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Ultimate Guide to the Top Sights and Best Things to Do in Algeria (2022)
What to See and Why You Should Visit Algeria
If you’re wondering what to see and do in Algeria, you’ve come to the right place. This blog article is based on my firsthand experience visiting the country and will be a great travel guide if you’re considering taking a trip there.
This country is the second largest in Africa and has a long and remarkable history. There are some fantastic places to visit in Algeria, especially if you enjoy ancient historical sites like Roman ruins. In fact, the Roman ruins here are among the best places to visit in Algeria, and account for three of the country’s whopping seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Thankfully, the dry climate here has preserved these buildings quite well. They’re some of the best of their kind in North Africa, nicknamed “The Roman Coast” by some historians.
Keep reading for must-read information on how to see some of the best tourist attractions in Algeria.
What to Know Before You Arrive
Before we talk about what to do in Algeria, let’s address a few things you need to know about this country.
First, is it safe to travel to Algeria in 2022? On the whole, travel to Algeria to see its top tourist attractions is about as safe as visiting many other tourist destinations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By the way, as of 2022, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Algeria. If it’s been more than nine months since your last vaccine, you may also need to provide a negative PCR test before your travel.
You’ll probably want to avoid some border areas with neighboring countries. Check the latest travel advisory for details and travel requirements and restrictions.
As far as other entry requirements are concerned, you’ll need a passport valid for at least six months from the date of your entry to the country. Apply for a visa at least a couple of weeks in advance. The further in advance, the better, to be on the safe side. This is not the kind of country where you can wait until the last minute and just show up at the airport expecting to get a visa. Check with the Algerian embassy in your country for specific instructions.
As a tourist in Algeria, it can be challenging to get around on your own, especially if you do not speak French. I’d recommend getting help from local tour agencies and hotels as needed (some of them can also assist you in getting a visa) and trying to schedule as much of your itinerary in advance as possible. For example, FancYellow is a reputable local tour agency that can arrange many kinds of enjoyable day trips and multi-day trips in Algeria at reasonable rates.
Pick up a French phrasebook or download an app to your smartphone that has commonly used French words and phrases. This will help you to order meals in restaurants and get around with greater ease.
Here’s a short overview of what to do in Algeria to have an enjoyable and memorable trip, with a focus on ancient Roman history:
Overview of Algeria Itinerary
With 7 days for touring Algeria, you’ll have enough time to visit several of the country’s major cities. You don’t need too much time in Algiers—a couple of days should suffice.
Day 1: Arrive in Algiers.
Day 2: Travel from Algiers to Constantine via air or train, depending on your preference and seating availability. Sleep in Constantine.
Day 3: Explore Constantine. Drive to Djemila (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Setif. Sleep in Constantine.
Day 4: Visit Tiddis, Timgad (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Lambaesis. Sleep in Constantine.
Day 5: Explore Constantine, Guelma, Hammam Debagh, and Hippo Regius. Sleep in Annaba.
Day 6: Return to Algiers. Some of the best things to do in Algiers include visiting the Casbah (the Algiers Old Quarter and a UNESCO World Heritage Site), National Museum of Antiquities, and Bardo Museum.
Day 7: Visit Cherchell, Tipasa (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the Mauretanian Tomb. Sleep in Algiers and return home.
Now let’s explore this Algeria itinerary in greater detail.
In-Depth 7-Day Algeria Itinerary
Day 1: Algiers
Arrival in Algiers
Once you’ve arrived in Algiers, it may take a while to get through Customs. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait in line for an hour or so. You may have to fill out a card that has instructions written in French. If you don’t speak French, here’s a tip: check your passport information fields, some of which will be written in English and French side-by-side.
At the airport’s information desks, you may be hard-pressed to find people who are proficient in English. Black market money changers abound, but I’d recommend avoiding them and choosing to withdraw money from an ATM instead.
