When to go
If you want to visit
Tunis and the northern coast, and also the northern hills and mountains, you can choose spring and autumn (April, May and October).
For a
beach holiday, you can go from June to September. The favorable season for a beach holiday is quite long, especially on the east coast, which is usually sheltered from Atlantic disturbances, and where it can easily last until mid-October.
You can visit the
desert in winter, or in any case, when the maximum temperatures are normally below 30 °C (86 °F), ie from November to March. In winter, the daytime temperature is mild and the sun usually shines, while it can get cold at night.
Owing to the scorching heat, summer is not the best season to visit the Tunisian desert. In the desert, there are hotels equipped with swimming pools, but in summer, the heat is so intense that even sunbathing can be difficult.
A compromise between excursions in the desert and some moments of relaxation at the pool could be found in spring and autumn, ie in April and October.
On the contrary, as mentioned, the coast is good for a beach holiday in summer.
What to pack
In
winter: for Tunis and the coast, pack spring/autumn clothes, a jacket and a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella; for the mountainous areas, bring warm clothes and down jacket; for the desert, light clothing, but also a sweater and a jacket for the evening, and a scarf for the wind-borne sand and dust.
In
summer: for the coast, pack lightweight clothes, a light scarf for the sea breeze, and a light sweatshirt for the evening. For the desert, loose-fitting clothes, made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban for the wind-borne sand and dust; sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses); a sweatshirt for the evening or the mountains, a sweater or sweatshirt and sleeping bag for overnight stays in tents; hiking boots or sandals.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts, especially in rural and non-tourist areas.
Back to the climate of
Tunisia