Boat tickets Tunis – Gênes

About twenty-four hours, a night and a day at sea between Liguria and the Gulf of Tunis, passing west of Sardinia. The route runs a few times a week, with a marked summer increase. It is Tunisia's maritime gateway for northern Italy, Switzerland and southern Germany, and the direct alternative to flying for anyone travelling with a vehicle.

At La Goulette, where the canal joins Lake Tunis to the sea, some ten kilometres from the centre. The terminal covers six and a half hectares and opens from six in the morning to eleven at night. The TGM coastal railway links La Goulette to Tunis Marine in about twenty minutes, calling at Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd — the country's two most visited sites are on the way from the port.

A valid passport suffices for EU nationals on a tourist stay. The vehicle is granted temporary admission recorded on the driver's passport on arrival: it must leave the country with the same person, and the document is handed back on exit. Insurance covering Tunisia is required; failing that, a local policy can be bought at La Goulette port.

Palermo is only a night from Tunis, against twenty-four hours from Genoa — but reaching Sicily from northern Italy means driving down the whole peninsula and crossing the Strait of Messina, a full day on the road. Genoa therefore wins clearly for anyone leaving Liguria, Piedmont, Switzerland or southern Germany; Palermo for those already in Sicily or the south.

Tunisian customs record the vehicle on the driver's passport: it must leave the country with the same person, and the document is handed back on exit. Insurance covering Tunisia is required; failing that, a local policy is bought at the port. The process takes time in high season, but the terminal, six and a half hectares, is sized for the summer influx.

Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd are on the same headland, minutes from the port, served by the TGM which follows the coast. The Baths of Antoninus, the Punic port and Carthage's national museum fit into half a day. It is a rare configuration in the catalogue: two of the country's most visited sites lie literally on the way between the quay and the capital.

It leaves Liguria, runs down the Tyrrhenian Sea passing west of Corsica and Sardinia, then crosses the Strait of Sicily to the Gulf of Tunis. A day and a night at sea, on water generally more sheltered than the Gulf of Lion. In clear weather the Corsican and Sardinian coasts stay in sight for much of the daytime leg.

May-June and September-October: the Tyrrhenian Sea is workable, Tunisia escapes the forty degrees of its interior, and you avoid the July-August peak when the Tunisian diaspora of northern Italy fills the ships. Summer vehicle spaces and cabins are booked several months ahead; in the shoulder season the route keeps availability.

The ferry crossing from TUNIS to GENES takes approximately 22h. This duration may vary slightly depending on weather conditions and the specific vessel used.

Expect from 150 € on foot to about 1100 € for a car with cabin. Three factors apply: season (+40 to 60 % in summer), how early you book (−30 to 40 % in advance) and accommodation type. Indicative 2026 fares, to be confirmed at booking.

For international ferry crossings, we recommend arriving at TUNIS at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time. This allows sufficient time for check-in, security procedures, and vehicle boarding if applicable.

Yes, bookings can typically be modified or cancelled according to the ferry company's terms and conditions. Cancellation policies vary by operator and ticket type. Learn more about cancellation policies.