Safest cities in Tunisia
9 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border
- Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya border
- the Chaambi Mountains National Park
- the designated military operations zones: Mount Salloum
- Mount Sammamma
- Mount Mghila
- areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba Governorate, including El Feidja National Park
- within 20km of the Tunisia-Algeria border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates, south of the town of Jendouba
- Kasserine Governorate, including the town of Sbeitla
- within 10km of the rest of the Tunisia-Algeria border south of Kasserine Governorate
- within 10km of Mount Mghila
- Mount Orbata
- the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
- within 20km of the rest of the Tunisia-Libya border area north of Dhehiba
- the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in TunisiaTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Tunisia.
Political situation
- Migration from sub-Saharan AfricaLarge numbers of irregular migrants depart from Tunisia for Europe. Many migrants in Tunisia originate from sub-Saharan African countries. This has resulted in heightened social tensions, and anti-migrant protests and violence in some coastal towns, such as Sfax. Incidents could happen with little or no warning and might affect anyone perceived to…
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsThe majority of visits to Tunisia are unaffected by crime. The most common crime experienced is theft. Sensible measures to reduce this risk include not displaying expensive items or leaving them unattended, and not carrying unnecessary valuables when in public. Criminals are known to sometimes use confidence tricks as a distraction while carrying…
- Sexual harassment and sexual assaultReports of sexual harassment and sexual assault statistically increase in the summer months. Reports include trouble in busy public places at night and quieter public parks and beaches during the daytime.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAs a foreign national, you must carry ID, such as a copy of the photo page of your passport. Security officials may ask you for ID at any time. Dual British-Tunisian nationals should carry a copy of the photo page of their passport or their national ID card.
- Dress codeBeach-appropriate clothing in holiday resorts is acceptable, however when visiting religious sites or remote areas of the country, local custom is to dress modestly.
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country, next starting in February 2027. During this time, eating or drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public in the daytime may cause offence.
- Alcohol lawsThe sale of alcohol is permitted in Tunisia but is banned from sale in supermarkets on Fridays. You can still order and drink alcohol in hotels and bars. During Ramadan, sale of alcohol is banned and the consumption of alcohol is restricted to fewer restaurants and bars. These rules do not apply at holiday resorts.
- Drugs and illegal substancesIt is illegal to bring any controlled or prohibited substances into Tunisia. Travellers found in possession of illegal drugs can face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines. Tunisian legislation relating to illegal drugs applies regardless of the traveller’s country of residence, country of departure, whether the…
- Using cameras in secure areasDo not take photographs of or near government buildings or military sites.
- Buying antiquitiesYou must get permission from the Tunisian authorities before removing antiquities from Tunisia. Not getting permission in advance can result in lengthy delays on departure. If you do not declare the item, you could get a fine and a prison sentence.
- Buying propertyIt is illegal for foreign nationals to buy property outright in Tunisia. British nationals often do this through a Tunisian third party. If you are considering buying property, consult a local lawyer. Do not make private arrangements, which may be illegal and could result in a large financial loss.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Tunisia. Members of the LGBT+ community have been targeted by criminals.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming safetySome beaches have a flag system. Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings.
- Quad bikesQuad bikes are popular in desert resorts. Take the same precautions as you would in the UK. Safety standards can vary considerably. Always wear a crash helmet.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Tunisia, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditions and driving standardsRoad surfaces are of a reasonable standard in Tunisia, although large potholes can appear after heavy rain. Many towns and villages have unannounced speed bumps. Be careful when approaching sand drifts on roads.
- Rail travelRail travel is generally safe, although safety standards tend to be lower than in the UK. There is a risk of petty crime on trains.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- Power supply in summer monthsIn summer months, heatwaves and extreme temperatures may occur. This can cause an increase in the pressure on the electricity grid. In response, the Tunisian electricity and gas company (STEG) may carry out temporary power cuts. These disruptions can have a direct impact on infrastructure across the country, including in some hotels. Power cuts…
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Tunisia, updated 2026-07-24 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 4.69 /100k2020
- Income inequality
- Gini 33.72021
- Human development
- HDI 0.7462023
- Income
- $14,870/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 16.5 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 50/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 51/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 39/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.67GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 18.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 65%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 1.3 doctors /1k1.8 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Tsunami
- 5.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 5.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Tunisia (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Tunisia compares
| Measure | Tunisia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.7 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +2.3 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 33.7 | 35.2 | −1.5 — better for Tunisia |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.746 | 0.763 | −0.017 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 16.5 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +1.1 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 51/100 | 52/100 | −1/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 39/100 | 39/100 | ±0/100 |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 18.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −0.8 µg/m³ — better for Tunisia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.4/10 | 3.8/10 | −0.4/10 — better for Tunisia |
| Measure | Tunisia | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.7 /100k | 4.4 /100k | +0.3 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 33.7 | 38.5 | −4.8 — better for Tunisia |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.746 | 0.560 | +0.186 — better for Tunisia |
| Road deaths | 16.5 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −11.7 /100k — better for Tunisia |
| Rule of law | 51/100 | 42/100 | +9/100 — better for Tunisia |
| Corruption perceptions | 39/100 | 30/100 | +9/100 — better for Tunisia |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 18.9 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −8.8 µg/m³ — better for Tunisia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.4/10 | 5.3/10 | −1.9/10 — better for Tunisia |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.