Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Tunisia easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
Amex acceptance in Tunisia is spotty at best. I tried it at three different spots: a mid-range restaurant, a souvenir shop, and the tram station kiosk - none worked. Visa and Mastercard were accepted almost everywhere. And ATMs only dispense cash via those brands. If you’re traveling here, definitely use Visa or Mastercard. Keep Amex as an emergency card only, and bring enough local cash just in case.
Tried using Amex at a restaurant by the Sidi Bou Said waterfront - it got declined. The same place accepted Mastercard with no issues. Even bank ATMs spit it out. A friend couldn’t use it at a museum ticket booth either. I’d say don’t rely on Amex in Tunisia. Hing your everyday payment on a Visa or Mastercard, and use Amex only if it’s accepted for hotel bookings online.
Amex was nearly useless for me. Stores in Medina, cheap restaurants, and even petrol stations rejected it. Only one luxury hotel accepted it, and then charged a 3% fee. My Mastercard was accepted everywhere, from street vendors to train ticket offices. If you’re heading to Tunisia and wondering “is Amex widely accepted?”, the short answer is no - Visa/Mastercard are king here.
I brought Amex with me, but it didn’t work anywhere except a handful of high-end hotels in Tunis. Even mid-level restaurants and cafes declined it. ATMs only support Visa/Mastercard. My GAASM chain cafe wouldn’t let me pay with Amex, but they took cash or Visa. My advice: bring Visa or Mastercard as primary payment method, and treat Amex as just a backup for big-ticket hotel payments, if even then.