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Tunis to Palermo Ferry: Return Trip, Documents and Car
With Grimaldi Lines
To get from Tunis to Palermo by ferry there are two ferry companies: GNV, all year round, and Grimaldi, with one weekly service each way in the periods it publishes. You leave from the port of La Goulette and arrive at Palermo.
In Tunis, GNV check-in opens 8 h before departure and closes 3 h before. Grimaldi asks you to report 4 h before, with or without a vehicle.
GNV states that Tunisian citizens boarding for Italy need a Schengen visa, with some exceptions; residents with a valid residence permit from a Schengen country are usually the exception.
With a car, the vehicle registration document you were given on entry is collected on departure from Tunisia.
Tunis to Palermo ferry timetable
GNV sails all year round; Grimaldi has one weekly service each way in the periods it shows. The timetable above shows the departures for your date from La Goulette, with the ferry company for each one.
Before departure
GNV check-in in Tunis opens 8 h before departure and closes 3 h before, and with Grimaldi you must report 4 h before. In summer and on dates of mass return, the passport check at La Goulette can lengthen the wait: arrive at the start of that margin, not the end.
The outward trip
The outward trip has its own page: Palermo to Tunis ferry.
Check the departures for your date in our search engine. Schedules and prices
Indicative schedules and subject to variation by the ferry company for operational reasons without prior notice.
GNV and Grimaldi: who runs Tunis to Palermo
GNV sails all year round from La Goulette to Palermo and has halal menus, a prayer room and pet-friendly cabins. Grimaldi Lines has one weekly service each way, with check-in 4 h before.
In the Tunis–Palermo direction the practical difference is in check-in: GNV's has a window (opens 8 h before and closes 3 h before) and Grimaldi's boils down to arriving 4 h before.
Tunis to Palermo ferry price
The price you see above is the lowest recent one for one adult without a vehicle. It depends on the date, the accommodation (on a night crossing most people choose a cabin) and the car, which is paid separately.
GNV mentions discounts for returning Tunisian residents and a fare for locals and residents. The details are not published in what we have read: look in the search tool to see which fares appear for your departure.
Children and discounts on Tunis to Palermo
Give the age of each passenger when you search. On its general website Grimaldi applies free travel for children under 3 and 50% of the fare for ages 3 to under 12; confirm that your departure from La Goulette includes it.
Minors of Tunisian nationality cannot leave Tunisia without the express authorisation of the Tunisian parent. It is a paper asked for at the Tunisian border, not on the ship: have it ready before going to La Goulette.
Tunis to Palermo ferry with a car
GNV asks for the original vehicle registration document and insurance with a Green Card. If your car entered Tunisia under temporary admission, the document you were given at the border is collected on departure, and according to the Foreign Ministry tourists cannot sell the car.
What to check before going back
- That the car leaves with the same traveller who entered.
- That the customs status of the vehicle is in order. The official portal idaraty.tn says it has a service to check this before travelling; we have not been able to open it, so confirm it with Tunisian customs.
- Grimaldi: prior registration on Smart Traveller (QR code for La Goulette) and no luggage on the roof of vans.
Tunis to Palermo ferry with a dog
GNV has pet-friendly cabins with linoleum floors and daily disinfection, late exit up to 15 min before docking and an outdoor walking area. Bring a lead, muzzle, carrier and food.
To enter the EU from a third country such as Tunisia, the general rule asks for a microchip, a rabies vaccination given after the chip and the original health certificate, and in certain cases an antibody titration test. It is a French customs note; for Italy and Spain, confirm with the Ministry of Agriculture or your vet. More information in ferry with a dog.
Ports of Tunis and Palermo
Port of Túnez
Port of Palermo
How to get to La Goulette port
The ferry leaves from La Goulette, about 10 km from the centre of Tunis. You get there by the RN9 or the P1; the TGM train has a "La Goulette Port" stop and there is parking nearby. GNV has an office on Avenue Habib Bourguiba.
Allow time to hand in the car's document, go through passport control and check in. On dates of heavy return traffic, the slowest part is the vehicle queue.
