Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion: souks, ruins and the blue village
Our Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion links the covered souks of the medina, the Roman baths of Carthage and the blue doors of Sidi Bou Said in one private day. Your driver collects you at 08:00, waits at every stop and has you back at your hotel by 18:00 at the latest.
- Duration
- Full day, 7 h
- Price
- from €70 per car
- Pickup
- At your hotel, 08:00 to 18:00
- Stops
- Tunis medina, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said
Why the Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion is the classic first day
Most travellers book the Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion first, and with good reason. The medina of Tunis, the ruins of Carthage and Sidi Bou Said are all UNESCO World Heritage sites, as the village from the postcards joined the list in July 2026. All three sit within twenty kilometres of each other, so you spend the day walking, not driving.
- the medina of Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said
- 3 UNESCO sites
- door to door from Hammamet
- 7 h
- on foot over the day, mostly in the medina
- 3–4 km
- per car from Tunis, for up to four people
- €70
How the day runs
The order follows the clock: the medina in the cool morning, Carthage at midday with the car moving you between sites, and Sidi Bou Said last, when the coach groups have left. The usual pace takes 7 h door to door from Hammamet, with pickup at 08:00. Want longer somewhere? The driver waits, and the price stays the same as long as you are back at your hotel by 18:00.
08:00
Pickup at your hotel in Hammamet
1 h drive to Tunis medina
Arrival around 09:00
Tunis medina
UNESCO medina, about 1 h 30
A maze of covered lanes around the Zitouna Mosque, with whole streets given over to perfume, chechia hats, brass and leather. In the morning the shutters are just going up and the souks are still quiet. Your driver drops you at one gate and waits at another, so you never have to walk back.
- The Zitouna Mosque and its courtyard
- The perfume and chechia souks
- Avenue Habib Bourguiba and the old French quarter
Carthage
Roman and Punic city, UNESCO, about 1 h 30
Carthage was Rome’s great rival before Rome rebuilt it as one of its richest cities. Its ruins are spread across a whole suburb, so the driver takes you from site to site: the Antonine Baths on the shore, Byrsa Hill with its view over the gulf, and the circular Punic ports. One ticket covers the main sites.
- The Antonine Baths, facing the sea
- Byrsa Hill and the Carthage Museum
- The Punic ports and the Tophet
Sidi Bou Said
Blue-and-white village, UNESCO, about 1 h 30
White houses, studded blue doors, bougainvillea and a clifftop view over the Gulf of Tunis. Climb the main street to the Café des Nattes, then wander the quieter lanes towards the lighthouse. Arriving in the afternoon means fewer people and the best light for photographs.
- The Café des Nattes and its mint tea
- Terraces above the marina and the gulf
- Artisan workshops and studded doors
18:00
Back at your hotel in Hammamet, at the latest
The usual pace takes about 7 h, so you have time to stay longer at any site
The route on the map
From the city centre of Tunis to the coast at Sidi Bou Said is barely twenty kilometres. Choose your pickup city to see the whole route, or a stop to look at it close up.
Driving times on the map are Google estimates. Your driver knows the quicker roads.
Worth knowing about each stop
Each of the three stops has a best time of day, and the plan is built around it. Here is what that means on the ground, and why the order rarely changes.
- The medina at opening time
- The souks open around 09:00 and the lanes fill up from late morning. Arriving early means space to look, cooler air and craftsmen at work rather than packing up for lunch.
- Carthage without the walking
- The ruins are spread across several fenced sites a few minutes apart. Instead of walking between them in the midday sun, you are driven from gate to gate and choose which ones to see.
- Sidi Bou Said for the late light
- The coaches usually leave by mid-afternoon. Keeping the village for last gives you quieter lanes, softer light on the white walls and time for a mint tea on a terrace.
Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion prices per car
One fixed price covers the car and driver for the whole day, for up to four people, with no deposit. From Tunis it costs €70, as the drive is short; from Hammamet €80; from Sousse or Port El Kantaoui €130. You pay the driver at the end of the day, and the Carthage ticket is paid on the spot.
| Travellers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 people | €80 | €130 | €130 | €70 |
| 4–6 people | €105 | €155 | €155 | €95 |
| 5–8 people | €110 | €160 | €160 | €100 |
| 8–12 people | €150 | €200 | €200 | €140 |
Prices are per car, in euros, for the whole day, and they do not change with the season. Tap a city to update the timetable and the booking card.
What’s included
The price is per car, not per seat, so a family of four pays the same as a couple. Hotel desks often add a markup; we do not, and there are no hidden fees.
Included
- Private air-conditioned car, never shared
- English and French-speaking driver all day
- Fuel, motorway tolls and parking
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or address
- Child seats on request, free of charge
Not included
- Carthage entrance ticket (around 12 dinars)
- Lunch and drinks
- Shopping in the souks
Good to know
A few small things make the day much easier. Most of them are about shoes, clothes and your ticket.
Wear comfortable shoes
Allow three to four kilometres on foot over the day, on the medina cobbles and the gravel paths of Carthage. Trainers or flat sandals with a back strap work best.
Cover shoulders and knees
Nothing is required in the souks. However, covered shoulders and knees are needed to approach the Zitouna Mosque, and a light scarf does the job.
Keep your Carthage ticket
One ticket covers the main Carthage sites, and staff check it at each entrance on the same day. Keep it handy until you leave Carthage.
Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion: your questions
These are the questions travellers ask most before booking this day. If yours is not here, send it to us with your hotel and date.
How long is the day?
The usual pace takes about 7 h door to door from Hammamet, with pickup at 08:00. From Tunis allow 6 h, and from Sousse or Port El Kantaoui 8 h. You can stay longer anywhere you like, and the price does not change as long as you are back at your hotel by 18:00.
How much does the Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion cost?
€80 per car from Hammamet for one to four people, €70 from Tunis and €130 from Sousse or Port El Kantaoui. The price covers the car, the driver, fuel, tolls and parking. The Carthage ticket is paid on the spot.
Can you do Carthage and Sidi Bou Said in one day?
Yes, easily, because they are neighbours on the same stretch of coast. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites, Sidi Bou Said since July 2026. This day even adds the Tunis medina and still leaves time to spare. If you only want those two, our half day covers them in a morning.
How much time do you need in Sidi Bou Said?
About one and a half to two hours. That is enough to climb to the Café des Nattes, walk the side lanes and enjoy a mint tea. Photographers often want longer for the late light, and the driver simply waits.
Do we need a guide at Carthage?
No. The site is visited freely and your driver explains the essentials on the way. If you would like a licensed guide on site, ask us at least 48 hours ahead.
Can we add the Bardo Museum?
Yes, in place of the medina or with a shorter stop at Carthage. The Bardo needs at least an hour and a half. Mention it when booking and the driver will plan the order.
Is the Tunis medina open on Sunday?
Only partly. Traffic in Tunis is lighter on Sunday, but many souks in the medina stay closed. Saturday is the best mix of easy roads and lively lanes.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, as long as they can manage some walking. The medina comes first while everyone is fresh, and Sidi Bou Said goes down well with children. Child seats are free on request.
Plan your trip
Before you book, read our guides: things to do in Sidi Bou Said and what excursions in Tunisia really cost. They answer the questions most travellers ask about a day like this.
Things to Do in Sidi Bou Said: The Practical Guide for 2026The best things to do in Sidi Bou Said are mint tea on the terraces of Café des Délices and Café des Nattes, Baron d’Erlanger’s palace Ennejma…Read the guide
How much are excursions in Tunisia? An open price comparison for 2026How much are excursions in Tunisia? As of October 2026, a shared day trip to Carthage or El Jem costs about €32 to €85 per person depending on where…Read the guide
Book your Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion
Tell us your hotel, your date and how many of you are travelling. You get written confirmation within two hours, with a fixed price per car and nothing to pay until the end of the day. Message us today and we will reserve a driver for your Tunis Carthage Sidi Bou Said excursion.