Tunis-Carthage International Airport is the main gateway to the country. Located about 15 minutes by car from the center of Tunis and west of the Carthage archaeological site, it serves as a base for Tunisair and Nouvelair, has two runways, and handles over 5 million passengers a year.
The airport opened in 1938 with the Paris-Tunis route, and during World War II, it was used by the American air forces as headquarters for the Italian campaign in 1943. After the war, the French entirely financed the reconstruction of the airport, which became a hub for the national airline Tunisair in 1948. Traffic significantly increased in the following years due to the strong ties between France and Tunisia even after the country’s independence, and especially with the advent of tourism. In 2006, a new terminal was inaugurated to handle charter flights. The two terminals are connected by a free shuttle bus service, departing every 10 minutes.
Services
The terminals at Tunis-Carthage Airport are equipped with all necessary services, including ATMs, a 24-hour currency exchange office for exchanging Tunisian currency, a post office, and mobile device rentals, as well as bars and restaurants.
There are also several luxury brand stores at the airport, some local shops selling typical products, and a spacious duty-free area where you can purchase tobacco and liquor at favorable prices. You can then plan your trip to Tunisia using the advice and free materials from the tourist information office, located on the first floor in the departure area. Here you will also find a lost and found office, useful if you have lost something at the airport.
Also in the departure area, there is a lounge, offering services such as fax, computers, and phones, as well as free Wi-Fi. Note that the airport does not have a conference and meeting room: for these needs, you can turn to the Regency and Golden Tulip Carthage hotels, located nearby.
Finally, free Wi-Fi is not available: however, many restaurants and bars offer it to their customers.
To and From the City
To reach Tunis once you have landed at the airport and cleared immigration, you can rely on taxis and buses. Taxis are perhaps the best choice, being quite fast, but be cautious about the price, which should always be negotiated in advance, as it is often inflated by local drivers, even though by law they must use the meter. Expect to pay about 10 dinars to get to the city, assuming the meter works correctly. Usually, you will need to pay an extra fee for bulky luggage and for trips during nighttime hours.
Be aware of scams by unlicensed taxi drivers, who will approach you inside the airport, while you are still in the arrivals area: they will try to charm you with their friendly manners, but the fare you will have to pay will generally be much higher than the official one.
If you don’t want to take any risks, rely on bus 35 of the SNT public transport service; it departs every 30 minutes from the airport, and the ticket is very cheap: you will spend about 1 dinar. The travel time from the airport to the city is about 30 minutes, with several intermediate stops. There are also buses from the TUT company, more luxurious, departing every 15 minutes, but the ticket price is higher.
You also have the option to rent a car to tour Tunis and its surroundings independently, as there are offices of practically all the major international car rental companies, such as Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Europcar, and Sixt, as well as several local companies in the arrivals area at the airport. With a rental car, you can reach the center of Tunis in 10-15 minutes, driving along N8 road, which then intersects with the A1 highway leading directly to the city.
Where to Stay
There are numerous hotels near Tunis Airport. Luxury hotels and major international chains often provide a free or paid shuttle service to reach them once you leave the airport. Given the proximity of the airport to the center of Tunis, it is often convenient to stay directly in the city, even if you arrive late in the evening or depart early in the morning, as taxis are always operational.
