Stand on the terrace at the Martyrs' Memorial and the whole sweep of the city falls away below you: whitewashed blocks stepping down to the Bay of Algiers, the harbour, and the long curve of the coast. It is the clearest introduction you will get to a capital that layers Ottoman, French and Algerian history into a single skyline.
Algiers suits travellers who are comfortable with a city that rewards wandering rather than ticking off a checklist. The historic Casbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the anchor, but the museums, the neo-Moorish streets of the French-built centre and the waterfront all earn their own time.
This guide covers the sights named in our source material, ordered so the strongest come first, plus a one-day route that strings them together.
Top things to do in Algiers
1. Martyrs' Memorial (Maqam Echahid)
An iconic concrete monument in the city centre commemorating the Algerian war for independence. In the basement there is an exhibition about the independence war, essentially a display of the various kinds of arms the rebels used.
Pair the monument with the memorial's basement exhibition while you are there, so the structure and the history behind it are read together.
2. Casbah
The Casbah is the ancient city, dating to the 17th century, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features traditional Algerian, Ottoman and Andalusian architecture, and it is the part of Algiers that most repays slow walking.
Several of the city's historic mosques and the Palace of the Dey sit inside it, so plan the Casbah as a single half-day rather than a quick stop.
3. Ketchaoua Mosque
Built in 1794 by the Dey Baba Hassan, this is one of the landmarks of the Casbah.
Visit it as part of your walk through the Casbah rather than as a separate trip.
4. El Djedid Mosque
Built in 1660 during the Turk reign, El Djedid Mosque is another of the Casbah's historic places of worship.
Combine it with the Ketchaoua Mosque and the El Barani Mosque in one circuit of the old city.
5. El Barani Mosque
Built by the Ottomans in 1653, the El Barani Mosque is named in the Casbah section of our source material.
It sits naturally on the same Casbah route as the other two mosques.
6. Palace of the Dey
Also known as Algiers Castle, this is an Ottoman-era palace on Boulevard Mohamed Taleb in the Casbah. Completed in the 16th century, it was settled by successive deys of the city.
The palace can be visited: you get the chance to walk through the house of a dey and enjoy all the luxury accommodations. It is open 08:30-16:00.
7. National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers
At 178, Place Dar Essalem, this is one of the largest arts museums in Africa, with over 8,000 works including paintings, drawings, engravings and old prints, sculptures, old furniture and decorative art, ceramics, glassware, and a numismatic collection. It features both Dutch and French masters as well as emblematic Algerian artists such as Baya, Yellès and Racim.
Opening hours are Sat, Mon-Wed 09:00-18:00 and Thu 09:00-17:00, and it is closed on Sunday. Entry is DA200.
8. Djamaa el Djazaïr (Great Mosque of Algiers)
A large mosque with the tallest minaret in the world, built in 2012 and the third-largest mosque in the world.
Anyone is allowed in during prayer times, both for prayer or visiting.
9. Jardin d'essais of el-hamma
The Jardin d'essai is reached by taking any station on the main metro line and getting out at Jardin D'essai metro station.
It is open 09:00-16:00 and entry is DA150.
10. Basilica of Our Lady of Africa
A Catholic basilica completed in 1872.
It is one of the city's named religious landmarks and makes a natural stop on a wider circuit of the historic sites.
11. Bardo National Museum
The Bardo National Museum is listed among the city's museums in our source material.
Group it with the other museums on your list rather than treating each as a separate outing.
12. National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art
This museum is named in the See section of our source material.
It pairs well with the Bardo National Museum and the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions if you are giving a day over to collections.
13. Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions
Listed among the city's museums, this one focuses on popular arts and traditions.
It fits neatly into a museum-focused stretch of your trip.
14. Museum of Modern Art of Algiers
The Museum of Modern Art of Algiers is named in our source material as one of the city's museums.
Set it alongside the National Museum of Fine Arts if modern and contemporary work is your priority.
15. Grande Poste d'Alger
A masterpiece of neo-Moorish architecture built in 1910 by the French.
It is a building to look at rather than a place to spend an afternoon, so fold it into a walk through the French-built section of the city.
16. Palais des Raïs
A classified historical monument. Entry is DA200.
It is a short, contained visit that works well as a stop between other sights.
17. Ali la Pointe Museum
The Ali la Pointe Museum is named in the Casbah section of our source material.
Add it to your Casbah route so you are not making a separate journey back into the old city.
18. Sacred Heart Cathedral
A Catholic cathedral in Sidi M'Hamed, completed in 1956. Entry is free.
It is an easy addition to a day that already includes the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa.
19. Sablette
Taking a stroll along the beach promenade and park at Sablette is a popular family activity.
Save it for the end of the day, when a walk by the water is the natural way to close things out.
20. Marina Palm
Marina Palm is a beach club, listed under the beaches in our source material.
It is the kind of stop to keep for a slower day rather than squeezing between museum visits.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Martyrs' Memorial (Maqam Echahid) in the city centre, including the basement exhibition on the independence war. From there, move into the Casbah and walk its lanes, taking in the Ketchaoua Mosque, the El Djedid Mosque and the El Barani Mosque, then visit the Palace of the Dey on Boulevard Mohamed Taleb, which is open 08:30-16:00.
Afternoon: Head to the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers at 178, Place Dar Essalem, open Sat and Mon-Wed 09:00-18:00 and Thu 09:00-17:00, closed Sunday. If time allows, add the Djamaa el Djazaïr (Great Mosque of Algiers), where anyone is allowed in during prayer times, for prayer or visiting.
Evening: Finish with a stroll along the beach promenade and park at Sablette, a popular family activity and a calm way to end the day by the water.
Frequently asked questions
When is the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers open?
It is open Sat and Mon-Wed 09:00-18:00 and Thu 09:00-17:00, and closed on Sunday. Entry is DA200.
Can non-Muslims visit the Djamaa el Djazaïr?
Anyone is allowed in during prayer times, both for prayer or visiting.
How do I reach the Jardin d'essais of el-hamma?
Take any station on the main metro line and get out at Jardin D'essai metro station. It is open 09:00-16:00 and entry is DA150.
What are the opening hours of the Palace of the Dey?
The Palace of the Dey, also known as Algiers Castle, is open 08:30-16:00. It sits inside the Casbah on Boulevard Mohamed Taleb.
Pick your dates, decide how many of the Casbah's mosques and museums you want to fit in, and start building your days around the places above.