In Antiquity, the city bore the Greek name of Neapolis which is composed of nea (new) and polis (city). This is what the Greeks and then the Romans called it. The city's founding dates back at least 2,400 years. The Greek Thucydides describes it, in the 5th century BC. BC, a Carthaginian trading post and gives it the title of the oldest city in North Africa mentioned in texts after Carthage.

The Muslim army commanded by Abou al-Mouhajer arriving from the Arabian peninsula conquered Cape Bon in 674. The Arabs then erected Ksar Nabeul in the 9th century, then the Great Mosque.

The settlement of Jews took place at the beginning of the 18th century, with the arrival of people from Tunis, Djerba and villages of Cap Bon who settled in various neighborhoods. The city historically has seven synagogues.