Bizerte - General Info
Description:
Situated on the Northern coast of Tunisia, Bizerte is its oldest city, but sadly rather run down and in need of some cosmetic work. It is defended from the sea by a double kasbah (fort) that is in perfect shape despite it being 400 years old (the original structure dates back to Byzantine times).
If on a Med passage Westwards and facing SW-NW winds having rounded Cape Bon, this port is a welcome haven which offers good shelter now that the marina has re-opened.
Bizerte is 45 minutes by fast motorway from Tunis airport.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
Arriving into the bay where Bizerte is located in the Southwest corner you will find some shelter from swell, but are likely to encounter strong gusts that blow down the western hills. There is a stand-alone breakwater in front of the entrance to the harbour allowing for entry from the east or west. The big ships using the harbour enter through the eastern gap using a tug. Entereing through the western gap you may encounter some shoaling but not less than 3.5m. There is a noticeable current flowing out of the entrance. The water is deeper in the western gap closer to the standalone breakwater.
Watch out for unmarked fishing nets and gear off the entrance.
The marina channel to the west of the main channel is well marked. It’s likely a marina person will come out to meet you in a small boat and instruct you on where to tie up.
Position:
37°16’31″N, 09°53’38″’E (harbor entrance)
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June 2022 SV Joline.
Sailed from Sapin to Tunisia June 2022. Prebooked Marine Bizerte. Algerian coastguard and Tunisian coast guard called us several times during the sail, always polite and professional. Marina Bizerte called us when approaching and invited us in. They helped us berth ( med mooring) and organiszed all formalities. Doctor arrived and signed us fit and healthly then the Chief of Immigration and Chief of Customs, both very professional, helped us fill in the correct forms. All officials came to us. Marina staff very welcoming. Made clear we were not allowed to go and achour and if you change ports you must check in and out. We stayed at Marina Bizerte for six days, the local town is intersting and the people very helpful and freindly. Checking out was also pleasent and easy. The Immigration and customs offical are at the marina. We are 17m x 9m Cat and it cost was about $88 us per night. Marina provided us with a 4G dongle – 10GB $28. Fuel $0.68 per litre!
Hi you mentioned high season costs.
Do you know if there is a difference in winter. We expect to be there (Bizerte) in November.
Thanks
Les
Marina rates here for a monohull 10-12m bracket, high season, divide by three for Euros:-
90 TND per night all in.
1,100 TND per month plus water and power
3,640 TND Oct-Apr inclusive, plus water and power
5,500 TND Annually.
They will charge the monthly rate rather than the daily rate if it works out cheaper, depending on length of stay.
Marina rates here for a monohull 10-12m bracket, high season, divide by three for Euros:-
90 TND per night all in.
1,100 TND per month plus water and power
3,640 TND Oct-Apr inclusive, plus water and power
5,500 TND Annually.
They will charge the monthly rate rather than the daily rate if it works out cheaper, depending on length of stay.
I forgot to say. Approach from the south, as the north entrance has a silted up area you can see on Google Earth. I did call the marina on 09 and 16 but heard nothing back, however, staff were ready to help us tie up on the long north south pontoon by the working fuel dock.
Ignore the review below. This is a good, well built and maintained marina, with good security, friendly atmosphere and almost empty. There is a warm welcome from the very accommodating staff. I haven’t paid the bill yet but it is about 30 euro a night for an 11m mono.
At the time of writing quarantine consisted of a test after five days’ quarantine. That five days consisted of three days tied up, and the doctor winked and said it took us two days to get here !
The Covid test was 60 euros, same day result, and then the formalities were done. Have a list of unopened booze for customs. No ‘gifts’, or what I call bribes, were requested or given.
The marina is in excellent condition with water and power posts. Not a hint of swell. The showers are fairly good and clean but no laundry. Dry cleaners will do it in town but haggle for a wash, dry and fold, otherwise they charge per item. No lift out facilities.
There is an Italian who does repair work, based in the fish dock. We didn’t need much done so I do not have his name but he would not be difficult to track down. Very disappointed with the result of asking the marina staff about repair work, but that might just be my bad luck.
Wifi is charged separately via a dongle. It is half the price if you get a data-only sim from the Ooredoo (honestly) shop in town, 55TND for 55gig and put it in a spare phone or unlocked dongle. Three TND to a Euro.
Yellow Taxis are very cheap indeed, with meters.
This used to be a French military outpost until a violent revolt by Tunisia against its occupation in the early 1960s. Most locals speak both Arabic and French. It is also reflected in the faded architecture, apart from the ugliest cathedral building I have ever seen, now a cultural centre.
We travel on a strict budget and do not usually eat out but the street food is excellent quality and remarkably cheap (5 euro for two) so we ate out all the time. It is just not worth cooking. Do not go to the Phenicien restaurant. It is terrible. I never seen a waiter smoking over the customers before while leaning on a balcony !
Booze is available from the shuttered off area at the back of Carrefour. A 33cl Heineken is 3TND. Wine isn’t a bad price but only good for cleaning stainless steel. Spirits seemed quite reasonably priced.
The back streets of the old town are seriously Arabian. Narrow, busy, exciting. the fort by the cut into the old port is an experience too. The fish, meat, veg and clothes markets are memorable.
We got ripped off a couple of times, my fault for not doing TND/Euro sums well, but generally everything is startlingly cheap and people very honest. Stock up with spices, herbs, pulses, pasta.
I am indulging my sweet tooth with a 23 cent scoop of ice cream every day. Tomatoes 30 cents a Kg. A huge melon two euro+.
We do not eat lunch but Grille vos Poisson restaurant is across from the Phenicien and its MO is you buy your fish at the market, bring it over, and they cook it and serve with chips, salad or grilled veg for around a Euro or so.
I give Bizerte five stars and is a top spot for stopping the Schengen clock, as well as a heady hit of different culture.
Bad news: Mourad is von longer Habour Master. He was probably the only reason to go to this undeveloped harbour. It looks that no Investments are done in this harbour. It has al opportunities but no one is taking advatage…
This is very old news. It is a great stopover.
For winter time my sailing boat is in Bizerte 4 months ago. The marina team is very good. If you need to repair something ask Mourad the captain of the Marina. He is also a famous skipper in Tunisia, he will do the best for you and is very helpful.
There are electricity and water, and the toilet and shower are new and 5-star quality.
The customs and the police are also friendly and in 30 minutes they do all the papers (maybe they will ask you for a small gift).
Bizerte has a very big market with fish, vegetables, meat .. great and cheap.
The Tunisian people are very friendly, they are happy to see tourists coming back.
I recently was in Bizerte and moored in the new marina. Although the marina is still unfinished and you actually moor in the middle of “work in progress” area, we were allowed to moor alongside, with a couple of other yachts. Electricity and water are available on demand but not continuously.
Fuel has to be brought by car and has normal land prices (1.5 Dinars for the best quality or 1.2 for standard diesel). Despite all this, we were hosted very warmly by the Marina people and we fully enjoyed our stay of three days, paying 30 Euros per day for a 13m boat.
The marina is completed, the fuel dock is operational and 60c a litre