Annaba

Day Trips

Touch down at Rabah Bitat Airport and transfer to your seaside hotel, where the salty breeze instantly soothes the spirit. Unpack quickly and step onto the palm-lined corniche for a gentle promenade along the sparkling Mediterranean. Pause at a waterfront café to sip mint tea and watch local fishermen haul in their morning catch.

Head to the vibrant central market, browsing stalls of fresh produce, honey, and handcrafted pottery. Sample regional specialties like rechta and chorba at a family-run eatery before strolling through shaded parkways. Take your time absorbing the rhythm of local life as traders barter and children play under centuries-old olive trees.

Ascend to the hilltop Seraïdi lighthouse for panoramic sunset views over the bay, with the sky painted in fiery hues. Return to Annaba’s waterfront for a sea-salted dinner of grilled sardines and brik, paired with crisp local white wine. Finish the evening with a leisurely walk along the moonlit jetty, listening to the lapping waves.

After an Algerian coffee, set off for the ruins of ancient Hippone just outside the city, once the hometown of Saint Augustine. Wander through the crumbling basilica and ornate mosaics, imagining the grandeur of this Roman colony. Pause at the archaeological museum to admire artifacts unearthed from the site.

Enjoy a rustic picnic shaded by umbrella pines near the Roman baths, with olives, goat cheese, and flatbread. Continue exploring lesser-known ruins, including the arch of the triumphal gate and remnants of the forum. Engage a local guide for storytelling that brings history to life through tales of emperors and early church councils.

Return to Annaba and dine in a historic riad transformed into a restaurant serving tajine and couscous. Savor layers of lamb, apricots, and almonds as traditional raï music drifts through the courtyard. Conclude the day with star-gazing on your hotel terrace and soft melodies of the Mediterranean breeze.

Fuel up with freshly baked crepes and spiced coffee before heading east along the rugged coastline toward Cap de Garde. Trek through fragrant scrubland, where wild thyme and rosemary perfume the air. Stop at hidden coves to dip toes in crystalline waters and photograph dramatic cliffs plunging into the sea.

Break for a seaside lunch of grilled calamari and lemon-yogurt sauce at a family-run taverna overlooking azure bays. Continue the coastal trail, spotting nesting seabirds and ancient Phoenician lookout posts. Pause on a rocky outcrop to soak in the vastness of the Mediterranean horizon.

Descend back to Annaba and relax with a restorative hammam treatment at a traditional spa. Indulge in a clay mask and invigorating massage to ease tired muscles. Later, savor a light dinner of mezze—dolmas, zaalouk, and hummus—paired with fresh pomegranate juice.

Start at Souk El Asser, greeting vendors selling fragrant spices and bright produce. Sniff sacks of saffron, cumin, and paprika before picking up fresh dates and almonds to snack on. Join a cooking class in an open-air kitchen, learning to prepare harira soup and chorba frik.

Break for a leisurely lunch tasting your own creations alongside local chefs who share familial recipes. Wander to a nearby pastry stall and sample makroud and baklawa, marveling at delicate layers and honeyed sweetness. Then stroll to a riverside café to sip mint-infused tea and watch day-to-day market bustle.

Join locals at an open-air food festival at Place du 1er Novembre, sampling street-food staples like mechouia salad and merguez sausages. Listen to live Andalusian music as lanterns glow overhead. Cap the evening with a cold shepherd’s beer while mingling with friendly vendors and artisans.

Wander into the tranquil El Khalidia Park, where fountains and blooming bougainvillea offer an oasis of calm. Join early-morning tai chi enthusiasts practicing near the central pond. Sit on a shaded bench and enjoy a picnic breakfast of brioche, figs, and ripe grapes.

Explore the conservatory greenhouse, marveling at exotic plants and orchids from around the world. Afterward, rent a rowboat to glide across the lily-padded lake, guided by resident ducks and koi fish. Sip fresh lemonade at a lakeside kiosk while listening to the gentle rustle of reeds.

