Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and Tunis Medina Day Trip from Hammamet

Carthage and Byrsa Hill

Carthage was founded by Phoenician settlers from Tyre in the 9th century BC and grew into the capital of a great maritime power that rivalled Rome. After its destruction in 146 BC, the Romans rebuilt it as the capital of their province of Africa. Today its ruins are spread among the gardens and villas of a quiet residential suburb north of Tunis, and the whole site is listed by UNESCO.

The visit begins on Byrsa Hill, the heart of the ancient city, where you see the remains of a Punic residential quarter with houses, streets and cisterns, and enjoy wide views over the sea and the old harbours. The Carthage museum on the hill displays mosaics, statues and objects from daily life. Your guide brings the history to life, and a Carthage ruins tour with an expert is the best way to understand this vast and scattered site.

The Roman baths by the sea

On the seafront of Carthage stand the ruins of the largest Roman baths in Africa, built in the 2nd century AD. The complex once had cold, warm and hot rooms, a huge swimming pool, gymnasiums and latrines, all on a monumental scale. Today you can still see the massive foundations, a towering reconstructed column that shows the original height, and the service tunnels where slaves kept the furnaces burning.

Set among palm trees and gardens facing the Mediterranean, the site is one of the most photogenic in Carthage. Your guide explains how Romans used the baths as social centres, places to meet, exercise and do business. On the way, you may also see the circular Punic ports, once the military harbour of the Carthaginian fleet. Allow about two hours in total for the sites of Carthage.

Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said is a village perched on a cliff above the sea, a short drive from Carthage. Its official name comes from a holy man buried here in the 13th century, and since the early 20th century a strict rule has kept all its houses painted white with doors, windows and wooden grilles in a distinctive blue. Bougainvillea cascades over the walls, and cobbled lanes climb to cafés with terraces facing the water.

You have time to stroll the main street, admire the studded doors, browse the craft shops and enjoy the view over the sea and the marina below. Try a bambalouni, a sweet fried doughnut sold fresh in the village. If you are wondering whether Sidi Bou Said is worth visiting, it is one of the most beautiful villages in the Mediterranean and a highlight of any Sidi Bou Said tour.

The Medina of Tunis and the Zitouna Mosque

After lunch in Tunis, the afternoon is dedicated to the Medina, the old walled city founded in the 7th century and listed by UNESCO. It is one of the best-preserved medinas of the Arab world, with a wealth of historic monuments, palaces, mosques and madrasas packed into a maze of narrow lanes. You enter through Bab El Bhar, the old sea gate, which stands between the colonial city and the old town.

At the heart of the Medina stands the Zitouna Mosque, founded in the 8th century and for centuries one of the great centres of Islamic learning in North Africa. Its courtyard, lined with ancient columns, can be seen from the entrance; the prayer hall is reserved for worshippers. Your guide explains how the souks were arranged around the mosque, with the most precious trades closest to it.

The souks of the Medina

Around the Zitouna Mosque spread the covered souks, each traditionally devoted to one trade. In the perfume souk, small shops sell essential oils, incense and rose water; in the chechia souk, craftsmen still make the red felt caps worn by Tunisian men; elsewhere you find carpets, brass, leather, jewellery, spices and sweets.

You have some free time to explore and shop, and your guide shares tips on quality and bargaining. A rooftop terrace in the Medina often offers a view over the minarets and green-tiled roofs. The day then ends with the drive back to Hammamet, arriving in the late afternoon. The best time for this Tunis day trip from Hammamet is spring or autumn, when the weather is mild for exploring.