See Ancient Ruins
Carthage
Carthage · about 3.5 miles from the port
A UNESCO World Heritage site and open-air museum, with Roman baths, a theater and the Punic ports. The port lists it open 8 AM to 5 PM.
Read About Carthage (opens a new tab)
Gulf of Tunis · Tunisia
Tunis
Roman Carthage, blue-and-white Sidi Bou Said and the old Medina.
Carthage’s Roman baths and the village of Sidi Bou Said lie on the TGM train line from La Goulette. The Medina and the Bardo Museum’s Roman mosaics are in Tunis, about 7.6 and 9 miles from the pier.
Four Ways to Spend a Day in Tunis
Unwind Village
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said · about 4.7 miles from the port
Blue and white houses climb the hillside above the sea. Have mint and pine nut tea at the famous Café des Nattes, or a warm bambalouni doughnut.
Read About Sidi Bou Said (opens a new tab)
Taste Street Food
Fricassé
La Goulette · beside the port
A fried doughnut filled with tuna, egg, olives, harissa and potato, and one of Tunisia’s favorite street foods, says the port. For a sit-down meal, the port points to the bars and seaside restaurants of Franklin Roosevelt Avenue.
Read About Fricassé (opens a new tab)
Explore Old Town
Medina of Tunis
Tunis · about 7.6 miles from the port
A UNESCO World Heritage quarter that the tourist office calls exceptionally well preserved. The port points to the Zitouna Mosque, the souks and about 700 historic monuments.
Read About the Medina (opens a new tab)Getting Around Tunis
There is no port shuttle, so you go by taxi, train or tour. By road the Medina is about 9 miles; the port says about 20 minutes.
If you do one thing here
See the Roman Mosaics at the Bardo Museum
Tunisia’s heritage agency says the mosaic collection, for its richness and variety, is what makes the museum famous. Its icon is the Triumph of Neptune, in the entrance hall of the modern wing. The museum sits in a 19th-century Bey’s palace.
The Bardo is about 9 miles from the pier in a straight line, about 11.5 miles by road. The agency lists it closed on Mondays, open 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM in winter and 9 AM to 5 PM in summer. The port’s Cultural Treasures trip pairs it with the Medina in 3 hours.
Official Museum Page (opens a new tab)Port Page on the Bardo (opens a new tab)
Safety and Weather
We found no official crime figures for Tunis, so this section quotes the UK Foreign Office (FCDO).
- CrimeThe FCDO says most visits are unaffected by crime and theft is the most common, sometimes with a confidence trick as a distraction. It advises against travel to parts of Tunisia, but none of those areas is Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said or La Goulette.
- TerrorismThe FCDO says terrorists are likely to try to attack in Tunisia, with higher risk at tourist sites and on public transport. Security forces are on high alert in Tunis.
- Walking to townNot to the sights. The port’s Village Harbor, the La Goulette waterfront and the train station, about 0.6 mile away, are in reach on foot. Carthage is about 3.5 miles away and the Medina about 7.6 miles.
- The beachThe FCDO says some beaches have a flag system to follow, and to get local advice where there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.
- WeatherTunis-Carthage averages a high of 93°F in July and August. December and January are the wettest months, with 2.9 and 2.7 inches of rain (1981 to 2010).
Safety: UK FCDO travel advice for Tunisia, updated 24 July 2026. Weather: INM, Tunis-Carthage station, 1981–2010 monthly normals. Distances: port figures and OpenStreetMap straight lines. Road distances: OpenStreetMap routes.
Make it part of your voyage
Cruises Visiting Tunis
MSC, Costa and Viking sail here most often. Find cruises that visit Tunis.
Tunis FAQ
Is Tunisia safe to visit?
The UK Foreign Office says most visits are unaffected by crime, and theft is the most common problem. It advises against travel to parts of the west and south, but not to Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said or La Goulette. It also says terrorists are likely to try to attack, and security forces are on high alert in Tunis.
Is the Tunis cruise port safe?
The port is ISPS certified and watched by CCTV around the clock, and there is security screening before immigration control.
Where do cruise ships dock in Tunis?
At La Goulette Cruise Port, which has three piers and room for three ships at once. It is 7.6 miles from the city center by the port’s own figure. The port does not publish which pier each ship uses.
Is there a Tunis cruise ship schedule?
Yes. The port publishes arrival and departure times with the ship and cruise line, and notes that they can change for weather or operational reasons.
What are the shore excursions from Tunis?
The port lists four short trips, with no prices: Cultural Treasures (Medina and Bardo, 3 hours), Blue & White Escape (Sidi Bou Said and Carthage, 3 hours), Heritage & Art (Carthage and Bardo, 4 hours) and Essence of Tunisia (5 hours).
How do I get from the cruise port to Tunis?
Take a taxi from the Official Taxi Service stand inside the port: the Medina is about 9 miles by road (OpenStreetMap route); the port says about 20 minutes. Or walk about 0.6 mile to the nearest station and take the TGM train to Tunis Marine, about 1.2 miles in a straight line from the Medina’s Zitouna Mosque.
What to do in Tunis?
Visit the Roman ruins of Carthage, the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said, the Medina of Tunis and the mosaics of the Bardo Museum. The port also lists the Carraca fortress, built by the Spanish and expanded by the Turks in 1574, in La Goulette itself.
How much is a taxi in Tunis?
The port publishes no taxi fares. It runs an Official Taxi Service stand inside the port and advises using it.
Is there a shuttle from the Tunis cruise port?
No. The port says there is no shuttle service. Taxis wait inside the port, and the nearest train station is about 0.6 mile from the exit.
Do I need a visa for Tunisia on a cruise?
The port says foreigners arriving by cruise ship do not need a visa, but must carry a valid passport.
What currency is used in Tunis?
The Tunisian dinar. The port says euros and US dollars are accepted in tourist areas, and there is an exchange bureau inside Goulette Village Harbor.
What is the weather like in Tunis by month?
Tunis-Carthage averages highs of 93°F in July and August and 80°F in October. December and January are the wettest months. The port suggests a jacket for cooler evenings from December to April.
Photos: Tunis: Mietek Ł (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Antonine Baths: Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (CC BY 2.0) · Café des Nattes: Andrea Calabretta (CC BY 2.0) · Fricassé: Yamen (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Zitouna Mosque: Citizen59 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Bardo mosaics: Josep M. Gracia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Cruise ship in port: Bahnfrend (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cropped for display.