At one of the airport stores you can also buy a good SIM card for your phone to get Internet access and domestic calls at much cheaper rates than you would by roaming. This will definitely come in handy during the long drives from sight to sight!
Exit the airport, where you’ll find a line of taxis. Expect to haggle some with the drivers, who may attempt to overcharge you. Once you’ve come to an agreement on a mutually acceptable fee, head downtown to your lodging and enjoy the ride. It should take 20-30 minutes.
Check into your hotel and get a bite to eat. During my stay at City Hotel Alger, I found a pizzeria nearby where the staff asked me if I wanted to sit in the smoking section or the smoking section. So I chose the smoking section.
It’s probably taken you a long time to get here, so rest up. You’ll need to be refreshed for the next leg of your journey.
If you’re wondering what to do in Algiers, skip ahead to Day 6. I’d recommend saving the Algiers sightseeing for the back end of your trip. That will give you a larger safety margin before your flight home, just in case any unexpected difficulties arise that delay your return to Algiers.
Day 2: Travel to Constantine
Constantine is a must-see destination in Algeria. Depending on your preference, you can take a short domestic flight there (faster, up to 5 hours total, and a little more expensive) or ride the train (slower, up to 10 hours total, and a little cheaper).
When I visited, flights from Algiers to Constantine were sold out. It pays to book domestic flights in advance of your arrival if you prefer to travel by air. So I took the train.
First thing in the morning after my night in Algiers, I walked over to a counter at Agha Train Station and bought a first-class ticket to Constantine for about $12. This was excellent news, as I’d be able to make it on time for my pre-arranged Roman history tours.
I sat on a bench and waited for the train. Locals lit up and smoked. They were quite friendly and helpful when I asked about riding the train, though. They checked on the train arrival location for me and explained that I’d want to look out for the red carriage to find my first-class seat.
When the train arrived, I found that it had seen better days. This was an old train with ragged seats, scuffed up windows, dirty armrests, and dingy toilets. But at least it wasn’t anywhere close to being fully occupied. I could stretch out easily and put my bag on the opposite seat.
It’s a long train ride to Constantine, as much as 9 hours from Algiers. You’ll no doubt have many stops along the way. The views out the window can be quite nice, with green hills, olive trees, and gorges.
There may not be a dining car or coffee, but you may get a big bottle of water from one of the conductors and the chance to buy snacks from vendors who walk up and down the aisles.
Eventually your train will pull up to Gare Constantine. You can take a taxi from the train station to your next hotel. Just outside the station, you’ll notice a big statue of Roman Emperor Constantine and a wall-sized painting of the city as it looked under Roman rule.
If you’re staying downtown, you’re likely to pass a spectacular gorge with a few cable cars transiting it.
I took a cab for a couple dollars to the Ibis Hotel where I’d spend the next three nights. This was a very nice hotel, with a modern layout and reasonable rates.
If you’re staying nearby and need a meal, you can get one at Restaurant Concorde. If you need a haircut, try Coiffure Hommes.
Day 3: Constantine to Djemila and Setif
The Ibis Hotel offers an excellent spread for breakfast. If you’re staying there, take your pick from among scrambled eggs, bread, crepes, croissants, pastries, fruit, vegetables, French fry and egg pie (I did not know that was a thing prior to my visit), coffee, and juice.
After breakfast, visit the 700-meter bridge in Constantine.
Then proceed to the delightful Djemila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Djemila is a wonderfully well-preserved Roman city that was once called Cuicul. It was founded by Emperor Nerva in 96-98 AD.
A column-lined walkway leads to the Djemila Museum. There you’ll see a giant sculptured head of Emperor Septimius Severus. If you’re lucky, you’ll receive a guided tour from the curator or another member of the museum staff. They’ll take you around the museum’s array of models, mosaics, statues, and tools form the Roman period.
