Tunisia is attracting more and more tourists, adventure seekers and culture enthusiasts. You are landing on our page now, because you’re one of them. It’s totally normal and understandable to ask about safety in Tunisia before coming and exploring the country.
As locals with different backgrounds, WildyNess team promises you an honest report on safety in Tunisia and what to be careful about.
Is it Safe to Visit Tunisia?
As long as you keep your wits about you and follow the local cultural practices, Tunisia is a secure and safe destination. According to Macrotrends, a website showing statistics about countries all over the world, Tunisia has a moderate crime rate, which unfortunately revolves around domestic violence and group violence.
As for tourists, violence against them is not in any way common. The only two infamous incidents were terrorist attacks in 2015. As we are now in 2023, terrorist attacks shrank considerably after the many political changes Tunisia underwent. However, we would highly advise being always on the lookout for pickpockets and scam service providers, who are sometimes present.
Politically speaking, Tunisia is still in a state of emergency since the Jasmine Revolution, unprecedented protests sparking a wave of protest across the MENA region and led to the ousting of the president.
As you’re navigating your way in the country, you should always be updated of the local news. Many news outlets use French to cover stories, which makes it easier for you to get the information. If not, the feature of translating the web page is always your best friend. You need to bear in mind that translation from and to the Arabic language is usually poor and sometimes inaccurate.
Research is also your key to explore the country safely. As you are heading from one destination to another, you need to do your research about every destination, so you are sure how to adhere to the local costumes and be aware of any religious or governmental holidays that may change your schedule.
Also Read: Your Ultimate Guide To Move To Tunisia
Safety for LGBTQIA+ travellers
Same-sex relationships are illegal in Tunisia. Tunisia is not a moderately safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers who don’t wish to openly express sexuality or gender identity. Unless you don’t go public with your romance, you can navigate the city quite smoothly.
Public display of affection is not advised for all couples, even the heterosexual ones. Awareness of your surroundings is key in these situations.
However, there are a few places and clubs that are LGBT friendly where you can get a hands-on experience on how the community is surviving in the country.
Safety for solo female travellers
Traveling in Tunisia as a solo female traveler is quite safe. Even though you may read that you need to cover yourself and wear very modestly, this is not the case. What applies to any traveler, applies to female travelers.
So, don’t be afraid of being in an Islamic country, where you should wear a scarf and watch over your shoulders. The only situation where you need to abide by a certain dress code is when you’re visiting religious sites.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable with exploring a new country all by yourself, opting for small group tours may boost your feelings of being safe. As you would in many other countries while traveling around, use your intuition and common sense.
Common scams to watch for while in Tunisia
1. Overpriced Items Scam
As one of the most popular and known scams all over the world, vendors are keen on raising their prices when encountering tourists and foreigners. You would expect encountering this type of scams in local marketplaces and tourist attractions. Prices would increase three to five times higher than the normal price.
The solution for you to not overpay is to haggle whenever possible when you feel the price is higher than the value of the product. Start with discounting 25% of the price, and see how things go.
2. Scam in Beaches
In some public beaches, you need to watch for your belongings when you go swimming. This has nothing to do with you, as a tourist. Beach scammers tend to know when to take the belongings and flee the location before getting caught. Always make sure to leave your valuables in your hotel room.
Another type of scam is the one when a person approaches you offering their products, like handmade accessories, and force them on you. Always say a firm and bold “no” when someone carries things, approaches to you.
3. Taxi Scams
Like everywhere around the world, you need to be bold and direct with taxi drivers. Always insist on putting the fare meter on, and don’t go with any taxi driver claiming that the meter is broken or asking for an exact fee or specific amount of money.
The method to avoid taxi scams is to use taxi apps when you cannot find an honest taxi driver. As taxis are not necessarily expensive in Tunisia, you can opt to pay a few more dinars for your own safety and good energy.
4. Pick-pocketing
Tourists are usually easy target to pickpocketing wherever they go. And, it’s not only annoying, it deeply affects their feelings of safety while navigating a new destination. The solution to minimize the chance of falling victim to theft is to refrain from carrying your actual passport and valuable belongings.
Also, opting for certain types of bags may also play a role in keeping your things safe and watching them.
5. Fake Tour Guides
A classic tourist scam which is only now starting to pop in Tunisia. Usually in newly marketed destinations, you would find a few people insisting on showing you around. Don’t put your trust in them and always be clear that you have your own guide, or you don’t need one.
Tips for staying safe in Tunisia :
- See how locals act and do the same.
- Avoid overcrowded places whenever possible
- Always walk in small groups and avoid walking alone in isolated areas at night
- Don’t carry all your cash with you and make sure to leave your valuables at the place you’re staying in.
- Be aware of scams happening at tourist sites and attractions.
- Make sure to have a scarf and dress conservatively at religious sites, like the Zeytouna mosque.
Tunisia is as safe as your home country:
Tunisia, as any other country, is quite safe for tourists and travelers to enjoy their trips and live memorable moments. Always remember that danger is everywhere. While the North African country is far from being depicted as “dangerous”, you need to act as you would do in any other location.
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