Tunisia - currency

Tunisia’s currency is the Tunisian dinar. Symbolised by د.ت, it's available in notes and coins. Most major hotels, large restaurants and shops in urban and tourist areas accept credit/debit cards, and some will accept other payment methods like Apple/Google Pay and prepaid travel cards, but cash is still king in Tunisia - so make sure you carry cash too, as smaller businesses are cash only.

💴 Tunisian currency comes in 5, 10, 20, and 50 dinar notes. It's good to have a range of Tunisian dinar, as having larger notes can be handy for paying for multi-day tours or hotel stays, whilst smaller notes are good when you're paying for bus fares or museum entrance fees.

🪙 Tunisian coins come in values of ½ (0.5), 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 500 millimes. These are handy for paying for street food, small market items and tipping.

🏧 When you arrive, look for ATMs that accept international cards such as Visa, e.g. most hotels and resorts will accept UK cards. Bear in mind if you do it this way, you could incur a surcharge of around 4% on your card. Plus, it’s still a good idea to take some cash with you to change if you need to, just in case you have any problems with your card or you have an emergency.

Should I take Tunisian money with me?

No. The Tunisian dinar is currently a 'closed currency', meaning it's a criminal offence to either import or export the currency in or out of Tunisia. Beware if you do find somewhere that does exchange Tunisian currency at home - don’t do it because it’s illegal to take it into the country with you. Instead, take UK pounds, US dollars or Euros in cash with you to change when you get there, or bring along your debit or credit card (Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard).

Where can I get currency in Tunisia?

It’s normal for holidaymakers to arrive in the country without any valid Tunisia currency in their wallet; but don’t worry, it’s really easy to get your hands on some Tunisian dinar once you’re there.

You can exchange your cash for local currency at banks, bureaux de change, hotels and post offices in Tunisia. The rate is fixed by the government, so it will be the same wherever you go. Remember to bring along your passport, as you might need it to be able to change your money. And make sure you keep your receipt so you can swap any leftover holiday money back to sterling before you go home.

🍚 Stretch your dinar with tasty, budget-friendly eats! Look out for local cafes and restaurants, where a meal can cost as little as £2 per person. Shop at local markets and embrace affordable local street food like filling ‘fricasse’ sandwiches (a fried sweet and savoury medley) or sticky baklava (a sweet nutty pastry) which often cost less than a pound each.