Marseille–Tunis ferry

The two operators, real prices with a car, what to expect on departure day and what Tunisian customs allow: everything you need to know before booking your crossing to Tunisia.

Updated October 2026 · sources at the bottom of the page

Key facts at a glance

One way with a car: €460–530Car and driver, outside peak periods
Crossing time: 21–24 hCorsica Linea ≈ 21 h, CTN ≈ 23 h
Operators: 2CTN and Corsica Linea
Cheapest month: NovemberJuly costs about 1.8 times more
CTN check-in: 4 h beforeAt least, according to CTN
Arrival: La GouletteThe port of Tunis

How much does the crossing cost?

One way with a car and its driver usually costs between €460 and €530 outside peak periods. In high summer, the same trip can top €1,400. On 2026 bookings, the cheapest month is November (about €416 on average) and the most expensive is July (about €754).

Each extra passenger, each child, a cabin and the season then change the total. These are averages from booking sites: the exact price depends on your date and the seats left.

With your family and your car, is the ferry really cheaper than flying?

Run the numbers

CTN or Corsica Linea?

Price-wise, the two operators are level: their recent averages are almost identical, around €490 per booking. The real difference is the departure day, which changes with the season. Pick the date that suits you first, then compare both.

What	CTN	Corsica Linea
Crossing time	About 23 h	About 21 h
Baggage (passengers)	2 bags plus 1 backpack or handbag per passenger over 10	Foot passengers: 2 bags, one of them a backpack or handbag; under 10s: 1 child-sized bag
Check-in	At least 4 h before boarding	Deadline shown on your ticket (SMS reminder possible)
Pets	Declare them and check with CTN	In kennels, booked for a fee; up-to-date pet passport

If you travel with a car, leave your luggage in the boot and keep just an overnight bag: the car deck is closed for the whole crossing.

On departure day

CTN asks passengers to check in at least 4 hours before boarding. With Corsica Linea, the reporting time and check-in deadline are on your travel document. In summer, allow more time: queues at the port are long.

Coming back from La Goulette in August is even tighter: CTN has asked passengers with cars to arrive 5 hours before departure.

Keep these to hand:

a valid passport for every passenger, children included (some operators no longer accept an ID card on its own: check with yours);
your ticket, printed or on your phone;
the original vehicle registration document and proof of insurance valid in Tunisia (green card).

What Tunisian customs allow

According to the Tunisian customs spokesperson, every adult Tunisian living abroad can bring in personal effects worth up to 5,000 dinars each year, in one or several trips, duty-free: clothes, household appliances, gifts. The allowance does not cover goods for resale. The Rkhsti and Amti'ati apps let you prepare the list of your belongings before you leave.

Foreign currency can be brought in freely, but must be declared above 20,000 dinars (about €5,900). Careful: without a declaration on arrival, you cannot take more than the equivalent of 5,000 dinars in cash back out. So declare it if you plan to leave with part of the money.

For your car, a 3-month circulation permit is issued on arrival; beyond that, the vehicle must be regularised with customs. The car is recorded in your passport: you cannot leave Tunisia without it. If the car isn't in your name, bring the owner's written authorisation. Finally, taking dinars out of the country is prohibited: change what's left before you leave.

How to pay less

Book early: the route is in high demand in summer and the best fares go first.
Look out for CTN's reduced fares (Famille, Marhba, Marjane…): part of the summer capacity is sold cheaper.
From eastern France, Switzerland or Germany, compare with the Genoa–Tunis ferry: it is clearly cheaper on average, even after the drive to Italy.
Reviews of the food on board are often harsh: bring something to eat.

See Marseille–Tunis ferry prices