Top 10 Marinas in Tunisia
Tunisia occupies a pivotal position on the central Mediterranean sailing circuit. Sitting at the narrowest point of the sea — the 150-km-wide Sicilian Channel separates it from Sicily — the country is a natural crossing point for boats migrating between Europe and Africa, and a rewarding destination in its own right. The coastline stretches over 1,300 km from Tabarka in the northwest to Zarzis near the Libyan border, taking in Gulf of Tunis, Cap Bon, the Gulf of Hammamet, the Sahel coast, the Gulf of Gabès, and the shallow seas around the island of Djerba. Tunisia's marinas combine genuine harbour infrastructure with some of the most attractive port towns in the Mediterranean.
Port de la Goulette — the gateway to Tunis
La Goulette, at the mouth of the canal linking Tunis to the sea, is Tunisia's busiest ferry port and the historical gateway to the capital. Its yacht marina, adjacent to the commercial port, has around 150 berths for visiting boats in a basin depth of 3–4 m. Customs and immigration clearance is handled here for international arrivals. The proximity to Tunis — 15 km by suburban railway — makes La Goulette the natural choice for sailors wanting to explore the capital's medina, Bardo National Museum, and the nearby Carthage ruins. Sidi Bou Said, the famous blue-and-white hilltop village 20 km from the marina, is a highlight of any Tunisian visit.
Hammamet Marina — the centrepiece
Hammamet is Tunisia's premier beach resort, and its marina is the most visited by European yachts on the central Mediterranean circuit. The marina has approximately 350 berths in a well-dredged basin of 3–4 m, with water, electricity, and fuel available on the pontoons. The marina is managed by the Société Tunisienne de Navigation, which also coordinates customs and harbour dues. VHF Channel 9 is monitored continuously. The historic Hammamet medina and its Kasbah are a 15-minute walk from the marina, and the cap to the south offers sailing toward the ancient ruins of Pupput (Nabeul). Mahdia, 100 km south, is worth the passage for its Ottoman medina and the calm-water anchorage off the lighthouse headland.
Port El Kantaoui — the purpose-built marina
Port El Kantaoui, 10 km north of Sousse, was designed from scratch in the 1970s as a purpose-built tourist marina and is the most modern facility in the country. The marina has 340 berths in a basin dredged to 4 m, with an outer breakwater capable of handling swells generated by the mistral across the Gulf of Hammamet. There is a 30-tonne travel lift, a chandlery, a fuel berth, and a hotel resort complex that gives the marina an upmarket village feel. Port El Kantaoui is a popular rally rendezvous — the Med Odyssey Rally and the Trans-Med pass through regularly. The old city of Sousse, a UNESCO World Heritage site with its intact medieval ramparts, is 20 minutes by taxi.
Monastir Marina
Monastir's marina is one of the oldest established yacht harbours in Tunisia, dating to the 1970s, and has around 600 berths — making it the country's largest by capacity. The basin depth varies between 2.5 and 4 m; deeper-draught yachts should take pilot soundings near the inner quays. The Ribat of Monastir — a 9th-century fortress overlooking the marina — is one of the most photographed landmarks in Tunisia and gives the harbour an unmatched historical backdrop. Monastir International Airport is 5 km from the marina, making it a convenient embarkation point for sailing holidays. Monastir hosts the annual Monastir Cup offshore race, which attracts participants from Malta, Sicily, and mainland Europe.
Bizerte — the northern gateway
Bizerte, connected to the sea by a short canal from the large inland Ichkeul lagoon system, is Tunisia's northernmost port and the closest to Sicily (about 140 nm north). The yacht harbour at the Vieux Port de Bizerte has approximately 100 berths in a charming historic waterfront setting, surrounded by the pale-stone buildings of the old city. The anchorage in the lake (Lac de Bizerte) is calm and easily accessible once through the canal bridges. Bizerte is particularly attractive for boats arriving from or departing to Sardinia or Sicily, as it sits directly on the most common crossings.
Tabarka — cork oak forest meets the sea
Tabarka, in the far northwest near the Algerian border, is a small but rewarding port backed by a dense cork oak forest — a rare ecological zone on the Tunisian coast. The marina has around 80 berths in an outer basin protected by a breakwater, and the small fishing harbour inside has additional shelter. The ancient Genoese tower on the rock island offshore (the Ile de Tabarka) is a dramatic landmark. Tabarka is a crossing point for boats going to Sardinia's southern coast (145 nm northwest) and hosts an annual international jazz festival and a coral diving season.
Djerba and the Gulf of Gabès
The island of Djerba, linked to the mainland by a Roman-era causeway 7 km long, sits in the southeastern Gulf of Gabès where the waters are famously shallow — depths of 1–2 m extend for many miles offshore. Only shoal-draught vessels can approach Djerba's port at Houmt Souk directly; most keelboats must anchor well offshore and dinghy in, or use the slightly deeper approach from the northwest near Ajim (where a car ferry operates). The island's fishing villages, the ancient El Ghriba synagogue, and the distinctive whitewashed architecture make Djerba a cultural highlight for any Mediterranean cruise.
Sfax and the southern coast
Sfax, Tunisia's second city, has a commercial port at the north end of the Gulf of Gabès and a small-boat harbour in the Old Port. The approach channels through the Kerkenah Bank shallows are well marked but demanding in strong northeast winds, and vessels drawing more than 2 m must follow the buoyed channel carefully. Sfax's medina — the largest intact medina in Tunisia after Tunis, enclosed in ancient walls dating to the 9th century — is a compelling shore-side destination. The offshore Kerkennah Islands, 22 km east of Sfax, have a calm lagoon anchorage popular with birds and migratory sailors alike.
Sailing conditions on the Tunisian coast
Tunisia's sailing seasons align with the central Mediterranean pattern. May through September delivers warm, settled conditions with the prevailing northwesterly etesian winds (known locally as the vent du nord) generating reliable 10–20 knot sailing breezes along the Gulf of Hammamet. The mistral, when it strengthens beyond 30 knots, can make the Sicilian Channel crossing rough; the standard advice is to cross in a settled high-pressure window. The Gulf of Gabès experiences particularly strong northeasterlies in winter, which can trap unwary yachts for days. Summer sailing around Cap Bon and the northern coast is generally benign and scenic.
Explore on the map
Tunisia's marinas, anchorages, and coastal waypoints from Tabarka to Zarzis are all plotted on the interactive map. Whether you are planning a Mediterranean circuit stopping at Hammamet and Monastir, a crossing from Sicily to Bizerte, or a slow exploration of the Gulf of Gabès and Djerba, the map gives you the overview you need to plan every passage. Explore Tunisia on the map and discover one of the Mediterranean's most rewarding and underrated cruising destinations.