Constantine

When to visit Constantine

April to early June and September to October are the easiest periods: the weather is mild and walks along the gorge and a trip to Tiddis are comfortable. Because the city sits inland at roughly 600 metres above sea level, July and August are hot and dry and open sites can be tiring at midday. Winters are colder and wetter than on the coast, and some years bring snow. Evenings turn cool for much of the year, so an extra layer is useful.

Things to do in Constantine

Sidi M'Cid Bridge

Designed by the French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, the 164 metre suspension bridge opened in 1912 and links the old city, the casbah, to Sidi M'Cid hill. It crosses the Rhumel gorge 175 metres up and was the highest bridge in the world until 1929. Walking across is the best way to see the bottom of the gorge and the houses on both rims at once. A little to the south, the 125 metre Mellah Slimane footbridge, opened in 1925, crosses the same gorge lower down.

Mellah Slimane Footbridge

Opened in 1925, the pedestrian suspension bridge of about 125 metres links the two sides of the Rhumel gorge at one of its narrowest points and sways slightly underfoot. From it the canyon and the river bed below are seen straight down. On the same walk, the Sidi Rached Viaduct, opened in 1912 with 447 metres and 27 arches, is viewed from the edge of the gorge; it was the tallest concrete bridge in the world when it opened. For anyone uneasy with heights, the path along the edge is a better choice than the bridge itself.

Emir Abdelkader Mosque

Designed by the Egyptian architect Mustafa Moussa and completed in 1994, the mosque is the second largest in Algeria after the Great Mosque of Algiers. Its two 107 metre minarets and 20 metre dome are visible from many points in the city, and it holds around 15,000 worshippers. The Islamic sciences university of the same name stands beside it. Visitors need clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and women a headscarf.

Palace of Ahmed Bey

Built between 1825 and 1835 by Ahmed Bey, the last Ottoman bey of Constantine, the palace stands in the city centre within the old town. It is known for courtyards planted with orange and palm trees, arcades on marble columns, carved cedar doors and wide wall paintings of the bey's journeys to Cairo, the Hejaz and Istanbul. The French used it as a military headquarters; today it is visited as a museum. The streets and markets of the casbah are within walking distance.

Monument aux Morts

On the hill across the Sidi M'Cid bridge, the memorial was built in the 1930s for the people of Constantine killed in the First World War. The 21 metre triumphal arch is modelled on the Arch of Trajan at the ancient city of Timgad and is topped by a winged Victory statue. The terrace in front is one of the best viewpoints over the gorge, the bridges and the old city together. It is reached by walking across the bridge and up the slope.

Tiddis Roman site

North-west of Constantine, on a steep slope above the Rhumel gorges, lies a Roman town known in antiquity as Castellum Tidditanorum. Streets terraced into the hillside, a monumental gate, baths, cisterns, tanneries, a Mithras sanctuary and churches can be seen. Its earth coloured stone has earned it the name "red city". With no public transport, it is planned as a half day trip by taxi or hire car; the walk is uphill, so sturdy shoes and water are needed.

Flights from Turkey to Constantine

Direct flights to Constantine from Turkey leave Istanbul Airport on Turkish Airlines; the route runs a few times a week all year (four in the 2026 winter schedule) and the flight takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, with a similar time on the way back. Air Algérie also flies the route nonstop, while connections from other Turkish cities go via Istanbul. Flights land at Mohamed Boudiaf International Airport, about 10 kilometres south of the city centre and around 20 minutes by car. Taxis and hotel transfers are the main ways into the city. Constantine is 2 hours behind Turkey.

Constantine FAQ