The Tunisia Guide

Costa Toscana Sails to La Goulette This May — What Cruise Passengers Should Know

· 2 min read · News
View over Tunis from the heights above the medina

Contents

  1. 1.The route and Tunisia port day
  2. 2.Making the most of a day ashore
  3. 3.Practical notes
  4. 4.Future sailings

Costa Toscana, Costa Cruises’ flagship vessel, is mid-voyage on a 7-night Western Mediterranean itinerary that includes a port call at La Goulette — Tunisia’s main cruise terminal and the gateway to Tunis and Carthage. The May 7–14 sailing is the ship’s first to include Tunisia since returning from a drydock overhaul in March 2026.

The route and Tunisia port day

The itinerary departs Savona and calls at Barcelona, Marseille, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Palermo in Sicily, and La Goulette before returning to Savona. The Tunisia stop typically allows around eight hours ashore. La Goulette is a small port village linked to central Tunis by the TGM light railway, so reaching the city independently is straightforward and inexpensive.

Making the most of a day ashore

A single day is enough to cover one priority cluster — not two.

Tunis medina and souks — The TGM train from La Goulette Vieille runs to the Marine station at the edge of the medina in roughly 20 minutes, costing under 1 dinar. The medina souks take the better part of a morning; allow time to negotiate and, if possible, step into the Zitouna Mosque courtyard.

Carthage and Sidi Bou Said — Both are TGM stops. A morning at the Carthage ruins (Byrsa Hill, the Antonine Baths) followed by lunch at clifftop Sidi Bou Said is a calmer alternative to the city. Leave by 15:00 to make all-aboard comfortably.

Practical notes

  • Currency: Tunisian dinar. ATMs are available at the port terminal but rates are unfavourable; use a low-fee card or withdraw at a city bank.
  • TGM train: Runs every 20–30 minutes. Validate your ticket on the platform.
  • Taxis: Fixed-price cruise taxis operate from the port gates — agree a round-trip fare before departing.

Future sailings

Costa is expected to continue including La Goulette on Western Mediterranean departures through summer 2026. Travellers arriving independently rather than as day-trippers will have considerably more time. Our guide to things to do in Tunisia covers the full range of options across the country, and our Tunis–Carthage–Sidi Bou Said tours page lists guided options that can be arranged before arrival. Those extending their trip after disembarkation should check hotels in Tunis and our travel information hub for entry formalities.