Carthage National Museum
Treasures of Punic and Roman Carthage on Byrsa Hill
About This Museum
The Carthage National Museum stands on the summit of Byrsa Hill, at the very heart of ancient Carthage and overlooking the Gulf of Tunis. Founded in 1875, it is, alongside the Bardo, one of the two great archaeological museums of Tunisia, gathering the finest discoveries made on the site of the legendary city founded by the Phoenicians.
Its collections retrace the entire history of Carthage, from its Punic origins through the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods. Visitors can admire stelae from the Tophet, delicately carved terracotta and glass masks, gold jewellery, marble statuary and a remarkable series of Roman mosaics, as well as the famous marble sarcophagi of the priests and priestesses.
A breathtaking panorama over the Gulf of Tunis
From the museum terrace, the view over the archaeological park and the sea is simply unforgettable. This is one of the rare places where history and landscape merge so perfectly. To fully appreciate the richness of the site, a visit to the Carthage National Museum should not be rushed. Allow time to observe the details of the Punic funerary stelae, the finesse of the Roman glasswork, and the silent beauty of the Byzantine capitals reassembled in the courtyard. Whether you are a history enthusiast or a casual traveller, the museum offers a clear and fascinating journey through more than a thousand years of Mediterranean civilisation.
What You'll Discover
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Carthage National Museum in Photos
Where to Find Carthage National Museum
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Carthage National Museum, situated on Byrsa Hill at the heart of the ancient Carthage site, displays Punic and Roman artefacts from the city and its territory. Key collections include Punic funerary stelae, terracotta masks, gold jewellery, marble sarcophagi of priests and priestesses, and everyday objects illuminating Punic daily life.
The museum was founded in 1875 by French White Fathers (Pères Blancs) missionaries, making it one of the oldest museums in Tunisia. It was subsequently expanded and transferred to Tunisian state management.
Yes, the Carthage National Museum on Byrsa Hill is included with the combined Carthage site ticket, which also covers access to the Antonine Baths, the Tophet, the Roman Theatre, and other monuments across the zone.
Byrsa Hill was the citadel and religious heart of ancient Carthage. According to legend, it was the first land claimed by the Phoenician founder Dido. Today the hill preserves Punic remains beneath a Roman-era residential quarter, and the museum building itself is adjacent to an excavated block of Punic houses.
The marble sarcophagi of a Punic priest and priestess, delicately carved in a Greco-Punic style, are among the museum's treasures. The collection of Punic funerary masks, gold pendants with Tanit symbols, and locally made amphorae traces the artistic and commercial life of Punic Carthage over several centuries.
The museum is on Byrsa Hill in Carthage, reachable by the TGM suburban train from Tunis (Carthage-Hannibal or Carthage-Byrsa stops). From the station it is a short walk uphill to the museum entrance.
