The Stranger

Algiers is the administrative, political, and economic capital of Algeria, as well as the largest city in the country and the capital of the Algiers Province. According to the 2008 census, the city's population was 2,988,145, and by 2020, it was estimated to be around 4,500,000. Situated in the north-central part of Algeria, Algiers stretches along the shores of the Bay of Algiers in the heart of the Maghreb region. It is one of the largest cities in North Africa, the Arab world, and the Mediterranean, making it a major center for culture, arts, gastronomy, and trade.

The city features the largest infrastructure facilities in Algeria, including railway and highway connections to neighboring cities and international links through Houari Boumediene Airport and Algiers Ferry Terminal. Algiers also offers various mass transit options, including the Algiers Metro, the city's subway system, which recorded approximately 46 million passengers in 2023. Additionally, there are tram lines and several gondola lift lines that help manage the city's varying elevations, along with numerous bus lines connecting the suburbs to major population centers.

Algiers is home to many museums, art galleries, and cultural centers. Notable institutions include the Algiers Opera House, the Algerian National Theater (Mahieddine Bachtarzi), the Bardo National Museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers, the National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art, the National Museum of Miniatures, Illumination and Calligraphy at Dar Mustapha Pacha, Palais des Rais, the Algerian Admiralty Museum, and the Central Military Museum adjacent to Maqam Echahid (Martyrs Memorial). This breathtaking monument is located near the Martyrs National Museum. Other significant landmarks include Djamaa el Djazaïr (the third largest mosque in the world), the Botanical Garden of Hamma, Culture Palace Moufdi Zakaria, the Grande Poste d'Alger (located adjacent to Kilometre Zero), Ketchaoua Mosque, Notre-Dame d'Afrique, Emir Abdelkader Square, and Martyr's Square. Algiers also features a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Casbah or Citadel, which is a prominent example of a traditional Casbah and Medina.

This metropolis has hosted numerous sports events, including the 1975 Mediterranean Games, the 1990 African Cup of Nations (in conjunction with Annaba), the 1978 All-Africa Games, the 2007 All-Africa Games, the 2018 African Youth Games, the 2022–23 CAF Confederation Cup, the 2023 Arab Games (alongside four other cities), and the 2022 African Nations Championship (with three other cities). The Sonatrach Petroleum Corporation and Air Algérie are headquartered in the city.