Your ship docks at Port La Goulette, with the town itself just a short stroll from the gangway. Tunis is about 12km off, roughly 25-40 minutes by taxi or 20-45 minutes on the TGM train. With a few hours ashore, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said are the better bet.
Where ships dock at La Goulette cruise port
The terminal, Goulette Village Harbour, is built to look like a Tunisian medina, courtyards, arches and all. Inside you’ll find two wings of shops selling traditional clothing, watches and jewellery, a hammam, health and beauty shops, cafés, a juice bar and an à la carte fish restaurant.
There’s a currency exchange desk and a tourist information point too. The wifi isn’t guaranteed to be free, so check at the info desk and have a backup plan if you need to get online before heading into town.
La Goulette turns up regularly on Western Mediterranean cruise ports routes, often tucked into longer Mediterranean cruise itineraries. It sits in North Africa’s Maghreb region, alongside the ports in Morocco that the same itineraries often call at too.
Tunis (La Goulette) cruise port map
Ships dock at Port La Goulette terminal. Tap a pin for directions.
- Port La Goulette terminalWhere ships dock
- Sidi Bou SaidVillage · About 10 km from Port La Goulette terminal
- CarthageAncient ruins · About 7 km from Port La Goulette terminal
- La Goulette Train Station (TGM)Train station
- Tunis Marine TGM StationTrain station
- Sidi Bou Said TGM StationTrain station
- Carthage Hannibal TGM StationTrain station
- Medina of TunisOld town market quarter
- Zitouna MosqueMosque
- Bardo National MuseumMuseum
- Avenue Habib BourguibaMain street
- Antonine BathsAncient ruins
- Carthage National MuseumMuseum
- Carthage AmphitheatreAncient ruins
- Café des NattesCafé
- Église Saint-Augustin et Saint-FidèleChurch
Getting from La Goulette to Tunis
Getting from La Goulette to Tunis is quickest by taxi or the TGM train, and both leave from right outside the port gates.
- Taxi: Agree the fare before you get in. Overcharging is the most common gripe at this port, and a short ride into town shouldn’t cost much.
- TGM train: Trains leave from La Goulette station and cost less than a taxi.
- Ride-share apps: Uber and the like don’t operate in Tunisia, so it’s taxis or the TGM train, nothing else.
Visiting Carthage and Sidi Bou Said in a few hours ashore
Visiting Carthage and Sidi Bou Said in a few hours ashore is doable, but give Carthage at least two and a half hours on its own once you count the transport and the walk round the sites. Sidi Bou Said is a bit further still, about 20-25 minutes by taxi from the port.
- Carthage: about 15 minutes by taxi or 25 minutes on the TGM train from the port, with sites like Birsa Hill and the Antonine Baths to see once you’re there.
- Sidi Bou Said: The village centre is pedestrianised and cobbled, so no cars get in.
- Guided excursions or a full-day taxi hire are there too, if you’d rather not sort the transport yourself.
There’s no free shuttle from the port to either place, so it’s taxi, TGM train or a guided excursion, take your pick.
Getting back to the ship before all-aboard
Getting back to the ship before all-aboard is the one thing to plan for at this port, because taxis back to La Goulette thin out fast once you’re away from the terminal. Traffic between Tunis and La Goulette is a law unto itself, and the late afternoon rush hour can double your journey time.
Sort a return time and price with your taxi driver before you leave the port, or book a return transfer as part of a guided excursion, rather than hoping you’ll flag one down on the street later. When two large ships are in at once, the taxi rank outside the terminal gate can back up within the first hour and a half of everyone coming ashore, so build in some slack either side of your plans.
Security queues at the terminal gate in the final hour before all-aboard are usually short, but they can stretch out on days when more than one ship is in.
Is La Goulette, Tunisia safe?
La Goulette is generally safe for cruise passengers. The port itself is well-monitored, petty theft is rare, and locals tend to be friendly, with nothing in the way of major security issues at the port.
The usual city rules still apply though: stick to well-lit, busy areas after dark, keep an eye out for pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded markets, and watch for overcharging at restaurants. Dress modestly at religious sites. Demonstrations or strikes do crop up occasionally, though they’re usually peaceful and stay localised.
Things to do in La Goulette and Tunis
Things to do in La Goulette and Tunis on a port day mostly come down to three: Carthage’s ancient sites, the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said, and the souk sitting right inside the cruise terminal itself.
- Browse the souk inside Goulette Village Harbour for traditional clothing, watches and jewellery, all without leaving the port.
- Walk the cobbled, pedestrianised streets of Sidi Bou Said and call in at Café des Nattes for one of the best-known views in the village.
