Algiers Travel Guide

The Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, known locally as the 'Tomb of the Christian Woman', stands on a hill near Tipaza west of Algiers. This colossal circular stone tomb, about sixty metres across, dates from the Numidian-Roman era and is linked to King Juba II. A UNESCO-listed monument of North African antiquity.

Bastion 23, on the seafront edge of the Algiers Kasbah, is a restored Ottoman-era fort-palace complex and one of the most striking waterfront buildings in the UNESCO-listed old town. Courtyards, arcades and painted woodwork revive the elegance of a noble residence, with exhibitions on traditional architecture and crafts inside.

The National Museum of Antiquities in Algiers is one of Algeria's oldest museums, celebrated for its Roman collection. Sculptures, mosaics and inscriptions from Timgad, Djemila and other sites fill its galleries, with Phoenician and prehistoric pieces. An ideal primer before touring the country's Roman ruins.

The Bardo Museum in Algiers occupies a handsome 19th-century Moorish-style villa and pairs Saharan prehistoric finds with ethnographic displays of Algerian costumes, jewellery and daily objects. The painted ceilings and courtyards of the house are attractions in themselves. Small but refined, it pairs well with other museums nearby.

The Kasbah of Algiers is a UNESCO World Heritage medina rising steeply above the Mediterranean. White houses stack up the hillside in a maze of lanes, minarets and fountains conjuring Ottoman city life. Every turn reveals a picture, though visitors should stay alert and stick to the main lanes.