Is it safe to travel to Tunisia right now? Latest travel advice

Times

2 days ago

Safety fears have long subdued tourism in Tunisia. In 2015, a police bus was targeted by a terrorist; the incident triggered a state of emergency across the country that's been in place since. That same year, two further terror attacks saw 38 tourists killed at a beach resort near Sousse and 21 tourists killed at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. There have been more recent incidents, occurring every year between 2020 and 2023, although none of these have involved tourists.
The UK Foreign Office considers most of Tunisia as safe to travel to, although there are regions around the country's borders with travel advisories in place.
Following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear sites on June 13, the Foreign Office warned that 'ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region'. This advice remains in place despite a ceasefire that has held since June 24.
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The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travelling to several regions in Tunisia, all of which are around its borders.
It advises against all travel to:
• the Chaambi Mountains National Park and the designated military operations zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila• the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba• within 20km of the Libyan border area north of Dhehiba• the town of Ben Guerdane and the immediate surrounding area
It also advises against all but essential travel to:
• within 75km of the Tunisia-Libya border, including Remada, El Borma and the town of Zarzis• areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba Governorate, including El Feidja National Park• within 30km of the Tunisia-Algeria border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates, south of the town of Jendouba, including the archaeological site of Chemtou• 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
If travelling to other parts of the country, there are still some safety considerations to bear in mind (more below).Tunisia is further away from Israel than destinations such as Sicily and Malta, and has not been affected by the conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, or Iran.
However, on June 13, 2025, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Foreign Office updated its guidance to state: 'Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region. You should monitor local and international media for the latest information, be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.'
A ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Iran has now held since Tuesday, June 24, following 12 days of fighting that closed down airspace across the Middle East and disrupted flights and travel plans, but this has not changed the Foreign Office's travel advice.
Tunisia has close ties with Palestine, with its president, Kais Saied, calling for support for the Palestinian people. Within Tunisia, there have been rallies in support of Palestine.
The UK Foreign Office says: 'In response to the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, peaceful demonstrations have occurred in some Tunisian cities, including outside some western embassies.' However, it warns that protests may occur with 'little or no warning' and 'can sometimes become violent'. They have usually been concentrated around the capital, Tunis, and other major cities, typically near government buildings and outside Western embassies.
To reduce your personal risk, the Foreign Office recommends avoiding demonstrations where possible (or moving away if they start to take place), obeying the instructions of the local authorities, monitoring the media, and following the advice of your hotel or tour operator.
There have been safer periods in Tunisia's history. The country is in a state of emergency, which means an increased security presence, with checkpoints in place. This was imposed after a a suicide attack on a police bus in 2015, and has been extended multiple times. It was most recently extended until the end of 2025.
The Foreign Office says that terrorists are 'very likely' to try to carry out attacks in Tunisia, and warns that there have been incidents in recent years, including several in 2023. The places particularly at risk of being targeted are crowded areas, government buildings, transport networks, businesses with western interests, religious sites, and areas where foreign nationals and tourists are known to gather.
In addition to terrorism, there may be a potential threat of kidnapping, particularly near the borders and in more remote parts of the country. Travellers should also be vigilant for pickpocketing, bag-snatching and other petty theft.
British citizens do not need a visa to enter Tunisia for tourism purposes for visits of up to 90 days. If you intend to stay for longer, you'll need to get a suitable visa.
Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Tunisia, but it doesn't need any additional validity beyond this. If you're a dual national of the UK and Tunisia, you should enter and leave the country on the same passport.
When you enter Tunisia, you may be asked to share your contact details and travel information with the authorities, including evidence of your hotel reservation. If you cannot supply this, you may be denied entry or experience delays.
The UK Foreign Office says that some British nationals of south Asian descent have also been delayed and questioned by immigration authorities. You can report this to the British Embassy on [phone], but it cannot override border control decisions made by Tunisian authorities.
In addition to the general safety concerns mentioned above, the Foreign Office says that reports 'of sexual harassment and sexual assault statistically increase in the summer months'. This has included in busy public places at night, and in quieter public parks and on beaches during the day. You should stay alert and use caution.
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Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Tunisia and those who are prosecuted could face prison sentences. LGBT activism does exist in the country, and there is an underground community.
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