Things to do in Algeria

Get lost in the UNESCO-listed medieval quarter with its Ottoman palaces, mosques, and whitewashed houses cascading down to the sea.

Stroll the cardo and decumanus of a 2nd-century Roman colony with a library, theatre, and triumphal arch standing against the Aurès Mountains.

Trek across a vast sandstone plateau of eroded rock arches and canyons inside one of the world's largest open-air prehistoric art galleries.

Step into five fortified hilltop towns – Ghardaïa, Beni Isguen, Melika, Bounoura and El Atteuf – built by the Ibadi community over a thousand years ago.

Admire the well-preserved forum, basilica, and stunning mosaic floors of a Roman mountain settlement, now a UNESCO site surrounded by rolling hills.

Walk among Roman basilicas, an amphitheatre, and a forum directly overlooking the Mediterranean, with a backdrop of the Chenoua Mountain.

Climb to the top of the Beni Isguen minaret just before dusk to watch the low sun paint the mud-brick ksar in shades of orange and pink.

Ride the cable car up to the Spanish-built fortress for panoramic views over the city, the bay, and the Chapel of Santa Cruz.

Step onto the 175-metre-high suspension bridge spanning the Rhummel Gorge, connecting the old city to the modern boulevards.

Browse a collection spanning French Orientalist paintings, Algerian miniatures, and works by modern masters in a splendid hilltop building.

Enter an 18th-century Moorish palace filled with prehistoric fossils, Saharan rock art replicas, and exquisite Berber jewellery.

Ascend the ancient square-based minaret of Djamaa el Kebir, the oldest mosque in Algiers dating back to 1097, for a view over the old city.

Head to the quayside stalls where freshly caught sardines are grilled over charcoal and served with crusty bread and harissa.

Sit on the terrace of this Belle Époque café dating from 1890, watching families play dominoes over glasses of sweet, fragrant mint tea.

Navigate a maze of indoor and outdoor stalls piled with spices, olives, fresh produce, and household goods in this popular working-class neighbourhood.

Climb through cedar forests inside Chréa National Park to the summit for a sweeping vista of the Mitidja plain, the Bay of Algiers, and snow-capped Atlas peaks.

Embark on a desert expedition across towering golden dunes near the Algerian–Tunisian border, camping in Berber tents under a blanket of stars.

Drive to the high-altitude hermitage of Charles de Foucauld at 2,700 m and witness an unforgettable starry sky over jagged volcanic peaks.

Discover a Sahara town of red ochre adobe houses, palm groves, and an ancient ksar set above a shimmering salt lake.

Scramble to rock shelters adorned with thousands of paintings depicting cattle, giraffes, and dancing figures from the Neolithic Sahara.

Try the delicate handmade noodle dish with a slow-cooked chicken and chickpea broth at one of Algiers’ most beloved traditional restaurants.

Feel the pulse of Algeria’s most famous musical export in a live performance at Oran’s premier cultural centre, birthplace of modern raï.

Spot rare waterfowl, spoonbills, and flamingos across a chain of forested hills, wetlands, and pristine Mediterranean beaches in northeast Algeria.

Stand before the enormous circular tomb of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II, a mysterious 1st-century BC monument known as the Tomb of the Christian Woman.

Weave through the historic city on a cliff, crossing stone bridges and visiting Ottoman-era palaces, hammams, and the Bey’s Palace.