- Take in Carthage’s archaeological sites, including Birsa Hill and the Antonine Baths.
- Catch the early-morning local markets near the port for fresh fish, spices, crafts and souvenirs.
If you want to see more of the country, other Tunisia cruise ports are covered on the site, and Sousse is another cruise port in Tunisia if your itinerary happens to call there too.
Money in La Goulette: currency, cards and cash
The currency is the Tunisian dinar. You can’t buy it before you travel or take it out of the country, so you’ll need to change money or use a cash machine once you’re ashore.
Cards work in hotels, bigger restaurants and larger shops. Contactless is spreading, but it’s patchy, so bring a chip card as a back-up. You’ll need cash for taxis, souks, markets, the TGM train and tips, and rounding up is normal. Dollars and euros aren’t accepted reliably, though a few shops near the terminal and some tourist businesses will take euros. The rate is usually poor, and you get your change in dinars. Exchange rates at the port are about the same as in town.
Where to eat near La Goulette cruise port
The best place to eat near La Goulette cruise port is Fish Street (Avenue Franklin Roosevelt), a short walk from the terminal, where several of the area’s best seafood spots let you pick your own fish before it goes on the grill.
- Grilled seafood: La Goulette’s signature dish. Pick it fresh from the counter before it’s cooked.
- Couscous with vegetables: a Tunisian staple, on the menu at most local restaurants near the port.
- Brik: a thin, fried pastry parcel, usually filled with egg. Order it alongside the seafood.
- Dates fried in olive oil: a traditional sweet, served as dessert in local cafés.
Weather in La Goulette for a cruise port day
You get hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, and ships call in most months of the year. Daytime temperatures sit around 15-16°C in January and February, reach the low thirties in July and August, then ease back through a fine, settled autumn.
Most rain falls between October and March, but showers usually pass through quickly instead of settling in for the day. Humidity builds in high summer, and the wind picks up between December and March. Tunisia isn’t in a hurricane zone, so you don’t need to plan around that kind of storm.
What to wear in La Goulette: outfit ideas for a port day
What to wear in La Goulette for a port day depends on where you’re headed. Sidi Bou Said’s streets are steep, cobbled and pedestrianised, so comfortable walking shoes designed for all-day wear make the hills and uneven stone much easier going, for women and men alike.
Carry a scarf or a light layer to cover your shoulders if you’re planning to visit any religious sites. For more ideas, see these casual cruise outfit ideas for women and cruise outfit ideas for men.
Best photo spots near La Goulette
The best photo spots near La Goulette are in Sidi Bou Said and Carthage, both within reach on a few hours ashore.
- Sidi Bou Said’s whitewashed streets: blue doors, bougainvillea and cobbled lanes. Early morning, between 8am and 11am, gives you soft light and fewer crowds, though sunset is the classic shot if you don’t mind sharing it with everyone else.
- Café des Nattes: one of the most photographed spots in the village, overlooking the main street.
- Carthage’s Antonine Baths and Birsa Hill: part of the UNESCO site, and best photographed in early morning or late afternoon light.
La Goulette cruise port FAQs
Is La Goulette, Tunisia safe for cruise passengers?
La Goulette is generally safe for cruise passengers. Theft rates are low and the port area is well-monitored, though the usual precautions around pickpocketing and walking alone at night still apply.
Is Tunis port the same as La Goulette?
Tunis port and La Goulette are the same cruise terminal. La Goulette is the coastal town that serves Tunis, the capital, sitting around 12km inland.
How far is La Goulette from Tunis city centre?
La Goulette sits around 12km from central Tunis, which works out at roughly 25-40 minutes by taxi or 20-45 minutes on the TGM train.
Is there a shuttle bus from La Goulette cruise port?
There’s no free shuttle bus from La Goulette cruise port. You’ll need a taxi, the TGM train, or a pre-booked guided excursion to reach Tunis, Carthage or Sidi Bou Said.
How long do I need to visit Carthage from the port?
Visiting Carthage from the port takes at least two and a half hours all in, once you count the transport and a walk round the main archaeological sites.
Can I walk from the ship into La Goulette town?
Walking from the ship into La Goulette town is easy enough, since the terminal sits only a few minutes’ walk from the town itself.
Do I need to book a taxi back to the ship in advance?
Booking a return taxi or transfer in advance is strongly recommended, since taxis thin out once you’re away from the port and traffic can turn unpredictable fast.
What’s the best time to photograph Sidi Bou Said?
The best time to photograph Sidi Bou Said is either early morning, between 8am and 11am, for soft light and few crowds, or sunset for the classic shot, though you won’t be the only one there for it.
Last Updated: 5 November 2026