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Daytrip Tunis Carthage Sidi Bousaid Bardo from Hammamet
4.8
18 Ratings
Carthage
Embark on a full-day excursion in Tunis, Carthage, and Sidi Bousaid. Explore ancient ruins, visit a picturesque village, and discover the vibrant culture of Tunis. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in history and beauty!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Tophet de Carthage - Today, many historians consider that the place called “Tophet” could have been a children’s cemetery. One can imagine, in fact, that Carthaginian parents performed a special ritual there to the god Baal and to the “Lady Tanit”, the great maternal goddess, to dedicate their children who died in infancy to them. But this, the images imposed by Flaubert were so strong that it took many years to admit it. The giant statue of the “god Moloch”, the cruel priests, the flames of the stake, the barbaric rituals, the blood, and the cries covered the reality of the archaeological discoveries. Even today, part of the site of Carthage is called “Tophet” or – more correctly – “Sanctuary of Tanit and Baal”. You can see many engraved stelae that the ancient Carthaginians once deposited when making a wish. - Punic Ports & Museum - A guided visit on the shape of the legendary ports, the coveted basis of Carthage’s power and prosperity, remains. A narrow channel linked the southern, oblong merchant port to the northern circular naval port. This arrangement meant that the military port was hidden from the outside, but the Carthaginian navy could see out to sea. The military base had moorings for an incredible 220 vessels in dry docks and around the quay-lined edge. The 7-hectare commercial port was bordered by quays and warehouses. The ports were filled in by Scipio after Carthage’s destruction in 146 BC, but in the 2nd century AD, the Romans reinvented the islet as a circular form, with two temples, and used the port to house their merchant fleet, which shipped wheat to Rome. Rises in the sea level meant the quay walls had to be raised several times. By the end of the 6th century, the harbor had fallen into disuse. - Baths of Antoninus - A large complex of Roman baths built in the 2nd century which is today part of an archaeological park. - Carthage Museuma - In the center of the city of Carthage, the national museum of Carthage stands at the top of the hill of Byrsa, a symbolic location, where the ancient Punic city was built: we notice around the vestiges dating back to the 2nd century BC. We take advantage of the passage from the point of view of the surroundings. It is the oldest Tunisian museum since it was created in 1875: it serves as a witness to the important and numerous archaeological discoveries that have been made on the site of Carthage. We rediscover the turbulent history of this city which was the center of a rich civilization. - Sidi Bou Said - With its distinctive blue-and-white color scheme, cobbled streets, and jaw-dropping glimpses of azure waters, the cliff-top village of Sidi Bou Saïd is one of the prettiest spots in Tunisia. Named after a 13th-century Sufi saint, its distinctive architecture is a mix of the Ottoman and the Andalusian, a result of the influx of Spanish Muslims in the 16th century. For the French, the sleepy fishing village was a perfect depiction of the Orientalism romanticized by Europeans in the 19th century, and they committed to ensuring that its character – both real and imagined – was preserved (it was given protected status in 1915). Past residents and visitors include artist Paul Klee, author André Gide, philosopher Michel Foucault, and arty British eccentrics Osbert and Edith Sitwell. It still retains a sense of North African fantasia today, both for visitors and interestingly enough, for Tunisians themselves. - Medina of Tunis - This sprawling maze of ancient streets and alleyways is one of the most impressive medieval medinas in North Africa and one of Tunisia’s great treasures. It’s home to numerous covered souqs selling everything from shoes to shisha pipes, as well as bustling cafes, back streets full of artisans at work and residential areas punctuated by grand, brightly painted doorways. Historic palaces, hammams, mosques, and madrassas (schools for the study of the Quran) are scattered throughout, many lavishly decorated with tiles, carved stucco, and marble columns. - The National Bardo Museum - A Guided visit of the national Bardo Museum, one of the most important museums of Africa, it contains prestigious collections of mosaics and exhibitions of a precious heritage from different civilizations have developed on the shores of the Mediterranean.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- On-board WiFi
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
- Lunch
Additional Information
Uncover the past of ancient Carthage and explore its ruins ranging from Punic to Roman ruins - a temple, an aqueduct, Antonine baths, a theatre, a military port, houses, and corporate buildings. Make sure to visit the Christian basilicas and the archaeological museum where the guide will chronicle the onsite history.
