La Goulette-Tunis (Tunisia)

Port La Goulette (locode TNTUN) is the cruise port for Tunis City - Tunisia's capital and largest city, with population over 1 million (metro 2,6+ million). The port town La Goulette is on the Mediterranean Sea (in North Africa's Maghreb region) and has population around 50,000. TGM railway (Tunis-Goulette-Marsa rail line) links to Tunis City (approx 11 km / 7 mi away).

The popular for its resort tourism Sousse City (Tunisia's 3rd-largest - after Tunis and Sfax) is approx 140 km (87 mi) to the north of the capital. Hammamet (one of the country's primary tourist destinations) is approx 60 km (38 mi via the Trans-African Highway 1/Cairo–Dakar Highway) to the northwest from the capital.

La Goulette's main tourist attraction is the Kasbah - a 16th-century fortress built by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (1500-1558) and Charles I of Spain (1516-1556). The town Sidi Bou Said is a major tourist destination due to its unique architecture, with most buildings being colored in white and blue. Sidi Bou Said is just ~7 km (4 mi) to the north from La Goulette and approx 20 km (12 mi) to the east from Tunis City (via highways N9/Tunis-Marsa,and N10/Ariana-Carthage).

Tunis Metro (aka Grand Tunis) covers total area approx 213 km2 (82 mi2). The city's economy is largely based on the service sector (tertiary industry), industrial production, agriculture (particularly wine and olive oil), finances and banking, tourism. The city holds several annual festivals, the largest being Carthage International Festival (July-August). Among the best-known tourist attractions and landmarks are Medina (UNESCO Site with palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas (schools), fountains), Bardo Museum (13th-century palace, has a large collection of Roman and Ancient Greece artifacts), Carthage ruins (capital of Ancient Carthage / Phoenician state 814-146 BC), souks (covered streets with shops and artisans), ancient city walls and gates, many large nature parks, Habib Thameur (garden).

In January 2020, a joint venture of MSC Cruises and Global Ports Holding Plc (2004-founded, UK-based port operator company) finalized the acquisition of Goulette Shipping Cruise (operator of La Goulette Cruise Port). The port concession was awarded in 2006 (on a 30-year basis) with the option to extend for an additional 20 years. In 2010, here were handled ~900,000 cruise tourists, and average 441,000 annually between 2011-2014.

In June 2021, MSC announced adding La Goulette to the summer 2022 Mediterranean schedule of MSC Opera. The liner added La Goulette to a previously scheduled itinerary, for a total of 27 port calls (in April-October 2022). The agreement was signed at MSC's headquarters (in Geneva, Switzerland) by Habib Ammar (Tunisia's Minister of Tourism), Foued Ben Othman (Tunisia's Minister of Transport), Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC's Executive Chairman) and Gianni Onorato (MSC's CEO).

On March 23, 2022, at Port La Goulette docked Spirit of Discovery (Saga UK) - the first cruise ship in ~7 years to visit the port town.

In 2023, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 43 ship calls.

La Goulette-Tunis cruise terminal

La Goulette-Tunis tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Carthage: World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is one of the most popular sites in Tunisia with the stunning Amphitheatre and the Antonine Baths, Roman buildings.
• Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul: it dates form 1882. The cathedral is the largest colonial-era building that survived. The style is neo-Romanesque.
• Bardo Museum: discover one of the world’s largest mosaics selections.
• The Medina of Tunis: UNESCO World Heritage Site listed. The medieval Islamic city is among the best-preserved in the world. You can feel the 13th-century atmosphere with the amazing charm of the Orient.
• Zitouna Mosque: or Jemaa ez-Zitouna is Tunisia’s largest mosque dating from the 8th century.
• Sidi Bou Said: the amazing blue-door village offers an amazing Mediterranean Sea view from a rocky hill. The city enchants with its facades in white covered with bougainvillea and geraniums in different colors.
• Hammamet/ Nabeul: the resort is located in Cap Bon. It offers hotels and amazing beaches.
• Dougga: UNESCO World Heritage Site (1997-listed) representing ”the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa.” The city is located in the northern part of Tunisia and features an archeological site of 65+ hectares.
• Kairouan: the first Muslims and Arabs capital is located 150 km from Tunis cruise port (in the country’s center). The city dates from 671 and there are amazing monuments including the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, the Medina of Kairouan and the Great Mosque. Kiarouan is the center for the Berber handmade carpets.