Algiers

Algeria's capital, "Alger la Blanche", where the Casbah tumbles down to the sea, Notre-Dame d'Afrique and the Martyrs' Memorial overlook the bay, and the Roman ruins of Tipasa lie to the west.

Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria, set on the western side of a crescent-shaped bay on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. The city climbs the hillsides in tiers of gleaming white buildings, earning it the nickname "Alger la Blanche" (Algiers the White). It has a Mediterranean climate: Mar–Jun and Sep–Nov are the best times to visit, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine; Jul–Aug is hot and humid, and winters are mild and rainy. The city divides into several main areas. First, the UNESCO-listed Casbah and Martyrs' Square at its foot, home to the Ketchaoua Mosque, the Great Mosque, the New Mosque, the Mustapha Pacha Palace, the Palace of the Raïs and the hilltop Citadel. Second, the city centre built during the French colonial era, represented by the Grande Poste, Rue Didouche Mourad, the Bardo Museum and the Museum of Antiquities. Third, the Hamma district, with the Jardin d'Essai du Hamma botanical garden, the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Martyrs' Memorial (Maqam Echahid) on the hill above. Fourth, the Sablettes promenade on the eastern seafront and the Djamaa el Djazaïr (Great Mosque of Algiers), completed in 2019, whose 265 m minaret is the tallest in the world. On the sea cliffs to the west, Notre-Dame d'Afrique looks out over the bay. The classic day trip is about 70 km west to the Roman ruins of Tipasa and the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, which can be extended to Cherchell; to the south, towards Blida, the Chréa cedar forest and the Chiffa Gorges make good weekend outings. Getting around: Houari Boumediene International Airport is about 20 km from the centre, reachable by taxi or airport bus; the city has Metro Line 1, trams and several cable cars, and taxis and ride-hailing (Yassir) are convenient. Allow 2–3 days, plus one day for Tipasa. Practical notes: Chinese citizens need to obtain a visa in advance; Arabic and French are the main languages and English is not widely spoken; society is fairly conservative, so wear long sleeves and trousers when visiting mosques, and women should cover their hair; a licensed guide is recommended for the Casbah; Friday is the weekly day off and many shops and museums are closed in the morning; cash is king, so plan where to exchange money.

