Tunisia : Safety by CityDjerba is a small island in south Tunisia, adored by tourists, and for good reason – it has white sandy beaches and whitewashed domed houses.
Djerba is in many ways different than the rest of the cities in Tunisia because the people in Djerba work hard to preserve their identity, culture, traditions and unique architecture.
If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay and eat while enjoying this paradise on earth, your best bet is the medina in Houmt Souk.
Here, you might go by with just a little bit of hassle while shopping (and if you’ve ever been to Tunisia, you know how rare that is).
However, if you’re more on the posh side, look no further than the resort hotels along the eastern coast in the Zone Touristique.
The best time to visit Djerba is during the summer that runs from June to September.
Even in May, the temperature is warm enough, especially in the second half of the month, but you might not be able to go for a swim since the sea is still cool.
Warnings & Dangers in Djerba
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Overall, Djerba is a safe city, but there are extremely high rates of petty crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precautions measures to minimize the risk of something going wrong.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
When it comes to transport, it isn't very safe or reliable. You have to be very careful in public transport because there may be thieves lurking around, and sexual harassment toward women is common. Make sure that the taxi drivers aren't ripping you off under the excuse that their meters aren't working.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
There is an extreme threat to petty crime. Pickpockets are practically an everyday occurrence and you should be extremely careful when handling your valuables and never carry your money in a purse or a pocket. The riskiest locations are crowded places such as markets, public transport and bus, and train stations.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Southern Tunisia is susceptible to natural disasters, particularly desert areas that are subject to blowing sands that can create serious damage. Also, the desert regions are subject to extreme temperatures.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The chances of getting mugged or kidnapped are pretty low in Djerba, as are rates of violent crime. Still, some areas are best avoided, such as poorly lit and deserted areas on the outskirts of the island.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Terrorists are relatively unlikely to try and attack in Tunisia. Still, authority in Tunisia is alert at all times in Tunis and other regions of Tunisia. You should remain aware of your surroundings at all times, avoid protests and public gatherings and festivals.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Watch out for street vendors trying to rip you off and overcharge for their service, double-check the authenticity of everything you want to buy as well as the change you receive and negotiate everything in advance.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Djerba is not the safest choice for female solo travelers. Sexual assaults do occur occasionally, and women, in general, tend to attract unwanted attention.
So... How Safe Is Djerba Really?
Djerba is relatively safe to visit.
It is a country where theft and petty crime is common.
Be very careful with your valuables and keep them in a safe place with you, or better yet, just leave them in your accommodation and only carry enough cash to cover your requirements for that day.
Among dangers you can encounter on the streets of Djerba might be the harassment of women and the LGBT population.
LGBT are not welcome here and homosexuality is punishable by law and illegal.
Members of the LGBT community are advised to stay out of Tunisia, though in the past couple of years more and more young people are gaining some understanding of this community and are becoming more accepting of them.
Men in Tunisia tend to verbally harass western women on the streets, due to their image of western women they get over the media.
They get truly stunned when they ask female tourists to kiss them, and they don’t do it.
If you receive unwanted attention, just say ‘Harem Alek‘, which, in Arabic means ‘shame on you‘.
This usually works quite well.
Another issue you should be very aware of is that traveling to within 10km of the Tunisia-Libya border is strongly advised against, as well as traveling south of El Borma.
Just generally be careful when moving around Tunisia, since there have been attacks carried out on the country by Islamic extremists recently.
How Does Djerba Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Djerba | 53 |
| Tunis | 59 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
| Montreal (Canada) | 81 |
Useful Information
Visas
Many countries in Canada, the U.S, and Europe don't need a visa to enter Tunisia. Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Tunisian dinar is the official currency in Djerba. Bear in mind that you are not allowed to take Tunisian currency out of the country. Tunisian banks will probably ask to see your passport when you change money.
Weather
Djerba has the perfect hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with mild winters characterized by moderate rainfall and not too low temperatures and hot and dry summers. Temperatures during summer, in July and August, can exceed 40 °C.
Airports
Djerba–Zarzis International Airport is the international airport serving the island of Djerba in Tunisia.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Djerba, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Djerba Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 22 | 18 |
| Low °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 11 |
| High °F | 63 | 64 | 68 | 73 | 81 | 86 | 91 | 91 | 88 | 82 | 72 | 64 |
| Low °F | 48 | 48 | 52 | 57 | 63 | 70 | 73 | 75 | 72 | 66 | 57 | 52 |
Tunisia - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Djerba | 53 |
| Tunis | 59 |
Djerba is safer than what you think
You are misleading people about Djerba, I am djerbian and live abroad. I visit Djerba yearly and I have never seen what you have been warning about harassment and theft. It is less common than the safest city in Europe. There are many Europeans setteled in Djerba for retirement and you can take their opinions. I met many tourists whom they were worried because of such false blogs and they were so surprised when they toured the Island and met people.
This review is very cautious. I understand that people should be aware and prepared BUT… I was in Djerba and we were moving out of the resort in the two biggest cities over there without any problem at all. Once a dude wanted us to go with him he wanted us to show us his wife’s store, he looked suspicious so we just didn’t go with him. I advise not to trust strangers, be friendly but careful. For example, though at the resort, we bought several trips not from our guide (they were very overpriced) but from a local man Abdoul. Our guides told us not to buy trips from locals. We bought trips from him and every trip was 1/3 of the price from guides and from what we talked with others our trips were better. One day we went 600kms from Djerba to mid-Tunis to see the Sahara Desert, we went to Tunisian villages .. everything was perfect and our local Tunisian guide was a great man. On top of all this I personally know two girls who travel alone just the two of them twice a year and when they are there – they are traveling alone by local taxi to a disco clubs – again – just the two of them and they never had any problems at all. Here you can see our little video of what we’ve done over there.
female traveler
i’m a female traveler in djerba.
overall, it feels safe. That said I don’t leave my 5 star hotel much.
There is a lot of sexual harrassment inside the 5 star hotels (I stayed at 3) and outside as well.
The men in Tunisia are muslims and even if they exited the religion they will still try to pursue any woman that comes across them. It’s simply part of the religion and there is nothing one can do to train or teach them. You need to be ok with (getting touched, sexually harassed or assaulted and verbally harassed various times a day). Just like in any other country where the population is >20% muslim. I tried to train the local Tunisians that it’s not ok but they disagree and this is in line with what Allah wants. So simply accept it or don’t travel to northern africa.