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The museum contains a series of mosaics, including the largest intact mosaic discovered so far in Algeria. You’ll see a wall-sized mosaic of Venus and Tritons. Another depicts Jupiter and Europa. One has Christian themes. Others show episodes from the life of Bacchus.
Then you’ll come to an impressive model of the city of Djemila from the 1st century AD when it was a Roman colony.
After you’ve finished exploring the museum, proceed to the Roman remains along a walkway lined by trees. Most of the construction here took place at the time of the Severan dynasty in the 3rd century AD.
The first sights include the Christian quarter, a basilica, and a baptistery. The remains of a few stone toilets and baths are here. Behind one door you’ll see an in-situ mosaic on the floor.
Make your way over to the fantastic theater. Rolling green hills and mountains frame it in the distance.
Then see the impressive Severan Forum, Severan Family Temple, and basilica. Corinthian columns line its front and the adjacent basilica.
You’ll see the Temple of Venus and then a place with altars that were once used for animal sacrifices. Just north of this temple are the forum and the capitol, which is dedicated to the town’s three main gods: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. The Temple of Jupiter has what remains of a giant statue of the god.
Further north along the cardo maximus (a road that runs north to south in a typical Roman city or town), you’ll see the Market of Cosinus, with fancy marble columns and a stone table for weighing.
Then walk south along the cardo maximus, past a market, nymphaeum, and the fantastic Arch of Caracalla.
Before you go, take a look at the big stone fountain, baths with still intact marble walls, large public latrine areas, and the House of Bacchus.
You can easily spend much of the remaining afternoon poring over the finds at Djemila, but if you finish early and like to see something else, consider hitting the road for the distant city of Setif. That’s what I did, but another hour or two at Djemila would have been time well spent.
En route, I stopped at a restaurant in Setif called Soumam, which served turkey kebabs, bread, fries, eggplant, and water quickly.
A gem in Setif is the National Museum of Archaeology. The museum features items from prehistoric, Numidian, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic times.
The highlight consists of two spectacular, giant, and intricate mosaics: one with a triumphal procession of Bacchus and the other of Venus bathing. The detail is remarkable. Bacchus rides in a chariot with a laurel crown held above his head by a woman. Tigers pull the chariot. The procession includes a lion, elephant, satyr, giraffe, camels, and slaves.
Other notable exhibits in the museum include stelae, a clay basin for bathing babies, millstones, and models of a bath and hippodrome. You’ll also see a sarcophagus, altars, assorted coins from the major historical periods, and several other mosaics.
Then return to Constantine. Once there, be sure to spend a few minutes visiting the remains of a big Roman aqueduct.
Day 4: Tiddis, Timgad, and Lambaesis
The Roman sights at Tiddis, Timgad, and Lambaesis are extraordinary, but be forewarned: seeing them all in one day is ambitious. You’ll have a long but enjoyable day that may last around 12 hours, much of this time dedicated to driving between these locations. The local police may send a security detail in a car to escort you for at least part of your journey.
Drive past scenic vistas with the Atlas Mountains and rolling hills of greenery and red soil.
Fewer than 30 kilometers to the northwest of Constantine, you’ll arrive at Tiddis.
Under Roman rule, it was called Castellum Tiditanorum. Tiddis was the hometown of Quintus Ummius Urbicus, a governor of Britain and driving force behind the building of the Antonine Wall in the 2nd century AD.
Your guide should escort you up the hill and through an arch dedicated to Memmius Rogatus.
At the site, visit the Sanctuary of Mithras, the Christian Chapel, the forum, and baths. From the top, you’ll look out over a beautiful landscape of hills and valleys, with a winding road snaking between them. It’s a grand setting. These words and the photos don’t do it justice.
Tiddis is worth about an hour of your time. On your way out, you can buy a souvenir like a postcard at the gift shop.
Then drive to your next destination at Timgad. It’ll be a long drive, roughly 4 hours. Before you explore the site, you might have lunch at Restaurant Chelia. There you can try the chorba soup (bread or wheat-based with vegetables), chicken, fries, and bread for a filling meal.