Top sights

• Casbah of Algiers – The Casbah (القصبة), an Ottoman-era old city built into a hillside, with white houses stacked in layers and a maze of lanes. It is a UNESCO…
• Notre-Dame d'Afrique – A Neo-Byzantine Catholic church on the cliff west of the bay, overlooking the whole Bay of Algiers. It is one of the city's classic viewpoi…
• Maqam Echahid & Riadh El Feth – A 92-meter independence war monument shaped like three palm leaves, with an eternal flame at its base, a museum complex and a large terrace…
• Djamaa El Djazaïr (Great Mosque of Algiers) – Completed in 2019, Africa's largest mosque. Its 265-meter minaret is the tallest in the world, and the observation deck at the top overlook…
• Jardin d'Essai du Hamma – A large experimental botanical garden founded in 1832, with French- and English-style gardens and avenues of palms and dragon trees that ru…
• Tipasa – A Phoenician, Roman and early Christian ancient city on the Mediterranean coast. This World Heritage Site, where ruins meet the sea, is Alg…
• Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania – A giant circular stone mausoleum on a hill near Tipasa, traditionally said to be the tomb of Numidian King Juba II and Cleopatra Selene.
• Bardo National Museum (Algiers) – A prehistory and ethnography museum housed in a late-18th-century Ottoman-style villa. Its courtyard, fountains and tilework are attraction…
• Ketchaoua Mosque – An Ottoman-era mosque at the foot of the Casbah. Its twin-tower façade was once turned into a Catholic cathedral, giving it a turbulent his…
• Palais des Raïs (Bastion 23) – An Ottoman-era palace and residential complex by the sea, preserving the only surviving seafront buildings of the lower Casbah. It now serv…
• Dar Mustapha Pacha – One of the best-preserved Ottoman palaces in the Casbah, with walls of colorful tiles and marble colonnades. It now houses the National Mus…
• Citadel of Algiers (Dar Es Soltane) – A fortress and palace complex at the summit of the Casbah, the palace of the last Ottoman governor, with halls, a mosque and a gunpowder ma…
• Djamaa El Kebir – A mosque built in 1097 under the Almoravid dynasty, the oldest mosque in Algiers, with a simple, elegant arcade.
• Djamaa El Djedid – An Ottoman Hanafi mosque built on the seafront in 1660, with a white central dome and a square minaret. It is a landmark of Martyrs’ Square.
• Martyrs' Square – The traditional center of the old lower town between the Casbah and the harbor, ringed by historic mosques. Roman and Ottoman remains are d…
• Grande Poste d'Alger – A white New Moorish landmark completed in 1913, with arches, domes and exquisite colorful tilework. It now houses a postal museum.
• Rue Didouche Mourad & Downtown – Algiers’ main street, lined with white-walled, blue-shuttered Ottoman-style apartment buildings, with cafés, bookstores and boutiques, idea…
• National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers – One of Africa’s largest art museums, with works by European masters and Algerian artists. Its terraces overlook the Hamma Botanical Garden.
• National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art – One of Africa’s oldest museums, with Roman mosaics and statues, as well as Islamic-era manuscripts, ceramics and metalwork.
• Sacred Heart Cathedral of Algiers – A modernist concrete cathedral completed in the 1960s, shaped like a giant cooling tower, with unique interior light. It is a landmark of t…
• Mausoleum of Sidi Abderrahmane – The mausoleum and mosque of Algiers' patron saint, with green-tiled domes and a white minaret nestled on the north slope of the Casbah. It…
• Cherchell – The former capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania, once called Caesarea. Its archaeological museum holds some of the finest Roman statues and…
• Chréa National Park – A national park of cedar forests on the Atlas Mountains above Blida. It has ski slopes in winter, cool summer weather, and a cable car that…
• Chiffa Gorges (Ruisseau des Singes) – A deep gorge south of Blida, famous for its troops of Barbary macaques by the stream. It is a popular short getaway for city residents on w…
• Sidi Fredj – A resort peninsula on the western edge of Algiers, with a marina, beaches, and seafood restaurants. It is the top choice for locals who spe…
• Promenade des Sablettes – A newly developed seaside park several kilometers long on the east side of the city, with a beach, walking paths, a Ferris wheel, and cafés…
• Peñón of Algiers – A small harbor island where Algiers got its name, featuring Ottoman-era Admiralty buildings and an old lighthouse next to the Lower Casbah.

Where to eat

• Le Roi de la Loubia – A beloved working-class spot opened in the early 1970s, serving only white bean stew, fried sardines and chili salad. I…
• Le Repère – A sardine eatery in the upper Casbah, with walls covered in old photographs from the War of Independence and views over…
• Dar el Mahroussa – A family-style restaurant in a 17th-century mansion in the Casbah, serving authentic Algiers home cooking at lunchtime…
• El Djenina – A long-established restaurant beside the Bardo Museum, with Moorish palace décor, known for its many couscous and tajin…
• La Palmeraie – A popular traditional restaurant in Dely Ibrahim, specializing in Moroccan and Algerian dishes and ranked among the top…
• Le Tantra – An upscale seafood restaurant in the Riadh El Feth arcade woods below the Martyrs' Memorial. The terrace under the tree…

Itineraries

• Algiers & Tipasa Coast – Based in Algiers, explore the ancient Casbah, French-style downtown, and the Roman coastal ruins of Tipasa.
• Oran, Tlemcen to Algiers 8-Day Rail Itinerary – Explore the western Andalusian ancient capital and seaport, then take a train to the capital, connecting coastal ruins…
• Algeria UNESCO Heritage & M'zab Valley – Cover the Casbah, Tipasa, Djemila, Timgad, Constantine, and the M'zab Valley in one trip.
• Algeria & Tunisia Ancient Heritage – Fly across two countries, connecting Tipasa, Timgad, Carthage, Dougga, and Kairouan.