Planning a trip to Tunisia and want to explore Carthage ? You’re in the right place!
Carthage is an ancient city waiting to be explored, located just a few minutes from Tunis and close to the beautiful village of Sidi Bou Said.
In this article, I’ll list the best places to see in Carthage as well as what to expect, and of course, I listed all the best day trips from Carthage/Tunis at the end of the article.
Let’s dive in and plan the perfect day in Carthage !
First things first, how to get to Carthage ? Well it is only a 20-minute drive from Tunis, so getting a cab will cost around 20 dinars, which equals to 6€ approximately.
Here’s a plan of the different ruins to explore in Carthage. Despite the fact that the locations are numbered a certain way, I would rather suggest to follow the order in red. So, I’d recommend getting dropped off at the highest point, which is the Saint-Louis Cathedral, that way you could visit everything by walking downhill.
Regarding entrance tickets, you only need to buy one ticket, they sell it at the Antonine Baths (first 3 spots – Saint Louis Cathedral, Theater of Carthage and Roman Villas – are free to enter).
Price is 12 dinars, which equals to 3,5€.
Most sites close at 5pm, so I’d suggest starting either in the morning or early afternoon to have the time to see them all.
You can see I didn’t put a red number in front of Tophet and the Museum because the first one really isn’t worth walking there, and the second was closed for renovation so I don’t have a review to share on it.
Perched on Byrsa Hill and built in the late 19th century, this Roman Catholic cathedral offers panoramic views over the ruins of the ancient city and the Mediterranean Sea.
The archeological site around the cathedral is pretty big, and quite beautiful, especially with the views over the sea :
Next up, you can walk downhill for about 10-15 minutes and reach the Theater of Carthage and the Roman Villas.
The Roman Theater of Carthage was once capable of seating over 5000 spectators, that gives you a glimpse of how the grandeur of Carthage back then ! It is in now great condition after being restored and is still used today for cultural events (see first picture below).
Nestled among olive trees and ruins,
Nestled in olive trees and cypress with stunning sea views, the Roman Villas of Carthage gives you an idea of how the Roman elite used to live :
Next up, let’s walk to the Antonine Baths, which is a 10-minute walk from the Roman Villas. The site is located along the coast and is really huge : those baths are among the largest Roman bath complexes outside of Rome.
For a great view of the Mediterranean Sea, head to the next spot which is Beit El Hikma, a beautiful neoclassical palace. Located 5 minutes from the Antonine Baths, it is Tunisia’s national academy of sciences, letters, and arts.
We made it to the final stop to visit in Carthage : the Punic Port. Around 15 minutes of walk from the previous stop, this archeological site was once the heart of Carthage’s naval power. It is really peaceful to walk around the circular harbor late afternoon to enjoy the views and local life.
If you are spending a day in Carthage but want to explore the nearby cities, these are the places I’d recommend visiting, not too far away and absolutely worth the detour :
- Tunis : From the narrow alleys of the UNESCO-listed Medina to the lively souks and vibrant Central Market, the city offers a lot of history, a wide culinary scene and stunning old town.
- Sidi Bou Said : A picture-perfect village with whitewashed houses, blue doors and vibrant pink bougainvillea. This charming town offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as cute cafés and bambalouni stalls (sweet Tunisian donut).
- Bizerte : A true hidden gem, unknown by tourists but definitely worth visiting. Whether it is its charming old port, beautiful Medina or central market, Bizerte is the perfect day trip for those seeking authenticity off the beaten path.
- Sousse : A bit further away from Tunis, but a lovely Medina to explore, as well as the Ribat and Great Mosque that you can visit even if you are not a muslim.
- Monastir : 20 minutes from Sousse, Monastir is a peaceful coastal city, with a beautiful seaside and imposing ribat fortress. Take the time to also visit the Mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba.
That’s it for my recommendations on the top places to see in Carthage. I had a wonderful time exploring the ruins of this ancient city, and I’m sure you will too !
If you plan on visiting Tunisia any time soon, check out my article about the top places to see in Tunis and the top places to see in Sidi Bou Said.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
