Walk Through the Casbah and its Layered Streets
You arrive at the top of the Casbah and the city spreads down the slope toward the Mediterranean—a tangle of narrow streets, whitewashed houses stacked against each other, Ottoman doorways carved in wood and stone. This is the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that takes you through centuries without leaving the alley. The Casbah dates to the 17th century and contains some of Algiers' most significant buildings and a street pattern that rewards wandering.
Start at the Palace of the Dey, also known as Algiers Castle, which sits on Boulevard Mohamed Taleb inside the Casbah. The palace was completed in the 16th century and served successive deys through the Ottoman era. Walking through its rooms—with their arched courtyards and decorated tiles—gives you a sense of the luxury and power that once concentrated here. The palace opens at 08:30 and closes at 16:00.
As you move through the streets, you will encounter several mosques that mark the spiritual and architectural heart of the neighborhood. Ketchaoua Mosque was built in 1794 by the Dey Baba Hassan. El Djedid Mosque, constructed in 1660 during the Ottoman period, sits nearby. El Barani Mosque, completed by the Ottomans in 1653, represents another layer of the city's Islamic heritage. Each building shows how the Casbah absorbed and blended Ottoman, Andalusian, and North African traditions.
The Ali la Pointe Museum is also located within the Casbah, offering another window into the city's modern history.
Stand Before Monumental Architecture and Sacred Spaces
Algiers holds several buildings that command attention through scale and design. The Martyrs' Memorial, or Maqam Echahid, rises in the city center as an iconic concrete monument. It was built to commemorate the Algerian war for independence. In the basement, you will find an exhibition about the independence war that displays various weapons used by the rebels. The entrance fee is DA50.
The Grande Poste d'Alger is a masterpiece of neo-Moorish architecture built in 1910 by the French, and its facade alone justifies a visit. The Palais des Raïs is a classified historical monument with an entrance fee of DA200.
Two religious buildings represent different faiths and eras. The Djamaa el Djazaïr, also called the Great Mosque of Algiers, was built in 2012 and is the third-largest mosque in the world. Its minaret is the tallest in the world. You are allowed inside during prayer times, whether to pray or simply to visit. The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa is a Catholic basilica completed in 1872, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sidi M'Hamed was completed in 1956 and is free to enter.
Explore Art and History in the Museums
The National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers, located at 178 Place Dar Essalem, holds one of Africa's largest art collections with over 8,000 works. The museum is open Monday to Wednesday from 09:00 to 18:00, and Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00, and is closed Sunday. You will see paintings, drawings, engravings, old prints, sculptures, decorative art, ceramics, glassware, and numismatic collections. The works span both Dutch and French masters alongside emblematic Algerian artists such as Baya, Yellès and Racim. Admission is DA200.
Several other museums offer specialized collections:
- Bardo National Museum
- National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art
- Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions
- Museum of Modern Art of Algiers
Wander the Jardin d'essais of el-hamma and the Sablette Promenade
The Jardin d'essais of el-hamma is accessible by metro—take any station on the main line and exit at Jardin D'essai. The gardens open at 09:00 and close at 16:00, with an entrance fee of DA150. This is a place to step away from the dense city and experience planted green space that provides a different rhythm to your day.
Taking a stroll along the beach promenade and park at Sablette is a popular family activity, especially if you want to see how locals spend their time by the water.
Plan Your Visit
Algiers rewards a slow pace. The Casbah alone can occupy a full day if you move without hurry through its streets and step inside each mosque and palace. The museums are substantial—the National Museum of Fine Arts deserves several hours. If you visit during summer, the heat will guide your rhythm: start early in the Casbah, move to museums during the hottest hours, and return to the water or gardens in the late afternoon. The city's whitewashed buildings and layered history are best understood on foot, where you can see how Ottoman doorways give way to French colonial facades, and how the modern monuments sit beside the ancient street patterns. Begin planning your route now, and allow time to get lost in the narrow ways of the Casbah.