Villa Didon sits on Rue Mendes France on Byrsa Hill, the historic heart of Carthage, and it is the stay to choose if you want to sleep among the ruins rather than commute to them. It is a small luxury hotel in which the rooms are suites: the Junior Suite and the Deluxe Suite are about 506 square feet, the Senior Suite with a bay view is about 592 square feet, and all of them sleep two, with a king, queen or twin bed arrangement and sea views over the Gulf of Tunis. A full-service spa with massage rooms, a restaurant serving lunch and dinner and two bars give the hotel a complete boutique offer. Cooked-to-order breakfast is included in the rate described, which is rare at this level, but check what your own rate includes when you book. No pool is offered, so it suits sightseeing and relaxing more than beach days.
Location and getting around
Few hotels in Tunisia have a better position for history lovers. Carthage Amilcar station on the TGM line is about five minutes on foot, Sidi Bou Said station is about eleven minutes on foot, and Dermech station is three minutes by car. The Antonine Baths are about twenty minutes on foot, Dar el-Annabi museum and the Sidi Bou Said marina are around eighteen minutes on foot, and the Ennejma Ezzahra palace is about twenty.
The airport is about twenty minutes by car, and a transfer is available on request for a fee, with limousine service and car rental on site. Because the terrain around Byrsa Hill is hilly, wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk between sites.
Rooms and service
The rooms are suites with sea views, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, and the hotel has a 24-hour front desk, a concierge, an elevator and free self-parking. A terrace looks over the bay, and babysitting can be arranged for a surcharge. Dry cleaning and laundry are available. With so few rooms the service is personal, and staff can help plan a morning at the ruins followed by lunch in Sidi Bou Said.
Who it suits and what to know: this is a romantic, grown-up base for couples, honeymooners and history enthusiasts who want a peaceful stay with Carthage on the doorstep. It is less suited to families who want a pool or to travellers on a tight budget; rates are at the top of the range for the city.
Book well ahead for spring and autumn, when the weather is ideal for the ruins, and ask for a sea-view suite. If you want a beach, combine a night or two here with a stay at one of the Gammarth resorts, and arrange day trips to Dougga, Bulla Regia and El Djem with hotel pickup.
Why stay here
- ✓On Byrsa Hill in Carthage
- ✓Suites with sea views
- ✓Spa with massage rooms
- ✓Restaurant and two bars
- ✓Breakfast included on the rate described
- ✓Free self parking and free Wi-Fi
- ✓Terrace over the bay
- ✓Concierge and 24-hour front desk
Good questions
Where is Villa Didon?+
It is on Rue Mendes France on Byrsa Hill in Carthage, about five minutes on foot from Carthage Amilcar station on the TGM line.
Does Villa Didon have a swimming pool?+
No pool is offered. It has a spa, a restaurant, two bars and a terrace, so it suits sightseeing stays better than beach holidays.
Is breakfast included?+
Cooked-to-order breakfast is part of the rate described, but terms vary, so check what your rate includes when you book.
