The nearest airport to Carthage, which is called Tunis-Carthage, is located just 10 km away. By Air France or Alitalia flights from Moscow Sheremetyevo, you can fly there in 6.5 hours, including transfers in Paris or Rome. A flight from St. Petersburg by Lufthansa aircraft with a transfer in Frankfurt am Main takes 6 hours and 40 minutes.
Note: according to allcitypopulation, the population of Tunisia is 11.94 million (2021).
From airport to city
The best way is to get to the center of Carthage by taxi (travel time 20 minutes, cost 10 TND; from 21:00 to 6:00 – 1.5 times more expensive). As the purpose of the trip, the driver should name “Carthage” (Carthage) – the word “Carthage” is unfamiliar to the locals. The prices on the page are for September 2021.
tour bus
The popular resorts of Tunisia organize bus tours to Carthage. The cost of such a trip, for example, from Sousse for adults / children is 140/70 TND. At the same time, the tour program takes only 1-2 hours to visit Carthage – barely enough to see 2 of the 8 sections of the archaeological zone. In addition, it is likely that they will be crowded with people who have arrived on other sightseeing buses.
Independent trip
You can get to know the ancient city in detail and avoid crowds of tourists on an independent trip, best of all with a guide in a rented car. Or first, by train or intercity bus, get to Tunis and from there get to Carthage. The most affordable option is on the TGM light metro train, departing from the Tunise Marine starting station (Avenue Habib Bourguiba). The interval of movement is 5-15 minutes, the travel time is 25 minutes, the cost of a ticket in a 1st class carriage is 1.15 TND. Get off at Carthage Dermech (near Beers Hill) or Carthage Hannibal (Anthony Baths). A taxi ride will take the same time and cost 12 TND.
Any taxi driver at the metropolitan railway station or bus station is ready not only to bring the client to Carthage, but also to carry him from one object to another, and then return him to the same place where he took him from. Service fee is negotiable, usually 90-100 TND.
Transport
The main mode of transport in Carthage is the TGM light rail line running through it with 6 stops. Trains run from 4:00 to 0:00, the frequency is 4-10 times per hour. The metro is convenient to get not only to the capital, but also to the beautiful resort suburbs of Sidi Bou Said and Gammarth.
On the main street La Goulette Rd you can take a bus or minibus going to Tunis. Unfortunately, they run quite rarely, there is no timetable at the stops, and on the buses themselves the route numbers are only the name of the final destination in Arabic.
You can stop the bus anywhere with a wave of your hand. Entrance – through the back door, fare – to the conductor or driver. Men are not recommended to take a seat next to an unfamiliar woman.
There is no own public transport in small Carthage. In order not to suffer from the heat and to fully taste the local exotic, you can hire a horse-drawn carriage right at the TGM light metro station and go around all parts of the archaeological zone on it. Payment by time – from 10 TND per circle. The main competitors of cab drivers are taxi drivers who are ready to ride all day, but already for a “negotiated” 80 TND.
Bicycles for rent
This service is available at an additional cost to guests staying at the Carthrage Hill and Villa Carthage hotels. The greatest demand is in April-May and September-October, when the weather is comfortable for cycling.
Carthage Hotels
There are not many hotels in Carthage. The best among them is the Villa Didon Carthage 5 * spa hotel. Among its advantages are a great location next to the archaeological zone, a French restaurant, panoramic windows, a spa and a hammam. True, for a double room you will have to pay 590 TND – a lot even by European standards.
Each of the hotels – Carthrage Hill and Villa Carthage – in the northern part of Carthage, is good in its own way. The first attracts with excellent cuisine, a well-kept garden and ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The second one has spacious rooms, a swimming pool and amazing breakfasts. The cost of rooms is from 250 TND.
All hotels have free Wi-Fi and parking.
Those looking for a homely atmosphere can stay at Logement Entier Pieds Dans l’Eau, which sleeps up to 6 people and features a well-equipped kitchen. It costs a little – 225 TND per day plus 120 TND for the final cleaning. A good choice of housing is in the neighboring town of Sidi Bou Said, in Gammarth, which lies a little further on the same metro line, and, of course, in the capital Tunisia.