Local police may want to take a quick look at your passport before your sightseeing begins.
Then explore what remains of the vast Roman city of Timgad, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a superbly organized and largely intact city that Roman Emperor Trajan established in 100 AD. Later the Vandals conquered it. The forces of the Byzantine Empire (the eastern Roman Empire) under Solomon reconquered the city in 535 AD.
If you’re visiting late in the afternoon, you’ll probably be able to enjoy the ruins without the presence of large tourist groups.
The two main boulevards, the north-south cardo maximus and the east-west decumanus maximus, neatly divide the city into quadrants. You’ll find just about every part of a typical big Roman settlement here.
Pass the baths and museum. They looked closed and under reconstruction when I visited.
Proceed down the cardo maximus and see Timgad’s library. From here you will see a forest of columns. At the intersection of both main boulevards, you can enjoy a grand view of the entire site. When I visited, the columns here shone golden in the late afternoon light.
You’ll see a series of stone public latrines, an ancient but still functional well, and the forum. At the forum, you can still make out a Latin inscription that translates to “Hunting, Bathing, Playing, Smiling – This Is the Life.”
Nearby you’ll see slabs of rock with holes carved into them. About 2,000 years ago, players of this game would try to land pebbles into the holes.
Climb to the top of the theater and look out west toward the Arch of Trajan and distant mountains.
At the southern end of the site, you can see more of the baths. Many of their brick chambers are still in good shape. Some mosaic floors are still around too.
The capitolium occupies a hill in the southwest corner of the ruins. When I visited the clouds above were darkening, with an occasional ray of sunlight breaking through. It was a foreboding, mysterious, desolate atmosphere at times. Two of the capitolium’s massive columns still stood. Others had broken into fragments.
To the north of the capitolium, you’ll find the Market of Sertius. The market’s gray stone counters are still in good condition. My guide pretended to be an olive vendor and I a buyer purchasing them with sesterces.
To the west you’ll see some Donatist (a rebel sect) Christian buildings. Head north to see the dramatic Arch of Trajan up close. If you look down at the ground, you’ll see deep grooves cut into the stone road from ancient wheeled transportation vehicles.
Exit the site and feel free to use the facilities at a café and buy a souvenir at one of the stalls by the exit.
Then drive about 30 minutes to reach the last big sight of the day: Lambaesis. Exploring this area is worth another 30 minutes of your time.
Lambaesis was the core of the Roman military presence in North Africa, and headquarters of the 3rd August Legion. The Roman troops here were responsible for protecting the area against Berber incursions, safeguarding trade routes, and constructing aqueducts and other works.
This large square building stands in a field, surrounded by the stony remains of barracks. Each side of the building’s crossing hall holds a sculpted fist holding a laurel crown over a niche.
If you walk around the area, you’ll also see a solitary arch and the remains of a ruined amphitheater.
Then return to Constantine. It’ll take about 2.5 hours of driving to get back there.
Day 5: Constantine, Guelma, Hammam Debagh, Hippo Regius, Annaba
Spend a couple of hours this morning seeing the sights in Constantine. Visit the enormous, awe-inspiring gorge.
Stupendous limestone cliffs with patches of green stretch out to a deep bottom through which a river flows. Bridges and cable cars cross it in a few places. You could easily spend 30-45 minutes here taking it all in from different lookout points.
Head toward the Museum of Cirta. Admire the wall-sized mosaics and statues. You’ll see a winged Victory, statue of Venus, and very well-preserved coins dedicated to Marcien, Theodosius II, Maxentius, and Leon.
Check out of your hotel in Constantine and begin your journey toward Guelma. You’ll drive past beautiful landscapes with olive and nut trees dotting and clustering over rolling hills of varied shades of green. Fields of long green grass look like roiling waves of the ocean when the wind whips through them.
