Tunis / La Goulette
La Goulette · Halq el-Wadi · Port of Tunis
36°49.1'N 10°18.3'E
Depth
4–9m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m in the outer roads — sand and mud giving good holding but ferry wash and northerly swell in exposed conditions. Use the Yacht Club de Tunis quay in any NE or N conditions above F3.
About This Anchorage
La Goulette is Tunisia's principal international gateway — a sandbar settlement between Lac de Tunis and the Gulf of Tunis, connected to Tunis city by the historic TGM commuter railway (20 minutes). It handles Tunisia's busiest ferry routes to Marseille, Genoa, Palermo, and Civitavecchia, making it both a chaotic commercial port and the main port of entry for visiting yachts. The nearby ruins of Carthage (7km north, UNESCO World Heritage Site) — once Rome's most powerful rival, razed to the ground in 146 BC and rebuilt by Julius Caesar — are accessible by TGM train within 30 minutes. The Bardo National Museum in Tunis contains the world's finest collection of Roman mosaics. La Goulette itself has excellent seafood restaurants and is a genuine working port town with considerable character.
Protected From
W · SW · NW · S
Exposed To
N · NE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Yacht Club de Tunis: berth fee approx 15–25 TND/night; anchoring in outer roads: free
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Main port of entry — cruising permit issued here. Clearance agent strongly recommended — paperwork complex. Q flag mandatory on approach. VHF 16 contact required before entering the channel.
Restrictions: No anchoring near Carthage UNESCO archaeological sites. Minimum 200m clearance from ferry pier at all times. Military zone south of the channel — no approach.
Hazards
- !Heavy international ferry traffic 24/7 — maintain 200m clearance from ferry quay at all times; monitor VHF 16 constantly
- !Carthage UNESCO zone — no anchoring near archaeological sites; heavy tourist boat traffic in summer
- !Gulf of Tunis open to NE — northerly swell enters during winter and can make outer anchorage untenable
- !Sirocco (Chili) arrives rapidly from SE — Gulf of Tunis fully exposed; seek shelter immediately
- !Busy shipping lane — tankers and cargo vessels; maintain radar watch at night
Skipper's Tips
- →Use a clearance agent at La Goulette — recommended by most cruisers; saves hours of paperwork
- →TGM train runs directly from La Goulette to Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, and Tunis centre — no taxi needed
- →Carthage ruins are scattered over a wide area; rent a bicycle from near the TGM station to see them efficiently
- →The Bardo Museum (Tunis, 1 hour by TGM and metro) has the finest Roman mosaics in the world — essential visit
- →Sidi Bou Said is just 4nm north by sea or 2 TGM stops — one of the most beautiful villages in North Africa
Facilities
Excellent seafood restaurants along the La Goulette waterfront. Tunis city 20 min by TGM — full range of restaurants, shopping, markets.
Nearest provisions: La Goulette market and Tunis city (TGM) (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
April–October. Peak summer (July–August) very hot — Sirocco risk; spring and autumn ideal. Gulf of Tunis can be rough in NE winter gales — best avoided December–February.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
On the Tunisia North Coast, a Sirocco can arrive at night. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and alerts you the moment your anchor drags.
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