If it’s your first trip, you might be confused about what to wear in Tunisia. Tunisia is a conservative country but they are very used to tourists. So, how tourist should be dressing? This is the ultimate dressing guide for you. It will help you to pack the right clothes with you, that you can make the most out of your trip. I promise you that there is no need for stressing as with a couple of tips you are good to go. My first tip: “Don’t forget to pack your swimwear and sunscreen”
Here is what to wear in Tunisia!
What to pack for Tunisia? Here, you will find an ultimate packing list. It helps you pack the right clothes, essentials, electronics, and toiletries for your trip.
Tourist vs locals
Every year thousands and thousands of tourists arrive in Tunisia to spend their summer holiday. Tunisian people are very familiar with tourists. The expectations of how to dress are different between tourists and locals. In short, the tourists are allowed to dress as they please and the locals can have more rules to dress in a certain way.
So that this guide is as clear as possible, I am only going to write how the tourist should dress in Tunisia.
Where are you in Tunisia?
The way of dressing depends on where are you heading in Tunisia. The cities like Hammamet, Sousse, Djerba are very popular destinations among tourists. In these places, tourists and also citizens are dressing very freely: shorts, bikinis, dresses, and tops. In the capital, the dressing is a mix of everything. The tourists are dressing freely as well as some of the locals. But you will see also more conservative dressing among the locals.
The south of Tunisia is more conservative than the north parts. In the south, it’s advisable to dress more modestly and show respect for local culture. As well, if you are visiting smaller cities or villages, might be that people are not that used to tourist. So, if you want to blend in a little bit more think about covering the cleavage and knees.
What kind of weather?
Tunisia is located in Africa but it does not mean that it’s always sunny and hot. Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate. This means that summers are hot and dry and winters are mild but rainy. Each season has different characteristics, with that in your mind, you need to adjust the way you dress.
Dressing appropriately for the weather has a huge impact! With the right clothing, you make the most out of your trip. Below I have written what to wear in Tunisia during the summer and winter, so keep reading. Plus, here you find an article, how the weather looks month-to-month in Tunisia. That will help you to plan the content of your suitcase.
What to pack for Tunisia?
Passport, phone charger, toothbrush… What else I should be packing? When I have decided where to travel next, my next thought is that what I should pack with me. Besides all the useful essentials, you need to take into account the weather, culture, activities, and way of traveling. In order to make your packing as easy as possible, below I have listed the necessary items which will make your trip successful.
The best clothes for hot weather in Tunisia
Dressing in hot weather can be challenging. The goal is to stay cool as possible, get protected from the sun, and feel comfortable. In addition, a good thing is, if you happen to like your outfit. The best clothes for hot weather are light-colored, loosely fit, and made of cool materials like cotton, jersey, and linen. Avoid tight clothes made of non-breathable materials like wool, polyester, nylon, and silk.
My most used clothes in Tunisia have been: beige and loose pants made of linen, white cotton t-shirt, leather flip flops, mid-length dresses, bikini, swimsuit, sunglasses, scarf, and hat with a brim. I choose loose, light-colored clothes, these are the best during the hot summer days and I feel the most comfortable.
Comfortable shoes
The best shoes for hot weather are leather sandals that are comfortable, breathable, and often look very nice. My trustworthy shoes for hot summer days are Birkenstocks. They are very comfortable and breathable, also quite supportive. The only negative side is that if they get wet it takes a lot of time to dry, so not the best shoes for the beach.
A pair of flip-flops is essential for beach life. The sand might get very hot during the daytime, so walking barefoot does not feel comfortable. Flip-flops are easy to keep clean and ones with cushion feel quite nice on feet. I wouldn’t wear the most stylish flip-flops by the beach as salty water, burning sun and sunscreen can ruin them!
If the plan is to walk a lot, consider investing in a pair of walking shoes. Breathable sneakers are a great idea but if the weather is very hot then good quality sandals with straps might be a better idea.
Swimwear
This country is full of beautiful beaches, therefore the first thing to pack in your suitcase is swimwear. In Tunisia, you can wear a bikini, swimsuit, and swim trunks. In touristic areas, I have seen topless women tourists by the pool and hotel’s beach but use your discretion if it’s the greatest idea to do. If you are heading to the public beaches outside the tourist zone or to the beach in the South of Tunisia. I would advise taking a scarf with you which you can wrap around you after swimming. Plus, might be more comfortable for you if you switch bikinis to a swimsuit, but this is all up to you.
