Algiers Sightseeing: Palaces, Museums, Poste

October 29, 2026

Travel advice, as of October 2026: the UK FCDO advises against all travel within 30 km of the Libya, Mauritania, Mali and Niger borders and against travel to parts of the Tunisia border, with all but essential travel advised along the rest of it. Terrorist attacks are considered likely, with the greatest risk in the south and the Sahara. The land border with Morocco is closed. Algiers and the northern coast are outside these zones. Check the FCDO advice and travel.state.gov before booking, and use an accredited agency for any Sahara trip.

Algiers, called the White City, spreads up a hillside above the bay. Its sights range from an Ottoman old town to French-era boulevards and one of the largest mosques in the world. Admission prices and opening hours for almost everything here are unconfirmed in published sources, so the safest plan is to ask locally or at your hotel. Carry dinars, as cards are rarely accepted, and remember that Friday and Saturday are the weekend.

The Casbah

The Casbah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1992, climbing a slope from the sea to the old citadel. Many houses are propped with timber, and the lanes are steep and unmarked, so a local guide is advisable. Among the palaces, Dar Mustapha Pacha was built in 1799 and holds a museum of miniatures and calligraphy, while the waterfront Palais des Raïs, with carved cedar ceilings and tiled rooms, dates from the 16th to 18th centuries. The house at 5 Rue des Abdérames is a solemn memorial to the Battle of Algiers, where about 17 neighbouring civilians died in the explosion of 8 October 1957.

Ketchaoua and Place des Martyrs

The Ketchaoua Mosque sits at the foot of the Casbah. It dates from the early 17th century, served as a cathedral from 1838, and returned to Muslim worship in 1962. Access for non-Muslims is not confirmed, so view the exterior and check at the door. It is an active place of worship, so avoid prayer times.

Grande Poste

The post office, opened in 1910, is a Neo-Moorish building with horseshoe arches, plasterwork and small minaret-like towers. It stands on Place de la Grande Poste, beside a metro station. The streets around it have the best French-era balconies and cafes.

Great Mosque of Algiers

Djamaa El Djazair, in Mohammadia, has a minaret about 265 m high and is the third-largest mosque in the world. Most prayer areas are reported closed to non-Muslims, but the minaret viewing deck, the library and the museum are reported open. Hours are reported from about 10:00, after the morning prayer, until shortly after the evening prayer. No ticket price is confirmed. A strict dress code applies.

Museums

The National Fine Arts Museum in El Hamma holds Algerian and European painting and is reported open on Friday afternoons and closed on Sunday. The Bardo museum, in an Ottoman villa, displays the burial finds of Queen Tin Hinan. Entry to museums is a modest fee.

Notre-Dame d’Afrique

This basilica in Bologhine stands about 124 m above the sea, built between 1858 and 1872. An inscription in the apse asks Our Lady to pray for Christians and for Muslims. It is a working Catholic parish, so keep quiet and dress modestly. Visiting hours are not confirmed, so check locally.

Maqam Echahid

The Martyrs’ Memorial, three concrete palm fronds about 92 m high, honours the war of independence. A military guard is on duty. The mood is solemn: no picnics, music or posing. A museum beneath the monument documents the independence struggle.

Photography

Do not photograph military, police or government buildings. Drones need prior authorisation.

For guided visits, a search for Algiers sightseeing tours lists current options, and ogebc.dz covers protected heritage sites.