city and capital of Ouargla Province, Algeria
Ouargla is a city in Saharan Algeria and a hub for the country's petroleum industry. The population of the urban area was just under 200,000 in 2008.
There are daily flights from Algiers and Oran by Air Algérie. The airport in the city of Hassi Messaoud, 80 km (50 mi) to the east has seasonal direct flights from France.
By far the cheapest way of travelling to Ouargla is by bus. There are connections from most major cities in Algeria, but journey times are long. For example a trip from Algiers takes 13-15 hours.
As of 2023, trains terminate in Touggourt, 140 km (87 mi) northeast along highway N3. The railway line is being extended towards the neighboring city of Hassi Messaoud. The first sections of the new line is expected to open in 2024. Until then an overnight train to Touggourt and then continuing by bus is a viable option.
Within the historic city centre, the ksar, walking is the only option.
A modern tram system, the only one in the Sahara, runs on an east-west route through the city. Notice that the tram does not serve the ksar, it runs further to the south in the more modern parts of the city.
The historic city centre, the ksar, is still mostly intact and features winding alleyways and traditional Berber architecture.