Ferry to Tunisia
Marseille - Tunis
Overnight ferry from southern France to Tunisia - a comfortable crossing to North Africa
- Up to 3 sailings a week with Corsica Linea and CTN, all year round
- Direct overnight crossing in around 22 hours from Marseille to La Goulette
- Cars, motorhomes and motorbikes on board, cabins with halal menus and WiFi
Marseille - Tunis
Overnight ferry from Marseille to Tunis
The Marseille - Tunis route links southern France with La Goulette, the ferry port of Tunis, in around 22 hours across the western Mediterranean. It runs all year round, operated by two shipping companies: the French line Corsica Linea with the ships Danielle Casanova and Méditerranée, and the Tunisian line CTN (Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation) with the ferries Carthage and Tanit. Together they offer around two to three sailings a week, slightly more frequent in the summer season from mid-June.
It's a pure overnight crossing, so a cabin is worth booking. On board you'll find restaurants with halal menus, a duty-free shop, outdoor decks, children's areas and free WiFi. As Tunisia is not part of the EU, you'll need a valid passport, and check-in starts well before departure compared with routes within Europe. From La Goulette it's only around 10 kilometres into the centre of Tunis.
- Crossing time
- approx. 22 hrs
- Operator
- Corsica Linea & CTN
- Frequency
- up to 3× a week
- CTN Ferries
- Corsica Linea
Next departures
Route guide
Ferry Marseille - Tunis at a glance
Everything about the Marseille - Tunis ferry route with Corsica Linea and CTN: getting to the terminals in Marseille, check-in and border formalities, facilities on board, entering with a vehicle including temporary import, and onward travel from La Goulette to Tunis.
Getting to the terminal in Marseille
Ferries to Tunisia depart from the port of Marseille in the Joliette area, reserved for Maghreb traffic. If you're travelling as a foot passenger, check in at the La Major terminal, Quai de la Joliette, 13226 Marseille; an internal shuttle bus then takes you to the ship. With a vehicle, head for Gate 3 Beauséjour, rue du Cargo Rhin-Fidelity, accessed via the A55 (Autoroute du Littoral).
Without a car, the port is easy to reach: from Marseille-Saint-Charles station it's only a few kilometres to the terminal, and the metro and tram will take you close to the Joliette area. Bilingual signage (French and Arabic) helps with orientation at the terminal.
Check-in and border formalities
You need a valid passport for the crossing - an ID card is not accepted for Tunisia - and it should be valid for at least six months. Travellers of many nationalities don't need a visa for tourist visits and receive a "Carte de visiteur non-résident", which is kept until departure. How long you can stay visa-free depends on your passport, so check the requirements for your own nationality before travelling.
Check-in starts earlier than on routes within Europe, because passport and customs checks take place. With Corsica Linea you need to be at the port at least two hours before departure, or three hours with a vehicle. CTN requires registration to be completed at least four hours before boarding. With a vehicle, allow a buffer of three to four hours. Keep your passport and ticket to hand; under international ISPS security rules, your vehicle may be inspected before boarding.
On board
On this route, Corsica Linea operates the Danielle Casanova and the Méditerranée, while CTN runs the Carthage and the Tanit. As it's an overnight crossing, a cabin is worth booking: there are cabins with and without a porthole, with en-suite bathroom and some with TV. On board you'll find restaurants and bars with halal menus, a duty-free shop, children's areas with a nursery, outdoor decks, kennels for pets and free WiFi.
The Tunisian dinar may not be brought into or out of the country; change money only after arriving in Tunisia, at a bank. If you're carrying foreign currency worth around 10,000 dinars or more, you must declare it to customs.
