Algeria is the vast expanses of desert Sahara, the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, impressive mountain ranges, oriental flavor and a vibrant mix of different cultures. Many sights of Algeria have developed under the influence of different peoples, religions, and civilizations. Beautiful mosques, unusually ancient fortresses, mysterious ruins of ancient cities, rocky cities and other interesting places amaze the imagination of guests of the country, and even sophisticated travelers will have something to see in Algeria. Currently, there is not a large influx of tourists to the sights of Algeria - tourism is under development here, but despite this, excursions in Algeria today are very exciting and informative, and accompanied by an experienced guide in Algeria, there is an opportunity to explore each monument slowly and thoroughly. Hotels in Algeria are classified based on the availability of a specific set and quality of services. There are a lot of hotels working on an economical “bed and breakfast” system, but there are also hotels of world-famous hotel brands offering a full range of services at the highest level.
Next to the readers ranks the best attractions, which will help to plan the future of the travel route.
What to see in Algeria first
An overview of the main attractions of Algeria is based on popular guides, reviews of real travelers, and helps to find answers to questions: what to see in Algeria in 1 day, where to go in Algeria so that the trip is memorable and full of impressions. Of course, the first day of the tour should start with a visit to iconic sights located in the capital of the state - the city of Algeria.
1. Old Kasbah of Algeria
In the old part of Algeria, Kasbah is full of mysterious alleys and dark blind alleys. In general, the word “Kasba” in Algeria refers to many strongholds located throughout North Africa. But it was precisely the old Kasbah in 1992 that was inscribed on the UNESCO list. It is a unique type of Islamic citadel, beyond the walls of which you can see ancient mosques, palaces, and houses.
2. Notre Dame Cathedral
On the rocky coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at an altitude of 124 meters rises the main religious attraction of Algeria - the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa. It is believed that the idea of building a temple came to two residents of Lyon, who once here, in the hollow of an olive tree, installed a small sculpture of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral itself, built-in 1872, is decorated in an architectural style combining Roman and Byzantine motifs.
Official website: https://dailygospel.org
3. The city of Constantine
Anyone who has visited the city of Constantine will confirm that visiting this city in Algeria is definitely among the first places. The history of the city, located on the border with Tunisia, is rooted in antiquity, it has been renamed several times and passed into the possession of different civilizations. A unique feature of the city is its location among spectacular gorges, rocks, and cliffs through which numerous bridges are laid at a height of several hundred meters.
4. The Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba
This temple of 1900 is the main attraction of Annaba. According to legend, it was here that St. Augustine rested, and now his relics are stored inside the basilica. The saint was especially famous for organizing the Christian trend of Augustinism, and his works made a real revolution in theology. From an architectural point of view, the basilica is unique in mixing different styles. Inside it is a small altar with a sculpture of St. Augustine, which stores a particle of its relics.
5. Keshava Mosque
In the heart of the capital city of Algeria, the medieval Ketshava Mosque is located, which is considered one of the most remarkable architectural structures in the city. Built by the Turks in 1612, Ketshava is an unusual mixture of Byzantine and Moorish styles, and over the years of its existence, it has repeatedly changed its appearance. During the French occupation, it was the Catholic Cathedral of St. Philip, and only in 1962, the building was converted into a mosque.
6. Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque
There is something to see in Algeria and among the other oldest shrines - one of those is the Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque, the oldest building in 1082, erected in the era of the ancient emirs. The building was built in the form of an irregular pentagon, has a rich finish in the form of carved ornaments and many decorative arches. It was this decoration that served as the basis for the development of the Baroque style in the Middle Ages
7. Monument of glory and martyrdom
This monument was erected in Algeria in honor of the soldiers who fell in the struggle for the country's independence in the middle of the 20th century. The 92-meter-high structure is seen from almost anywhere in the city. The author of the monument was a sculptor from Poland Marjan Konecny. His creation imitates 3 palm leaves that soar skyward. Combining above, they create a semblance of a dome under which eternal flame burns. At the very top, there is an observation deck, from where you can find a bird's eye view of Algeria - beautiful city panoramas and sea views.
8. Mzab Valley
This landmark of Algeria is located in northern Sahara and is notable for unusual fortified settlements - users, which were founded by Berber Muslims who fled from religious persecution. These towns are characterized by extremely simple architecture, maximally adapted to the conditions of this region. All houses were erected in a circle, forming concentric circles diverging from the mosque.
9. Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania
About 80 kilometers from the capital, on the sea coast, is a small town of Topaz. It conceals an ancient Christian burial, which became an unsolved mystery for historians and archaeologists around the world. In different languages, this historical monument, created in 3 BC by order of the Moorish king, has different names - for example, the name "Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania" has settled down in English.
