Tunisia eSIM Guide: What UK Networks Charge and How to Stay Connected

Tunisia is outside the EU, so UK networks do not include it in their Europe roaming. Depending on your network, using your UK plan in Hammamet, Sousse or Djerba costs £7 to £8 a day, or pay-as-you-go rates that can reach several pounds per megabyte. A Tunisia data eSIM from SimplySIM starts at £2.89 for 1GB, and 5GB for 30 days costs £9.39.

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Roaming prices change and older plans can have different terms. Check your own network before you travel, and read the GOV.UK travel advice for Tunisia.

What UK networks charge in Tunisia

A week in Tunisia feels like a Mediterranean holiday, but for your phone bill it is a long-haul destination. Tunisia sits in each network's rest-of-the-world pricing. These are the prices we found on official pages and price guides:

Over a 7-night all-inclusive break, £8 a day is £56 per phone, or £112 for a couple. On a network without a daily pass, one afternoon of scrolling Instagram by the pool on pay-as-you-go data could cost more than that. Official pages: EE, O2, Vodafone, Three. If you are with giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, iD Mobile, Smarty, Voxi or another network, check its rest-of-the-world rates for Tunisia too.

Tunisian mobile networks and coverage

Tunisia has three mobile networks: Ooredoo Tunisie, Orange Tunisie and Tunisie Telecom. All three launched 5G in early 2025, starting in larger towns. Telecoms are regulated by the Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INT).

Coverage in the main holiday areas is good:

• Hammamet and Yasmine Hammamet. Strong 4G across the resort strip and the medina.
• Sousse and Port El Kantaoui. Good 4G in the hotel zone, marina and old town.
• Monastir and Mahdia. Good coverage in town and around the airport.
• Djerba. 4G across Houmt Souk, Midoun and the main hotel zone. Signal can be weaker on quieter beaches and in the island's interior.
• Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. Good 4G, with 5G available in parts of the capital.

If you book a desert excursion to Douz, Tozeur or Ksar Ghilane, expect signal in the towns but gaps in the open Sahara. Download offline maps and let your hotel know your plans.

Hotel Wi-Fi is not always enough

Many all-inclusive hotels advertise free Wi-Fi, but it is often limited to the lobby or slows down in the evening when everyone is online. Mobile data is more reliable by the pool, on the beach and on excursions. It also keeps you connected for maps and taxis when you leave the hotel.

SimplySIM plans for Tunisia

SimplySIM's Tunisia plans run on Ooredoo, the largest Tunisian network by subscribers. Prices are in GBP as shown on 15 October 2026. Unlimited plans include 1GB a day at full speed, then continue at a reduced speed until the next day.

For most one-week beach holidays, the 5GB plan is plenty. If you plan to stream or video call every evening, look at the 10GB or 20GB plans, which work out cheaper per gigabyte than unlimited. All options are on the Tunisia eSIM page.

How much data a Tunisia holiday uses

Not sure where you fit? Try our travel data calculator.

Using your phone around Tunisia

Outside the hotel, mobile data earns its keep. A translation app with French and Arabic downloaded for offline use helps in the souks and with taxi drivers. Offline maps are useful in the medinas of Hammamet, Sousse and Tunis, where streets are narrow and GPS can wander. If you book excursions to El Jem, Kairouan or the Sahara, data lets you keep in touch with your rep and share your location with family. Tunisia uses the dinar, and many smaller shops prefer cash, so a currency converter app is worth having too.

Setting up before you fly

1. Check your phone supports eSIM and is network-unlocked with our device compatibility checker.
2. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before your flight. Leave it off until you land in Enfidha, Monastir, Djerba or Tunis.
3. After landing, choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.
4. Turn data roaming off on your UK SIM so you do not trigger a daily charge. Keep the UK line on for calls and texts if you need bank codes.

Our guide to dual SIM settings before you fly covers this step by step.

Safety and the border regions

The FCDO advises against all or all but essential travel to some areas near the Algerian and Libyan borders, including parts of the far south. The main resorts are not named in those warnings, but desert tours sometimes head south, so check the FCDO map before booking an excursion. Travel insurance may not cover you in areas the FCDO advises against.

What a travel eSIM does not do

A SimplySIM eSIM is data only and does not include a Tunisian phone number. WhatsApp calls and messages work over the data connection, and your WhatsApp stays on your UK number. If you need a local number, you can buy a Tunisian SIM with your passport from an official network shop.

FAQs

Is Tunisia included in my UK network's EU roaming?

No. Tunisia is not in the EU and is outside the Europe roaming zones of the big UK networks. Expect a rest-of-the-world daily charge or pay-as-you-go rates.

How much does roaming in Tunisia cost with Three or EE?

Three charges £8 a day for customers who joined from 18 December 2025, and £7 for most earlier plans. EE's Rest of World pass was £7.50 for 24 hours with 500MB of data in its July 2025 price guide.

Is there good mobile signal in Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba?

Yes. All three have good 4G coverage in the resort areas. Signal can be weaker on remote beaches and in the desert.

Which eSIM plan is best for a week in Tunisia?

For most people, the Tunisia 5GB 30Days plan at £9.39 is enough for a week. Heavy users should look at 10GB, 20GB or the 7-day unlimited plan.

Can I keep my UK number on WhatsApp?

Yes. WhatsApp is linked to your account, not your data connection, so it keeps working on your UK number while you use the eSIM for data.