La Goulette Shore Excursion: Bardo, Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Bou Saïd
From $82, a private shore excursion from La Goulette to the Bardo, Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd. The day is planned around your ship's schedule.
Private Shore Excursion from La Goulette, Planned Around Your Ship
This private shore excursion is made for cruise passengers who stop at La Goulette for the day. Your driver meets you at the cruise terminal. From there, you visit the Bardo Museum, the Medina of Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd. The day is planned around your ship's departure time, and you are back at the port with time to spare. Only your group travels in the vehicle, at a fixed price.
La Goulette and the Bardo: The Story Behind Your Stops
Most visitors know Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd before they arrive. The port where you land and the Bardo Museum have their own story. It helps to know it before you go.
The Throat of the Lake
In Arabic, La Goulette is Halq al-Wadi, the throat of the river. The name comes from the channel that links Lake Tunis to the sea. Ships bound for Tunis have passed this way for centuries. In 1535, Charles V built a fortress here, and the Ottomans took it in 1574. Its walls still stand near the port.
Little Sicily
In the 19th century, the town filled with Sicilian, Maltese and Jewish families. The Sicilian quarter became known as Little Sicily. In summer, La Goulette was also the seaside resort of Tunis. The actress Claudia Cardinale was born here on 15 April 1938, to a family of Italian origin. Today, the town is known across Tunisia for its fish restaurants.
The Capital of the Hafsids
The Hafsids ruled the country from Tunis from the 13th to the 16th century. They made the Medina a center of trade and learning around the Zitouna Mosque. Its main streets all meet near the mosque's courtyard. UNESCO listed the old city in 1979, with its souks, mosques and palaces. On a cruise day, we keep to the lanes between Bab el Bhar and the mosque.
The Olive Tree Mosque
Zitouna means olive tree, and a legend says one grew here before the mosque. Most scholars date its founding to 698. The Aghlabids rebuilt it in 864. Most of the columns in its prayer hall, about 160, were taken from ancient ruins, probably at Carthage. Its present minaret, 43 meters tall, was built in 1894.
Souks of the 17th Century
Hammouda Pasha, who ruled from 1631 to 1666, had many of the Medina's souks built. Some of the covered market streets you walk through date from his time. Each lane kept one trade, from perfumes to cloth. You can still tell where you are by what is sold around you. Prices are open to bargaining, so take your time.
The Red Chechia
Tunis is the home of the chechia, the red felt cap worn by older men. Making one takes many steps, from knitting the wool to dyeing and brushing it. The last steps are still done in the souk, in small shops lined with wooden benches. A chechia makes a light gift to take back on board.
Three Wars with Rome
Carthage and Rome fought three wars between 264 and 146 BC. In the second, Hannibal crossed the Alps with his army and his elephants. Rome won in the end and burned the city in 146 BC. A century later, Rome began to build its own Carthage on the same ground, facing the same sea.
The Capital of Roman Africa
Roman Carthage became the capital of the province of Africa and one of the largest cities of the empire. Its water came from Zaghouan, through an aqueduct that crossed the plain. The Antonine Baths by the sea were fed by that water. Begun under Emperor Antoninus Pius, they were finished around 162. Their vaults and a tall column still stand at the water's edge.
The Bardo Museum
The Bardo Museum opened on 7 May 1888, inside a palace of the beys at the edge of Tunis. It first carried the name of Ali III, the ruling bey. Today it holds one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. Its best-known mosaic, found at Sousse, shows the poet Virgil between two Muses.
Sidi Bou Saïd Before the Ship
The last stop of the day is Sidi Bou Saïd, the white and blue village on the cliff above the sea. It grew around the tomb of a Sufi saint of the 13th century. Since July 2026, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can read its full story on our page for the Tunis Medina, Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd tour.
How Your Shore Day Goes
Cruise days are short, so we keep the route tight and the stops close together. Tell us your ship's arrival and departure times when you book, and we set the plan around them.
- Pickup at the La Goulette cruise terminal as soon as you leave the ship.
- The Bardo Museum and its Roman mosaics (closed on Mondays).
- The Medina of Tunis: Bab el Bhar, the souks and the Zitouna Mosque area.
- Carthage: the Antonine Baths by the sea and Byrsa Hill.
- Sidi Bou Saïd: the blue and white lanes and a tea at the top of the village.
- Drop-off at the cruise terminal, before your ship's all-aboard time.
Price of the Shore Excursion
The table shows the price from each departure city, for the whole private vehicle. For cruise passengers, the pickup is at the port of La Goulette, in the Tunis area. The price covers the driver, fuel and highway tolls. A certified guide costs $50 more for the day, for your whole group.
Price per private vehicle, in US dollars
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Tunis or Gammarth | $82 |
| Departure from Hammamet | $82 |
| Departure from Nabeul | $95 |
| Departure from Sousse | $120 |
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Monastir | $130 |
| Departure from Mahdia | $145 |
| Departure from Bizerte | $95 |
| Departure from Djerba | $230 |
What Your Shore Excursion Includes
The price covers the car side of your shore day. Entrance tickets and anything you buy on the way stay on your side, so you choose freely.
Included
From the cruise terminal and back, the car and the driver are yours for the whole shore day.
- Pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal or your hotel
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, driver, fuel and tolls
Not Included
Museum and site tickets are bought at each entrance, along with anything you choose to buy.
- Entrance tickets to the Bardo Museum and Carthage
- Lunch, drinks and souvenirs
- On request: certified guide for your group, $50 for the day
To book, send us your ship's name, the date and your arrival and departure times. Our team confirms the plan and the fixed price. Our team is on WhatsApp 24/7 if your plans change.
Shore Excursion Questions
What happens if our ship is late or leaves early?
Tell us as soon as the schedule changes. Your driver adapts the route so that you are back at the terminal in time.
What if our ship docks on a Monday?
The Bardo Museum is closed on Mondays. On that day, we give more time to the Medina, Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd.
Should we book before the cruise?
Yes, we advise booking before you sail. Shore days are short, and a confirmed driver at the terminal saves you time.
Is the excursion only for our group?
Yes. You do not share the vehicle with other passengers from the ship. The driver works only for your group all day.
Are museum and site tickets in the price?
No. You pay the tickets for the Bardo Museum and Carthage on the spot. The price covers the vehicle, the driver, fuel and tolls.
Staying Longer in Tunisia?
If you come back for a holiday, the same sites can be visited from your hotel. You can also go further, to the Roman city of Dougga or the old port of Bizerte. Each trip is private, with a fixed price.
