Algiers.
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Overview

Algiers (Arabic: الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; Berber: ⵍⴷⵣⴰⵢⵔ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵏⴰⵖⵜ, lezzayer tamanaɣt; French: Alger) is the capital and largest city of Algeria, set along the Mediterranean coast. Known for its striking French colonial architecture, the city reveals layers of history shaped by Ottoman rule, French colonialism and Algerian independence. From its gorgeous promenades to the whitewashed Casbah to the sweeping views over the Bay of Algiers, Algiers offers a rich mix of cultural heritage and scenic beauty.

Understand

The city's name is derived from al-Jazā'ir (Arabic: الجزائر), which is one of two broken plurals of the word jazīra (Arabic: جَزِيرَة, "island").

Get in

Domestic destinations As of June 2025 Air Algerie and Tassili Airlines offer domestic connections.

Air Algerie (Adrar, Alia, Annaba, Batna, Béchar, Beirut, Béjaïa, Biskra, Bou Saada, Chlef, Constantine, Djanet, El Bayadh, El Goléa, El Oued, Ghardaïa, Hassi Messaoud, Illizi, In Amenas, In Salah, Jijel, Laghouat, Mécheria, Oran, Ouargla, Sétif, Tamanrasset, Tébessa, Tiaret, Timimoun, Tindouf, Tlemcen, Touggourt) Tassili Airlines (Adrar, Annaba, Béchar, Biskra, Constantine, Djanet, El Oued, Ghardaïa, Hassi Messaoud, Hassi R'Mel, Illizi, In Salah, Mascara, Mécheria, Oran, Sétif, Tamanrasset, Tindouf, Tlemcen)

Domestic flights operate from hall 1.

International destinations Air Algérie (Abidjan, Abuja, Alicante, Amman, Antalya, Bamako, Barcelona, Basel/Mulhouse, Beijing–Capital, Bordeaux, Brussels, Cairo, Dakar–Diass, Doha, Douala, Dubai–International, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, Jeddah, Lille, Lisbon, London–Heathrow, London–Stansted, Lyon, Madrid, Marseille, Metz/Nancy, Milan–Malpensa, Montpellier, Montréal–Trudeau, Moscow–Sheremetyevo, Niamey, Nice, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou, Palma de Mallorca, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Paris–Orly, Rome–Fiumicino, Toulouse, Tunis, Valencia, Vienna) Air Canada (Montreal) Air France (Marseilles, Nice, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Toulouse) Ajet (Istanbul) ASL Airlines France (Clermont-Ferrand, Lille, Lyon, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Toulon) British Airways (London-Gatwick) EgyptAir (Cairo) Emirates (Dubai-International) Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) Flynas (Jeddah, Medina) Iberia (Madrid) ITA Airways (Rome-Fiumicino) Lufthansa (Frankfurt) Nouvelair (Tunis) Pegasus Airlines (Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen) Qatar Airways (Doha) Royal Jordanian (Amman-Queen Alia) Saudia (Jeddah, Medina) Tassili Airlines (Nantes, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Strasbourg Transavia (Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris-Orly, Strasbourg, Toulon) Tui fly Belgium (Brussels) Tunisair (Tunis) Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) Volotea (Bordeaux) Vueling (Alicante, Barcelona, Marseille) International flights are operated from hall 4.

Taxi. Taxis are available outside Terminal 2 and the new Terminal 4 at Houari Boumediene Airport. From the center to the airport is cheaper, about 600 DA.

Ride-Hailing Apps (Yassir and Heetch). Ride-Hailing-Apps are highly recommended by locals for their transparency and reliability compared to traditional taxis.

Bus. The bus operates every 30 min in the daytime to the centre.

Commuter trains. There are commuter trains about once per hour from the airport to destinations within the greater Algiers region.

By train Algiers is the hub for passenger railways in Algeria and there are at least daily trains from most major cities. All trains are operated by SNTF. Most long-distance train departures and arrives at Agha railway station.

By car The road network around Algiers has been greatly improved in recent decades, with well-lit four-lane highways leading in and out of the city. There are police and military checkpoints along all roads leading to the city.

Once you arrive in the city, be wary of heavy traffic jams. Policemen serve the role of traffic lights at many intersections. Utilization of mobile phones when driving is strictly prohibited.

By bus Gare Routiere du Caroubier is Algiers's central bus terminus in the commune of Hussein Dey (7-10 min drive from downtown). Most of the coaches used are modern and air-conditioned.

There are regular ferry services to Algiers from Marseille and Alicante. Algérie Ferries has the most destinations, but there are a few other shipping companies. The ferry terminal is located in the centre of the city, next to the railway station.

Get around

Algiers’ public transportation system includes a single metro line, a single tram line, and buses. Taxis are also available, and you can easily find one in the city center.

After three decades of construction, the first segment of the Algiers Metro finally opened in 2011. The main line runs from Place des Martyrs next to the Casbash to Haï El Badr, with stops along several of the most important places in the city. From there it continues to El Harrach Centre. An extension line starts from Haï El Badr and terminates at Aïn Naâdja.

Tickets can be purchased at the station, either from a ticket machine (multiple languages but only takes coins; frequently inoperable) or from an attendant.

Watch out for Whistle Man on the platforms, especially at Place des Martyrs station! Upon noticing even the slightest transgression from the crowd, Whistle Man will blow his whistle as hard as he can. Already intolerably loud, its shrillness is amplified to an ear-shattering volume by the station acoustics. For the sake of your short-term (and perhaps long-term) hearing, stand as far away from Whistle Man as you can.

