Explore Best Tourist Places in Algiers

About Algiers

Algiers is the capital city in Algeria and has an estimated population of around 3500000 founded by the Ottomans and is rife with history and beautiful architecture. The ancient Casbah is a winding urban maze, with streets flowing through the old town like streams. Also worth exploring is the Dar Hassan Pacha, & which was once the most decadent mansion in the city. The city of Algiers offers visitors from the west a stark and beautiful contrast and an intriguing glimpse into the past, present, & future of Algeria.

Overlooking a scenic bay, the Mediterranean port city of Algiers enthralls visitors with its imposing skyline, a blend of French colonial buildings, run-down high rises, and white-washed Islamic architecture nestled on the hillside. The crown jewel in the glimmering cityscape, the walled Kasbah, reveals a labyrinth of narrow, sloping lanes flanked by old houses and mosques. Algiers boasts modern amenities, quality restaurants, beaches, and a sweeping seaside promenade.

On an Algiers vacation, tourists can delve into the country's rich history on a tour of the city's museums & impressive buildings or take scenic coastal drives and explore nearby beaches.

Tourist Attractions In Algiers : 16

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1: Casbah

Casbah is an ancient part of Algiers that is built on a hill overlooking modern Algiers. This part of the city dates back to the 17th century, founded on the ruins of old Icosium. The Casbah is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional architecture and is also home to the Casbah Palace, which is well worth visiting. The palace was built in 1791 and named after the Princess Aziza Bent Dey and is a beautiful, white palace with a courtyard, numerous terraces and a spectacular grand staircase. Today the Casbah is fine to walk around, but with extreme caution to personal belongings and mostly avoid trolling at night.

2: National Museum Of Antiquities

This museum showcases the richness of Algeria’s heritage. The National Museum of Antiquities really takes visitors back in time, as it displays numerous ancient relics that tell the story of the country’s ancient times. These include ivory carvings, Libyan period totemic warriors and an impressive coin collection. The collection of antiquities is drawn from sites around the city and throughout Algeria. There is sculpture from Cherchell and mosaics from Tipaza, a room of bronzes including a wonderful fragment of a horse’s leg and hoof, and an extraordinary 3rd century figure of a chubby child holding an eagle to its chest.

3: Dar Hassan Pacha

Dar Hassan Pacha is one of the city's grandest mansions. The building houses a collection Of manuscripts and calligraphy by artists from across North Africa and the Middle East. Hassan Pacha was the ruler of Algiers and a man with a sense of purpose in 1795 he concluded a peace treaty with the fledgling USA guaranteeing their ships safe passage in Algieria’s waters. He began his palace on the edge of the Casbah, but away from the waterside, which was vulnerable and damp in winter.

4: Bardo Museum

The Bardo Museum focuses on the prehistory of Algeria and is one of the best museums in Algiers. The collection is well displayed with videos, models and excellent diagrams and information panels to reveal how the climate and environment of the region have changed over the years and its affect on human and wildlife development. There are plenty of fossils, rock carvings, Neolithic pottery and examples of Neanderthal paintings from the Sahara.

5: Palais Des Rais

This palace is in a row of several large waterfront houses which was joined to form a single compound. It is home to the Art & Cultural Centre, which hosts some excellent art and photographic exhibitions as well as performing arts just as much pleasure can be had simply by exploring such a grand, medieval period mansion. The main building was constructed around 1798 by the Dey Mustapha Pacha who also used it as one of his residences.

6: Grand Post Office

Algiers’s main post office is an omissible piece of living history and a fine example of French design of the early 20th century Moorish architecture. It is possibly the world’s most exquisitely decorated post box. At present it is closed for tourists and is in the process of being converted into a museum and is expected to reopen sometime in 2018.

7: Museum Of Popular Arts & Traditions

This is the most accessible museum one can visit in the Casbah and is housed in a fine example of an Ottoman period town house, which follows the classic town house plan. It has an entrance leading to an inner hall and a staircase up to the principal rooms. The museum contains fascinating collections of traditional Algerian arts and crafts.

8: Botanical Garden

The Botanical Gardens in Algiers are known locally as the Jardin d'Essai du Hamma. These bay side botanical gardens date to the first years of French occupation and today they are a sprawling natural hothouse. It's a place of outstanding beauty with avenues of palms and stands of exotic trees. Established in 1832, this garden is said to be the oldest of its kind in Algeria and is one of the capital's top attraction. Divided into a French garden, English garden and zoo area, there's plenty to see and do here with thousands of plant and animal species

9: Djemaa Mosque

The Djemaa el-Djedid Mosque is an extremely unique mosque, as it mixes a variety of architectural styles in its design. Its exact date of construction is not known, but it's estimated as being around the beginning of the 17th century. Today, the Djemaa el-Djedid Mosque is an exquisite example of Turkish, Italian and Andalusia architecture, as well as its original medieval design. It is a spectacular building that features vaults, domes, columns and wood finishes and all of them are perfectly designed.

10: Djemma Ali Bitchine

The Djemma Ali Bitchine is a mosque with an unusual domed design clearly influenced by Italian or Byzantine churches and dates to 1622. This mosque was once used as a church during the French occupation, when it was known as Notre Dame des Victoires. The minaret was destroyed towards the end of the 19th century and the building was reclaimed as a mosque in 1962.

