---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Constantine, Algeria | Wimup"
description: "Constantine hangs over a 175 metre gorge in eastern Algeria. The ten best things to do, plus the bridges, the medina, the Roman sites and how to get there."
url: https://wimup.com/city/constantine
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Constantine

Constantine, Algeria · Africa · By Wimup Editorial, 13 min read

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.

## Quick answer

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.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** Apr · May · Oct
- **Ideal length:** 2 to 3 days
- **Budget per day:** $35–80
- **Language:** Arabic and Tamazight, with French widely spoken
- **Getting around:** Tramway, city buses, the cable car and cheap taxis
- **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Constantine

### 1. Cross the Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge

Bridge · Sidi M'Cid, above the Rhumel gorge

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.

- **Time:** 20 minutes
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Early morning, before the traffic and the haze
- **Tip:** The road above it on the Sidi M’Cid side gives the long view back along the gorge

Links: [Constantine tourism directorate](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-touristic-sites/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. Take in the gorge from the Monument aux Morts

Landmark · Sidi M'Cid heights, above the Rhumel gorge

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.

- **Time:** 45 minutes
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Late afternoon, with the light down the gorge
- **Tip:** A taxi up is quicker than the climb and costs very little

### 3. Walk the painted galleries of the Ahmed Bey Palace

Museum · City centre, Constantine

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.

- **Time:** 1 to 2 hours
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Weekday mornings
- **Tip:** The painted murals run the length of the galleries, so start in the courtyards rather than the rooms

Links: [Virtual tour, CRAT](https://www.crat.dz/en/virtual-tour-of-ahmed-bey-palace/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 4. Read the city backwards at the Cirta National Museum

Museum · Coudiat, city centre

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.

- **Time:** 1 to 2 hours
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Weekday mornings
- **Tip:** Read the Numidian rooms before Tiddis rather than after

Links: [Constantine tourism directorate](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-touristic-sites/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Stand under the minarets of the Emir Abdelkader Mosque

Landmark · Cité Emir Abdelkader, Constantine

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.

- **Time:** 1 hour
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Mid-morning, between prayers
- **Tip:** Dress modestly, bring a scarf, and leave shoes at the door

### 6. Photograph the Sidi Rached viaduct

Bridge · Between the city centre and the southern plateau

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.

- **Time:** 20 minutes
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** The hour before sunset
- **Tip:** Cross on foot from the centre, then shoot it from the El Kantara side

Links: [Constantine tourism directorate](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-touristic-sites/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Get lost in Souika

Neighborhood · Souika, the old town below the Casbah

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.

- **Time:** 2 to 3 hours
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Before 9am, as the workshops open
- **Tip:** A local guide gets you into the workshops rather than the shopfronts

Links: [Constantine handicrafts](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-craftsmanship/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Ride the cable car over the Rhumel

Experience · Across the Rhumel gorge, between the centre and Sidi M’Cid

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.

- **Time:** 20 minutes
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Mid-morning, outside the commuter peaks
- **Tip:** Sit facing the gorge and ride the return leg as well

### 9. See Niemeyer's campus at the University of Constantine 1

Landmark · Route de Aïn El Bey, Constantine 25017

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.

- **Time:** 45 minutes
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Weekday daylight hours
- **Tip:** It sits south of the centre on the Aïn El Bey road, an easy taxi hop

Links: [Université Frères Mentouri](https://www.umc.edu.dz/index.php/en/rectorship-1/presentation-of-the-university?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. Climb the Roman hill town of Tiddis

Day trip · Bni Hmidane, about 28 km northwest of Constantine

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.

- **Time:** Half a day with the drive
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Spring mornings
- **Tip:** Take water: there is no cafe on site and the climb is steady

Links: [Constantine cultural circuits](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-tourist-circuits/tourist-cultural-and-archaeological-circuits/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best bridges in Constantine

Four more crossings of the gorge, all reachable on foot from the centre.

1. **El Kantara Bridge** (Free · Bab El Kantara): The main road crossing into the old town, and the busiest of the four.
2. **Passerelle Mellah Slimane** (Free · City centre): A narrow iron footbridge slung across the gorge, built as the Perregaux.
3. **Pont des Chutes** (Free · Rhumel gorge): The lowest of the crossings, named for the falls that run under it.
4. **Pont du Diable** (Free · Rhumel gorge): The old bridge at the head of the gorge, where the tourist path once began.

## Best mosques in Constantine

Three mosques in the old town, all still in use.

1. **Great Mosque of Constantine** (Free · Souika): Hammadid, built in 1136 on a Roman temple and carrying its reused columns.
2. **El Bey Mosque** (Free · Souk El Ghezel): Finished in 1730, a cathedral from 1838 to 1962, and a mosque again since.
3. **Sidi El Kettani Mosque** (Free · Souika): Salah Bey's mosque and medersa of 1776, the date cut into the south wall.

## Best culture venues in Constantine

Three venues that carry the city's music and theatre year round.

