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Tunisia observes 13 public holidays each year - a combination of fixed national dates marking the country’s modern political history and five Islamic religious feasts that shift annually with the lunar calendar. For visitors, understanding the holiday calendar is essential: some holidays are barely noticeable in tourist resorts, while others shut down entire cities for two days straight.
Fixed National Holidays
These eight dates fall on the same calendar date every year regardless of the day of the week.
New Year’s Day - 1 January Banks, government offices, and most businesses close. Shops in tourist zones and medina souks typically stay open. Restaurants and hotels operate normally. This is one of the quietest holidays for visitors.
Independence Day - 20 March Tunisia declared independence from France on 20 March 1956. Expect flag-flying and public ceremonies, particularly in Tunis. Government buildings and banks close. Shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions remain open. Louage stations and intercity transport run on a reduced but functional schedule.
Martyrs Day - 9 April This commemorates the 1938 massacre in which French colonial police killed protesters in Tunis. It is a solemn national day. Banks and government offices close; most shops and tourist businesses stay open. There may be official ceremonies at monuments in Tunis.
Labour Day - 1 May Banks, post offices, and public offices are closed. Shops and markets in tourist zones and coastal resorts are generally open, as tourism revenue takes priority for local businesses in high season. Louage services run normally.
Republic Day - 25 July The date on which Tunisia abolished the monarchy and declared the republic in 1957. This is a major national celebration, particularly in Tunis and regional capitals, with parades on Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Banks and government offices close. Tourist facilities operate normally, and the festivities themselves are worth witnessing.
Women’s Day - 13 August Tunisia’s Women’s Day marks the 1956 Personal Status Code, which granted Tunisian women rights unmatched in most of the Arab world. Schools, banks, and government offices close. Shops, cafes, and tourist attractions remain open. This is a point of genuine national pride.
Evacuation Day - 15 October Commemorates the withdrawal of the last French troops from Bizerte on 15 October 1963. Banks and government offices close. Tourist businesses, shops, and restaurants operate normally. If you are in Bizerte on this date, you may encounter a local ceremony at the port.
Revolution and Youth Day - 17 December This marks the beginning of the 2010-2011 Tunisian Revolution with the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid. Banks and government offices close. Shops and tourist facilities remain open. The mood is quietly reflective rather than festive.
Islamic Public Holidays (Moveable)
These five holidays follow the Islamic lunar (Hijri) calendar, which is 10-11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. This means each holiday falls roughly 10 days earlier every year. Exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon and are confirmed officially 1-2 days in advance.
Eid al-Fitr - End of Ramadan (2 days)
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fasting month with two consecutive public holidays. This is a joyful family celebration. Banks, government offices, and most shops close for both days. Many restaurants owned by locals close for the first day but reopen on day two. Tourist hotels and resorts remain open throughout.
Approximate dates:
- 2026: around 20-21 March (Ramadan ends approximately 19-20 March)
- 2027: around 9-10 March
Eid al-Adha - Feast of the Sacrifice (2 days)
Eid al-Adha is the single most disruptive holiday for travelers. It commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son and is marked by the ritual slaughter of sheep across the country. Streets in residential areas are cleaned and prepared from early morning. The smell and noise can be significant in medinas and local neighborhoods.
Banks, government offices, shops, local restaurants, and many taxi and louage services close for both days. Some souks and medina shops may stay closed for up to three days. Tourist hotels, beach resorts, and internationally oriented restaurants typically remain open, but expect skeleton staffing and limited menus. Plan for limited transport options if traveling between cities on these dates.
Approximate dates:
- 2026: around 27-28 May
- 2027: around 16-17 May
Islamic New Year (Ras al-Sana al-Hijriyya) - 1 day
The first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. This is a quieter holiday than either Eid. Banks and government offices close for one day. Shops and tourist businesses largely remain open. Transport runs close to normal.
Approximate dates:
- 2026: around 16 June
- 2027: around 6 June
Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid an-Nabi) - 1 day
Mawlid commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal. Banks and government offices close for one day. In some cities, mosques hold special ceremonies and green lights are strung along minarets. Shops and tourist facilities generally stay open. This holiday has a festive, community atmosphere.
Approximate dates:
- 2026: around 25 August
- 2027: around 14 August
Note on all Islamic dates: The dates above are estimates based on astronomical calculations. Official confirmation comes 1-2 days before each holiday when the moon is sighted. Dates may shift by one day in either direction.
What Opens and Closes: Quick Reference
| Facility | National Holidays | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| ATMs | Open | Open | Open |
| Government offices | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Post offices | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Supermarkets | Usually open | Day 1 closed | Day 1 closed |
| Local restaurants | Usually open | Day 1 closed | Day 1-2 mixed |
| Tourist restaurants | Open | Open | Open (limited) |
| Tourist hotels | Open | Open | Open |
| Local shops / souks | Usually open | Closed | Closed 1-3 days |
| Tourist souvenir shops | Open | Mixed | Mixed |
| Louage stations | Reduced | Closed day 1 | Closed day 1-2 |
| Intercity buses | Reduced | Reduced | Reduced |
| Major archaeological sites | Open | Closed day 1 | Closed day 1 |
| Bardo National Museum | Open | Closed | Closed |
| Beach resorts | Open | Open | Open |
The Most Disruptive Holidays for Travelers
Eid al-Adha is consistently the hardest holiday to travel around. The two-day closure hits transport, shopping, and dining simultaneously. If you are planning a louage journey from Tunis to Sfax or Djerba during Eid al-Adha, expect the station to be essentially non-functional on day one. Taxis are scarce and prices rise informally. Plan to either be settled in one place for both days or arrange private transport in advance.
Eid al-Fitr is a close second. Day one sees widespread closures, but the celebratory mood is lighter than Eid al-Adha and tourist zones recover quickly by mid-afternoon on day two.
Ramadan is not a public holiday itself but the month before Eid al-Fitr affects the country significantly - reduced restaurant hours, limited alcohol availability, and a slower pace across the country. See our guide to travelling during Ramadan for full details.
The fixed national holidays are generally low-impact for visitors. Banks close, but tourist infrastructure runs normally or close to it. The most noticeable are Republic Day (25 July) in peak summer, which can create temporary transport congestion around Tunis, and Women’s Day (13 August), which brings celebratory closures without disrupting tourism.
Planning Around Public Holidays
If you are arriving by air during a major Islamic holiday, airport operations continue normally - Tunis-Carthage International Airport and Djerba-Zarzis International Airport remain open. Transfers from the airport may be harder to arrange informally, so book a private transfer in advance for Eid al-Adha in particular.
Coastal resorts in Hammamet, Sousse, and Djerba are largely insulated from holiday disruptions compared to Tunis and inland cities. The resort hotel model means that dining, activities, and excursions continue regardless of national holidays. If your trip is predominantly beach-based, you are unlikely to notice most holidays at all.
For medina-based exploration - particularly in Tunis, Kairouan, or Sfax - time sensitive visits to local artisan workshops and restaurants are best scheduled around Eid al-Adha. The medinas go quiet in a way that can feel eerie to first-time visitors, but returning on day three reveals the city back to normal.
We keep the dates on this page updated as official confirmations are published for each year.