11: Djemaa El-kebir

This Grand Mosque has ancient heritage and is built on a rise above the inner port where early Berber and Phoenician inhabitants built a place of prayer. This mosque was later turned into a temple by the Romans which were then converted into a Christian basilica and in the 11th century it was again torn down and replaced by the mosque, which has been much altered and enlarged after since. Inside the five doors the prayer hall is supported by rows of columns and contains a cedar wood minbar which carries an inscription, the niche indicating the direction of Mecca, was constructed in 1097 AD.

12: Maqam Echahid

It is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city and celebrates the sacrifice of the unknown martyr who fell for his country. Constructed by the Canadians in the early 1980s the monument is made up of three massive concrete palm fronds that goes to a height of 92 mts into the sky, representing the coming together of agriculture, culture and industry which together will make independent Algeria great.

13: Museum National Du Moudjahid

This museum sits directly beneath the Makam Echahid and aims to collect preserve and display objects and memories of the struggle against colonialism. The exhibition starts with the story of the French invasion of 1830 and later focuses on the struggle from the uprising in Setif, Constantine and Guelma in 1944 to Independence Day in July 1962. All the information is in Arabic but the meaning of the exhibits is easy to understand.

14: Museum Des Beaux Arts

The Museum houses the best collection of art in the country and traces the progress of European and particularly French art from the 16th century, starting with Barnaba di Modena, passing through the neo classicists such as David and Delacroix, Orientalists including Fromentin, and a Renoir painted during the artist’s visit in 1882. A sizeable collection of work by local and international artists is also present here.

15: Dar Aziza Bent El-bey

Aziza may have been a daughter of the bey of Constantine, who built the sumptuous Dar Aziza for her. Its whitewashed facade hides one of the most gorgeous of Algiers’ grand houses. The tile work is especially impressive. Dar Aziza houses the office of the National Archaeology Agency and it's possible to visit the courtyard in normal working hours though photography is not allowed.

16: Notre Dame De Afrique

One of the city's most famous buildings, this Catholic basilica still celebrates mass at 6:00 pm daily, despite its dwindling flock. Its striking neo Byzantine architecture and freshly restored more is more interior are matched by amazing views out to sea and across the capital.

How To Reach Algiers

By Air - Houari Boumediene Airport is located 20 kms southeast of Algiers the airport is named after former Algerian president Houari Boumediene. The terminal building is rather modern and relatively hassle free, comparable to airports in southern Europe. The airport is the home base of the flag carrier Air Algerie.

By Train - Algiers Central Train Station is located near the city centre. The station offers regular services to major Algerian cities such as Oran, Annaba, and Constantine. SNTF has made big improvements during the last years new air conditioned trains have been purchased and new routes launched.

By Car - Being the capital of the country most, if not all major roadways in Algeria begin and end in Algiers. So getting into Algiers is quite easy. However, the infrastructure of Algerian roadways is not highly regarded so arriving by road might not be the most desirable option. There are a number of road projects around the country that are aimed at improving the infrastructure, most notably the Eastwest highway running from Annaba in the east to Oran in the west, of course coming through Algiers.

By Bus - La Gare Routiere, Algiers's central bus terminus, located in the commune of Hussein Dey, offers a plethora of bus services to most major Algerian cities and towns. It is a very cheap and efficient way to get to and from a pair of Algerian cities. Most of the coaches used are modern and air conditioned so the rides are, more often than not, comfortable.

By Boat - There are regular ferry services to Algiers from Marseille, Nice, Palermo and Alicante.

Traditional Food (Regional cusine of Algiers)

1 - TAJ MAHAL BEN AKNOUN, AT 07 RUE LDIR TOUMI BEN AKNOUN ALGER - (FAMOUS FOR BIRYANI CHICKEN & KARAHA CHICKEN)

2 - BAD BUNS, AT 6 CHEMIN SIDI YAHIA, HYDRA - (FAMOUS FOR BURGERS WITH DIFFERENT CHIPS)

3 - TOUAREG, AT 05, RUE MOHAMED DJEMAA KHEIDAR(CHEMIN MAKLEY - (FAMOUS FOR COUSCOUS IS A DISH MADE FROM SEMOLINA TOPPED WITH MEAT, VEGETABLES, AND VARIOUS SPICES)

4 - MILK BAR, AT RUE LARBI BEN M'HIDI - (FAMOUS FOR COFFEE, FRUIT JUICES AND PASTRIES)

5 - SALAD BOX, AT BOULEVARD DU 11 DECEMBRE 1960, EL BIAR - [FAMOUS FOR CESAR SALAD MADE FROM LETTUCE, MOZZARELLA(CHEESE), BOILED EGGS, CUCUMBER, CROUTON]

6 - ALGIERS - [FAMOUS FOR CHAKCHOUKA IS A DISH OF EGGS POACHED IN A SAUCE OF TOMATOES, CHILI PEPPERS AND ONIONS OFTEN SPICED WITH CUMIN ; SAHALAB IS A BEVERAGE MADE FROM MILK, PISTACHIOS, CORNSTARCH AND COCONUT ; MECHOUI IS A ROASTED WHOLE LAMB, BANADURA SALATA B'KIZBARA (TOMATO AND CORIANDER SALAD) ; LHAM LAHLOU (ALGERIAN LAMB AND DRIED FRUIT TAGINE)]

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Weekend In Sétif

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Updated 3 Apr 2018

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Published on: 2018-04-03 12:02:39

The Algerian Circuits

Price: € 400/person