. You can also get cheaper tickets that allow you to ride on a minibus and a tram. The quality of the road surface in Tunisia is at a very high level, so it is possible to rent a car if you so desire.

It is worth remembering that the cars in Tunisia are right-hand driven. Gasoline is relatively inexpensive, and petrol stations can be found in even the most remote provinces. Markings and road signs correspond to modern standards, but the driving culture of the local population leaves much to be desired. In order to rent a car, you will need to have an international driver’s license, and in some cases also, a credit card. The cost of renting the lowest budget car is about 30 Euros per day. Also, when caught in a desperate situation, travelers can take advantage of hitchhiking, as locals are known to help tourists to travel around the country.

In Tunisia, you can call for a taxi. To move within the same city, you need to book a yellow taxi. If the trip is scheduled to another city however, the so-called “big taxi” is what you would need. The tariff is fixed; calculation with the driver is made according to the taximeter. Another great way to travel in Tunisia, and see the sights, is the railway transport. The network of tracks covers almost the whole country, while also passing near the coast. Both commuter and long-distance trains conduct regular runs.

If there is a need to quickly get from one city to another, you can use any of the local airports. Generally, flights within the country will not take more than an hour. Water transportation, particularly the use of ferries, is yet another means of transportation that enjoys a huge popularity in Tunisia. They travel not only along the coast, but also connect Tunisia with neighboring countries, for example, with France, Italy and others. On the ferry there is an opportunity to transport your own car or bicycle. Cruise ships, yachts and boats now perform not only their usual transportation function, but are also engaged in excursion activities. At the height of the tourist season, the demand with regards to water transport increases.