Annaba - municipality of Algeria

Annaba is a coastal city in Northeast Algeria.

Get in

By plane

Annaba Rabah Bitat airport, 36.8229°, 7.8095°. 2023-02-17 mostly provides domestic connections to Algiers and Oran. It also has international services to Paris (both Charles de Gaulle and Orly), and Istanbul. However, these flights aren't frequent and one should check the Air Algérie timetable when planning a trip.

By sea

There should be a ferry service from Marseille to Annaba operated by Algérie Ferries, but it is not running as of March 2022, presumably due to COVID-19.

By rail

The national railway company SNTF (dead link: February 2023) has daily services from Algiers and several other large cities. A daily night train leaves Algiers' Agha station at 20:48. Its price is DA1770 for a first class couchette bunk bed.

• Annaba railway station (Gare d'Annaba). 2023-02-18

By road

One can also reach Annaba by road quite easily from most major Algerian cities. However, due to the road construction and traffic jams this is the least desirable option.

The long distance shared taxi station (Station de taxi inter wilayas), 36.88796°, 7.74799°. 2023-02-18 provides connections to other provinces and cities, such as Constantine. In or around the station you can also find (unofficial) taxis to Tunis (DA3000). The trip to Tunis can take 6-7 hr including stops and border formalities.

Get around

From the airport there is a regular bus shuttle service that runs to downtown Annaba.

The best way to get around Annaba is with taxis. They are the easiest, and most efficient way to get around, and they're readily available. There is also a network of bus routes that connects downtown Annaba with the rest of the city and surrounding suburbs.

See

The central parts of Annaba features both domestic and French colonial architecture, a stunning contrast of old and new. The central square Le Cours is filled with local cafés and ice cream parlors. Annaba has its own Kasbah, dating back to the 12th century. Enjoy narrow alleys and walkways and marvel at magnificent Ottoman architecture. The kasbah is located at the hill just east of Place d'Armes.

• Church of Saint Augustine of Hippo (Lela Bouna), 36.881944°, 7.744722°. Daily 9-11:30 14:30-16:30 (Su 11-11:30 14:30-16:30 and Fr only 14:30-16:30). One of the must sees of Annaba. It is on a hill not too far outside downtown, and it's a dominating sight. Taxis run regularly to and from the church. The church is a marvel, with stunning architecture and ancient Roman ruins right behind it. Saint Augustine's hand is kept inside the church. 2023-02-18
• Salah Bey Mosque. Historic mosque built in 1792. 2023-02-18
• Hippo Regius Museum. DA130 2023-02-18

Do

• Beaches. A visit to Annaba is not complete without enjoying its beautiful Mediterranean coastline and one of its many beaches. During the day enjoy relaxing day at one of the beaches and at night head to "La Corniche". Located at the beach "Chappui" it comes alive at night with restaurants, clubs and people enjoying the crisp, cool refreshing air. A great end to any day.
• Amusement park. A good time for families with young children.

Buy

Eat

Annaba has countless places to eat. Whether they be small family owned cafes, and restaurants to big fancy places there is a wide range of places to choose from. The fancier restaurants are almost exclusively at La Corniche, and by major beaches. However, there are cafes and restaurants all over town.

Wherever one goes in Algeria, trying the pizza sold at local cafes and restaurants is a must. Similar to the way Italians make pizza in Italy, it is delicious, and a welcome change to the usual round, heavy, topping filled pizza served in most western countries.

One thing Annaba specializes in is "bourek", an Algerian "eggroll". The east of Algeria, and more so Annaba, specializes in this delicacy.

Enjoying a coffee and croissant at a cafe with the locals is always a good thing.

Drink

Like any Algerian city. Annaba has a lot of traditional drinks and bars. Alcoholic drinks are pretty common and Algerian tea “Atay” is usually served in cafeterias.

Sleep

Some popular hotels in the city are:

• Hôtel Seybouse International, 1, Boulevard du 1er Novembre 1954, 36.903942°, 7.761059°, +213 38 86 24 26. 2017-01-01
• Sheraton Annaba Hotel, Boulevard Victor Hugo, 36.902222°, 7.7625°, +213 38 45 20 00. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Largest and newest hotel in town. 2017-01-01
• Hotel Hoggar, La Placette Alexis Lambert (A few hundred meters north of the train station), 36.900964812604336°, 7.758720956459581°, +213 38459185. Hotel in city center with decent Wi-Fi and basic breakfast included. Single DA3600, double DA5000 2023-02-17

Stay safe

As is common around Algeria, the city is lively during the day but quiets down fast after dark when most shops start closing. Combined with sparse street lighting this can give an impression of unsafety.

Women might not feel at ease late in the evening, as any people outside will be almost exclusively male.

Go next

There are a number of places to visit that are around or close to Annaba.

Seraidi: Seraidi is a small village up high in the mountains that surround Annaba. It's about 13 km from downtown. It's a great place to enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city and escape enjoying the tranquility and clean, crisp air. There is a famous hotel there known to the locals as "Hotel Al-Hawa", literally "hotel of the wind". It is called that because it's so high up that it breaks the clouds and offers a great place to stay and has amazing views. On a clear day one can see the amazing views of the coastline and natural beaches below. On a cloudy day there is noting but clouds. It's a great place to see the sunrise or sunset.

El Caala: El Caala is a small town about an hour and a half drive east of Annaba. It's on the road to Tunisia so it is very service oriented. There are many hotels, clubs, restaurants to enjoy. The beach of course, and many souvenirs one can get from there. Not far from El Caala there is "La Vielle Calle" or "Old Caala". There is a wonderful beach there and ruins of a French fort which are beautiful. La Vielle Calle is about 30-45 minutes away.

Tunisia: Annaba is in the east of Algeria, not far from the Tunisian border. The roads leading to Tunisia from Annaba are very well serviced and have numerous service oriented places on the way, such as restaurants, hotels and gas stations.