The Sahara. This is the big one. Algeria contains the largest portion of the Sahara of any country, and its desert landscapes are among the most dramatic on earth. The Grand Erg around Timimoun and El Oued offers classic sand dune scenery. The Hoggar Mountains near Tamanrasset are volcanic and otherworldly. The Tassili n'Ajjer plateau near Djanet is in a category of its own -- a forest of eroded sandstone pillars sheltering thousands of prehistoric rock paintings, some dating back 8,000 years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinary open-air galleries in the world.
Roman ruins. Algeria has some of the best-preserved Roman sites in the Mediterranean, and you will often have them almost to yourself. Timgad, near Batna, is a complete Roman colonial town laid out on a perfect grid -- it was buried under sand for centuries and is remarkably intact. Djemila, near Setif, climbs a mountain ridge with temples, a theater, and extraordinary mosaics. Tipasa, west of Algiers, sits on the coast and was beloved by Camus. All three are UNESCO sites.
The Casbah of Algiers. The old Ottoman quarter of Algiers tumbles down a steep hillside to the harbor in a labyrinth of narrow alleys, whitewashed houses, mosques, and palaces. It is crumbling in places and being restored in others, but its atmosphere is unlike anything else in North Africa. Walking through it feels like stepping into another century.
The M'zab Valley. The five fortified towns of the M'zab around Ghardaia were built a thousand years ago by the Mozabites, an Ibadi Muslim community that still governs them according to its own social rules. The architecture is extraordinary -- pastel-colored houses clustered around mosques with distinctive minarets. Le Corbusier studied the M'zab and drew inspiration from it. Another UNESCO site.
The coast. Algeria has over 1,200 km of Mediterranean coastline, much of it dramatic and undeveloped. The beaches around Bejaia and Jijel are backed by mountains and among the most beautiful in North Africa. The Kabylie coast east of Algiers is rugged and scenic. Tigzirt has Roman ruins right on the waterfront.
Rai music. Oran is the birthplace of rai, the rebellious, infectious popular music that blends traditional Algerian styles with Western instruments. You will hear it everywhere in western Algeria -- from taxis to wedding parties. The genre produced international stars like Cheb Khaled, and Oran remains its spiritual home.