Transport

TGM light rail & Tunis Métro

The TGM (Tunis–Goulette–Marsa) is one of the prettiest commuter lines in North Africa — a 19 km coastal hop from central Tunis to La Marsa via Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Lac. For under 1 dinar you ride past lagoons, ruins and whitewashed villas. The separate Tunis Métro Léger (a tram network) handles intra-city moves. Both are tourist-useful — here's the cheat sheet.

0.7 TND

TGM single ticket

20 km

Tunis Marine → La Marsa

Every 10 min

TGM frequency at peak

0.7 TND

Métro Léger ticket

TGM — the coastal classic

Runs from Tunis Marine station (right at the eastern end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba, by the lake) all the way to La Marsa Plage — passing La Goulette, Carthage Salammbô, Carthage Hannibal, Sidi Bou Said and Marsa Plage along the way. It's a single line, 18 stations, 35 minutes end-to-end. Trains run roughly 04:00–01:00, every 10 minutes at peak, every 20 off-peak. Buy a paper ticket at the kiosk (0.7 TND, valid for one ride). Hold on to it; you may be checked. Trains have first-class carriages (slightly nicer, marked) for double the price — usually unnecessary. The Carthage stops (Carthage Hannibal for the Antonine Baths and museum, Carthage Byrsa for the hilltop) and Sidi Bou Said are the tourist gold — you can do both as a 4-hour half-day from central Tunis for less than 3 TND total.

The TGM coastal classic — Tunis to La Marsa via Sidi Bou Said

Tunis Métro Léger — the tram network

Despite the name, the 'Métro' is a surface tram, not an underground. Six lines (numbered 1–6) cover Tunis and inner suburbs — Bardo (for the museum), Republique, Place de Barcelone (the central interchange), the Habib Thameur area, the medina edge. Flat fare: 0.7 TND. Buy at the platform kiosk before boarding. Frequency: every 5–10 minutes at peak. Most useful tourist line: Line 4 from Place de Barcelone to Bardo (for the Bardo Museum — one of the world's great mosaic collections). Be aware: peak-hour trams are extremely crowded. Pickpockets occasionally operate in the densest carriages. Standard urban precautions apply (wallet in front pocket, bag in front of you).

RFR — the new Tunis suburban rail

The RFR (Réseau Ferroviaire Rapide) is Tunisia's new commuter rail project, gradually opening lines linking central Tunis with western suburbs (Bougatfa, Borj el Amri) and beyond. It's modern, clean and affordable, but currently only a handful of lines are operational. For most short-stay tourists the RFR isn't relevant — TGM and Métro cover all the touristed corners of greater Tunis.

Tickets, hours, etiquette

All TGM, Métro and bus tickets are paper, sold at station kiosks (rarely on board). No Oyster-style stored-value card for tourists yet. Carry small change — kiosks often refuse 20 TND notes. Both networks operate roughly 04:00 / 05:00 to 23:00 / 00:00. Late-night service is reduced to ~30-minute frequency. Friday afternoons and Ramadan evenings see surge crowds. Avoid the 17:00–19:00 weekday peak with luggage. Women-only carriages exist on some Métro Léger lines at peak hours — marked with a pink pictogram. Use them if you prefer.

Day-trip routes worth doing

Half-day Carthage + Sidi Bou Said: TGM from Tunis Marine to Carthage Hannibal (visit Antonine Baths and museum), back on the train two stops to Sidi Bou Said (lunch with a view, walk the village), back to Tunis. Total transport: ~2 TND. Bardo Museum half-day: Métro Line 4 from Place de Barcelone to Bardo. ~30 minutes door to door, 0.7 TND. The museum itself takes 2–3 hours. La Marsa beach afternoon: TGM all the way to La Marsa Plage. Walk the corniche, swim, cafés. The end-of-line vibe is genuinely lovely.

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