Getting Around Gabès
Gabès is a coastal city in southern Tunisia and the capital of the Gabès Governorate. It sits at the delta of the Wadi Qabis on the Gulf of Gabès, and its layout reflects its history as a commercial hub and oasis. For a visitor, the practical reality is that Gabès is not a city with a dense urban transit network — getting around relies mainly on walking, taxis, louages (shared long-distance taxis), and the national rail system for arrivals and departures. The city's main sights, including its traditional souqs in Jarah, its beach, and its unusual seaside oasis, are spread across the area, so a mix of walking and short taxi rides is the most realistic approach.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Gabès is served by the national railway operator, SNCFT, which sells tickets both online and at ticket offices in stations. The main station, Gare de Gabès, is located on Ave Mongi Slim. Direct trains connect Gabès with Tunis, and regional trains connect it with Sfax. There are two types of trains from Tunis — Direct and Express — and the direct trains are described as quite run-down and dirty, with doors that might not close; paying a little more for a first-class ticket will at least guarantee a somewhat cleaner compartment.
Gabès is the terminus of a narrow gauge branch railway from the capital, and it is the nearest railway station to the Libyan border at Ras Ajdir. The city also has one of the biggest ports in Tunisia, used mainly to ship mineral products from Gafsa.
As for a metro or tram network: Gabès does not currently have one in operation. A light rail system is planned — it would run from the railway station to the port of Gabès, with rolling stock made by Alstom. Until that is built, visitors should not expect any metro or tram service in the city.
Buses and Other Public Transport
The bus station is located roughly a short walk to the south-west of the louage station, and buses may drop passengers off near the louage station. Beyond this, there is no detailed public bus network information available to rely on, so visitors should treat buses as a secondary option and confirm locally.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The most practical form of transport within and around Gabès is the louage — a shared taxi that operates on fixed routes. The main louage station is near the Palmerie. Louages to Matmata, however, leave from a different place: the Esso station about a short walk to the east of the main louage station. From there, the first louage will get you to Matmata Nouvelle (New Matmata), and another louage continues to old Matmata. Connections onward to old Matmata can be harder depending on the time of day, and hiring the whole louage to continue from New Matmata is an option if you need to.
Walkability
Walking is a viable way to explore parts of Gabès, particularly the central areas and the souqs in Jarah. The city's famous seaside oasis and beach are also part of the visitor experience, and the oasis is one of the last coastal oases in the world. That said, the city is spread out and the climate is hot and arid, with hot summers and pleasant winters and very little rainfall — so walking is best done in the cooler parts of the day, and you should be prepared to combine walking with short taxi or louage rides for longer stretches.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Gabès – Matmata International Airport serves the city. In practice, the realistic options for reaching the city from the airport are a taxi or a louage, and you should arrange this on arrival. Once in the city, the main rail station on Ave Mongi Slim and the louage station near the Palmerie are the key transport hubs for onward travel, including connections toward Matmata and other destinations in southern Tunisia.