Perhaps the single greatest pleasure of spending time in the area is wandering around, and getting lost in, the old town's veritable maze of narrow streets and alleys that feature traditional mud-brick architecture and distinctive sights such as the communal bread ovens. In addition to being the most picturesque and atmospheric quarter, it is also home to the majority of the main attractions.

The district's three venerable mosques are a large part of the reason that Timbuktu is on UNESCO's World Heritage List, even though none are in particularly good repair or as beautiful as some counterparts elsewhere. The Djingareiber is the most antiquated and only one that is generally accessible by tourists. The relatively nearby Sidi Yéhia dates from the start of the 15th century and takes its name from one of the most important local saints. Aside from a fine decorative main door, it has very few points of interest, and although the best preserved of the trio, is probably also the least appealing. More attractive is the Sankoré, the newest at only 500 years old, which was apparently built to resemble the Ka'bah in Mecca, and was once among the leading Islamic seats of learning anywhere in the world.

Also scattered around the historic core are the former houses of European explorers who succeeded in getting to the mysterious city during the 1800s. Each is marked with a wall plaque, and most are now simply residences, although Rene Caillié’s erstwhile residence is ramshackle, whilst that of Heinrich Barth contains a small amount of pertinent exhibits.

Meanwhile, there is a small ethnographic museum in the same vicinity, which exhibits various antique artefacts, including jewellery and furniture. Perhaps more interesting is the collection of colonial era black and white photographs, and also the Well of Bouctou in the courtyard, which is said to be where the name of the city derives from.

Elsewhere, there are several markets, two of which cater to locals, selling foodstuffs, cloths, utensils and so on. However, the relatively new covered artisans' establishment is primarily for tourists, with souvenirs such as swords and silverwork of variable quality on offer. It is also possible to watch craftsmen at work at the Diem Tendé workshop, which has an impressive reputation, and has purportedly been in continuous operation for very many generations.

Another recent addition to the landscape is the Flame of Peace, which is located on the boundary between the desert and the settlement. Commemorating the end of the Tuareg uprising in the mid 1990s, a mock fire sits atop its concrete arches, symbolising the burning of decommissioned weapons, some of which are set in the pedestal.