The sea temperature at Carthage (Tunis) today is 22.5 °C (73 °F) – cold to refreshing water, better for a short swim. The usual October average is 23.7 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is 22.2 to 22.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 26.6 °C to 22.5 °C. Swimmable from May to November, when the sea averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.1°C / 59.1°F | 15.8°C / 60.4°F | 16.2°C / 61.2°F |
| February | 14.4°C / 58.0°F | 15.0°C / 58.9°F | 15.4°C / 59.8°F |
| March | 14.6°C / 58.2°F | 15.3°C / 59.5°F | 15.8°C / 60.5°F |
| April | 15.7°C / 60.3°F | 16.5°C / 61.7°F | 17.0°C / 62.6°F |
| May | 18.7°C / 65.7°F | 19.1°C / 66.4°F | 19.5°C / 67.2°F |
| June | 22.4°C / 72.2°F | 22.9°C / 73.3°F | 23.8°C / 74.9°F |
| July | 25.9°C / 78.6°F | 26.5°C / 79.7°F | 27.0°C / 80.7°F |
| August | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.3°C / 81.2°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F |
| September | 25.7°C / 78.2°F | 26.2°C / 79.2°F | 26.8°C / 80.2°F |
| October | 23.1°C / 73.6°F | 23.7°C / 74.7°F | 24.3°C / 75.7°F |
| November | 20.4°C / 68.8°F | 21.1°C / 70.0°F | 21.6°C / 70.9°F |
| December | 16.9°C / 62.5°F | 17.8°C / 64.1°F | 18.3°C / 64.9°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.2°C / 50.4°F | 12.4°C / 54.4°F | 15.6°C / 60.2°F |
| February | 10.5°C / 51.0°F | 13.0°C / 55.3°F | 16.3°C / 61.3°F |
| March | 11.9°C / 53.4°F | 14.6°C / 58.2°F | 17.7°C / 63.9°F |
| April | 13.3°C / 55.9°F | 16.4°C / 61.6°F | 19.8°C / 67.6°F |
| May | 17.0°C / 62.5°F | 20.2°C / 68.4°F | 23.6°C / 74.4°F |
| June | 21.5°C / 70.6°F | 25.4°C / 77.7°F | 29.2°C / 84.5°F |
| July | 24.4°C / 75.9°F | 28.5°C / 83.4°F | 32.7°C / 90.9°F |
| August | 24.4°C / 75.9°F | 28.1°C / 82.7°F | 32.0°C / 89.6°F |
| September | 23.1°C / 73.5°F | 26.1°C / 78.9°F | 29.3°C / 84.8°F |
| October | 19.3°C / 66.8°F | 22.2°C / 72.0°F | 25.5°C / 77.9°F |
| November | 14.9°C / 58.7°F | 17.4°C / 63.4°F | 20.7°C / 69.3°F |
| December | 12.0°C / 53.6°F | 14.1°C / 57.4°F | 17.0°C / 62.7°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Carthage holidays
Once the capital of a Phoenician sea power and later a great Roman city, Carthage is today a quiet residential suburb of Tunis on the Gulf of Tunis, about 15 km north-east of the city centre. Its scattered ruins form the Archaeological Site of Carthage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Beaches
The shore of Carthage has small sandy beaches between the ruins and the villas, used mostly by local families; Amilcar beach, by the TGM station of the same name, is one of the larger sandy stretches. For longer beaches, La Marsa and Gammarth lie a few kilometres further north along the same coast, with promenades, cafés and the large hotels of the Tunis area. The Antonine Baths stand right on the water, so a swim in Carthage can come with a view of Roman columns. The sea temperature on this page is measured off the beach of Carthage near the Punic ports.
Things to do
Byrsa Hill, the heart of ancient Carthage, is home to the former Saint Louis Cathedral and the Carthage National Museum, whose opening is worth checking before a visit, and looks over the Gulf of Tunis. Below it are the Antonine Baths, the Punic ports with the circular military harbour, the Tophet sanctuary, the Roman theatre and the villas on the hillside, each ticketed as part of the archaeological site. The white-and-blue village of Sidi Bou Said sits on a cliff just north of Carthage, and the medina of Tunis and the Bardo Museum, with its Roman mosaics, are a short trip away.
Weather and best time to visit
At Carthage the sea stays above 20 °C / 68 °F from June to November.
Carthage has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. July and August are the warmest months and the busiest at the beaches; May, June, September and October are pleasant for walking among the ruins. Hot winds from the south occasionally bring dusty days.
Hotels and where to stay
Carthage itself has only a few hotels, mostly small and upmarket. Sidi Bou Said has guesthouses in old houses, and the resort strip of Gammarth has the large beach hotels. The city centre of Tunis is cheaper and close by train.
Signature hotels: Hotel Villa Didon Carthage
Airport and getting there
Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN) lies about 10 km from Carthage, roughly 20 minutes by taxi. The TGM light railway runs from Tunis Marine in the city centre along the coast to La Marsa, with several stations in Carthage and one in Sidi Bou Said. Ferries from Italy and France dock at La Goulette, just south of Carthage.