1. **Théâtre régional Mohamed-Tahar-Fergani** (Ticketed · City centre): An 800 seat Italian opera house of 1883, renamed for the malouf singer in 2017. [Théâtre National Algérien](https://tna.dz/fr/le-theatre-regional-de-constantine/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Palais de la culture Malek Haddad** (Varies · City centre): The main city venue for exhibitions and concerts, restored for 2015.
3. **Palais de la culture Mohamed-Laïd Al Khalifa** (Varies · City centre): The second culture palace, restored in the same 2015 programme.

## Best markets & crafts in Constantine

Where the dinanderie and the velvet embroidery are actually made and sold.

1. **Rahbat Essouf** (Free to browse · Souika): The old market lane in Souika, and where the copper beaters work.
2. **Souk El Asser** (Free to browse · Souika): The afternoon market beside it, spices and household goods.
3. **Chamber of Handicrafts shop** (Shop · City centre): The official craft outlet on rue Abane Ramdane, with fixed prices. [Chambre de l’artisanat](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/craft-room/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Cité Bardo brassware** (Workshops · Bardo): The dinanderie quarter, where the engraved trays are hammered. [Constantine handicrafts](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-craftsmanship/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best neighborhoods in Constantine

Four districts that show how the city spread once the gorge ran out.

1. **Coudiat** (District · Coudiat): The hillside quarter above the centre, and the shortest walk into it.
2. **Sidi Mabrouk** (District · Sidi Mabrouk): One of the first suburbs over the bridges, its villas turning commercial.
3. **Bardo** (District · Bardo): A valley quarter of workshops, and the site of the new cultural district.
4. **Ali Mendjeli** (District · Ali Mendjeli): The new town 15 km out, between Constantine, El Khroub and Aïn Smara.

## Roman and Numidian sites near Constantine

Three excavated sites within a day of the city, beyond Tiddis.

1. **Djemila** (Ticketed · Sétif province): A UNESCO site since 1982: forum, arch of Caracalla and a museum of mosaics. [UNESCO World Heritage Centre](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/191/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) · [Sétif tourism directorate](https://setif.mta.gov.dz/en/the-ancient-site-of-djemila/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Mausoleum of Massinissa** (Free · El Khroub): The Numidian king's tomb at El Khroub, a few kilometres south of the city.
3. **Thibilis** (Ticketed · Guelma province): Ramparts, forum and churches at Sellaoua Announa, in Guelma province. [Guelma tourism directorate](https://guelma.mta.gov.dz/en/remains-of-the-roman-city-thibilis/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best day trips in Constantine

Four excursions that are not ruins, from the coast to a hot cascade.

1. **Beni Haroun dam** (Half day · Mila province): Algeria's largest reservoir, about 40 km north in Mila province.
2. **Skikda** (Full day · Skikda): The nearest Mediterranean coast, 89 km north over the Tell.
3. **Mila** (Half day · Mila): A walled old town on the Roman site of Milev, 54 km west.
4. **Hammam Debagh** (Full day · Guelma province): The hot cascade at Meskhoutine, 22 km west of Guelma. [Guelma tourism directorate](https://guelma.mta.gov.dz/en/zone-of-hammam-debagh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Festivals & annual events in Constantine (2026)

- **Yennayer** (12 January): The Amazigh new year, a public holiday since 2018, marked at home with a shared meal rather than in the street.
- **Ramadan** (Movable, February to March in 2026): The month the city stays up. Cafes and pastry counters fill after sunset and the old town runs late.
- **Eid al-Fitr** (Movable): Two days of closures at the end of Ramadan. Museums and offices shut, transport thins, families visit.
- **Mawlid** (Movable): The Prophet's birthday, marked in Constantine with malouf evenings and sweets bought by the box.
- **Dimajazz** (July): The city jazz and world music festival, and the one week the evenings belong to a stage.
- **Independence Day** (5 July): The 1962 anniversary. A public holiday, with official ceremonies and most things closed.
- **International Malouf Festival** (September): Five nights at the Fergani theatre, with about a dozen countries represented. The 13th edition ran in 2025.
- **Revolution Day** (1 November): The start of the war of independence in 1954, and a national holiday with closures to match.

## Must-try dishes in Constantine, Algeria

- **Chakhchoukha constantinoise**: Torn semolina galettes steamed, then drowned in a red lamb and chickpea sauce.
- **Trida**: Small hand-cut squares of pasta with chicken, meatballs, chickpeas and egg.
- **Rechta**: Flat hand-rolled noodles in a pale broth, and a Constantine specialty.
- **Tajine zitoune**: Chicken or veal simmered slowly with green olives and mushrooms.
- **Chbah safra**: Lamb with almond croquettes, in a syrup scented with cinnamon and orange blossom.
- **Tbikh**: A sweet and salty set jelly of honey, beef and almonds, served at engagements.
- **Tadjine el ain**: The prune tajine, named for the local word for plums.
- **Mhalbi**: Milk thickened with cornflour, scented with rose water and dusted with crushed nuts.

