Dougga and Bulla Regia Excursion: Two Roman Cities in One Day
Dougga, the most complete Roman city in North Africa, and Bulla Regia, where the villas were built underground. This Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion runs in a private vehicle from your hotel, on the longest and most rewarding archaeological day we operate.
- 08:00 at your hotel
- At your hotel by 18:00
- Full day, private vehicle
From120 €per vehicle
What the Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion covers
This Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion takes you into the Tunisian interior for the two Roman sites that reward the drive. Dougga is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa: a Capitol, a theatre seating 3,500, the Licinian baths and a Punic-Libyan mausoleum, all spread across a hillside with almost nobody on it. Bulla Regia is unique in the Roman world, a town whose wealthy families built a whole storey below ground to escape the summer heat, with mosaics still in place on the floors. Pickup at 08:00 from Hammamet, Sousse or Tunis, back before 18:00.
- UNESCO
- The African Pompeii
- Altitude
- 600 m, Tunisian Tell
- Unique
- Underground villas
- Founded in
- 2nd century BC
How the Dougga and Bulla Regia day runs
The Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion means two and a half hours of driving from Hammamet and two from Tunis, which makes it the one day where we genuinely recommend the 08:00 start. We spend the morning at Dougga, while the site is empty and the light still low, then eat at Teboursouk before Bulla Regia. Both sites are large, so you walk at your own pace and the driver waits, with no closing time to meet.
Scroll to drive the day
Pickup at your hotel
Your driver waits at reception. Hotel, residence, Airbnb or any address in Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis.
On the road to Dougga
Dougga
The African Pompeii, UNESCOVisit: 2 h 30
Dougga is arguably the most spectacular archaeological site in North Africa. Perched at 600 metres on a hill overlooking the Oued Khalled valley, the Roman city is remarkable both for its state of preservation and for its natural setting. The capitol, with three Corinthian columns still standing, is the emblematic image of ancient Tunisia. The Roman theatre still hosts summer performances. The Libyco-Punic mausoleum, dating from the 2nd century BC, testifies to the cultural mixing of Berbers and Carthaginians.
- Roman capitol, triple temple with columns still standing
- Ancient theatre seating 3,500 on the hillside
- Libyco-Punic mausoleum, a symbol of mixed cultures
Lunch break
In a local restaurant of your choice. Your driver suggests good addresses, the meal itself is not included.
On the road to Bulla Regia
Bulla Regia
Roman underground villasVisit: 1 h 30
Bulla Regia is unique in the Roman Mediterranean: its inhabitants developed anti-heat architecture by building their villas with underground storeys, to enjoy the natural coolness of the earth through the summer. The lower apartments, where the mosaics are preserved in situ, create an intimate archaeological experience. The contrast with Dougga is striking: up there the public monument, here Roman private life.
- Summer apartments on two levels, sunk for coolness
- Roman mosaics still in place in their original setting
- Forum, baths and the temple of Mérida
Drive back
The driver takes you back to your hotel, with a stop on the way if you need one.
Back at your hotel
Drop-off at the same address, never later than 18:00.
From Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis the pickup stays at 08:00 and you are back at your hotel by 18:00 at the latest. The driver adapts the time at each stop to the road.
Where Dougga and Bulla Regia are
Both sites lie in the north west, about fifty kilometres apart on the road to Jendouba. This is the greenest part of the country, especially in spring. Pick your pickup city above the map to see your own route.
Dougga and Bulla Regia tour price by departure city
The price of the Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion is the highest of our days because it is the longest in kilometres. It covers the vehicle and not the passenger, which makes it worthwhile from three travellers up. Entry to each site costs between 10 and 20 dinars and is paid on site. No deposit when you book.
- Your day
- Your details
Pickup at 08:00 at your hotel in HammametBack at your hotel by 18:00
No deposit. You pay the driver on the day.
See every price by city and group
| Pickup | 1 to 4 people | 4 to 6 people | 5 to 8 people | 8 to 12 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammamet | 120 € | 150 € | 160 € | 200 € |
| Sousse | 150 € | 180 € | 190 € | 230 € |
| Port El Kantaoui | 150 € | 180 € | 190 € | 230 € |
| Tunis | 140 € | 170 € | 180 € | 220 € |
What's included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, never shared
- English-speaking driver all day
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
- Free stops along the road, whenever you ask
Not included
- Dougga and Bulla Regia entrance tickets (10 to 20 TND each)
- Lunch and drinks
- Personal spending
Dougga, a complete Roman city
This is not a site with a few standing columns but a whole city you can read on the ground: you follow the streets, walk into the houses, sit down in the theatre. The capitol has kept its six columns and its pediment. Allow two and a half to three hours, with some climbing and uneven paving.
- Second-century capitol, pediment and columns intact
- Theatre seating 3,500, tiers open to visitors
- Streets, houses, baths and public latrines
- Sloping site, walking shoes recommended
Bulla Regia and its underground houses
The residents built a storey below ground to escape the summer. The result is entire rooms with their mosaics still in place, exactly where they were laid rather than behind museum glass. You go down the original stairs and walk on them. It is the only Roman city known to have been built this way.
- Houses with an underground storey, unique in the Empire
- Mosaics in situ in the House of Amphitrite
- Flat and shaded site, easier going than Dougga
- An hour and a half to two hours on site
Your pace on the long day to Dougga
The Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion covers close to 500 kilometres round trip, so we run it in a way that keeps the driving bearable: breaks whenever you ask, air conditioning, and no group timetable to meet. If you would rather cut Bulla Regia short and head back early, that is your call and the driver acts on it without argument.
- Breaks on request along the way
- Lunch at Teboursouk, between the two sites
- Visit times entirely up to you at both sites
- An early return is possible at any point
Plan ahead
A long drive and open-air sites: three recommendations, in order of importance.
Closed shoes are essential
The Roman paving at Dougga is uneven and the stairs at Bulla Regia are narrow. Sandals and heels are best avoided.
A long day
Five hours of driving there and back from Hammamet. Pickup is at 08:00 and you are back at your hotel by 18:00.
No shade on the site
Dougga covers 65 hectares on a hillside. Allow 1.5 litres of water per person in summer.
Dougga and Bulla Regia: your questions
How long the drive takes, how much walking each site involves, ticket prices and the best season: the answers asked for most.
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Book your Dougga and Bulla Regia excursion
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