10. Tipaza
The town of Topaz itself represents one big attraction of Algeria. Here lurk the ruins of ancient settlements, which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as evidence of a vanished civilization. The city played the role of the most important trading post in the Mediterranean, later it was endowed with the functions of a military base, so here you can see a lot of buildings testifying to different eras and historical events.
11. The ancient Roman city of Timgad
The ruins of the lost ancient Roman city of Timgad are about 2000 years old. The city, built in a desert region, served as a military colony for several hundred years and became one of the sources of the birth of Christianity. It was the sands of the desert Sahara, which fell asleep in an abandoned city, partially preserved the buildings of the city to our times.
12. Cala Beni Hammad
The ancient city of Beni Hammad keeps the remains of the first capital, founded in 1007. Cala Beni Hammad is an ancient landmark of Algeria, which is an amazingly beautiful ancient fortress among high mountains. Its fortress walls stretch for 7 kilometers, and behind them are palaces, minarets, and a mosque. It is especially worth noting the beauty of the Lighthouse of Light Castle, located at the very peak of one of the rocks.
13. The ancient Roman city of Cemil
One of the largest Roman ruins in North Africa was left by the ancient city of Cemil, which today has become an open-air museum. Initially, the city had the shape of a square in which there were many streets, and the two main ones, perpendicular to each other, divided the territory into 4 equal parts. It was a large settlement, including several temples, an amphitheater, a forum, a market, baths and much more.
14. Fort Santa Cruz
The ancient fort, erected in 1610, became the main attraction of the city of Oran. It is a fortification, which in ancient times was part of external defense structures. The construction with walls up to 2 meters thick was made of strong natural stone, and about 2 thousand people participated in its construction.
15. Giurgiu National Park
In addition to numerous historical monuments, there is something to see in Algeria and among the natural attractions. Among them, special attention deserves the national park in the north of Algeria - Dzhurzhur. The picturesque landscapes of this beautiful place are worth seeing with their own eyes: dizzy mountain peaks covered with dense forests, deep canyons, valleys and gorges - all this amazes the imagination of any traveler.
What else to visit in Algeria
This part of the review provides recommendations on what other sights of Algeria worthy of attention. It will be about natural monuments, a brief description of which will give the first idea of them.
16. Tassin-Ager Plateau
In the southeast of Algeria, the Tassilin-Ager mountain plateau stretches for about 500 kilometers. Erosion has formed more than 300 natural arches here, the ridge of the former rivers and numerous caves also cut through the ridge. Stunning views open from the heights - stone arches and pillars, mysterious shadows, sheer cliffs, gaping holes in caves. In some places, ancient drawings depicting people, animals and life plots have been preserved in the rocks. These figures are 6-8 thousand years old.
17. Aghaggar Highlands
The highest mountain range is in the Algerian part of the Sahara desert. Its main peak, Mount Tahat, reaches a height of about 3,000 meters. The massif itself has been formed over millennia, as underground slabs move and as a result of active volcanic activity in this region. The result was bizarre rocks of various unusual shapes, basalt walls, huge boulders and a host of other natural formations.
18. Thermal springs Hammam Meskutin
One of the most visited places that everyone should visit in Algeria is the unique thermal spring Hammam Meskutin at an altitude of about 200 meters, which has unique healing properties. Here they beat keys with boiling water saturated with minerals, the temperature of which is 95-98 degrees. It is believed that its beneficial properties allow you to heal almost all known diseases.
19. Atlas Mountains
This is a whole mountainous country, which stretches along the coast from west to east through the territories of the states of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. Its length is so great that climatic zones, from tropical to subtropics, change on the territory of the mountains. The north and west of the valley are covered with dense picturesque forests, and in the south and in the interior regions the climate is arider, cereals, wormwood, and feather grass take root well here. The long-standing inhabitants of these places are the Berbers, who perfectly adapted to local conditions and built entire mountain villages here.
20. Sahara Desert
It is no secret that many travelers dream of seeing the famous Sahara desert in Algeria. The harsh rocky desert appears in yellow-red tones, clay-sand towers appear every now and then along the way. But even deep into the desert, you can get on the bus, the road is paved. Once upon a time, green gardens bloomed in these territories, lush vegetation grew, but the changing climate also led to dramatic changes in the landscape, replacing the sea of greenery with vast sandy expanses where dry hot winds walk.
The sights of Algeria described in this article are just a small part of the wealth that this amazing land is fraught with. To understand its secrets, you will need more than one trip, but even in a few days, you can see a lot of interesting things. Visit an old mosque, wander through the ruins of ancient settlements, take a photo of the picturesque natural landscapes of Algeria, and these lands will conquer you, and the journey will leave a bright mark in your memory.
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