5 Things to Do in Algiers, Algeria

A UNESCO World Heritage old town of narrow, steep, stepped alleys and Ottoman-era architecture, built into the hillside overlooking the harbor — one of the most intact historic medinas in North Africa.

Good to know: Hire a local guide for the Casbah — its dense, maze-like alleys are easy to get lost in, and a guide adds real historical context you'd otherwise miss.

A hilltop Catholic basilica built in Byzantine-Moorish style overlooking the Bay of Algiers, inscribed with the notable dedication 'Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims' — a striking symbol of the city's layered religious history.

Good to know: Go for the view alone if nothing else — the basilica's clifftop position gives one of the best panoramas of the bay and city.

A large concrete monument shaped like three palm fronds shielding an eternal flame, built to commemorate Algeria's war of independence — visible from much of the city and paired with a national history museum underneath.

Good to know: The monument grounds offer sweeping views over central Algiers — worth visiting near sunset.

Housed in a 19th-century Moorish-style villa, this museum covers Algeria's prehistoric and ethnographic history, including North African rock art and traditional Berber artifacts.

Good to know: The building itself, a restored Ottoman-era residence, is worth as much attention as the exhibits.

A historic botanical garden with grand palm-lined avenues, used as a filming location for several early Tarzan films — a green, formally landscaped escape from the dense city center.

Good to know: The central palm avenue is the garden's signature view — go in the morning before it gets too warm to walk.