Tunisia wasn’t what I expected

After a few unforgettable weeks in Egypt, I’ve now made my way to Tunisia. Yep, still in North Africa, but it honestly feels like I’ve stepped into a completely different story.

Right now, I’m based in Mahdia (digital nomad guide coming soon!), a small coastal town that instantly won me over. It actually reminds me a lot of Sicily, with the same whitewashed streets and scent of sea salt and grilled fish lingering in the air... but with this beautiful North African soul. It’s still super authentic compared to its more touristy neighbor, Monastir, and that’s exactly what I love about it.

It’s low season here, which means it’s quiet in the best possible way. The weather’s still warm enough for a swim (and yes, I’ve been taking full advantage!). The beach is just insanely beautiful, with long stretches of soft sand and impossibly clear water.

And that’s the thing about Tunisia: it has layers. Beyond the coastlines, there’s history, culture, and nature everywhere you look. They even have their own Colosseum in El Jem, and I’m not kidding when I say it could give the Roman one a run for its money.

The people have also been some of the kindest I’ve met anywhere. Genuinely warm, curious, and always ready to help. I was expecting the louage (Tunisia’s shared minivans and main way of getting around) to be more of an adventure, but it’s actually been super smooth, cheap, and such an organic way to meet locals.

That said, if you’re a digital nomad, there are some trade-offs. Mahdia isn’t exactly a nomad hotspot yet. There’s no real coworking scene, and the sense of community you’d find in places like Dahab.

Internet-wise, you’ll definitely want to come prepared. I’ve been relying on my portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and it’s been an absolute lifesaver (I'm getting around 110 Mbps here, which is wild). If you’re thinking of traveling around Africa, I genuinely cannot recommend having a portable hotspot enough. It’s made all the difference.

I’ll be heading south soon, towards the desert, and I can’t wait to see what that side of Tunisia is like.

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🧑‍💻 Nomad Resource of the Week

When I mentioned in the newsletter that I’ve been relying on my portable Wi-Fi hotspot here in Tunisia (pulling a wild 110 Mbps, by the way), this is the one I was talking about: the Nighthawk M6 Pro (5G)

• Ultra-fast 5G + Wi-Fi 6E
• Global coverage (100+ countries)
• Connects up to 32 devices simultaneously
• Compact and travel-ready
• Easy setup, just power it on and go

Check out more travel-friendly tools in our full gear guide or browse all our recommended resources.

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Written by Irene Wang

Digital nomad and co-founder of Freaking Nomads. She shares raw, unfiltered stories and helps nomads find resources to thrive while traveling and working remotely.

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