Plan to arrive in Guelma by around noon. This is an excellent time to visit because most of the tourist crowds will clear out then for lunch. You’ll see an impressive Roman theater that looks so good it must have been restored recently. Walk through a peaceful secluded street flanked by Roman column fragments and trees, then pass through the theater’s entrance.
The main arch is flanked on either side by Corinthian columns. Inside the theater, rooms on either side hold stelae and statues. The theater itself is a vast semicircle with several levels of seats. It’s worth spending 30-45 minutes here.
Then walk over to an adjacent park to see assorted inscribed Roman sculptures that are probably Roman funerary stelae. Don’t take photos of any with government facilities in the background—this is prohibited.
After you’ve finished with the theater and park, drive out to the hidden treasure of Hammam Debagh. This wondrous place has hot springs and multicolored sheer cliffs of mineral deposits. You’ll see steam rising from geysers. Some locals use the waters for skin treatments.
You can stop here for a nice lunch of turkey kebabs, bread, cooked vegetables, and rice. Consider sharing some of the meat and fat with the friendly cats who hang out here.
After lunch, proceed to Hippo Regius, also called Hippone.
Explore the museum. Inside is a giant bronze cuirass that Julius Caesar won as a war trophy in North Africa. You’ll also see some good mosaics and the usual assortment of Roman lamps, tools, glass, and sculptures.
Exit the museum and walk downhill toward the main site of Hippo Regius. It’s quite large and it’s unlikely that you’ll see too many tourists here late in the afternoon.
From the walking path, you’ll see most of the site and a much larger hill occupied by a Byzantine-style church. The famous Christian philosopher St. Augustine lived here until he starved to death during a Vandal siege of the Roman city in 430 AD.
Walk about the site, starting at the market and former port. The forum and the lies to the southwest. The forum here might be the largest discovered in North Africa. Only a few of the original columns are still standing.
You’ll find the Christian quarter in the northern section.
The southernmost part of the sight holds the remains of the theater, now largely overrun with grass.
Unfortunately, a nearby road and residential area detract from the ambience of the site somewhat.
Then drive up to the Basilica of St. Augustine. It’s usually closed by 1630. If you make it inside before closing time, you may see St. Augustine’s elbow, a holy relic.
Your tour of Hippo Regius is now complete. Drive to your hotel in Annaba and get some rest before your return to Algiers.
Day 6: Annaba to Algiers
After breakfast, meet your driver for the journey to the airport. From downtown Annaba, the drive should take around 20 minutes. It’s likely to be a small plane with free seating.
Once back in Algiers, take a taxi to your hotel. You might enjoy a nice lunch at the restaurant Caracoya. The grilled turkey with carrots, leeks, and garlic sauce with bread, fresh cheese, and vegetables is a tasty meal.
Make your way over to the National Museum of Antiquities, located by the sea. The museum is loaded with excellent exhibits. In the first room, you’ll see mosaics, an ornate sarcophagus of Bellerophon, and the head of a Gorgon.
Beyond this room, you’ll see a small collection of Punic stelae and busts of Roman women.
You’ll also see a large chamber with a mosaic of Oceanus and nymphs, a head of Augustus, head of Minerva, and other statues and mosaics.
Other notable exhibits here include a mosaic depicting hunting from the 4th century AD, a Catholic church mosaic, bronze helmet and face mask, and section on later Islamic art.
Proceed to the Bardo Museum. It features sections on prehistory and is housed inside an 18th-century Ottoman palace.
After you’ve finished exploring the museums, it’s time to see the Algiers Old Quarter. Use the metro station or take a cab to the famous Casbah (medina, or old town). The Casbah is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and is definitely worth seeing. If you use the metro, the closest stops are Place des Martyrs or Taroufah Station.
Explore the Place des Martyrs square. Check out Ketchaoua Mosque, one of the highlights of the Casbah. This majestic building occupies a big square and was originally built in 1600. Hassan Pasha renovated it a couple of centuries later.
