Jardin d'Essai du Hamma

The Jardin d'Essai was laid out from 1832 on flat ground between the hills and the bay as a trial garden for plants brought from across the world, and it grew into around fifty-eight hectares of botanical collections, palm houses, ponds and, most memorably, long straight avenues: one of Washingtonia palms running toward the sea, another of dragon trees, another of ficus with roots that have thickened into walls. Early Tarzan films were shot among them. The garden fell into decay in the late twentieth century and was restored and reopened in 2009. It is now the main green space of the capital, used heavily by families at weekends.

What you actually see

• The dragon tree avenue - the alley of thick-trunked dracaenas.
• The palm avenue to the sea - the long straight axis through the garden.
• Ficus with wall-like roots - the buttressed trunks along the walks.
• Glasshouses and ponds - the botanical collections at the upper end.

When to go

Spring and autumn, when the avenues are not baking. Half a day. Weekends are crowded with families; weekday mornings are quiet. Closed on some public holidays.

Honest expectations

Weekend crowds are heavy and litter builds up. Some sections and glasshouses are closed or in poor condition. There is a small zoo area that many visitors find depressing. Summer heat on the open avenues is strong.

Nearby

The fine arts museum is on the terrace above; central Algiers lies west.