The Ruins of Carthage

Carthage, on the coast just outside modern Tunis, was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, the powerful Phoenician trading empire that famously challenged Rome in the Punic Wars before being destroyed and then rebuilt as a grand Roman city. A UNESCO site, its ruins are scattered across an upmarket seaside suburb, from the Punic ports and the hilltop Byrsa with its museum to the vast Antonine Baths by the sea, evoking the layers of a legendary and long-contested history.

What you actually see

• The Antonine Baths - the vast Roman bath ruins by the sea.
• The Byrsa Hill - the acropolis, museum and cathedral.
• The Punic ports - the remains of the ancient harbours.
• The Roman villas and theatre - the scattered remains across the suburb.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather, as summer is hot; the ruins are spread across a large area, so a combined ticket and a half day or more are needed to see the main sites, ideally with the pretty village of Sidi Bou Said nearby.

Honest expectations

The ruins are fragmentary and scattered across a modern suburb rather than concentrated in one dramatic site, so it takes imagination, a combined ticket and some walking or transport between sites to appreciate them. Much was destroyed and built over. It is best combined with the excellent Bardo Museum in Tunis and the village of Sidi Bou Said next door for a full picture.

Nearby

Sidi Bou Said, the Tunis medina and the Bardo Museum are close.