City guide · Algeria
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans
Constantine most often refers to:Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria thumb|350px|View of Constantine The city is framed by a deep ravine and has a dramatic appearance. The city is very picturesque with a number of bridges and a viaduct crossing the ravine.
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want Constantine without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of City.
- Skip if
- Skip Constantine if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.
Pick a trip length
One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.
- 3days3-day itineraryA long weekend walking Constantine.Open plan →
- 5days5-day itineraryPopularA first visit to Constantine with room for one extra neighborhood.Open plan →
- 7days7-day itineraryA slower week in Constantine, with one day outside town.Open plan →
- 10days10-day itineraryFirst-time visitors who want a full Constantine trip with day trips.Open plan →
5-day preview
Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.
- 1
City
Walk City in Constantine. Start at passerelle Slimane Mellah, then Bab El Kantra Bridge and Gustave Mercier Museum. Stay on foot.
passerelle Slimane Mellah · Bab El Kantra Bridge · Gustave Mercier Museum · Ben-Badis Mosque
- 2
City
Walk City in Constantine. Start at Casbah, then Emir Abdel Kader University & Mosque and Soumma Mausoleum. Stay on foot.
Casbah · Emir Abdel Kader University & Mosque · Soumma Mausoleum · Palace of Ahmed Bey
- 3
City
Walk City in Constantine. Start at Ruins of the Antonian Roman aqueduct, then Emir Abd Elkader Mosque and Théâtre Régional de Constantine Mohamed Tahar Fergani. Stay on foot.
Ruins of the Antonian Roman aqueduct · Emir Abd Elkader Mosque · Théâtre Régional de Constantine Mohamed Tahar Fergani · Bois de la Légion d'Honneur
- 4
City
Walk City in Constantine. Start at Salah Bey Viaduct, then Sidi M'Cid Bridge and Passerelle Slimane Mellah. Stay on foot.
Salah Bey Viaduct · Sidi M'Cid Bridge · Passerelle Slimane Mellah · Ahmed Bey Palace
- 5
City
Keep Constantine on foot. No new tickets required.
Casbah
Where to stay
Bases that fit the walking plan.
Mid-range
3 to 5 nights
First stay
Five-star hotel.
Splurge
3 to 5 nights
First stay
Four-star hotel in city center. +213 31 219696 (closed for renovation as of February 2019)
Getting there & when to go
Lock timing and airport basics early.
Best time
Constantine works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.
- Shoulder months
- High season
- Low season
- Rain days
Airport
Mohamed Boudiaf (XXX)
There's a long tramline starting south of the city center and passing by the Emir Abd Elkader mosque and gare routière ouest before crossing the river. Tickets should be bought at a kiosk near the stops.
- Public transit from XXX30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
- Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.
Practical notes
Short reads before you book.
Understand
The city was renamed to "Constantine" in 313 AD by the Romans, in honour of Constantine the Great. The modern Arabic name of the city is derived from the ancient Roman name.
As the Arabic writing system does not have unique characters for vowels, common romanizations of the city include Qacentina and Kasantina. Long before the Romans conquered North Africa, a Berber city called Cirta existed on the summit of a plateau surrounded by deep ravines.
Get in
The main airport of Constantine, which is situated 12km from the city centre. * Air Algérie (Basel, Istanbul, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris CDG, Paris ORLY) * Air Algérie Seasonal (Toulouse and Nancy) * Tassili Airlines (Strasburg) * Transavia (Lyon, Montpellier, Paris ORLY) * Tui Fly (Charleroi) * Tunisair (Tunis) * Turkish airlines (Istanbul) * Volotea (Marseille) The train station is near the city centre and it connected to several Algerian destinations. * The distance between Constantine and Algiers is 318 km. The road distance is almost 400 km.
Get around
There's a long tramline starting south of the city center and passing by the Emir Abd Elkader mosque and gare routière ouest before crossing the river. Tickets should be bought at a kiosk near the stops.
Stay safe
Constantine is somewhat considered a safe place. And common sense will alleviate 99% of problems: try to look as little like a tourist as possible, do not flash large quantities of cash, and so on.
Faux guides are much less of a problem here than in the rest of Algeria and are limited mainly to the area around the city. It is inadvisable to walk alone in Constantine at night.
Related guides
Helpful next pages for Constantine.