When to visit Carthage: the weather month by month
Carthage lies on the coast, north-east of Tunis. The table below is drawn from the official climate averages for the Tunis-Carthage station, with sunset times calculated for the hill. Below it, the year unfolds season by season.
The essentials
- Warmest months: July and August, with highs around 34°C
- Wettest month: December, about 68 mm of rain over eight days
- Sunset ranges from just after 5pm in December to 7.40pm in June
- The sea is at its warmest in August
The year in one table
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Rainy days (avg.) | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.4 | 8.2 | 58.9 | 8.4 | 5.25pm |
| February | 16.8 | 8.1 | 54.9 | 8.0 | 5.58pm |
| March | 19.4 | 9.8 | 45.8 | 6.3 | 6.25pm |
| April | 22.3 | 12.1 | 37.9 | 5.7 | 6.52pm |
| May | 26.5 | 15.4 | 22.4 | 3.7 | 7.19pm |
| June | 31.0 | 19.3 | 12.8 | 1.5 | 7.39pm |
| July | 34.0 | 22.1 | 4.4 | 0.5 | 7.37pm |
| August | 34.5 | 22.9 | 14.5 | 1.7 | 7.10pm |
| September | 30.5 | 20.7 | 58.2 | 5.0 | 6.26pm |
| October | 26.7 | 17.3 | 54.7 | 5.8 | 5.42pm |
| November | 21.5 | 12.8 | 53.1 | 6.8 | 5.09pm |
| December | 17.6 | 9.4 | 68.1 | 8.3 | 5.03pm |
Source: Institut National de la Météorologie, 1991-2020 averages, Tunis-Carthage station. Sunset calculated for Carthage on the 15th of each month, local time.
Spring, March to June
Highs climb from 19°C in March to 31°C in June, and the rain drops away month by month: by June it falls on fewer than two days. This is the season for walking the archaeological sites, which offer almost no shade. In May the sun sets after 7pm, so there is time to come back from the ruins and still catch the evening light over the bay.
Summer, July and August
July and August both peak at around 34°C, and July sees barely any rain. The sea is at its warmest in August. See the ruins early in the day: the walk between Byrsa and the Antonine Baths runs to nearly two kilometres of unshaded streets.
Summer is also the season of the Carthage International Festival, held in the Roman theatre. The 2026 edition ran from 16 July to 19 August.
Autumn, September to November
September still reaches 30°C, but this is when the rain returns, with almost 60 mm over the month. October cools to 27°C and stays mild. The Octobre Musical, a classical music festival, is held each year at the Acropolium on Byrsa Hill.
By November the days are short: the sun sets just after five.
Winter, December to February
December is the wettest month, with eight or so rainy days. Afternoons settle at 16 to 18°C and nights fall to around 8°C. La Proue, the terrace of Le RestÔ, stays open all year.
The Carthage Film Festival, the Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage, takes place in December. The 2026 edition runs from 12 to 19 December.
Ramadan
In 2027 Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon and are confirmed officially only a few days beforehand.
At Villa Didon Carthage, the roof of Le Perchoir is retractable and watertight. In winter it stays closed for the most part, opening on fine days.
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