Planning a trip to Algeria and wondering what are the best places to visit in Algeria?

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area.

It’s massive and very diverse and offers extraordinary experiences. But despite this fact, it’s not a popular destination in Africa. But you should definitely add Algeria to your bucket list. For example, long Mediterranean coastline, dunes of Sahara desert, mountains, fantastic ancient cities, Roman ruins and other fabulous tourist attractions await you in Algeria.

Sounds interesting? 

Check out our list of some of the best things to do in Algeria for some travel inspiration!

7 best places to visit in Algeria

Algiers

Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria.

As the city is full of historical landmarks, it is one of Algeria’s most fascinating and best places to visit.

The city has so much to offer! Explore Kasbah of Algiers, a UNESCO-listed Medina. There you’ll see old mosques, Ottoman-style palaces and traditional houses. Stroll in Botanical Garden Hamma. The botanical garden offers beautiful views of the Monument of the Martyr. Visit Basilique Notre Dame d’Afrique, a large and important Catholic basilica.

Timgad Roman Ruins

Algeria has seen many empires and dynasties, including the Roman Empire.

Founded around CE 100, Timgad was a Roman city in the Aurès Mountains. It is one of the best examples of a Roman grid plan used in Roman town planning. The archaeological site comprises a 12 m high triumphal sandstone arch, 3500-seat theatre, bath complexes, temples, library, and a basilica.

Timgad Roman Ruins is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ghoufi 

Ghoufi is a canyon and an ancient village in Batna Province.

The Ghoufi canyon was carved out by the Abiod River and stretches about four kilometres along the river. The canyon is known for its view-points that offer beautiful views of the geological layers which appear on the slopes of the canyon,

The village of Ghoufi is famous for its houses which overlook an oasis.

Sahara desert

One of the best places to visit in Algeria, is the Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world and the third-largest desert overall.

The Sahara spans several countries in North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania and Tunisia. The Algerian Sahara offers a variety of tourist attractions and boasts stunning beauty.

Here are some of the best places to visit in the Algerian Sahara:

• UNESCO-listed Ghardaia with its unique palace, old mosque and distinctive beautiful pink, white and red houses made of sand, clay and gypsum;
• Oasis of Timimoun and dunes of Grand Erg Occidental;
• Taghit, a desert oasis town with beautiful views of high dunes;
• Tamanrasset oasis city;
• The dramatic Hoggar Mountains;
• Rock formations at Tin Akachaker, Tassili du Hoggar;
• Sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, which is the largest erg (field of sand dunes) in Algeria;
• Camel market on Fridays in the city of El Oued. The city is also known as “The City of Thousand Domes” as most roofs in the city are domed.

Mediterranean coastline

Algeria has a long Mediterranean coastline that has crystal clear waters.

Here are some of the best places to visit along the Mediterranean coast:

• Oran — second most important city in Algeria, known for its fortifications, port and colonial buildings;
• Ain el-Turck — seaside resort;
• Bejaia —  town overlooked by the mountain Yemma Gouraya;
• Gouraya National Park — a coastal national park known for its dramatic coast, home to the endangered Barbary macaque;
• Ain Taya — a suburb of Algiers, known for its beautiful rocky beach;
• Tipasa — UNESCO-listed Roman ruins with a view of the sea;
• Jijel — known for its beautiful beaches and scenery.

Djémila Ruins

Djémila is a village near the northern coast east of Algiers.

It is where some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa are located. As it is a unique adaptation of Roman architecture to a mountain village, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ruins of the ancient city include a theatre, historical market, temples, basilicas, arches, public squares and some houses.

Constantine

Constantine is the third-largest city in Algeria.

Known for its bridges, Constantine is one of the prettiest and best places to visit in Algeria.

What to do in Constantine? Wander the streets which are filled with beautiful colonial buildings. Explore Constantine Medina (historic town) and marvel at the palace of Ahmed Bey as well as Grande Mosquée de Constantine. Visit the modern Emir Abdelkader mosque.

And of course, check out the city’s fascinating bridges!

Algeria travel tips

1. You need a visa to travel to Algeria, so contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Algeria or ask a travel agency to assist you with the visa application. Algerian government plans to launch an e-Visa soon.
2. Civil unrest can occur around the country. Avoid public demonstrations and follow official warnings, so keep updated with local news reports and government travel advisories.
3. Algeria is a conservative Islamic country. So you have to dress conservatively and be respectful of the local culture. Men should not wear shorts outside of large cities (wearing shorts in Oran and Algiers is OK, though). In more traditional cities and towns, women should wear long, ankle-length skirts or wide trousers and long-sleeved tops. In rural areas and mosques, female travellers have to wear a headscarf. Women can dress less conservatively in modern cities, for example, t-shirts and jeans are fine, and midi and maxi dresses are OK too. Bikinis can be worn at private beaches and pools.
4. April, May, June, October and November are the best months to visit Algeria. December to February is the best time for visiting the desert.
5. Evenings are cool in Algeria, especially in spring and fall. So, pack something warm.
6. Algeria is Africa’s largest country. It’s vast, and journey times are very long. Fly to save time. 
7. In the north, where most people live the transport network is good.
8. Trains are fairly modern in Algeria. There are long-distance buses that are run by various local companies, for example, most of these coaches are quite comfortable.