Vehicle, motorhome and pets
Both shipping companies carry cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and caravans; give the exact dimensions when booking, including any roof box or bike rack, as they determine the fare. Tunisian customs issue a three-month temporary import permit for your vehicle on arrival and enter the vehicle details in the holder's passport. This entry is cancelled again on departure with the vehicle: without the car registered in your passport you cannot leave the country, and selling a vehicle in Tunisia without paying customs duty is not permitted. Vehicle insurance covering Tunisia is recommended. Full details for motorhome travellers are in the guide Taking a motorhome to Tunisia.
Pets are generally allowed on board and must be registered when booking; CTN does not carry dangerous dog breeds. Dogs, cats and ferrets need a valid rabies vaccination for Tunisia, proven via the EU pet passport. Important for the return journey: because Tunisia is an unlisted third country, the rabies antibody titre test (blood sample) must be carried out before you leave the EU. Everything else is covered in the guide Taking a dog to Tunisia.
Arrival in La Goulette and onward travel
The ferry docks at La Goulette, the ferry port of Tunis, around 10 kilometres east of the city centre. After docking you go through passport and customs control before entering Tunisia. If you're continuing by vehicle, follow the road across the Lake of Tunis, the extension of Avenue Habib Bourguiba, straight into the city centre.
Without your own car, use the TGM light rail (Tunis - Goulette - La Marsa): the Goulette Vieille stop is only around 800 metres from the port, trains run roughly every 10 minutes, and the journey to central Tunis takes about half an hour. The same line also connects you to Carthage, Sidi Bou Saïd and La Marsa.
Tickets and fares
Both shipping companies offer several fare categories: CTN grades its tickets into categories such as Spot, Famille and Escapade, which differ in flexibility and included services. As a foot passenger you pay considerably less than with a vehicle, and the summer months cost more than spring and autumn. Because the route is in high demand and has only a few sailings a week, it pays to book early. The exact prices for your travel date and the right fare category are shown in the booking window.
FAQ Marseille - Tunis
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Marseille - Tunis ferry
Which ferry companies sail from Marseille to Tunis, and how often?+
The route is served all year round by two shipping companies: the French line Corsica Linea (ships Danielle Casanova and Méditerranée) and the Tunisian line CTN - Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation (Carthage and Tanit). Together they run around two to three sailings a week. Corsica Linea sails once a week in the low season (January to mid-June) and twice a week from mid-June onwards. You'll find exact times for your travel date in the timetable.
How long does the ferry from Marseille to Tunis take?+
Depending on the operator, ship and weather, the crossing takes around 22 hours, usually between 20 and 24 hours. It's a pure overnight crossing, so a cabin is worth booking.
What documents do I need for the crossing to Tunisia?+
As Tunisia is not part of the EU, you need a valid original passport - for every passenger, including children. An ID card is not accepted, and your passport should be valid for at least six months. Travellers of many nationalities, including EU citizens, don't need a visa for tourist stays; how long you can stay visa-free depends on your passport, so check the requirements for your own nationality before you travel. On arrival you'll receive a "Carte de visiteur non-résident", which you keep until departure.
Can I bring my car or motorhome on the ferry?+
Yes, both shipping companies carry cars, motorhomes, motorbikes and caravans. Give the exact dimensions when booking, including any roof box or bike rack, as they determine the fare. On arrival, a three-month temporary import permit is issued for your vehicle and entered in your passport; without this registered vehicle you're not allowed to leave the country again. All the details for motorhome travellers are covered in the guide Taking a motorhome to Tunisia.
Can I bring my pet on the ferry?+
Pets are generally allowed on board and must be registered when booking; CTN does not carry dangerous dog breeds. For the return journey to the EU, it's important that the rabies antibody titre test (blood sample) is carried out before you leave the EU, as Tunisia is an unlisted third country. Everything you need is summarised in the guide Taking a dog to Tunisia.
How early do I need to be at the port before departure?+
Considerably earlier than on routes within Europe, as passport and customs checks take place. With Corsica Linea you should be at the port at least two hours before departure, or three hours with a vehicle. With CTN you must complete registration at least four hours before boarding. With a vehicle, allow a buffer of three to four hours.