Find places in Algeria

Must-Haves

• Kasbah of Algiers (Casbah)
  The UNESCO listed Ottoman old town of stepped lanes, palaces and courtyard houses.
• Notre Dame d'Afrique (Bologhine)
  A clifftop basilica with a striking interior and the best sunset view over the bay.
• Maqam Echahid (El Madania)
  The towering Martyrs' Memorial above the bay, with the army museum beneath it.

Fun for Everyone

• Grande Poste d'Alger (Centre)
  The neo Moorish main post office, the city's most photographed building.
• Les Sablettes (Hussein Dey)
  A long seafront promenade with play areas, cafés and sea views, busy on summer evenings.

Must-Haves

• Dar Mustapha Pacha (Casbah)
  An Ottoman palace with tiled courtyards, now home to the national museum of miniature and illumination.
• Ketchaoua Mosque (Casbah)
  An Ottoman mosque at the foot of the Kasbah, beautifully restored and full of history.
• Djamaa El Djazair (Mohammadia)
  The vast Great Mosque of Algiers, with one of the tallest minarets in the world.
• Bardo National Museum (El Mouradia)
  Prehistory and Saharan rock art finds displayed in an elegant Ottoman villa.

Off the Beaten Path

• Palais des Rais (Bastion 23) (Bab El Oued)
  A cluster of restored Ottoman corsair houses on the seafront below the Kasbah.

Fun for Everyone

• Jardin d'Essai du Hamma (Belouizdad)
  A grand botanical garden of palms, ficus avenues and French and English gardens.
• Chréa National Park (Blida)
  Cedar forests and cool mountain air above the plain, with snow in winter.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Parc de la Liberté (Centre)
  A shaded hillside park between downtown streets, good for a quiet break.

Must-Haves

• Rue Didouche Mourad (Centre)
  The city's main shopping street of boutiques, bookshops and cafés under the arcades.
• Riadh El Feth (El Madania)
  A shopping and craft complex beneath the Martyrs' Memorial.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marché Meissonnier (Centre)
  A busy covered food market for fruit, olives, spices and cheese.

Off the Beaten Path

• Marché Clauzel (Centre)
  A neighbourhood market full of everyday life, produce and household goods.

Great for Date Night

• Le Tantonville (Port Said Square)
  A grand old brasserie café facing the national theatre, perfect for people watching.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Milk Bar (Emir Abdelkader Square)
  A famous old café on the central square, known for coffee, ice cream and its history.

Low Cost and Authentic

• La Pêcherie fish restaurants (Port of Algiers)
  Simple harbourside restaurants grilling the day's catch below the Kasbah.

Must-Haves

• El Djazair Hotel (El Mouradia)
  The historic former Saint George hotel, set in lush Moorish gardens.
• El Aurassi Hotel (Centre)
  A landmark hotel on the heights with sweeping views over the city and port.

Great for Date Night

• Sofitel Algiers Hamma Garden (Belouizdad)
  A large hotel overlooking the Jardin d'Essai and the bay.

Must-Haves

• Algiers International Book Fair (SILA) (Pins Maritimes)
  The country's biggest cultural event, a huge book fair each autumn.

Must-Haves

• Fort Santa Cruz (Mount Murdjadjo)
  A Spanish fort high above Oran with the best view over the bay and port.
• Front de Mer (Centre)
  The seafront balcony boulevard where Oran strolls every evening.

Fun for Everyone

• Place du 1er Novembre (Centre)
  The main square, with the lion guarded town hall and the regional theatre.
• Miloud Hadefi Olympic Stadium (Bir El Djir)
  The stadium built for the 2022 Mediterranean Games, home to big matches.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sidi El Houari old quarter (Sidi El Houari)
  The historic heart of Oran, with Spanish gates and Ottoman buildings.

Must-Haves

• Chapel of Santa Cruz (Mount Murdjadjo)
  A pilgrimage chapel beside the fort, crowned by a statue of the Virgin.
• Ahmed Zabana National Museum (Centre)
  Archaeology, natural history and art in a classic museum building.
• Théâtre Régional Abdelkader Alloula (Place du 1er Novembre)
  A beautifully restored theatre named after Oran's great playwright.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bey's Palace (Sidi El Houari)
  The faded Ottoman palace of the Beys in the old quarter, slowly being restored.
• Pasha Mosque (Sidi El Houari)
  An Ottoman era mosque in the old town with a fine octagonal minaret.

Fun for Everyone

• Les Andalouses beach (Ain El Kerma)
  A long sandy beach west of Oran, the classic summer escape.
• Ain El Turk beaches (Ain El Turk)
  A strip of beaches and seafront cafés that buzz on summer nights.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cap Falcon (Ain El Turk)
  A rocky cape with a lighthouse, clear water and quieter coves.
• Madagh beach (Ain El Kerma)
  A beautiful cove backed by pine forest at the end of a winding road.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Forest of Les Planteurs (Mount Murdjadjo)
  Pine woods on the mountain, popular for walks and picnics.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Médina Jedida market (Médina Jedida)
  Oran's big traditional market for spices, cloth, clothes and everything else.

Fun for Everyone

• Seafront cafés of Front de Mer (Centre)
  Terraces for coffee, juices and ice cream with views over the port.

Must-Haves

• Sheraton Oran Hotel (Akid Lotfi)
  A large modern hotel near the seafront and the convention centre.