Walk along the promenade for a while and admire the views of the sea. Return to your hotel.
Day 7: Cherchell, Tipasa, Mauretanian Tomb
I highly recommend the FancYellow Algerian travel agency day trip to explore Cherchell, Tipasa, and the Mauretanian Tomb with a guide named Omar if you can arrange it.
Drive from Algiers along the seafront toward Cherchell, previously known as Iol Caesarea. The drive should take about 1.5 hours.
The Phoenicians once occupied Cherchell, calling it Iol. The city rose to prominence under King Juba II from around 25 BC – 23 AD. His father, Juba I, had backed Pompey in his struggle against Julius Caesar. After Caesar prevailed against Pompey, Juba I committed suicide rather than face Caesar’s retribution.
Augustus Caesar, seeking an ally in North Africa, appointed Juba II to rule the kingdom of Iol. Juba II returned the favor by renaming Iol to Iol Caesarea.
Pass a western gate and park by the former Roman forum, which is filled with pieces of columns and oddly shaped trees framed by a view of the sea.
At the far end, you’ll find an enjoyable museum. Inside are busts of Mark Antony, Cleopatra VII, Cleopatra Selene, Juba I, Juba II, and many others. Wall-sized mosaics show agricultural scenes and The Three Graces. Sculpted sphinxes and a nereid are among the other highlights.
Proceed to a Roman temple and a second newer museum. Just outside is an array of large mosaics exposed to the elements. Hopefully they will still be in decent shape when you visit, but baking in the sun each summer can’t be good for their longevity. Sections of Roman walls still stand nearby as well.
In the afternoon, drive out to the wonderful Tipasa, the fourth and last UNESCO World Heritage Site on this itinerary. You can park at the main square, which is filled with fluttering Algerian banners. A silvery mosque stands at the far end of the squre.
Walk over to a restaurant called Le Dauphin for a delightful lunch of what’s probably the best food you’ll have during your stay in Algeria. Drink some freshly squeezed lemonade, then have an appetizer of octopus salad, bread, and fries. You’ll notice that bread and fries are everywhere in Algeria, which should be no surprise, as the land has been so fertile for so long. In fact, 40% of the Roman Empire’s grain came from North Africa. After the starter, enjoy a big mixed grill platter with swordfish, barracuda, bass, and bream.
It’s truly delicious with salt, lemon juice, and bread. You’ll be stuffed by the time you finish lunch; have some coffee to wake up for the rest of the day’s sightseeing.
Your next stop should be the Tipasa History Museum. A large mosaic and exquisitely crafted cavalry sculptures are the standout exhibits here. After you’ve finished with the museum, pass the remains of a large Roman bath complex, now with a restaurant set above it.
By mid-afternoon you should arrive at the main Tipasa site itself. Emperor Claudius originally set it up as a colony for veterans and it eventually became an important center of commerce.
Approach the large amphitheater, then explore the forum and temples. The long cardo maximus boulevard and series of columns make a scenic march right into the sea.
Walk along the coast and climb uphill to watch the waves crash against rocky shores. Here you’ll find a basilica and circular mausoleum as well as some mosaic floors.
Further on, you’ll see a theater and nymphaeum fountain. Then exit and make your way to the last major sight of the day.
Late in the afternoon, drive out to the Mauretanian Tomb, possibly the final resting place of Juba II and his wife Cleopatra Selene. It’s built like a rounded pyramid encircled by columns. It took some damage from French tank shells in the early 20th century.
If you’re really lucky, you’ll be able to tour the interior’s labyrinthine corridors, including the burial chamber. The tomb is probably worth about 45 minutes of your time.
Return to your hotel after a long but very rewarding day of sightseeing.
Then return home and reflect on the great Algeria tour you’ve just had and the amazing places to visit in the country. There truly are many unique tourist attractions in Algeria.