Headwear
The best headwear for hot weather is a hat with a wide brim. It protects your face and ears from the sun and they breathe well. If the brimmed hat isn’t your choice, other great options are baseball cap, safari hat, bucket hat, straw hat, Panama hat, or scarf. As we see there is a great selection of hats available, just pick the one you like the most! Wearing a hat protects against sunstroke, remember that when enjoying the time under the sunshine.
Sunglasses
The sunshine is very strong in Tunisia, so remember to pack pair of sunglasses with you. According to the experts, everyone should wear sunglasses in sunny weather. The best kinds of sunglasses have UV-protected and polarized lenses. Also, choose the glasses based on your activity: is your plan to enjoy the sun by the beach or maybe you are a sporty person who loves hiking and biking?
Clothes for Tunisian winter
Despite what many may think, the weather in Tunisia gets cold during the winter and humidity makes it feel even colder. On top of this, the winter months are the rainiest ones. That’s why remember to pack warming clothes with you: a light winter jacket, jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and sneakers. Don’t go extreme with this, so leave big chunky scarfs, knitwear, and a big winter jacket at home.
The weather might change rapidly during the winter, so better to take a couple of summery pieces with you, if the sunny weather surprises you.
The most asked questions about “what to wear in Tunisia”
What do women wear in Tunisia?
There is no one certain way how Tunisian women dress. Some of the Tunisian women wear traditional clothes and headscarves, some dress in small dresses and high heels and others in pants and t-shirt. Certainly, it is a beautiful mix of different ways of dressings.
Can you wear shorts in Tunisia?
Definitely! In Tunisia, both women and men can wear shorts. In popular tourist areas, you can wear even mini shorts. In conservative areas like small villages, countryside, and part of southern Tunisia. I wouldn’t necessarily wear shorts, to feel the most comfortable and respect the local culture. But if you are willing to wear short choose knee-length ones.
What to wear at the beach in Tunisia?
On most of the beaches, you will see Tunisians and tourists wearing a bikini, swimsuit, crop top, swim trunks, speedos, and long-sleeved swimsuit. It’s absolutely ok to wear all kinds of swimwear in tourist areas in Tunisia. But I would recommend dressing up on the way to the beach and when leaving.
What to wear in the Sahara Desert?
The right clothing will help you to avoid heatstroke, sunburn, and dehydration when discovering a desert. To make your trip to Sahara successful it’s essential to protect your skin. Wear loose and light clothes with long sleeves and headwear. The sunglasses are essential when visiting the desert Sahara, it will protect your eyes from the sun and sand. During the day sand gets very hot, because of this, sneakers are the best footwear to protect your feet. If you are planning to stay overnight, bring warming clothes as the degrees will drop dramatically during the night.
What I should not wear in Tunisia?
In the tourist zones, you can wear whatever you want and dress in the way you like. In more conservative areas, it’s advisable to dress more in a modest way. It doesn’t mean that you need to dress up from head to toe but it’s important to respect the local culture.
How to dress during Ramadan in Tunisia?
In Tunisia, tourists can dress freely during Ramadan. That was a short answer!
What to wear in Mosque in Tunisia?
If you are not a Muslim you can’t enter inside the mosque. But you can enter the inside yard of Zitouna mosque in Tunis. It’s a very beautiful place. Women and men need to wear clothes with long sleeves, arms and legs need to be covered. In addition, women need to cover their hair with a scarf when they enter the yard.
What to wear night out in Tunisia?
Planning to spend a night out in Tunisia and thinking about what should you wear. I have a simple answer for you: you can wear whatever you want. I have seen women wearing mini dresses, crop tops, shorts, high heels, maxi dresses, skirts, and men wearing shorts, tops, and Hawaii shirts. One thing to pay attention to is that some events, night clubs or lounges can have a specific dress code. Now I just wish you an amazing party and have fun!
I hope you find this what to wear in Tunisia guide helpful. If you have any questions, let me know!