In the Sidi BouSaid village, take in the grandeur of Baron’s Palace - an art marvel that captivates visitors with its splendor and uniqueness. Bask in the breathtaking views from the charming blue and white village that sits atop a hill overlooking Carthage proudly.
Post a traditional lunch, delve into Tunisia’s capital, Tunis. An orientated tour within its Medina will show you how Tunis masterfully blends East and West, modern and traditional, young and old. The guide will show you the hidden treasures - palaces, religious institutions, mosques, tucked away in narrow lanes in one of the country’s most beautiful medinas. Founded in the 7th century, this Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Location
Tophet de Carthage
Rue de Hannibal
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(18 Ratings)
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Jaroslav-kr
Apr 30, 2023
Carthage - Perfect trip, nice places, good guide with perfect english, good and friendly driver, good quality for money
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cb-g01
Apr 2, 2023
Great tour, knowledgeable guide - We enjoyed a full day tour with Ghassen, he is a very knowledgeable guide sharing his passion for the local history, culture and food with us.
On the tour we saw all the main historic sites and Ghassen brought each one to life with stories and knowledge that he has gained from many years as a tour guide and as a keen global traveler himself.
We would definitely recommend a private tour so you can shape the trip depending on your preferences too.
Thank you for a brilliant tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helena_g
Mar 18, 2023
Tunisia Tours Pro - Two brilliant private tours out with Mohammed and Ghassen. Very interesting and informative on the history and surroundings. All fees included apart from lunch. Definitely recommend - thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Jakesk6828rm
Feb 4, 2023
Cozy and relaxable destination - Cartage,sidi bou said, Hammamet every place to visit were great.
My guide and driver are such kind and lovely people.
They are more like my friend or family.
I enjoyed all the time during my tour with them.
Especially loved bambilini and of course seafood.
Want to come back with my family to show Tunisia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Liverpool1992
Jan 30, 2023
Must see place!! - I visited Tunisia on a 6 day trip with my friend. We started with carthage Tunis first. An amazing place full of so much history and interesting facts. Again Ghassen was our guide and he was fantastic. Definitely recommend him and i will visit again using him again. From a tourist from North Wales, UK.
We also visited Sidi Bou said and Tunis centre Meddina which we also recommend. Ghassen arranged everything for us
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emily
Oct 16, 2022
Amazing! - This was our second tour with Ghassan and we had another amazing day. He picked us up from our hotel and worked around our schedule as we needed to push the start time back by 1 hour. When we arrived at the different Carthage sites he led us away from the tourist crowds and gave us more information about the history and importance of the site. We then visited Sidi Bou Said and the Palace Dar Nejma Ezzahra which was definitely a highlight. We were also very grateful to have Ghassan’s input when we were buying items at the Tunis market as he stopped us from overpaying and making bad decisions. We also had a quick visit to the beautiful Zitouna Mosque, which has reused some of the Roman columns from Carthage which was a nice connection to the beginning of the tour.
I would definitely recommend Ghassan and his tours for anyone wanting to see and learn about the real Tunisia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carol_f
Sep 24, 2022
Lovely day with a very good guide - Sana my guide was a joy to spend the day with. Very knowledgeable, friendly and attentive to knowing when to give information. It was a really good day and felt like a day trip with a good friend. She's also a good driver, had a few narrow roads, tight parking spaces, but it didn't phase her 😁.
Review provided by Viator
Maksims_k
May 2, 2022
It was a nice tour, saw... - It was a nice tour, saw Tunis (Medina, mosque, government part) and surroundings - Carthage and Sidi Bousaid. Tour guide (Sana) was punctual and explained many things about places.
Review provided by Viator
Mocknr
Aug 23, 2023
Very nice day - The beauty of the landscape the guide Sami excellent professional good the meals are not very good but it's part of the excursions
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrismat06130
May 30, 2024
Excursion valid except meal for tourists - Complete excursion with qualified guide. Magnificent sites of Carthage with the Antoninus thermal baths. Visit to magical Sidi Bousaid. The only small problem is the meal for tourists bordering on scandal in the medina: timed... and not good! The visit to the distillery and the so-called state artisanal store... very average.
In short, you have to want to discover for yourself if you feel capable, but the Medina of Tunis is such a labyrinth that it is better not to get caught up in it alone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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