Things to Do in Algiers by Interest
Travel advice, October 2026: The UK FCDO tells travellers not to go within 30 km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali and Niger, and not to visit parts of the Tunisian frontier (essential travel only along the rest of it). It rates terrorist attacks as likely, with the greatest danger in the south, the remote mountains and the Sahara. The land crossing into Morocco is shut. Algiers and the Mediterranean coast lie outside the no-travel areas. Read the FCDO page for Algeria and the travel.state.gov advisory before you book, and only join Sahara trips run by an accredited agency.
Most visitors build an Algiers stay around three things: the steep old town, the green spaces along the bay, and the sea. This page sorts the options by the kind of day you want, from a slow morning outdoors to an evening by the water.
If you want shade and quiet
The Jardin d’Essai du Hamma, laid out in 1832, spreads over roughly 32 hectares between the shore and the hill that carries the Fine Arts museum. Paths run under palms and enormous banyan figs, and the garden has its own metro stop on Line 1. Reported hours are about 10:00 to 19:00 in summer and 10:00 to 17:00 in winter. The entry fee is small, and you pay in cash.
If you want a view
Several cable cars lift riders over the city’s ravines. One starts near the Jardin d’Essai metro stop and rises towards the Martyrs’ Memorial hill, and another connects Oued Koriche with Bouzaréah. All of them stop for maintenance from time to time, and neither fares nor timetables are firmly published, so ask at the station on the day. The operator’s site is etusa.dz .
If you want old stone and tilework
The Casbah, a UNESCO site since 1992, is a maze of stepped lanes. Plenty of its houses are shored up with timber and the lanes carry no signs, which is why a local guide is a sensible choice, even though none is required. Two palaces give a calmer look at Ottoman interiors: Dar Mustapha Pacha, built in 1799 and now a museum of miniature painting and calligraphy, and the waterfront Palais des Raïs. Ask locally for current opening times.
If you want the sea
Sidi Fredj, about 30 km west of the centre, is a marina village with white arches drawn by the architect Fernand Pouillon. Come for a harbour walk and a fish lunch. Nearer the centre, the Sablettes seafront at Hussein Dey stretches for around 4 km, and locals fill it on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Swimwear is for private resort beaches only, so treat these as walking places.
Money, entry and local rules
Pay for everything in Algerian dinars (DZD). Cards work in very few places, so bring clean euro or dollar notes. A bank gives about 150 DZD per euro, whereas street dealers quote around 275. Dealing on the street is unofficial and risky, so budget at the bank rate. Cash above EUR 5,000 must be declared on arrival.
Most nationalities need a visa from an Algerian consulate before flying. The on-arrival visa exists only for southern Sahara itineraries booked through a Ministry-accredited agency and does not apply to an Algiers-only visit. Alcohol is served in licensed hotels, restaurants and bars only. Do not photograph police, soldiers or government buildings, and a drone needs prior authorisation.
For ready-made options, see Algiers activity listings . Heritage ticketing and site information sit with ogebc.dz .
Read more: Sightseeing in Algiers or the 3 day Algiers itinerary .