Great for Date Night

• Le Méridien Oran Hotel (Akid Lotfi)
  A tall hotel with sea views next to the convention centre.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Royal Hotel Oran (Centre)
  A restored grand hotel in the heart of the old city centre.

Must-Haves

• Sidi M'Cid Bridge (Old town)
  A suspension bridge swaying high above the Rhumel gorge.
• Sidi Rached Bridge (Old town)
  A great stone arched bridge, one of the city's defining sights.
• Monument aux Morts (Mount Sidi M'Cid)
  A memorial arch above the gorge with sweeping views over the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Salah Bey Viaduct (Constantine)
  A modern cable stayed bridge sweeping across the valley.

Off the Beaten Path

• Souika old quarter (Old town)
  Steep lanes of workshops and markets in the oldest part of the city.

Must-Haves

• Palace of Ahmed Bey (Old town)
  The last Ottoman governor's palace, with painted tiles and garden courtyards.
• Emir Abdelkader Mosque (Constantine)
  One of Africa's largest mosques, with twin minarets and a university.
• Cirta Museum (Coudiat)
  Numidian and Roman treasures from ancient Cirta and the region.
• Djemila (Setif province)
  A UNESCO listed Roman city in the mountains, one of the best preserved anywhere.

Off the Beaten Path

• Tiddis Roman ruins (Near Constantine)
  A small Roman town carved into a red hillside, rarely crowded.

Must-Haves

• Marriott Constantine Hotel (Constantine)
  A large modern hotel with views towards the city.

Great for Date Night

• Novotel Constantine (Constantine)
  A reliable central hotel near the tram.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hotel Cirta (Centre)
  A historic hotel in a classic building near the old city.

Must-Haves

• Tipasa Archaeological Park (Tipaza)
  Roman ruins among pines on headlands above the sea, a UNESCO site.
• Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (Sidi Rached)
  A mysterious circular royal tomb on a hill between Tipaza and Algiers.
• Cherchell Museum (Cherchell)
  Exceptional Roman statues and mosaics from ancient Caesarea.

Off the Beaten Path

• Camus memorial stone (Tipasa western site)
  A simple stone with a line from Camus, looking out to sea.
• Basilica of Saint Salsa (Tipasa eastern site)
  The remains of an early Christian basilica on a headland above the bay.

Off the Beaten Path

• Roman ruins of Cherchell (Cherchell)
  Baths, a theatre site and harbour remains of Juba II's capital.

Fun for Everyone

• Tipaza harbour promenade (Port)
  A relaxed waterfront walk lined with cafés and fishing boats.

Fun for Everyone

• Chenoua beach (Chenoua)
  A long beach beneath Mount Chenoua, busy and friendly in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mount Chenoua (Chenoua)
  A coastal mountain with trails and wide Mediterranean views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Matares beach (Tipaza)
  A sandy beach near the ruins, quieter outside high summer.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Port of Tipaza fish restaurants (Port)
  Small restaurants grilling sardines and bream steps from the boats.

Must-Haves

• Ghardaia market square (Ghardaia)
  The arcaded heart of the town, busy with traders, carpets and dates.
• Beni Isguen (M'zab valley)
  The holy walled town of the valley, visited with a local guide.

Off the Beaten Path

• El Atteuf (M'zab valley)
  The oldest of the five towns, quieter and full of character.
• Melika (M'zab valley)
  A hilltop town with a striking cemetery and valley views.
• Bou Noura (M'zab valley)
  The smallest town of the valley, perched on a rocky outcrop.

Must-Haves

• Beni Isguen auction market (Beni Isguen)
  An afternoon auction where a crier sells goods around the square.

Must-Haves

• Sidi Brahim Mosque (El Atteuf)
  A gem of sculpted, simple architecture that inspired Le Corbusier.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ksar Tafilelt (Beni Isguen)
  A modern eco ksar built by residents using traditional design.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Palm groves of the M'zab (M'zab valley)
  Shaded date gardens with old wells and irrigation channels.

Must-Haves

• M'zab carpet shops (Ghardaia)
  Woollen carpets woven in strong geometric patterns.

Must-Haves

• Tassili n'Ajjer National Park (Djanet)
  A UNESCO listed plateau of stone forests and prehistoric rock art.
• Tadrart Rouge (South of Djanet)
  Red dunes, sandstone towers and some of the finest engravings in the Sahara.

Fun for Everyone

• Erg Admer (Near Djanet)
  Golden dunes close to town, ideal for a first night under the stars.

Off the Beaten Path

• Essendilene gorge (Near Djanet)
  A canyon with pools and greenery hidden in the desert.
• Tamrit cypresses (Tassili plateau)
  Ancient Saharan cypress trees thousands of years old.

Must-Haves

• Sefar (Tassili plateau)
  A vast painted rock city reached on foot, the jewel of the Tassili.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jabbaren (Tassili plateau)
  Famous painted shelters full of giant figures on the high plateau.
• Crying Cows of Terarart (Near Djanet)
  A famous rock engraving of cattle that appear to weep.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ksar El Mihan (Djanet)
  The old mud brick quarter on a hill above the palm groves.

Must-Haves

• Sebiba festival (Djanet)
  A Tuareg ceremony of drums, song and dance held around Ashura.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Djanet market (Djanet)
  Tuareg silver jewellery, leather and spices in the town centre.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Tuareg tea and bread under the stars (Tadrart Rouge)
  Taguella bread baked in the sand, the classic desert meal on any trek.