Algeria Destinations
Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the iconic places around them — Roman cities, Saharan rock art, oasis towns and the Mediterranean coast.
Algeria's 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
From the prehistoric rock art of the Sahara to the best-preserved Roman cities in the world and the living oasis towns of the M'Zab — these seven sites are the heart of any Algeria itinerary.
Tassili n'Ajjer
Tassili n'Ajjer is a vast sandstone plateau in south-east Algeria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site holding around 15,000 prehistoric engravings and paintings that record a once-green Sahara. Reached from Djanet, it is one of the world's greatest open-air galleries of rock art.
M'Zab Valley
The M'Zab Valley around Ghardaïa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the northern Algerian Sahara — five fortified oasis towns built by the Ibadi Mozabites from the 11th century. Their tiered, pyramidal towns, palm groves and ingenious water-sharing system survive almost unchanged, and their radical, egalitarian design famously influenced 20th-century architects including Le Corbusier.
Djémila (Cuicul)
Djémila, ancient Cuicul, is one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Set on a mountain spur in Sétif state, it preserves temples, forums, a theatre, the Arch of Caracalla and outstanding mosaics.
Timgad
Timgad (ancient Thamugadi) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Batna state, eastern Algeria — a Roman colony founded around 100 AD by Trajan and the most complete example of the Roman grid-plan city anywhere. Set on the edge of the Aurès mountains, its arch, theatre, forum and famous library survive in open country, earning it the nickname 'the Pompeii of Africa'.
Tipaza
Tipaza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Mediterranean coast about 70 km west of Algiers — a Phoenician trading post that became an important Roman port, its forum, basilicas, theatre and villas spread along the sea. Inland stands the monumental Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, and the Roman capital of Caesarea (modern Cherchell) lies just along the coast.
Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Hodna mountains of M'Sila state — the ruined first capital of the Hammadid dynasty, founded in 1007. Set at around 1,000 m, it preserves the largest mosque minaret in Algeria and the remains of palaces and fortifications, a vivid picture of a fortified Islamic city of the 11th century.
The Casbah of Algiers
The Casbah of Algiers is the city's historic Ottoman citadel and old town — a steep maze of whitewashed houses, palaces, mosques and covered lanes overlooking the bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, it is best explored on foot with a local guide.
Other iconic destinations
Constantine
Constantine is the 'City of Bridges', a dramatic highland city in north-east Algeria built across a deep gorge above the Rhumel River and spanned by spectacular bridges. Ancient Cirta — a Numidian and Roman capital and later an Ottoman seat — it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth and the home of malouf music.
Djanet
Djanet is the Tuareg oasis capital of Algeria's far south-east — a palm town of Kel Ajjer culture, the Sebeiba festival and deep desert hospitality, and the living gateway to the Tassili n'Ajjer and the red Tadrart.
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a historic city in north-west Algeria, the country's great centre of Andalusian and Islamic heritage — the medieval Zayyanid capital famous for the Great Mosque, the ruins of Mansourah, the Sidi Boumediene complex and the classical gharnati music tradition. It is often called the Pearl of the Maghreb.
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