Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania

Tickets and tours: which to book

Nothing for the mausoleum alone is sold online. Entry is through a gate at the foot of the monument, where a small fee in Algerian dinars is paid in cash; there are no timed tickets and no online booking. Information on site is limited to a few panels, so it helps to know the story of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene before you arrive.

Most foreign visitors come with a car and driver from Algiers or with a local agency, which is the easiest way to handle the roads and, at times, the formalities of travel in Algeria. These day trips usually combine the mausoleum with the Roman ruins of Tipasa and sometimes with the museum and port at Cherchell further west; they include transport and often a guide and lunch, while entry fees may be extra. Independent travellers can reach Tipasa by bus from Algiers and take a taxi out to the hilltop, agreeing a price for the return.

The sensible plan for most visitors is a private day trip from Algiers: the mausoleum in the morning, Tipasa and lunch by the sea afterwards.

A short history

The mausoleum is usually attributed to Juba II, a Berber prince raised in Rome whom Augustus made king of Mauretania, and to his wife Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. It is traditionally dated to about 3 BC and resembles the Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome. A Roman geographer of the 1st century described a shared royal tomb here, so it may have served the whole dynasty. No remains have been found inside, perhaps because of early robbery. In 1555 an Ottoman governor tried to demolish it, and later it was shelled. It was listed by UNESCO with Tipasa in 1982 and was on the danger list from 2002 to 2006.

Getting there

The mausoleum stands on a hilltop above the coast road between Algiers and Tipasa, near Sidi Rached, about 10 km east of Tipasa and roughly 65 km west of central Algiers. There is no public transport to the gate. Buses and shared taxis run from Algiers to Tipasa in about an hour and a half, depending on traffic; from Tipasa take a local taxi up the hill and arrange the ride back. From Houari Boumediene airport the drive takes about an hour and a quarter. By car, follow the signs from the coastal road to the access road that climbs to the site; there is space to park near the entrance.

Rules and what to bring

Climbing on the monument is forbidden and dangerous: the stones are loose in places. Drones are not allowed without permission, and photography of nearby military or official buildings should be avoided. Bring water, a hat and sun protection, as the hilltop is fully exposed, and a torch in case the interior is open. There are no cafes at the site; eat in Tipasa. Carry cash in dinars for the entry fee and dress modestly.

When to go

The site is rarely busy. Algerian families and school groups come at weekends, which in Algeria fall on Friday and Saturday, and on public holidays; weekday mornings are very quiet. Mornings are best for the light on the eastern side, where the entrance is, and the late afternoon gives a warm colour to the stone and clear views along the coast.

Spring, from March to May, and October and November are the most comfortable months: mild, often clear, and green in spring. July and August are hot and humid on the coast, and the bare hilltop offers no shade, so go early. Winter brings rain and wind, but also the clearest air on bright days. Opening hours can be shortened during Ramadan, and sites may close on religious holidays, so ask your driver or hotel the day before. Allow about an hour here, and a full day with Tipasa and the return to Algiers.