## Constantine transport & airports

- **Mohamed Boudiaf Airport** (CZL): 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. [Air Algérie](https://airalgerie.dz/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Trains** (SNTF): 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. [SNTF](https://www.sntf.dz/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Tramway** (SETRAM): 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. [SETRAM](https://www.setram.dz/nos-reseaux/CST?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Cable car and taxis** (Local): 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. [Constantine tourism directorate](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Constantine at a glance

- **Country:** Algeria
- **Region:** Constantine Province, eastern Algeria, on the Rhumel gorge 431 km east of Algiers
- **Population:** About 460,000 in the commune, and just over a million across Constantine province
- **Founded:** Cirta, capital of Numidia under Massinissa from 203 BC; rebuilt and renamed in 313
- **Nickname:** The city of bridges
- **Language:** Arabic and Tamazight, with French widely spoken
- **Currency:** Algerian dinar (DZD), and the city runs largely on cash
- **Time zone:** Central European Time, UTC+1, with no daylight saving
- **Calling code:** +213
- **Airports:** Mohamed Boudiaf International (CZL), about 12 km south on the Aïn El Bey plateau
- **Power:** 230V, 50Hz, plug types C and F
- **Emergency:** 17 for police, 14 for civil protection

## Interesting facts

- The Rhumel has cut a gorge through the middle of the city, and the Sidi M'Cid bridge hangs 175 metres above it.
- Cirta was Massinissa’s Numidian capital from 203 BC. Constantine rebuilt it in 313 and gave it his name.
- Sidi M'Cid was the highest bridge in the world when it opened in 1912, and held that record until 1929.
- Malouf, the city's Andalusian classical music, has its own international festival at the Fergani theatre.
- The gandoura constantinoise, the velvet dress embroidered in gold, joined UNESCO’s intangible heritage list in 2024.

## Constantine travel FAQ

### How many days do you need in Constantine?

Two for the city: one for the bridges, the Monument aux Morts and the cable car, one for the Ahmed Bey palace, the Cirta museum and Souika. Add a third for Tiddis, and a fourth if you want Djemila as well.

### How do you get to Constantine?

Fly into Mohamed Boudiaf (CZL), 12 km south of the city, which Air Algérie links to Algiers and to several European cities. SNTF trains run from Algiers and Annaba, and the road from Algiers is about 430 km.

### When is the best time to visit Constantine?

April to June, then September and October. The city sits high and inland, so July and August push past 35C, and winter nights fall to single figures. Spring also brings the rain that puts water in the gorge.

### Do you need a visa for Algeria?

Most nationalities do, and it has to be arranged before travel through an Algerian consulate rather than on arrival. A hotel booking or an invitation is normally part of the file. Check the foreign ministry for current rules.

### Is Constantine walkable?

The centre and Souika are, on foot and on stairs, though the gradients are real and the lanes are steep. All the gorge crossings are walkable. The university, Sidi M’Cid and Ali Mendjeli are not, and taxis or the tramway cover them cheaply.

## Nearby guides

- [Algiers](https://wimup.com/city/algiers.md): Algeria · 10 picks
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Part of the [Algeria guide](https://wimup.com/country/algeria.md) · [Africa](https://wimup.com/africa.md)

## Sources

- [Constantine tourism board](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Cross the Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge: Constantine tourism directorate](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-touristic-sites/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Walk the painted galleries of the Ahmed Bey Palace: Virtual tour, CRAT](https://www.crat.dz/en/virtual-tour-of-ahmed-bey-palace/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Get lost in Souika: Constantine handicrafts](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-craftsmanship/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [See Niemeyer's campus at the University of Constantine 1: Université Frères Mentouri](https://www.umc.edu.dz/index.php/en/rectorship-1/presentation-of-the-university?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Climb the Roman hill town of Tiddis: Constantine cultural circuits](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/our-tourist-circuits/tourist-cultural-and-archaeological-circuits/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Théâtre régional Mohamed-Tahar-Fergani: Théâtre National Algérien](https://tna.dz/fr/le-theatre-regional-de-constantine/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Chamber of Handicrafts shop: Chambre de l’artisanat](https://constantine.mta.gov.dz/en/craft-room/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Djemila: UNESCO World Heritage Centre](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/191/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Djemila: Sétif tourism directorate](https://setif.mta.gov.dz/en/the-ancient-site-of-djemila/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Thibilis: Guelma tourism directorate](https://guelma.mta.gov.dz/en/remains-of-the-roman-city-thibilis/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Hammam Debagh: Guelma tourism directorate](https://guelma.mta.gov.dz/en/zone-of-hammam-debagh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Mohamed Boudiaf Airport: Air Algérie](https://airalgerie.dz/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Trains: SNTF](https://www.sntf.dz/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Tramway: SETRAM](https://www.setram.dz/nos-reseaux/CST?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.