Arriving at Palermo
GNV arrives at Calata Marinai d'Italia; Palermo Centrale station is about 2 km away and buses 101, 102, 107 and 230 pass through the area. If you travel with Grimaldi, your ticket shows the terminal.
On a ship arriving from a non-EU country, expect a check on disembarkation. We have not been able to verify the requirements for bringing goods, cash and animals into the EU from a ferry company source: ask Italian customs if you are carrying anything unusual.
Documents for travelling from Tunis to Palermo
EU citizens
Valid passport. All passengers, minors included, with an original document. GNV warns of EES checks on these routes: you will have to register at the border post.
Tunisians and travellers with a Tunisian passport resident in Europe
- Tunisian passport in date and a valid residence permit from the Schengen country where you live. GNV says that Tunisians boarding for Italy need a Schengen visa with some exceptions; the residence permit is the usual exception (this is our reading, not a sentence from GNV).
- If you travel with Tunisian minors, authorisation from the Tunisian parent to leave Tunisia.
Money
The dinar is not convertible and cannot be taken out of the country. Euros must be declared if they exceed the equivalent of 5,000 dinars.
I Love Ferry tips for Tunis to Palermo
- Arrive at the start of the check-in window. In Tunis it opens 8 h before and closes 3 h before with GNV.
- If you are a Tunisian resident in Europe, check that your residence permit does not expire before the trip: it is what avoids needing a visa.
- With a car, sort out the customs paperwork before going down to La Goulette.
- A cabin for the night, and if you have a pet, a pet-friendly cabin booked in advance.
Why book the Tunis to Palermo ferry with I Love Ferry
- You see the GNV and Grimaldi departures from La Goulette in the same search.
- You enter ages, car and pet and see the total price.
- Our team in Jávea will help you if a departure changes.
Other ways to go from Tunis to Italy by ferry
- Tunis to Civitavecchia ferry: to continue to Rome by road.
- Tunis to Genoa ferry: GNV direct and CTN.
- Tunis to Salerno ferry: Grimaldi, towards Campania.
Frequently asked questions about the Tunis to Palermo ferry
Any questions about your ferry?
Here are the questions travellers ask us most. If yours is not here, our team of real people helps you before, during and after your trip.
See all the frequently asked questions >>Which ferry companies run the Tunis to Palermo ferry?
GNV, all year round, and Grimaldi, with one weekly service each way in the periods it publishes. The timetable shows which one runs each departure.
Which port in Tunis does the ferry to Palermo leave from?
From La Goulette, about 10 km from the centre of Tunis. The TGM train has a "La Goulette Port" stop and by road you get there by the RN9 or the P1.
When does check-in open and close in Tunis?
With GNV it opens 8 h before departure and closes 3 h before. With Grimaldi you are asked to be there 4 h before, with or without a vehicle.
Do I need a Schengen visa if I am Tunisian?
GNV states that Tunisians boarding for Italy need a visa, with some exceptions. Residents with a valid Schengen residence permit are usually exempt; confirm it with your consulate.
What happens to the car when leaving Tunisia?
The vehicle registration document you were given on entry is collected on departure. Tourists cannot sell the car, and it must leave with the traveller who brought it.
How much money can I take out of Tunisia?
The dinar is not convertible and cannot be exported. Euros must be declared if they exceed the equivalent of 5,000 dinars.
Can a dog be taken from Tunis to Palermo?
GNV has pet-friendly cabins. To enter the EU from Tunisia the general rule asks for a microchip, a rabies vaccination and a health certificate. Confirm it with your vet.
What are EES checks?
It is the European entry/exit registration system. GNV warns that it applies on these routes: you will register on arrival at the border.
Can a Tunisian minor travel without their father?
A minor of Tunisian nationality cannot leave Tunisia without the express authorisation of the Tunisian parent (Foreign Ministry). Bring it printed out.
Is there a cabin for dogs?
Yes, GNV has pet-friendly cabins with linoleum floors and late exit up to 15 min before docking. Numbers are limited: book in advance.
Ferry deals to Palermo
Right now there are no offers on this route. When a ferry company launches one, you will see it here. View all offers >>
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