Things to do in Algeria

25 things to do in Algeria

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the winding alleys of the Casbah of Algiers

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

  Algiers

• Wander among the perfectly preserved Roman streets of Timgad

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

  Timgad, Batna Province

• Hike through the lunar landscapes of Tassili n'Ajjer

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

  Tassili n'Ajjer National Park

• Visit the five historic ksour of the M'zab Valley

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

  M'zab Valley, Ghardaïa

• Marvel at the ancient Roman city of Djemila

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

  Djemila, Sétif Province

• Discover the archaeological site of Tipaza by the sea

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

  Tipaza

• Stroll through the old town of Ghardaïa at sunset

  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.

  Ghardaïa

• Watch the sunset from Fort Santa Cruz in Oran

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

  Oran

• Cross the vertiginous Sidi M’Cid Bridge in Constantine

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

  Constantine

• See Orientalist and modern art at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Algiers

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

  Algiers

• Explore the Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography

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

  Algiers

• Climb the minaret of the Great Mosque of Algiers

  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.

  Algiers

• Savor grilled sardines at the fishing port of Oran

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

  Oran

• Sip mint tea at the historic Café Tantonville in Algiers

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

  Algiers

• Wander the vibrant Souk el Fellah market in Bab El Oued

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

  Algiers

• Hike to the peak of Mount Chréa for panoramic views

  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.

  Chréa National Park, Blida Province

• Traverse the sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental by 4x4

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

  Grand Erg Oriental, near El Oued

• Spend a night under the stars at Assekrem in the Ahaggar Mountains

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

  Ahaggar Mountains, Tamanrasset Province

• Visit the oasis city of Timimoun and its red mud buildings

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

  Timimoun, Adrar Province

• Discover prehistoric rock art at Jabbaren in Tassili n'Ajjer

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

  Tassili n'Ajjer

• Eat traditional rechta at Restaurant El Mordjane

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

  Algiers

• Attend a raï music night at the Centre Culturel Abdelkader Alloula

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

  Oran

• Go birdwatching in El Kala National Park

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

  El Kala, El Tarf Province

• Explore the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania near Tipaza

  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.

  Tipaza Province

• Walk the steep cobbled lanes of Constantine’s old medina

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

  Constantine