▶ Watch the guide Constantine is Algeria's third city and the one built on a gorge. Two days covers it: the Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge and the Monument aux Morts terrace for the drop, the Ahmed Bey palace and the Cirta museum for the beylik and the Roman city under it, then Souika for the medina. Tiddis and Djemila take a third day.
Constantine sits on a limestone plateau that the Rhumel has cut clean through, and the drop is 175 metres. Everything else follows from it: the bridges, the cable car, the medina hanging over the void. It was Cirta, capital of Numidia, long before it was Roman, Ottoman or French.
The bridge that made the city's picture. It opened in 1912, hangs 175 metres above the Rhumel, and held the record for the highest bridge in the world until 1929. Walk it from the Casbah side towards Sidi M'Cid hill.
A 21 metre arch raised in 1930 for the region's dead of the First World War, and the terrace under it is the reason to climb. The whole gorge lines up from here, with the bridges stacked one behind the other.
The last bey of Constantine finished his palace in 1835 and lost the city two years later. It has been a museum since 1982 and holds the national collection of traditional arts, set around courtyards of orange trees. Some rooms stay closed for restoration.
The city on its own terms, from prehistory through Numidian Cirta and Roman Constantina to the beylik, with material lifted from Tiddis. The sculpture garden outside is shaded and quiet, which counts for a lot in summer.
Algeria's second largest mosque after Djamaa El Djazair, with two minarets of 107 metres and an Islamic university sharing its 13 hectares. The university opened in 1984 and the mosque itself in 1994.
Twenty seven arches carrying the road 447 metres across the mouth of the gorge, finished in 1912 to Paul Sejourne's design and among the largest arch bridges in the world when it opened. The best view of it is from the Monument aux Morts.
The medina, and still a working one: copper beaters, velvet embroiderers and spice sellers along Rahbat Essouf and Souk El Asser. The lanes overhang the drop and the stairs run down towards the cliff.
A commuter line first and a viewing platform second. Two sections run 1,690 metres over the gorge, and this is the cheapest way to see the drop. It came back into service in April 2025 after six years, now with 48 cabins.
Oscar Niemeyer drew this campus for Constantine in the late 1960s: a curved lecture block, a tower and a domed auditorium in white concrete, unmistakably his. It is a working university, so keep to the outdoor spaces and the approach.
A Roman town terraced up a slope of red rock, sited for the view rather than the water. Cisterns, a Mithraeum and the stepped main street survive. The footing is uneven throughout and there is no shade at the top.
A narrow iron footbridge slung across the gorge, built as the Perregaux.
Hammadid, built in 1136 on a Roman temple and carrying its reused columns.
An 800 seat Italian opera house of 1883, renamed for the malouf singer in 2017.
The main city venue for exhibitions and concerts, restored for 2015.
The second culture palace, restored in the same 2015 programme.
The official craft outlet on rue Abane Ramdane, with fixed prices.
The dinanderie quarter, where the engraved trays are hammered.
A UNESCO site since 1982: forum, arch of Caracalla and a museum of mosaics.
The Numidian king's tomb at El Khroub, a few kilometres south of the city.
Ramparts, forum and churches at Sellaoua Announa, in Guelma province.
The Amazigh new year, a public holiday since 2018, marked at home with a shared meal rather than in the street.
The month the city stays up. Cafes and pastry counters fill after sunset and the old town runs late.
Two days of closures at the end of Ramadan. Museums and offices shut, transport thins, families visit.
The Prophet's birthday, marked in Constantine with malouf evenings and sweets bought by the box.
The city jazz and world music festival, and the one week the evenings belong to a stage.
The 1962 anniversary. A public holiday, with official ceremonies and most things closed.
Five nights at the Fergani theatre, with about a dozen countries represented. The 13th edition ran in 2025.
The start of the war of independence in 1954, and a national holiday with closures to match.
The airport sits on the Aïn El Bey plateau about 12 km south of the centre. Air Algérie runs the Algiers shuttle and most of the international routes, and a taxi into town takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Constantine station is in the centre below the gorge. SNTF runs to Algiers, Annaba and Sétif; the Algiers line is the long one and fills up around public holidays.
One line of about 18 km, opened in 2013 and extended twice since, running from Ben Abdelmalek Ramdane up to Zouaghi and the universities. Flat fare, tickets bought at the stop.
The telecabine crosses the gorge in minutes and is the quickest link to Sidi M'Cid. Taxis are cheap and rarely metered, so agree the fare before you get in. Carry dinars in cash.
Flat hand-rolled noodles in a pale broth, and a Constantine specialty.
Torn semolina galettes steamed, then drowned in a red lamb and chickpea sauce.
Small hand-cut squares of pasta with chicken, meatballs, chickpeas and egg.
Chicken or veal simmered slowly with green olives and mushrooms.
Lamb with almond croquettes, in a syrup scented with cinnamon and orange blossom.
A sweet and salty set jelly of honey, beef and almonds, served at engagements.
The prune tajine, named for the local word for plums.
Milk thickened with cornflour, scented with rose water and dusted with crushed nuts.
Get our one-page Constantine cheat sheet plus a fresh destination every Thursday.
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