About This Site
The archaeological site of Kerkouane is one of Tunisia’s most valuable sites. Its foundation dates back to the Punic period, perhaps the 6th century BC. The Romans did not rebuild it after annexing Africa. Consequently, it bequeaths us a typically Punic urban space. This small city remains unidentified to this day.
The Roman consul M. Atilus Regulus destroyed the city in 256 BC. The city apparently lay abandoned after this event. Rediscovery occurred at the beginning of the 1950s. The city had been, so to speak, leveled. However, the remains today offer us the plan of a typical Punic city. The layout of houses is very clear. They include all amenities like bathtubs and ovens. They also feature early mosaic floors. One of these depicts the Punic goddess Tanit.
Kerkouane Archaeological Site, Punic city, port, and museum
Kerkouane was a coastal city with a port. Some sections of the port still remain today. The city engaged in trade with other Mediterranean ports. It exported agricultural products and handicrafts. These included purple-dyed fabrics. Manufacturing facilities for this substance lie near the coast. Archaeologists also discovered the shops of a commercial district. A museum at the entrance displays objects found on the site.
Good to Know
To See: Site, Museum
Opening Hours: From September 16 to May 31: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. From June 1 to September 15: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. During Ramadan: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
Entrance Fee: 8 TND
Remarks: The museum is closed on Mondays.
Amenities: Bathroom, Shop, Cafeteria
Kerkouane Archaeological Site in Photos
Where to Find Kerkouane Archaeological Site
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Frequently Asked Questions
Kerkouane is the only Punic city ever discovered that was never rebuilt by Romans or later civilisations after its destruction. When the Roman general Marcus Atilius Regulus sacked the city around 256 BC, it was abandoned permanently, leaving its Punic urban fabric intact beneath the soil until its discovery in the 1950s.
The site was discovered in 1952 by the Tunisian archaeologist Mounir Fantar and has been excavated since. UNESCO inscribed Kerkouane on the World Heritage List in 1985.
Visitors can walk the ancient Punic streets and enter domestic houses with their original floor plans, bathtubs coated in pink waterproof plaster, mosaic pavements, and kitchen areas. The famous Tanit mosaic - a black-and-white geometric floor bearing the symbol of the goddess Tanit - is one of the site's treasures.
Kerkouane is on the northern cape of the Cap Bon peninsula, about 100 km northeast of Tunis near the village of Kerkouane. It is best reached by hire car; louages from Nabeul can get you close. The coastal scenery along the approach road is beautiful.
Yes, an on-site museum displays artefacts recovered during excavations, including funerary objects, ceramics, amulets, gold jewellery, and everyday items that provide insight into Punic daily life.
Allow one and a half to two hours for the site and museum combined. Kerkouane can be paired with the nearby Caves of Hawaria and the beaches of Cap Bon for a full day trip from Tunis or Nabeul.
