Things to Do in Algiers: 10 Must-Sees in the White City

Algiers takes a little earning. Seen from the sea, it rises in tiers of white houses above its bay, hence the nickname Algiers the White. Inside, it is a stack of eras: Ottoman in the Casbah, Haussmann-style along the waterfront, contemporary with its giant new mosque.

Here are the real must-sees, a 2-day itinerary that holds up, and my tips for not going in circles in the Casbah.

The Casbah, historic heart

The Casbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the soul of Algiers. It is a steeply pitched old town, a maze of stepped alleys packed with Moorish houses, Ottoman palaces and centuries-old mosques. You climb from the sea up to the Citadel, the former palace of the Dey at the very top.

Not to miss on the way: the Ketchaoua Mosque with its commanding facade, built in the 17th century under Ottoman rule, the Palais des Raïs (Bastion 23) facing the sea, and the Sidi Ramdane Mosque, one of the oldest. The Café Malakoff, a witness to the birth of chaabi music, has reopened recently and makes a fine stop for a tea.

My honest advice: take a local guide. They know the alleys, open the doors of private houses you would never see alone, and spare you the touts. The Casbah climbs, so bring good shoes and water.

The monuments not to miss

Beyond the Casbah, three sites dominate the city, literally and figuratively.

Notre-Dame d’Afrique

This basilica perched on a cliff in northern Algiers, completed in 1872, looks out over the Mediterranean. A detail that says a lot about the city: an inscription in the apse asks for prayers “for us and for the Muslims”. The view over the bay from the forecourt is worth the climb on its own.

The Martyrs’ Memorial

The Maqam Echahid, three concrete palm fronds rising to 92 metres, has overlooked the city since 1982 in tribute to the fighters of independence. Below it sit an army museum and an esplanade with one of the best views of Algiers. You reach it by the cable car from the Jardin d’Essai, a cheap and scenic ride.

Martyrs’ Square and the seafront

Martyrs’ Square, at the foot of the Casbah, is the popular lung of the city. From there, the walk along the seafront and its white arcades, a legacy of 19th-century architecture, is perfect in the late afternoon.

The Jardin d’Essai and the museums

The Jardin d’Essai du Hamma, created in 1832, is one of the finest botanical gardens in Africa. Its avenue of ficus and palm trees served as a backdrop for the first Tarzan films in the 1930s. It is the ideal spot to catch your breath for an hour between visits.

Right next door, the National Museum of Fine Arts holds a remarkable collection. For history and folk arts, the Bardo Museum and the National Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, in the Casbah, are worth a detour. The latter opens daily from 10am to 6pm, except Friday.

The Great Mosque of Algiers

You cannot miss it. Djamaa El Djazaïr, opened in 2019 on the seafront, is the largest mosque in Africa and the third largest in the world. Its minaret of 265 metres is the tallest in the world, fitted with lifts and an observation deck that opens onto a unique panorama of the bay. The prayer hall and esplanade impress by their sheer scale. Visiting the areas open to the public is free, with appropriate dress required.

Where to stay in Algiers

The area counts for more than the name on the door. My markers by traveller type:

• The centre (Didouche-Mourad street, Audin Square): everything on foot, life and cafes at all hours. The best choice for a first time.
• The seafront and Hydra: quieter and residential, good if you want calm, a little further from the buzz.
• Near the Casbah: for the historic atmosphere, but car access is limited, and the taxi drops you at the nearest gate.

Avoid staying too far from the centre: the traffic in Algiers is serious and taxi journeys stretch fast at rush hour.

Things to do in Algiers in 2 days

Here is an itinerary that covers the essentials without rushing.

Day trips around Algiers

Algiers is a good base. Two day trips genuinely earn their place:

• Tipasa, an hour to the west: a UNESCO-listed Roman site set against the sea. One of the most beautiful archaeological panoramas in the Mediterranean, for a tiny ticket.
• The west-coast beaches and Cherchell, a former Roman capital, to extend the day away from the city.

Where and what to eat in Algiers

Algiers eats well and cheaply if you know where to look. Near the old fishing port below the Casbah, the seafront eateries grill the morning’s catch, a fried-fish lunch with bread and salad being the classic order. In the centre, around Didouche-Mourad, cafes and small restaurants serve the everyday staples.

Dishes worth seeking out: chakhchoukha, torn flatbread in a spiced tomato and lamb sauce, dolma, stuffed vegetables, and on Fridays a proper couscous. For something quick, the street sells karantika and filled sandwiches. Finish with makroud, a semolina and date sweet, and a mint tea on a rooftop facing the bay. Most local places are cash only, so keep small notes on you.

Getting around Algiers

The city has a genuinely useful public network. A single metro line runs under the centre, several tram lines cover the eastern districts, and a ticket costs around 0.20 euro. The two cable cars are part of daily transport as much as sightseeing, climbing from the seafront to the heights for a few cents.

For door-to-door trips, the Yassir ride-hailing app shows the fare before you ride and spares you the haggling that comes with street taxis near the sights. Plan around the traffic, which is heavy at rush hour: aim for morning visits and a late lunch. And keep GPS on in the Casbah, where the stepped alleys defeat most first-timers.

Planning your visit and staying connected

In the maze of the Casbah, GPS becomes your best ally for not going in circles. An active connection also helps you hail a taxi by app, check a museum’s opening hours and share your photos of the bay as you go.

Rather than hunting for a local SIM card on arrival, with its share of paperwork, set up an eSIM for Algeria before you leave. You are connected the moment you land, on the local 4G/5G network. Thanks to Orange’s roaming agreements, your phone links to partner Algerian networks with nothing to set up.

With Orange, the service trusted by more than 300 million customers, you explore Algiers with an easy mind: 200+ destinations, 24/7 support, and 100% refunded if you do not use your eSIM.