3-Day Cultural Tour of Tunisia: Tunis, Carthage, Kairouan

Three days across Tunisia's layers: museums and medinas, then Roman towns and amphitheatres

A 3-day guided tour of Tunisia covering Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Oudhna, Testour, Dougga, Kairouan, El Jem and Sousse, with private transportation, entrance fees and a live guide. Day one explores the Bardo Museum's Roman mosaics and the Medina of Tunis before the coastal village of Sidi Bou Said. Day two visits three Roman sites: the amphitheatre and thermal baths at Oudhna, the Andalusian-influenced Testour, and Dougga, the best-preserved Roman town in North Africa. Day three departs for Kairouan to see the 8th-century Great Mosque, the Aghlabid Basins and the Sidi Sahbi Mosque, then continues to the massive El Jem Amphitheatre and the medina of Sousse. A guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. Hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said

• Visit Bardo Museum
• Explore Medina of Tunis
• Tour archaeological site of Carthage
• Visit village of Sidi Bou Said

Day 2: Oudhna, Testour and Dougga

• Visit ruins of Oudhna
• Explore town of Testour
• Tour ancient Roman town of Dougga

Day 3: Kairouan, El Jem and Sousse

• Visit Great Mosque of Kairouan
• See Aghlabid Basins and Sidi Sahbi Mosque
• Explore Kairouan Medina
• Visit Amphitheatre of El Jem
• Tour Medina of Sousse and port of El Kantaoui

The experience

The first day anchors you in Tunis itself. The Bardo Museum houses Roman mosaics and artifacts spanning Punic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods, all displayed in a former palace. From there you move through the Medina of Tunis, the UNESCO-listed old town at the city's heart, with its narrow alleyways, markets and monuments like the Zitouna Mosque. The afternoon takes you north to Carthage, where the ruins of the ancient Phoenician city (including the Antonine Baths and Punic port) sit as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You finish the day in Sidi Bou Said, the white-and-blue coastal village overlooking the Mediterranean, before returning to your hotel.

Day two is built around three Roman sites in the interior. Oudhna, also called Uthina, was an important Roman-Berber urban centre. You see its amphitheatre, basilica, thermal baths and mosaics. Testour, founded by Andalusian Muslims in the 17th century, blends that heritage with North African architecture, notably in the Great Mosque with its Hebrew-numeral clock. Dougga is the standout: a UNESCO site with the Capitol, a large theatre, temples and elaborate mosaics, and the best-preserved Roman town in North Africa. You return to your residence at the end of the day.

The third day is the longest reach. You depart for Kairouan to visit the Great Mosque, founded in the 8th century and one of the first in North Africa; the Aghlabid Basins, 9th-century water reservoirs built with advanced engineering; and the Sidi Sahbi Mosque, also called the Beard Mosque, with its elegant architecture and decorated interior. After a local lunch and a walk through the Kairouan Medina (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved old cities in the Arab world), you head south to El Jem. The Amphitheatre there is one of the largest and best-preserved in the Roman world, built in the 3rd century to hold 35,000 spectators. The tour ends in Sousse, where you explore the medina with its ramparts, labyrinthine streets, the Great Mosque and the Ribat, a medieval fortress with views over the city, before returning to your residence.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout all three days.
• entrance fees to the Bardo Museum, Medina of Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Oudhna, Testour, Dougga, Kairouan's Great Mosque and Aghlabid Basins, the Sidi Sahbi Mosque, El Jem Amphitheatre and Sousse Medina.
• a local lunch on day three.
• a live guide in your chosen language.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except ThursdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesUp to age 80

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by TUNISIVISION

Is this one for you?Three full days lets you move from museums and medinas to remote Roman sites without rushing any single stop, though the third day is the longest. If you prefer a slower pace or want time to linger in one region, a 2-day tour of Tunis and Carthage alone, or a 5-day version with more time at each site, might suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What's inside the Bardo Museum that makes it worth a full stop on day one?

The Bardo Museum displays Roman mosaics and archaeological artifacts from the Punic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods, all housed in a former palace. It offers a concentrated look at Tunisia's historical layers in one building.

How does Dougga compare to the other Roman sites on the tour?

Dougga is the best-preserved Roman town in North Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a Capitol, theatre, temples and elaborate mosaics still standing. Oudhna, visited the same day, shows an amphitheatre and thermal baths but is less complete. Dougga is the architectural showpiece of the three.

What can I see at the El Jem Amphitheatre?

The Amphitheatre of El Jem is one of the largest and best-preserved in the Roman world, built in the 3rd century to seat 35,000 spectators. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its monumental arches and well-preserved arena.

Does the tour include meals?

A local lunch is included on day three in Kairouan. Other meals are not mentioned as part of the tour.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to arrange my own transport to the start?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. Private transportation covers all three days, so you don't arrange separate transfers between sites.