Most travellers to Algeria arrive in Algiers, and the capital deserves at least two or three days. Here are the seven places our team recommends to first-time visitors.

1. The Casbah and its mosques

The historic heart of Algiers, listed by UNESCO in 1992, is a labyrinth of stairways, white houses and Ottoman palaces climbing the hill above the port. Visit with a local guide to find hidden courtyards and the great mosques: Djamaa el Djedid by the sea, built in 1660, and Djamaa el Kebir, whose minaret dates back to 1324.

2. Dar Aziza and the Jenina palace

At the foot of the Casbah, Dar Aziza is a 16th-century residence with carved wood, marble and tiles. Nearby stood the Jenina, the oldest palace of Algiers and residence of its rulers.

3. The Jardin d'Essai du Hamma

Created in 1832, this vast botanical garden of palms, ficus and bamboo is a green escape in the middle of the city, with a small zoo at its entrance.

4. The National Museum of Fine Arts

Opened in 1930 above the Jardin d'Essai, the museum holds one of the richest collections in Africa — thousands of works including pieces by Delacroix, Monet, Matisse and Rodin, alongside Algerian masters such as Mohammed Racim.

5. Notre-Dame d'Afrique

Built in 1872 in a Romano-Byzantine style, the basilica stands about 125 metres above the sea. Reach it by cable car for one of the best views over the bay.

6. The Grande Poste

This neo-Moorish building, a symbol of the city centre, now houses a museum of the history of the postal service. Admire its arches and the surrounding boulevards of the French era.

7. The Martyrs' Memorial

Maqam Echahid, inaugurated in 1982 for the 20th anniversary of independence, rises 92 metres above the city: three concrete palm leaves sheltering an eternal flame. The esplanade offers a sweeping view of the bay.

Our tip

Start early in the upper Casbah when it is cool, keep the afternoon for the garden and museum, and end the day at the Memorial for sunset. SEFAR Aventure can organise a private guide and transfers, or include Algiers in a longer circuit.