Kelibia
A fishing town at the tip of the Cap Bon Peninsula. A hilltop castle overlooks the blue bay, and nearby are the UNESCO-listed Kerkouane Punic ruins and beaches with clear, white sand.
Kelibia lies at the eastern tip of the Cap Bon Peninsula in northeastern Tunisia, in Nabeul Governorate. It is about 110 km from the capital, Tunis, and about 65 km from Hammamet. It is a quiet town centered on fishing and summer seaside holidays. The Kelibia Castle on the hill above the sea to the south of town was first built in the Punic era. It was later remodeled by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Spanish, and it is the town’s landmark. The fishing harbor below the castle is full of colorful boats, and you can eat fresh grilled fish at the harbor. About 2 km north of town, Mansoura Beach is known for fine white sand and clear shallow water, and is widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Tunisia. About 12 km north is the UNESCO-listed Kerkouane Punic city, which preserves the layout of a Carthaginian-era city in full. Farther north, at the tip of the peninsula, is Haouaria, where you can see Roman quarry caves in the sea cliffs. In spring, you can watch raptors migrate over Sidi Abiod Mountain. Kelibia is also known for Muscat de Kélibia, a dry muscat wine, and holds an international amateur film festival every summer.
The best time for swimming is June to September, and July and August are the busiest months for local vacationers. May and September to October offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds, which is ideal for sightseeing. Transport: From Tunis Sud bus station, take a long-distance bus or a shared taxi (louage) for about 2 hours, or change buses in Nabeul. Public transport in the area is limited. For Kerkouane and Haouaria, hire a car or drive yourself, and you can cover both in one day. Plan for 1 to 2 days. During Ramadan, some restaurants close during the day. Beachwear can be casual, but dress modestly when entering the town and old quarter.
Top sights
- Kelibia Fortress – An ancient fortress on a hill on the eastern shore of Cap Bon, overlooking the fishing harbor and the bright blue bay. It is the landmark o…
- Kerkouane – A World Heritage Site and the only Punic city that the Romans never rebuilt. Its homes with sitz baths and Tanit symbols are still preserve…
- El Mansourah Beach – A white-sand beach north of Kelibia with crystal-clear water, widely regarded as one of Tunisia's most beautiful beaches.
- Kelibia Fishing Port – One of Tunisia's major fishing ports, where colorful fishing boats line up at the foot of the fortress and harborside restaurants grill fre…
- El Haouaria Roman Quarries (Ghar El Kebir) – Ancient Punic and Roman quarries carved into the sea cliffs at the tip of Cap Bon. Pyramid-shaped caverns let shafts of daylight in, and th…
- Djebel Sidi Abiod & El Haouaria Falconry – A mountainous headland at the northernmost tip of Cap Bon, on a major migration route for Mediterranean raptors. El Haouaria is famous for…
Where to eat
- El Mansourah Restaurant – A seafood restaurant on Mansourah Beach, built on rocks with a platform jutting out over the sea near Kelibia Castle. I…
- Toro Fish Restaurant – A seafood spot on Route du Port where you can choose fresh fish from the fishmonger next door, then have it grilled, fr…
Itineraries
- Carthage & Cap Bon Peninsula Loop – Start from Tunis and loop around the Cap Bon Peninsula to see Punic ruins, coastal fortresses, and white medinas.
- Northern Tunisia Ancient Ruins & Coast Self-Drive – Loop around the northern coast and inland ancient cities, from Carthage to Dougga, and on to Cap Bon.