Tozeur

Getting there

By plane 1 Tozeur-Nefta International Airport (TOE IATA). The small airport sees flights from the capital Tunis several times a week (120 TD, 1 hr 10 min), as well as a one weekly flight from Paris, all handled by the national carrier Tunisair.

By train An overnight run by SNCFT train connected with Tunis and Gafsa. Trains left to (and arrived from) Tunis twice a day, usually very early in the morning (at 6AM) or in the evening. As of June 2025, a break in the tracks means trains only go as far as Metlaoui, but a taxi for the final stretch should cost 80-100 DT. If you're there in the morning save money with a 5 DT louage. The train station 2 Gare de Tozeur is located close to city centre.

By bus

There are plenty of long distance buses from most major cities in Tunisia. Louages can also be taken to Tozeur (for example, passing by Gafsa and going on to Nefta). The bus and louage station in Tozeur are located near each other, closer to city center than the gare. Busses run 3-5 times a day direct for Tunis, on a 7-hour, 26-DT drive. If you are heading south, you can take a bus direct to Douz or Gabes.

By louage For the louage, transport south to Douz requires a change at Kibilli (Kebili) (10 DT) and from there to Douz (3 DT). Each leg should take just under 2 hours, though the wait in Kibilli may be 1-2 hours for another louage. Louages are more frequent before mid-day.

Getting around

Taxis are unmetered in Tozeur; you will have to agree on a price before the journey begins. Prices should be around 2 DT for a short trip (around a kilometer or less), and more accordingly. Another option is in horse drawn 'carriage', though this is more of a tourist experience than a typical means of transportation. These can be found in most places although the parking area is near Residence Karim and the hospital in the south. Bicycle rental is also common, and an excellent way to explore the impressive palmeraie. Test ride the bicycle before paying, and investigate if there are better/newer bicycles then the one offered - you are rarely offered the best bicycle. Haggling and visiting several rental shops is recommended. There are also a few car rental agencies:

Avis, Avenue Farhat Hatched, Tozeur: 76-452-377 Olympic rent car, Route touristique, Tozeur: 98-235-345 Galaxy rent car, Avenue Chebbi, Tozeur: 93-444-555 These agencies might not have websites or online booking systems, so calling is recommended. Once in Tozeur, your hotel can also help you find a rental agency.

See

Star Wars. This site was used for multiple Star Wars movies. Scenes in the town 'Mos Espa' or 'Mos Eisley' have been filmed here. Tours are available from local guides. Prices should be about the same for any half-day tour from Tozeur. Medina (Ouled el Hadef). Get lost in the compact and laid-back medina, with the many signposts. This is a largely residential and underrated medina and you won't be bothered - friendly kids will smile and most people passing by will greet you happily. Admire the beautiful houses typical of the region, built with sand and clay bricks, often with very intricate designs. Look out for a triangular shaped design - it is believed to bring good luck, and people once tossed coins onto the bricks making the patterns. Some of the roofs of the tunnels in the medina are made of palm wood - they are rather fibrous, and others, of apricot tree wood, which are normally used for richer families. Look out for the "jalousies" - dark apricot wood made peeping windows from the second floor where ladies used to sit. These allowed them to watch the people in the street without being watched, it being socially rare for ladies to be outside of the house much in the pass. The mosque doors are green and rounded whereas residences have are squared doors with beautiful nail designs - including jars (used to conserve palm products), Jewish stars and candles (for the substantial Jewish community that used to live here), and even bicycles (for locals who bike a lot). One of the houses belongs to a French family and you can see a "coq gaulois" perched on one of the house walls. Palmerie. One of the largest palmeries in Tunisia. Easy access from the eastern and southern side of the medina. Go in with a GPS as you could get lost in the many roads, but most people on the way are friendly, and the watch dogs are rather shy, keeping to their area and not interfering or barking if you're on the main road. Makes for a nice walk in the early morning or late evening when

Do

Camel tour. Go on a camel tour. One reputable operator is Amara Themri (tel +216 97280133 / 23 131 483). As always, pay for a one-hour tour before you embark on a multi-day tour if you have never ridden a camel before. Hammam. Enjoy the hammam. Hours vary, as the local hammams accommodate men and women in a single hammam, though not at the same time. One of the doors is for men, the other for women. Hammam Shabia is recommended, and is just north of Hotel/Residence El-Amen. Bring your own towel and soap, and bathing suit, as people wear this or their underwear in the hammam. 2-3 DT for the hammam, and 2-4 dinar for a massage, though the 'tourist tax' may raise this price to about 8 DT total for everything.

Buy

There is a market selling all kind of tourist souvenirs on the central square near the mosque.

Eat

Tozeur has several restaurants that feature camel, or dromedaries. If this interests you, now is your chance. Camel has a flavor similar to that of lamb. Camel is offered with couscous, or as a steak or kebab. Towards Ras El Ain

Le Palais Pizzeria la Fontana Along Avenue Abou El Kaccem Chebbi

Le Soleil Tozourous Dar dada Along Avenue Farhat Hached

Tozeriana Aquarium Alkaram Medina Area

La république Le Minaret La Medina Le Sud Others

Chak-wak Les Andalous Le Petit prince

Drink & nightlife

If you are looking for alcohol, you must head to a bar in a tourist hotel. Try (unverified) either the Hotel Continental or the Grand Hotel de l'Oasis. Many restaurants serve non-alcoholic beer, including the popular Turkish beer, Efes (which normally has alcohol).

Chak Wak Parc, In the Palmeraie (Head south from the Gouvernorat building into the oasis until you see a large dinosaur statue). During the day an amusement park, this place turns into a cool bar at night, frequented by tourists and locals alike. You can enjoy local draft beer and Tunisian live music here. Bonfires in winter create a warm atmosphere. DT8 for a draft beer. (updated Feb 2018)

Sleep

Most hotels are located along Ave. Abdulkacem Chebbi, about 700 m south of the bus station. A taxi from the bus station should be no more than 2-3 DT. Once you investigate one hotel, it is easy enough to walk to a few others. Street numbers for this avenue run west to east, with the lower numbers to the west.

Guest houses Residence Tozeur. [email protected] Dar Saida Beya Kastilia Suites. 76 461 133. Diar Abou Habibi. [email protected]

Budget Hotel Warda. [email protected]. 76 452 597 Hotel Karim, 150 Ave. Abdulkacem Chebbi. Che