# Algiers Culture Walk — Casbah Day Tour

> A guided walk through the UNESCO Casbah of Algiers: Martyrs' Square, Mustafa Pasha Palace, the citadel and the seaside Rais Palace.

- Price: from €30 per person (private trip or small group)
- Duration: 1 day
- Starts: Algiers — lower Casbah, by the sea
- Best season: Spring & autumn
- Guides speak: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, German, Russian
- Visa on arrival at Algiers airport possible: no — consulate visa with our invitation letter
- Web page: https://algeriacompass.com/tours/day-tour-algeria-culture/
- Book (request, no payment to enquire): https://algeriacompass.com/contact/?tour=day-tour-algeria-culture

## Overview

The Casbah of Algiers is one of the great historic quarters of the Mediterranean, and this walk reads it from bottom to top. From the seafront and Martyrs' Square you climb through narrow lanes to Mustafa Pasha Palace, the Ottoman citadel and the house of Ali La Pointe — a key site of the independence war — before descending to the seaside Rais Palace (Bastion 23). A compact, atmospheric introduction to old Algiers.

## Highlights

- The narrow streets and old mosques of the Casbah
- Mustafa Pasha Palace and Ottoman architecture
- Panoramic terraces over the bay
- The Casbah citadel and Ali La Pointe's house
- The seaside Rais Palace (Bastion 23)

## Day by day

### Day 1 — Walking tour of the Casbah

Meet your guide by the sea at the foot of the Casbah and climb through Martyrs' Square and its historic mosque, Mustafa Pasha Palace, a panoramic terrace, the citadel and the home of independence figure Ali La Pointe, ending at the seaside Rais Palace.
- **Martyrs’ Square and the Ketchaoua Mosque**: The square at the foot of the Casbah and its 17th-century Ottoman mosque, reopened after a decade of restoration.
- **Mustafa Pasha Palace and the citadel**: The 18th-century dey’s palace with its painted tilework, and the citadel at the top of the Casbah where the 1830 blow of the fan set off the French invasion.
- **Ali La Pointe’s house and the Rais Palace**: The bombed hideout preserved in the heart of the Casbah, and the seaside Ottoman palaces of Bastion 23 where the walk ends.

## Included

- Professional guide (English, French or Arabic)
- Entrance fees to the included landmarks
- Transport during the tour
- Guided walking tour of the Casbah

## Not included

- Meals and drinks
- Hotel pickup/drop-off (unless arranged)
- Optional activities and personal expenses

## Questions

**Is the Casbah safe with a guide?**
Yes — it's a rewarding, welcoming walk; wear good shoes for the steps.

**How long is the walk?**
A guided walk through the quarter, mostly uphill at an easy pace with stops.

**Are entrance fees included?**
Yes — to the included landmarks.

**Who was Ali La Pointe?**
A figure of the Algerian independence war; his Casbah house is part of the route.

## Booking & policies

- Request to book: dates are held free for 72 hours with no payment while availability, permits and flights are confirmed; a 20% deposit paid before arrival then secures the trip, and the balance is paid on arrival in Algeria. Payment by bank transfer, card or PayPal.
- 5% off when booked at least 60 days before departure.
- Free cancellation up to 5 days before departure, full refund. Within 5 days, committed costs may not be recoverable; the rest is refunded.
- If the visa is refused, everything paid to Algeria Compass is refunded.
- Visa: Consulate route: invitation letter 25 USD for a programme of at least 3 days with airport pickup and drop-off. Visa on arrival at Algiers airport for organised programmes that include the Sahara: authorisation 45 USD, plus the arrival stamp paid at the airport (by length of stay).