Reality Brief: Sousse

Current alerts

No official alerts recorded for this region.

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

• Passport: France, United Kingdom

  No visa is needed for stays of up to 3 months (90 days) for French and British nationals. Beyond that, a visa and residence card are obtained from the Ministry of the Interior; if you overstay, a proportional fine is required to leave.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Tunisia travel advice: entry requirementsGuide: Entry and residence

• Since 1 January 2025, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months on the date of entry. Prefer a valid passport to an ID card past its printed date, even if France considers it valid: travellers have been refused boarding on the way back.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, entry and residenceGuide: Entry and residence

• Declare foreign cash on entry: without a declaration, a non-resident cannot take out more than the equivalent of 5,000 dinars (about 1,500 euros).

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Entry and residence

• Ambulance 190, police 197, civil protection 198, National Guard 193 in rural areas. SOS Médecins: +216 71 744 215.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contactsGOV.UK (FCDO), Tunisia travel advice: getting helpGuide: Health

• A state of emergency has been in force nationwide since 24 November 2015 and is regularly extended.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• The currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND). ATMs in most towns; cards accepted in most hotels and tourist sites, rarely in small shops.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful informationFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Money and banking

• Respect Islamic customs and dress correctly, especially during Ramadan; no topless bathing. Respect photography bans near military and public sites.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful informationGuide: Daily life and local laws

Living in Sousse

• Attacks have taken place (Bardo and Sousse in 2015, Tunis in 2019 and 2020, Sousse in 2020, Djerba in May 2023); security forces are the main targets. Keep away from places where they are stationed and prefer venues with security measures.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Street crime is relatively under control; watch your bags in tourist areas. Always carry your papers.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Respect Islamic customs and dress correctly, especially during Ramadan; no topless bathing. Respect photography bans near military and public sites.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful informationGuide: Daily life and local laws

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (17), clinics (10), hospitals (11). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (7), supermarkets (29). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (48), cash machines (10). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (4). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (3). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Emergency numbers

  Ambulance 190, police 197, civil protection 198, National Guard 193.

  190197198193

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contactsGOV.UK (FCDO), Tunisia travel advice: getting help· Oct 2, 2026