Attend an open-air film screening under ancient olive trees, featuring classic Algerian cinema. Sample popcorn laced with local date syrup and sip rose-water lemonade. Stroll back through moonlit gardens, where lampposts cast soft, golden pools of light.

Drive to the fishing village of Seraïdi, perched on a cliff overlooking a secluded sandy bay. Settle into a beach hammock and watch local women weave sun hats from palm leaves. Enjoy a breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt, and honey as you gaze at gentle waves.

Swim in warm, turquoise waters before snorkeling among vibrant reefs teeming with small fish. Order a seafood lunch at a shingled-rooftop café, tasting sea urchin salad and octopus carpaccio. Lounge under umbrellas with a chilled almond milkshake in hand.

Hike up to the old Seraïdi lighthouse to witness a pastel sunset over distant mountains. Head back to the village square for a grilled fish dinner at a family-style taverna, accompanied by sweet local rosé. End the day with storytelling around a bonfire under star-spangled skies.

Set off pre-dawn to the Guerbes-Sanhadja wetlands, Algeria’s vital migratory bird corridor. Arrive at a watchtower to spot flamingos, herons, and avocets against the rosy morning sky. Sip hot tea from a thermos while binoculars remain trained on reed-lined lagoons.

Enjoy a packed lunch of stuffed grape leaves and fresh bread beneath eucalyptus trees. Venture deeper with a local naturalist, discovering reedbeds, salt pans, and seasonal wildflowers. Photograph rare waders and raptors as they navigate tidal pools and mudflats.

Return to Annaba for a farm-to-table dinner at a countryside auberge, featuring lamb slow-roasted with local herbs. Sample goat cheese drizzled with rosemary-infused olive oil. Share stories with other guests around a crackling hearth before retiring.

Depart early for a full-day excursion to El Kala National Park, a mosaic of lagoons, wetlands, and forests near the Tunisian border. Hike a shaded trail through cork oak and pine forest, listening for endemic songbirds. Pause at a lookout to admire glassy lakes reflecting soaring raptors.

Board a small boat for a guided cruise along coastal marshes, glimpsing flamingo flocks and sea turtles basking on sandy shores. Savor a riverside lunch of crusty bread, olives, and labneh under a canopy of tamarisk trees. Follow with a trek to a hidden waterfall, refreshing off a mid-day heat wave.

Return to Annaba and unwind with a seafood tagine at a marina-side restaurant, illuminated by lantern light. Enjoy traditional percussion music as you dine on mussels simmered in saffron and tomatoes. Conclude the night with a leisurely stroll along the harbor, where fishing boats bob tranquilly.

Begin in the old Casbah quarter, climbing narrow alleys flanked by pastel-washed facades. Discover hidden courtyards where jasmine vines intertwine with ancient stones. Pop into family-run cafés to taste freshly baked kaak biscuits and mint tea.

Visit the Church of St. Augustine, perched atop a hill with sweeping panoramic views. Explore its crypt and museum honoring the influential theologian’s life and writings. Descend into the lower medina to browse artisan workshops crafting leather goods and silver filigree jewelry.

Dine in a historic caravanserai repurposed as an ambient restaurant, sampling lamb brochettes and fresh salad. Enjoy a spontaneous raï jam session as musicians gather in the courtyard. Cap the evening with sweet mint tea served from a silver dallah and the soft glow of candlelight.

Savor a leisurely breakfast at your hotel’s terrace, overlooking palm trees and the shimmering sea. Take a final stroll along the corniche, collecting seashells and breathing in the salt-tinged air. Pop into a patisserie for almond paste sweets to take home.

Pack and check out, then head to the souvenir market for last-minute gifts—ceramic tiles, woven scarves, and olive-wood bowls. Enjoy a farewell lunch of merguez sandwiches and fresh pomegranate juice in a bustling café. Reflect on the vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors of your Annaba adventure.

Transfer to Rabah Bitat Airport with ample time to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean runway. Share a final wave to the sea as you board, promising to return one day. Sit back, relishing memories of ancient ruins, coastal hikes, and the warm hospitality of Algeria’s overlooked gem.