Oran and Tlemcen: Things to Do in Western Algeria

Are Oran and Tlemcen worth visiting? Yes. They are the two great cities of western Algeria and make an easy pair. Oran is a lively port with a Spanish fortress on the mountain above it, a seafront boulevard and a reputation as the home of raï music. Tlemcen, a two-hour drive inland, is a city of Islamic monuments, from its 12th-century Great Mosque to the ruined Marinid city of Mansourah and the shrine of Sidi Boumediene. This guide covers what to see in each, how to get there and how to plan three or four days in the west.

Planning a trip? Start with our complete Algeria travel guide and our Algeria itinerary.

Oran and Tlemcen at a glance

Things to do in Oran

Oran, or Wahran, has been shaped by Arab, Spanish, Ottoman and French rule, and it feels more Mediterranean and relaxed than Algiers.

1. Santa Cruz fort and chapel: the Spanish-era fortress on Mount Murdjadjo, with the chapel below it and a sweeping view over the city and the bay.
2. The Front de Mer: the seafront boulevard above the port, best in the early evening.
3. Place du 1er Novembre: the main square, with the old town hall and the theater.
4. The Pasha Mosque and the old quarter of Sidi El Houari, the oldest part of the city.
5. Ahmed Zabana Museum: archaeology, natural history and fine arts.
6. The former Sacred Heart Cathedral, now a public library.
7. Raï music: Oran is the home of raï, and the city’s cafés and festivals keep it alive.
8. Beaches: the coast west of the city, such as Les Andalouses, is popular in summer.

Things to do in Tlemcen

Tlemcen was the capital of the Zayyanid kingdom for three centuries and one of the great centers of Islamic learning and art in North Africa. It was the Islamic Capital of Culture in 2011.

1. The Great Mosque: founded by the Almoravids and completed in 1136, famous for its carved stucco dome.
2. Mansourah: the walls and the half-standing minaret of a city built by the Marinids during their long siege of Tlemcen in the 14th century.
3. Sidi Boumediene: the shrine, mosque and madrasa of the city’s patron saint, in the village of El Eubbad on the hillside.
4. El Mechouar: the restored palace of the Zayyanid sultans in the city center.
5. The Lalla Setti plateau: parkland above the city, reached by cable car, with views over Tlemcen.
6. The El Ourit waterfalls: a green gorge just outside the city, best after the winter rains.

How to get there and around

Oran and Tlemcen are easy to reach by train or plane from Algiers and are about two hours apart by road.

• Algiers to Oran: several trains a day take about four to five hours, and there are frequent flights.
• Algiers to Tlemcen: domestic flights, or a night train.
• Oran to Tlemcen: about 140 km, around two hours by road.
• In Oran: a tram crosses the city, and taxis are easy to find.

Oran and Tlemcen in four days

Four days is enough to see the highlights of both cities at a relaxed pace.

Tips for western Algeria

• Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Oran’s beaches are busiest in July and August.
• Carry cash. Cards are accepted in few places.
• Dress modestly in Tlemcen’s old town and religious sites.
• Do not go near the Moroccan border. The land border has been closed for decades.

Travel with a local guide

Simsem’s Algeria host, Freedom Travel Algeria, runs a western Algeria journey:

See all Algeria experiences on Simsem.

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