Best Things to Do in Algiers

Algiers combines five centuries of Ottoman maritime palaces and whitewashed hillside alleys with grand early-20th-century Neo-Moorish architecture and one of the finest botanical gardens on the Mediterranean. Pair lower-town walks with cable car rides to the high ridges.

1. Descend the stepped lanes of the UNESCO Casbah of Algiers. Start near the upper Citadel of the Dey and wind downhill under cedarwood log beams (encorbellements) past whitewashed houses, brass doors, public fountains and artisan workshops to Place des Martyrs.
2. Step inside Ketchaoua Mosque, Djamaa el-Kebir and Palais Mustapha Pacha. At the foot of the Casbah, admire the twin-towered facade and marble arcades of Ketchaoua Mosque, the 1097 Almoravid arches of Djamaa el-Kebir, and the half-million ceramic tiles inside the 1798 Palace of Mustapha Pacha.
3. Tour the seaside Ottoman mansion complex of Bastion 23 (Palais des Raïs). Walk out onto a rocky promontory above the Mediterranean where three 16th- to 18th-century corsair captains' palaces and fishermen's houses preserve tiled domes, marble hammams and cannon batteries looking straight out to sea.
4. Ride the cable car up to Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Afrique. Ascend the 124-metre cliff above Bab El Oued to see Jean-Eugène Fromageau's 1872 Neo-Byzantine basilica, famous for the inscription above its apse praying for Christians and Muslims alike.
5. Admire the Neo-Moorish Grande Poste and stroll Rue Didouche Mourad. Stand on the steps of the 1910 central post office to inspect its horseshoe arches and stucco ceiling, then browse the bookshops, pastry counters and pavement cafes of Alger Centre.
6. Walk the monumental tree avenues of the Jardin d'Essai du Hamma. Created in 1832, this 58-hectare botanical garden stretches from the sea to the foot of the hills with avenues of towering Canary Island dragon trees, bamboo groves, giant ficus and a classic French parterre facing the bay.
7. Soar by cable car to Maqam Echahid (Martyrs' Memorial) and the National Mujahid Museum. Ride from the edge of the Jardin d'Essai up to the 92-metre concrete monument shaped like three giant palm leaves sheltering an eternal flame, with a sweeping panorama over the entire bay.
8. Visit the National Museum of Fine Arts (Musée National des Beaux-Arts). Sitting on a terrace directly between the botanical garden and the memorial hill, its galleries display Delacroix, Monet, Rodin and the masters of Algerian modern painting including Baya Mahieddine and M'hamed Issiakhem.
9. Explore the Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography. Housed in an 18th-century Moorish garden villa in Mustapha Supérieur, it exhibits Saharan rock art from Tassili n'Ajjer alongside the ancient Tin Hinan collection and embroidered urban costumes.
10. Taste Algérois rechta, garantita and harbour sardines. Order cinnamon-scented hand-rolled rechta noodles at lunch and hot chickpea garantita on crusty baguette in the afternoon.