Is Sousse Safe in January 2026?

Taxi drivers in Sousse routinely claim their meter is broken or simply ignore it when picking up tourists, especially near the port and hotel zone. The fare quoted verbally at the end of the ride is typically 3-5 times the metered rate. Drivers also take unnecessarily long routes to inflate the distance.

How to avoid: Always insist on the meter before entering the cab. If the driver refuses, find another taxi. Agree on a fixed price in advance only as a last resort, and confirm it before moving.

Well-dressed young men approach tourists near the Sousse medina claiming to be students or locals who want to practice English. After a friendly conversation, they offer to show a real local restaurant or their familys shop. The destination is always a tourist trap with inflated prices.

How to avoid: Be polite but cautious with strangers who approach you unprompted. Accept no offers to be led anywhere. If you want local restaurant recommendations, ask hotel staff instead.

Vendors on Boujaffar Beach in Sousse use aggressive tactics to sell hats, sunglasses, massages, and sarongs at inflated prices. A common tactic is to place an item on a tourist and refuse to take it back until paid. Vendors who are refused sometimes become verbally abusive.

How to avoid: Do not accept any item handed to you by a beach vendor. Keep your hands to yourself and repeat no thank you without engaging further. Staying at hotel-managed beach sections reduces contact significantly.

Unofficial guides and friendly locals steer tourists into carpet shops in the Sousse medina, then shopkeepers apply intense psychological pressure to buy overpriced rugs and textiles. The guide receives a commission for each sale, inflating prices by 200-400%. Visitors who decline face prolonged guilt-tripping and blockaded exits.

How to avoid: Decline all offers from strangers to show you their family shop or a local craft exhibition. If you enter a shop, set a firm budget and be prepared to leave without buying.

Men near the entrance of the Sousse Kasbah Museum pose as licensed guides and offer to show tourists hidden areas or skip the queue. After a short tour, they demand substantial payment claiming it was an official service. Some physically block exits until a tip is paid.

How to avoid: Purchase tickets directly at the museum kiosk and enter without accepting help from people outside. Official guides wear visible identification and are hired only at the information desk inside.