Stand on the Passerelle Slimane Mellah and the Rhummel gorge opens beneath you, the city stacked on both rims and the bridge swaying slightly under your feet. That single crossing explains Constantine better than any description: a city built across a ravine, held together by bridges.
Constantine suits travellers who like their cities vertical and a little rough at the edges, who are happy to walk between viewpoints and old quarters rather than tick off museums. It rewards time spent on foot and on the bridges themselves.
This guide covers the bridges and viewpoints, the historic buildings and religious sites in and around the city centre, and a one-day route that strings them together.
Top things to do in Constantine
1. Sidi M'Cid Bridge (Pont Sidi M'Cid)
Also called Gantaret El Hibal, this suspension bridge spans the gorge and held the record as the highest bridge in the world at 175 m until 1929. It is open around the clock and free to cross, and the crossing itself is the attraction.
Go for the view along the gorge rather than the destination on the far side, and pair it with the Passerelle Slimane Mellah, which is within the same stretch of the city centre. The source notes it as a place for a bungee jump.
2. Passerelle Slimane Mellah
A foot bridge connecting the old town with the train and bus station on the other side, with stunning views of the gorge. It wobbles when people set foot on it, which is part of the experience.
Entry from the old city is through a building with a staircase, so look for the stairway rather than a bridge approach. Cross it as part of a walk between the old town and the station.
3. Bab El Kantra Bridge
One of the city centre bridges and a pedestrian crossing with great views. It is one of the eight bridges the city is known for.
Combine it with the other city centre bridges in a single walk, since they sit close together over the ravine.
4. Salah Bey Viaduct
A futuristic looking viaduct crossing the Rhummel gorge, often considered the "eighth wonder" in a city with seven bridges. Its scale makes it a landmark in its own right.
Treat it as a viewpoint and a piece of engineering rather than a route, and see it in the same outing as the city centre bridges.
5. Palace of Ahmed Bey
The palace of Ahmed Bey, listed among the city's principal sights. It is one of the historic buildings worth giving proper time to.
Pair it with the Casbah, since both belong to the old city rather than the modern centre.
6. The Casbah
The old quarter of Constantine, listed among the city's sights. It is the part of town where the historic fabric and the gorge setting meet.
Walk it in combination with the Passerelle Slimane Mellah, whose entry from the old city is through a building with a staircase.
7. Emir Abdel Kader University & Mosque
A university and mosque listed among the city's sights. It is one of the religious and institutional landmarks in Constantine.
Note that the source also lists a separate Emir Abd Elkader Mosque, a large mosque and park to the south of the city centre, so check which one you are heading for before you set out.
8. Emir Abd Elkader Mosque
A large mosque with a park to the south of the city centre. The park setting makes it a different kind of stop from the gorge-side sights.
Combine the mosque and its park in one visit, since they are described together.
9. Ben-Badis Mosque
A mosque listed among the city's sights. It is one of the religious buildings in Constantine worth including in a walking route.
Fit it into the same stretch of walking as the other central sights rather than making a separate trip.
10. Gustave Mercier Museum
A museum with displays of ancient and modern art. It is the main indoor stop for art in the city.
Use it as a break from walking the bridges and the old town, and pair it with the nearby central sights.
11. Théâtre Régional de Constantine Mohamed Tahar Fergani
The city's regional theatre, listed among the sights of Constantine. It is a cultural stop rather than a viewpoint.
Include it on a city centre walk rather than as a standalone outing.
12. Bois de la Légion d'Honneur
A large park in the city. After the bridges and the old quarter, it is the place to slow down.
Pair it with the Emir Abd Elkader Mosque and its park if you are heading south of the centre.
13. Ruins of the Antonian Roman aqueduct
The remains of the Roman aqueduct at Constantine, listed among the city's sights. It is a reminder of how long the site has been engineered.
Combine it with the other Roman-era interest in the area rather than visiting it alone.
14. Soumma Mausoleum (Khroub)
A mausoleum at Khroub, listed among the sights around Constantine. It sits outside the city centre.
Treat it as part of an excursion beyond the city, alongside the Roman city of Tiddis and the megalithic monuments and burial grounds at Djebel Mazala Salluste.
15. Roman city of Tiddis and Djebel Mazala Salluste
Nearby are the Roman city of Tiddis and the megalithic monuments and burial grounds at Djebel Mazala Salluste. These are the day-trip sights beyond Constantine itself.
Group them with the Soumma Mausoleum at Khroub, since all of them lie outside the city centre.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start on the bridges while the light is clear. Cross Sidi M'Cid Bridge (Pont Sidi M'Cid) for the gorge view, then walk the Passerelle Slimane Mellah between the old town and the station, entering from the old city through the building with the staircase. Add Bab El Kantra Bridge and the city centre bridges while you are in the same stretch.
Afternoon. Move into the old city for the Casbah and the Palace of Ahmed Bey, then take in the Gustave Mercier Museum, Ben-Badis Mosque and the Théâtre Régional de Constantine Mohamed Tahar Fergani on a single central walk. If time allows, see the Salah Bey Viaduct crossing the Rhummel gorge.
Evening. End at the Emir Abd Elkader Mosque and its park to the south of the city centre, or at the Bois de la Légion d'Honneur if you would rather finish in a large park.
Frequently asked questions
How many bridges does Constantine have?
The city is famous for eight bridges, one of which is the Devil's Bridge, described as nothing more than a thin piece of wood. The Salah Bey Viaduct is often considered the "eighth wonder" in a city with seven bridges.
Which bridge has the best views?
The Passerelle Slimane Mellah has stunning views of the gorge, and the pedestrian Bab El Kantra Bridge also has great views. Sidi M'Cid Bridge (Pont Sidi M'Cid) is the one that held the record as the highest bridge in the world at 175 m until 1929.
Is there anything worth seeing outside the city?
Yes. Nearby are the Roman city of Tiddis and the megalithic monuments and burial grounds at Djebel Mazala Salluste, and the Soumma Mausoleum at Khroub is also listed.
Are there parks in Constantine?
The Bois de la Légion d'Honneur is a large park, and the Emir Abd Elkader Mosque has a park to the south of the city centre.
Start with the bridges, pick your day for the old city and the museums, and build the rest of the trip around what you find on the rims of the gorge.