By taxi The best way to find a taxi is to look for one of the many taxi stands located around the city. You may even hail a taxi at the airport. You can also book a taxi online through services such as Yassir (an Algerian app) and Heetch (a French one).

Buses operate within the city centre and to the suburbs: tickets are purchased on the bus for DA20. Typically, a man with a bundle of tickets approaches you when you board. Unless you speak Arabic, good luck navigating the local bus system.

By tram Until the 1950s, Algiers had one of the best tram systems in the world. Cars won the battle for the streets however, and today Algiers’ tram system consists of a single modern line serving the cities eastern suburbs – not typically an area of much interest to tourists. The trams are air-conditioned and are accessible to people with mobility issues. You may buy a ticket at a designated tram kiosk and you can get all the information you need at a tram kiosk.

By rail Algiers has a small regional train network, connecting the suburbs with the central city as well as the airport. While not particular useful for tourists, it might be a good option if you are planning to visit some of the surrounding towns.

On foot Walking is the best way to explore the casbah and the adjacent coastal neighbourhoods. The biggest risk in exploring Algiers on foot is the heat; be sure to bring plenty of water. Pro tip: if the casbah has you a sweaty mess, head to the shore on the west side of the lighthouse, around the Raïs Palace, where a persistent sea breeze will bring you some relief.

Due to the heavy police presence throughout the city, walking Algiers during the daytime is safe. Watch for pickpockets in the casbah. If you look like a tourist (you probably do), know that you will be particularly conspicuous in neighbourhoods to the north and west of the casbah, such as Bab El Oued.

See

Martyrs' Memorial. An iconic concrete monument commemorating the Algerian war for independence. In the basement, there is an exhibition about the independence war, basically an exhibition of various kinds of arms the rebels used.

National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers. One of the largest arts museums in Africa with over 8,000 works, includes paintings, drawings, engravings and old prints, sculptures, old furniture and decorative art, ceramics, glassware, as well as a numismatic collection. The museum features both Dutch and French masters as well as emblematic Algerian artists such as Baya, Yellès and Racim.

Grande Poste d'Alger. A masterpiece of neo-Moorish architecture built in 1910 by the French.

Palais des Raïs. A classified historical monument.

Djamaa el Djazaïr. Large mosque with tallest minaret in the world. Built in 2012, it is the third-largest mosque in the world. Anyone is allowed in during prayer times, both for prayer or visiting.

National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art.

Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions.

Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. Catholic basilica completed in 1872.

Sacred Heart Cathedral. Catholic cathedral completed in 1956.

The Casbah is the ancient city, dating to the 17th century. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ketchaoua Mosque. Built in 1794 by the Dey Baba Hassan.

El Djedid Mosque. Built in 1660 during the Turk reign.

El Barani Mosque. Built by the Ottomans in 1653

Palace of the Dey. Palace of the Dey, also known as Algiers Castle, is an Ottoman era palace in the city of Algiers, Algeria. Completed in the 16th century, it is situated inside the Casbah of Algiers, and settled by successive deys of the city. The palace can be visited: you get the chance to walk through the house of a dey and enjoy all the luxury accommodations.

Do

Taking a stroll along the beach promenade and park at Sablette. is a popular family activity.

Buy

It's an incredibly common practice and transactions are done openly. People are most interested in exchanging euro.

Handmade Art. Traditional handcraft shop (ceramics, leather work, stationery, basketry)

Znika Tourisme & Artisanat. Algerian handicrafts (art, T-shirts, baskets, mirrors and other traditional items).

L’épicerie. There is a little grocery store nearby the restaurant where you can find quality-sourced products (olive oil, spices, nut spreads, vinegar, cutlery, pastries).

Librairie Le 88. Bookshop with publications in French and Arabic. There are university research publications about colonialism, feminism, books for children, novels and poetry by Arabic authors. You can also find postcards.

Eat

There are several restaurants in the Bois des Arcades area. This is the hill 500 m southeast of the big Martyrs memorial. Particularly good views over Algiers and the coast can be found from here. The hill is also a woodland, so is a nice area for walking too.

Al Boustan Restaurant. Panoramic restaurant overlooking Algiers. The restaurant is modern and very smart. An outdoor terrace offers the best views of Algiers and the coast. Food is excellent.

Le Ciloc. Genuine Constantine food in a quiet and traditional atmosphere.

Drink

Algeria's red wine is of very high quality and will be appreciated by wine aficionados. It is rarely found on the international market. Locally produced beer is good quality. Alcohol is readily available in hotels, good restaurants and shops.

Seventy-Five Lounge at El Aurassi Hotel. Enjoy a drink (with or without alcohol) with a beautiful view over Algiers and the bay.

Sleep

Budget A good place to look for a hotel is Rue Abane Ramdane, which is in central Algiers. There are several hotels with prices starting from DA2000-2500 for the cheapest category.

Central Touring Hotel. There are various categories of rooms, with shared toilets and showers, private showers only or private toilet + shower.

Hôtel El Badr. Located in the Casbah, quite run-down inside. It offers online booking, but prices are much cheaper if you just come and pay in cash (especially if you change money the unofficial way). This hotel can send you an official booking confirmation which the Algerian consulates will (hopefully) accept for visa application.

Hotel Suisse. Town centre hotel. Old and charming, but reasonably comfortable. Good value for town centre. Wireless internet throughout is fast.

Hôtel Elghanami. A good option for budget travellers who desire at least a few familiar amenities. Softer mattresses than similarly-priced hotels. Hot water. Centrally located. Free WiFi.

Sheraton Club des Pins Resort. Beachfront resort.

Ibis Alger-Aéroport Hotel. 5 minutes away from Houari Boumediene Airport.