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Algiers — travel, stays & events guide
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Algiers city overview
Algiers is Algeria's Mediterranean capital, its whitewashed hillside blending French colonial boulevards with the UNESCO-listed Casbah of Algiers, a maze of narrow lanes and Ottoman-era houses above the harbour. First-time visitors should also see Notre-Dame d'Afrique overlooking the bay and stroll the Jardin d'Essai du Hamma, a lush botanical garden by the sea. Houari Boumediene Airport connects Algiers to Europe and the wider Maghreb.
City facts
Airport baseHouari Boumediene Airport (ALG)
Known forKasbah of Algiers, Martyrs Memorial, Notre Dame d'Afrique, Bardo National Museum
RegionAlgeriaAlgeria
Time zoneAfrica/Algierslocal time
Founded972historical origin
City history
The present city was re-founded in 972 AD by Buluggin ibn Ziri, who was appointed by the Faṭimid caliph al-Muʿizz as governor of al-Qayrawān and any other territory his nation, the Zirid Dynasty might.
In 1151 AD, Abd al-Mu'min launched an expedition to the east, conquering Béjaïa in August 1152, the capital of the Hammadids; on their way, Beni Mezghanna did not succumb and was now under the.
The town once again came under the dominion of the Ziyanid sultans of the Kingdom but experienced a large measure of independence under Thaaliba amirs who settled the Mitidja plain at around 1200 AD.
The city's history is believed to date back to 1200 BC, but it was a small settlement without any significance until around the 3rd century BC when "Ikosim" became a small port town in.
The Kingdom of Tlemcen was the target of the Spanish Empire's and the Portuguese Empire's campaigns and conquests against its coasts, beginning in 1501 AD.
Hayreddin, succeeding Oruç after the latter was killed in battle against the Spaniards in the 1518 fall of Tlemcen, was the founder of the pashaluk, which subsequently became the beylik, of Algeria.
In October 1541 in the Algiers expedition, the King of Spain and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor sought to capture the city, but a storm destroyed a great number of his ships, and his.
In 1556, a citadel, Palace of the Dey was constructed at the highest point in the wall.
On 29 April 1827, foreign consuls and diplomatic agents gathered in the Palace of the Dey for a conference with the Regency of Algiers ruler Hussein Dey.
The Algerian forces met their French opponents in the Battle of Staouéli on 19 June 1830, to which the Dey's forces were defeated, this enabled the colonial army to advance into the city and.
The demonstrations of 13 May during the crisis of 1958 provoked the fall of the Fourth Republic in France, as well as the return of General de Gaulle to power. Independence Algeria achieved independence.
In the 1992 elections for the Algerian National Assembly, the Islamists garnered a large amount of support in the first round.
The Kasbah of Algiers was enlisted as a cultural world heritage site by UNESCO in December 1992. Crisis of the 1990s The city became the theatre of many political demonstrations of all descriptions until.
Run by the FLN that had secured independence, Algiers became a member of Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War.
Worth seeing
Kasbah of Algiers
Kasbah of Algiers is a named stop in Algiers worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Martyrs Memorial
Martyrs Memorial gives Algiers a strong culture stop for museums, exhibitions or local collections, and works best as an indoor anchor in the day's route.
Notre Dame d'Afrique
Notre Dame d'Afrique is a named stop in Algiers worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Bardo National Museum
Bardo National Museum is a key Algiers culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.
Botanical Garden of Hamma
Botanical Garden of Hamma adds outdoor time to a Algiers stay, with open space, views or waterfront breathing room between denser city sights.
Ketchaoua Mosque
Ketchaoua Mosque anchors the historic and ceremonial side of Algiers, making it a practical stop for architecture, local memory and orientation.
Stay overview
Base in Alger Centre for easy walks to the Casbah and waterfront, or choose Hydra or El Biar for quieter, upscale stays with taxi access to the sights. Kouba suits travellers who want to stay close to the diplomatic quarter and the airport.
Hotels & areas
Hotel choice in Algiers depends on priorities: Alger Centre puts the Casbah, port and museums within walking distance, Hydra and El Biar offer leafier, quieter upscale stays near embassies, and Kouba suits travellers prioritizing airport convenience over central sightseeing.
Alger Centre
Alger Centre holds the Casbah and colonial-era boulevards, the best base for walking to the old town, port and central museums.
Best for: first visits, sightseeing, the CasbahCompare staysHydra
Hydra is Algiers' upscale hillside district of embassies and modern apartments, popular with business travellers for its cafes and easy taxi access downtown.
Best for: business trips, upscale staysCompare staysEl Biar
El Biar sits high above the bay near Hydra, a quiet residential area of villas and gardens within easy reach of the city centre.
Best for: quiet stays, viewsCompare staysKouba
Kouba is a prosperous residential neighbourhood east of the centre, close to the diplomatic quarter and convenient for airport transfers.
Best for: airport access, diplomatic visitsCompare staysFlights & airports
Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) arrival plan
- Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG)Houari Boumediene Airport, Algiers, Algeria
Houari Boumediene Airport lies east of the city centre; a tramway and taxis link it to downtown, so confirm transfer times for late arrivals.
Rental cars
Algiers day-trip car use
A rental car isn't needed for central Algiers, since taxis and the tramway cover downtown well, but one helps for day trips to Tipaza.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best base
Choose Alger Centre for walking access to the Casbah and waterfront, or Hydra and El Biar for quieter, leafier stays with easy taxi rides downtown.
Getting around
Use the Algiers tramway and metro for central trips, and agree taxi fares in advance since many cabs run without working meters.
Casbah visits
Visit the Casbah of Algiers during daylight with a local guide, since the narrow lanes are easy to get lost in and some areas need local knowledge.
Day trips
Set aside a day for the Roman ruins at Tipaza, a scenic coastal drive west of the city and one of Algeria's UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Nearby ideas
Heritage
Tipaza
Tipaza is a coastal town west of Algiers with well-preserved Roman ruins overlooking the Mediterranean, a popular half-day trip from the capital.
Nature
Kabylie Mountains
The Kabylie Mountains east of Algiers offer hiking, Berber villages and mountain scenery, best reached with a full day or overnight stay.
Upcoming events
No upcoming Algiers events in the shared event index yet.