Kasbah of Algiers

The Kasbah of Algiers is the historic citadel and old quarter that sits above the port of Algeria’s capital city, containing Ottoman-era architecture and earlier urban layers. It is a compact medina of narrow streets, traditional houses and public buildings.

The steep, labyrinthine alleys, historic residences and several notable religious and administrative buildings that reflect Ottoman and local architectural styles. The kasbah’s urban layout and surviving monuments give a clear impression of historic Mediterranean and North African city planning.

The kasbah developed around the citadel and port over several centuries and served as the administrative and residential heart of the city during Ottoman rule and earlier. Parts of the quarter have suffered from neglect and restoration efforts have been ongoing to stabilise historic buildings.

The Kasbah occupies a hillside site immediately above the harbour in central Algiers and is integrated into the modern city, making it readily accessible from central Algiers.

• Visiting advice: The historic quarter is best explored on foot during daylight; its narrow lanes and dense fabric reflect several centuries of urban development.

What to See #

• Old medina streets: A dense maze of narrow alleys, stepped streets and traditional houses that form the historic medina above Algiers harbour.
• Notable monuments: Historic religious and administrative buildings from the Ottoman and earlier periods that punctuate the urban fabric of the quarter.