Major city · Tunisia
Mahdia
Half a day to a day: see the old town, fortress and beach, then move on to Sousse or Monastir. Not a base for the region.
Mahdia is a quiet coastal town with a compact old town, a 10th-century Fatimid mosque and a fortress on a peninsula. The medina is small, the beach is wide, and most travellers use it as a stop between Sousse and Monastir or as a half-day trip. One night is enough if you want a slow afternoon by the sea.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- TND
- Best months
- May–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (crowded and hot), Dec–Feb (cooler, some rain)
- Airports
- MIR · TUN
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Tunisia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with official Tunisian government sources or your nearest consulate; visa exemptions depend on nationality.
- Tunisia ↗The Tunisian dinar is a closed currency: it cannot legally be taken in or out; exchange on arrival and keep receipts to change leftovers back.
- Tunisia ↗Do not bring a drone without prior authorisation; they are confiscated at customs.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Mahdia197 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mahdia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND).Tunisia-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckOoredoo, Orange and Tunisie Telecom sell SIMs at airports and shops with a passport; 10–20 GB for about TND 20–40 — check.Tunisia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is treated but tastes of chlorine; most drink bottled.Tunisia-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%.Tunisia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Tunisia-wide
- SafetyMahdia is generally safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels; squat in older cafés; carry tissue.Tunisia-wide
- Emergency numbers197 police · 190 ambulance (samu) · 198 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidayscheckFriday afternoons are slower; museums often close Mondays (check).Tunisia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckMIR Monastir Habib Bourguiba International (About 45 min by taxi or louage; check flight schedules.).
- Getting aroundThe old town and fortress are walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (espresso)1–2 TND
- Street or quick mealChapati sandwich2–4 TND
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi from medina to Corniche5 TND
- Budget bedHostel bed or budget guesthouse, a night, per personTND 25
- Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomTND 120
- High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomTND 200
A day, not counting the bed: Budget TND 60 · Mid TND 120 · High TND 220
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MIR Monastir Habib Bourguiba International (About 45 min by taxi or louage; check flight schedules.) · TUN Tunis–Carthage International (About 2.5 h by train or car.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Feb
Avoid
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Mar
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Apr
not flagged
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Care
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Care
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Nov
not flagged
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Dec
Avoid
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Mixed: Jul–Aug. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jan (7 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mahdia: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
7 rd
Feb
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
6 rd
Mar
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
6 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
1 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Oct
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
Nov
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6 rd
Dec
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town and fortress are walkable. Taxis and louages (shared taxis) connect the beach strip to the centre. A taxi from the medina to the Corniche is about 5 TND.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Train or louage, about 20 min
Ribat, Bourguiba mausoleum and marina.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Train or louage via Sousse, about 1 h
Roman amphitheatre; a full morning.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Louage or car, about 1 h
Great Mosque and holy city; half-day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Corniche / beachfront
Resort hotels and a few guesthouses; walk to the old town in 15–20 min.
City centre near the medina
Small hotels and guesthouses; closer to the fortress and mosque.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 50–80 TND excl. bed
- Mid
- 80–150 TND excl. bed
- High
- 150+ TND excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 1 night × TND 120 | TND 120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × TND 120 | TND 240 |
| Train Mahdia–Sousse, one way2 × TND 5 · check | TND 10 |
| Louage Mahdia–Monastir, one way2 × TND 3 · check | TND 6 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | TND 38 |
| Trip total≈ TND 207 per person per day, bed included | TND 414 |
2026 estimate in Tunisian dinars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (espresso) | 1–2 TND |
| Chapati sandwich | 2–4 TND |
| Lablabi (chickpea soup) | 3–5 TND |
| Fresh fish meal at a local restaurant | 15–25 TND |
| Taxi from medina to Corniche | 5 TND |
| Train Mahdia–Sousse, one way | 5 TND (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Great Mosque is closed to non-Muslims for prayer times; visit outside those hours.
- Beach vendors may be persistent; a polite 'no' works.
- Train and louage schedules can be irregular; check at the station or with locals.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 197
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 190
- Fire
- 198
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
MahdiaMahdia
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
لهذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police197
- Ambulance (SAMU)190
- Fire198
Embassy
Most embassies are in Tunis; check your country's consular services online.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Mahdia → Sousse: about 5 TND, 30 min (check)
- Louage Mahdia → Monastir: about 3 TND, 20 min (check)
- Taxi medina → Corniche: about 5 TND
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- قداش؟ — How much? (qaddash?)
- وين الشط؟ — Where is the beach? (wīn esh-shaṭṭ?)
- ما فهمت — I don't understand (mā fhemt)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mahdia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowded and hot), Dec–Feb (cooler, some rain) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages with verified opening hours for the Great Mosque and fortress.
- Eat pages with last orders for chapati and lablabi.
- Beach and port walking cluster with rescue anchors.
Sources
Ask about Mahdia
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