Algeria is the largest country in Africa and without a doubt, one of the most underrated countries on this continent.
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Updated in Jan 2024
There are plenty of amazing places to visit in Algeria, so how come this country sees a lot fewer tourists than the neighbouring countries of Tunisia and Morocco?
Well, most visitors need to obtain a tourist visa for Algeria from their embassy beforehand (although there have been rumours about EVisa launching one day).
But this should not stop you from putting Algeria on your bucket list. From gorgeous coastal cities with incredible architecture and ancient Roman sites to desert villages, Algeria will surprise you!
Here are 8 Amazing Places to Visit in Algeria
Table of Contents
1. Oran
Oran brings a lot of charm! The city is known for its laid-back lifestyle, and stunning French-inspired architecture and it is also the birthplace of rai music. You would have heard the most iconic song of this style by Cheb Khaled – Aicha. So catchy,
Honestly, you could wander the streets of Oran for hours and admire the beauty.
Sacred Heart Cathedral of Oran is a must-see when exploring Oran and the views over the city from the Fortaleza Santa Cruz – Ottoman style.
We loved Oran so much that we wrote a specific guide to this beautiful city.
2. Constantine
The city of bridges, Constantine is one of the most amazing places to visit in Algeria. The city’s setting is simply gorgeous, at the centre of it, the diamond-shaped plateau.
Bridges connect the city across the ditch, the most beautiful one is the Sidi M’Cid Bridge. Once upon a time, this used to be the highest suspension bridge in the world. You can spend 2 days walking around the city and admiring it from different view points.
We highly recommend reserving a space on this Best of Constantine City Tour.
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3. Algiers
The capital city of Algeria is a bustling place sometimes called the white city. At the centre is the Unesco-listed old Kasbah (medina) with the incredible old home turned into a museum – Dar Hassan Pasha. The Kasbah is a real maze and you can easily get lost here snapping photos of the crumbling houses and cats.
The best way to explore Algiers is to book this City Tour with a knowledgeable guide.
But there is more! Botanical Garden Hamma with the view of the Monument of the Martyr and then the largest church, the Church of Notre Dame of Africa ((Basilique Notre-Dame d’Afrique).
And Algiers has some amazing cafes and restaurants. So if you love good food, this is one of the best places to visit in Algeria for authentic Algerian food.
4. Ghardaia
They say you haven’t seen Algeria unless you go south. Well, there is the south (more like the centre) and then the real south, but Ghardaia is definitely one of the places to visit in Algeria.
Ghardaia is a fortified town with white and red houses. Set in the M’zab Valley, it actually consists of 5 towns (some say 7) built almost 1000 years ago. Each city has its own social hierarchy to ensure stability and prosperity for each citizen. The houses have an unusual design, with a window in the roof to ensure sunlight throughout the day.
One of the most unique places to visit in Algeria is the town of Beni Isguen, where the women, dressed entirely in white, reveal only one eye to the outside world.
5. Djanet
Whenever you ask Algerians, where you should visit in the Sahara, most of them say Djanet. This unique settlement of small villages clustered together surrounding a spectacular oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert feels like another planet.
Visiting here means getting down to the basics, camping in the desert with a million stars at night. The local people here take pride in their traditional music and dancing, as well as artists and craftsmen. The Tassili N’Ajjer rock paintings are a must-see sight.
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6. Timimoun
Another exceptional place to visit in Algeria is Timimoun. This is a dusty city famous for its red-mud buildings set around a huge oasis with jaw-dropping views of the sand dunes and salt lake that surrounds the city.
On the town’s streets, you’ll meet Berbers, Haratines and merchants from Mali. Another gem on our list of amazing places to visit in Algeria.
7. Timgad
There are three incredible places to visit in Algeria if you like Roman Ruins: Djemila, Timgad and Tipasa.
Timgad was built around the 1st century by the Roman Emperor Trajan and it offers one of the best examples of Roman town planning and the layout of ancient Roman settlements. The highlight is the 12m high triumphal sandstone arch, theatre and basilica.
The city was added to UNESCO’s world heritage list in 1982.
8. Djemila
A real competition to Timgad, Djemila offers a completely different setting. Built as a city to house retired Roman soldiers, this Roman settlement was built around green mountains.
Djemila city, formerly known as Cuicul, includes a theatre, historical market, temples, basilicas and some houses.
The museum here has a miniature layout of the city so you can appreciate the city’s design before you visit. There are also some amazing mosaics here that were excavated from the ruins to protect them from further damage.
Recommended Experience – Djemila Roman Ruins Authentic Tour
Travel Tips in Algeria
There are many other places worth seeing in Algeria. It could be the next destination for tourists to explore since it’s close to major European cities, just across the Mediterranean.
Don’t miss our post on 13 Essential Things to Know before you travel to Algeria.
And, the food is fantastic too! Check out our post – Food of Algeria – 10 Delicious Dishes to Try.
These are 8 amazing places to visit in Algeria based on our travels here, but if you have visited Algeria and have some other recommendations, let us know in the comments.
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11 Comments. Leave new
Thanks for sharing your adventure in Algeria, you are always welcome to my beautiful country. Hopefully next time you will get chance to visit the rest of the beautiful cities like bejaia, Jijel, Telemcen, Annaba, Skikda….
You should visit Ain Sefra and Béchar
Next time 😉 Algeria is such a huge country and there is so much to see! Hopefully, we can return and visit more places again in the future.
Thank you, we had such a fantastic time in Algeria. Your country is HUGE! Yes, hopefully, we can visit more places if we get the chance to visit again in the future.
Welcome ,thank you for your kind words about our country , our country is Ur country ☺️
I think you have visited the main cities of Algeria, but there are still others, like Tlemcen, which is to the west, not far from the Moroccan border, with its el meshouar palace which reminds a little of the Alhambra of Andalusia. There is Tamanrasset in southern Algeria, where you can climb L’Assekrem, which is part of the Ahaggar Cultural Park. The Assekrem is known to have housed the spiritual retreat of Father Charles de Foucauld. There is el kala in the east of Algeria, near the Tunisian border, where there is the national park of El kala, which is home to many lakes and a unique ecosystem in the Mediterranean basin. The park was classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1990. And there are still plenty of other cities.
Great write up guys….one of the best. Hope to be there soon.
Thanks, John. We wish you a fantastic time when you get there!
Great update! I’m in Algeria at the moment, and have been to all those places – apart from Timimoun, and just at the airport en route to Djanet! Agree with everything you say – such a great country, huge, with lovely people. I think you may have met Billel in Constantine – I did a tour with him and he mentioned you! I will check out the rest of your posts and destinations!
Hi Stephen,
Thanks so much for your message, and it’s great to hear that you’re enjoying your travels in Algeria. Yes, Bill was our guide in Constantine & Timgad – such a wonderful guide and person too.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your time over there! 🙂
Thank you for your honesty and integrity and good presentation of the reality of Algeria after Google presented Algeria in the worst way.( It is an unsafe country with no human rights and it is not safe to go there. )
شكرا1000مرة