- Fort Santa Cruz and Notre-Dame de Santa Cruz chapel: The Spanish-built fortress sits on the Murdjajo mountain about 400 meters above the sea, with a white chapel beside it and the best view over the harbor and the city. Go in late afternoon for softer light. Entry to the fort area is cheap or free, and a visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Use a taxi up, since the road is steep.
- Place du 1er Novembre and the Opera: The old main square is framed by the city hall with its two bronze lions and the elegant former opera house. It is best in the evening when families fill the benches. Free, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Palais du Bey: This 18th-century Ottoman palace of Bey Mohamed el-Kebir stands in the old Sidi El Houari area, with courtyards and tiled halls. Visit in the morning. Expect about US$1 to 2 and around
- Fort Santa Cruz and Notre-Dame de Santa Cruz chapel: The Spanish-built fortress sits on the Murdjajo mountain about 400 meters above the sea, with a white chapel beside it and the best view over the harbor and the city. Go in late afternoon for softer light. Entry to the fort area is cheap or free, and a visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Use a taxi up, since the road is steep.
- Place du 1er Novembre and the Opera: The old main square is framed by the city hall with its two bronze lions and the elegant former opera house. It is best in the evening when families fill the benches. Free, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Palais du Bey: This 18th-century Ottoman palace of Bey Mohamed el-Kebir stands in the old Sidi El Houari area, with courtyards and tiled halls. Visit in the morning. Expect about US$1 to 2 and around an hour.
- Sidi El Houari quarter: The old Spanish and Ottoman neighborhood has narrow lanes, crumbling facades and the Pasha Mosque. Go in the morning, wear sturdy shoes, and allow 1.5 to 2 hours. It is free to wander.
- Boulevard de l’ALN (Front de Mer) and the Corniche: The seafront promenade is the place for a slow evening walk, ice cream and views of the bay. Free, 1 to 2 hours, best after dusk.
- Musée National Ahmed Zabana: The city’s main museum holds Roman and prehistoric finds, natural history and fine art in a grand early 20th-century building. Entry is usually under US$2, and 1 to 1.5 hours is enough. Visit in the morning.
- Cathédrale du Sacré-Coeur: This former cathedral, now a cultural library, is a striking neo-Romanesque building near the center. Exterior and lobby viewing takes about 20 minutes and is usually free.
- Marché de la Bastille and central market streets: A good place to try karantika, olives, spices and fresh produce. Go before noon, bring small change, and spend 1 hour.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.