Algeria's 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: where they are and where to stay

Algeria has seven sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, from Roman cities to the Sahara. Here is where they are and which base to choose to visit them.

1. Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (listed 1980) The ruins of the first capital of the Hammadid emirs, in the Hodna mountains near M'Sila. Base: Sétif.

2. Djémila (1982) The ancient Roman mountain town of Cuicul, remarkably well preserved, north-east of Sétif. Base: Sétif.

3. Timgad (1982) A Roman colony founded by Emperor Trajan, with a textbook grid plan, near Batna at the foot of the Aurès mountains. Base: Batna or Constantine. [Hotels in Constantine: Marriott](/en/hotel-marriott-constantine) · [Novotel](/en/hotel/novotel-constantine)

4. Tipasa (1982) Punic, Roman and early Christian ruins by the sea, west of Algiers. Base: Tipaza or Algiers. [Ben Aouda Hotel & Spa, Tipaza](/en/hotel/ben-aouda-hotel-spa)

5. M'Zab Valley (1982) Five fortified ksour, including Ghardaïa, at the gateway to the Sahara. Base: Ghardaïa.

6. Tassili n'Ajjer (1982) A rock-art plateau in the far south-east, explored from Djanet. [Our Tassili n'Ajjer guide](/en/blog/tassili-najjer-djanet)

7. Kasbah of Algiers (1992) The old town of Algiers, with its mosques and Ottoman palaces. [Our Casbah guide](/en/blog/casbah-alger-visite-hotels) · [Hotels in Algiers](/en/alger)

For Sétif (Djémila and Beni Hammad), see Park Mall Hotel, Renea Hotel or Hotel Ferdi.

Planning a UNESCO tour of Algeria

The seven sites are spread over a very large country, so it is easier to group them by base:

• Algiers and Tipasa: two or three days. The Kasbah is explored on foot from central Algiers; Tipasa is a day trip along the coast, about 70 km to the west.
• Sétif, Djémila and Beni Hammad: Sétif is the best base. Djémila is less than an hour away by road; Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is further, towards M'Sila, and makes a full day out.
• Constantine, Batna and Timgad: Constantine, the city of bridges, combines well with Timgad, about 35 km east of Batna.
• The M'Zab Valley: fly or drive to Ghardaïa. Some ksour, such as Beni Isguen, are traditionally visited with a local guide, who explains the rules of the town.
• Tassili n'Ajjer: fly to Djanet and explore the plateau with a licensed agency and guide.

When to go

For the northern sites (Algiers, Tipasa, Djémila, Timgad, Beni Hammad), spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; summer is hot inland. For the M'Zab and the Tassili, the cooler months from autumn to spring are the usual season for visits.

Practical tips

• Bring sturdy shoes and water: the Roman sites are large and have little shade.
• Opening hours can change on public holidays and during Ramadan; ask your hotel the day before.
• Book your hotel early for long weekends and school holidays, when Algerian families travel too.
• Check your government's travel advice for Algeria before you go, especially for the far south. Is Algeria safe to visit?

Quick answers

How many UNESCO sites does Algeria have? Seven, all listed between 1980 and 1992: six cultural sites and the Tassili n'Ajjer, which is both a natural and a cultural site.

Which site is easiest to visit from Algiers? The Kasbah, in the city itself, then Tipasa, a day trip along the coast.

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.