Organize your stay Algeria
Money Algeria
Algeria's national currency is the dinar (DZD), subdivided into 2,000, 1,000 and 500 dinar bills and 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 dinar coins.
In November 2024, the exchange rate was: 100 DA = 0.71 € - 1 € = 141.68 DA.
The cost of living in Algeria may seem low to a European, but the Algerian minimum wage is set at 20,000 dinars. This gives an idea of the purchasing power of the vast majority of Algerians.
Banks are generally open from Sunday to Thursday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Withdrawing dinars can sometimes take a long time. You'll need your passport. If you wish to exchange cash, be aware that exchange fees can be multiplied by five from one exchange office to another (these fees are often already included in the posted exchange rate). The same applies in France. So use your bank card instead. For card withdrawals and payments, the exchange rate used for transactions is generally more attractive than the rates charged by exchange bureaus.
Outside the major cities, however, it's best to pay in cash, and carry plenty of it with you.
Budget & Tips Algeria
Of course, it all depends on the comfort you're looking for and the type of restaurants you visit, but here's an idea of the average budget for a day in Algeria.
Small budget. 2,000 DA for a night in a double room in a simple hotel, 300 to 500 DA for a kebab dish or a meal in a snack bar, 1,000 DA per day for visits to museums and trips into town on foot or by bus.
Average budget. From DA4,000 to DA8,000 for a night in a double room in a comfortable 4-star hotel, DA1,500 to DA2,000 for a meal in a good restaurant, DA3,000 for cabs in town and visits to two museums.
Big budget. From DA10,000 to DA15,000 for a night in a 5-star hotel, DA3,000 for a meal in an upmarket restaurant, DA3,000 for a day's rental car, DA2,000 for a guided tour of two museums.
Passport and visas Algeria
All French nationals wishing to visit Algeria must apply for a visa at the consulate of their place of residence or employer's domicile.
For a tourist visa. You'll need two copies of the visa application form (available on the Algerian consulate website), your passport, a photocopy of your passport, two recent passport photos, a confirmed hotel reservation or certified proof of accommodation, and proof of income (pay slip, for example). The cost is €110 for a visa valid for less than 90 days, and €130 for a visa valid for more than three months. Please note that it takes around fourteen working days to obtain a visa, so don't leave it to the last minute, or you may not be able to get on the plane. However, some people have already obtained their visa much more quickly; there are no real rules and it all depends on the consulate concerned. If in doubt, we strongly advise you to plan ahead.
New visa on arrival. This visa, available since 2023, is aimed at foreign tourists wishing to visit the Algerian Sahara. To qualify for this visa, you must plan to visit at least one desert wilaya. The entire procedure is carried out through an approved travel agency, and applications are processed within around 10 days. Once the visa application has been approved, the agency will provide travelers with a boarding authorization, and they will be required to pay the visa fee of €110 on arrival at the airport.
For a business visa. You'll need: the visa application form (available on the Algerian Consulate website) completed in duplicate, the applicant's passport, a photocopy of the passport, two recent passport photos, a mission order from the employing organization and/or an invitation from the Algerian partner organization.
Health Algeria
No special vaccinations are required, apart from the standard ones (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis). Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended in the absence of previous immunity (all the more frequent if you have a history of jaundice, a prolonged stay abroad or are over 45). The most frequent problems encountered in Algeria are sunstroke or heatstroke, digestive problems due to unfamiliarity with cooking and food (vegetables, raw vegetables, etc.), and insect bites, especially mosquito bites. While most so-called "comfort" medicines are available in Algeria (aspirin, paracetamol, etc.), it's best to take what you need with you, especially on a trip into the desert where pharmacies are scarce. Depending on your sensitivity, remember to bring mosquito repellent, sun cream, pills to soothe heartburn, diarrhoea and other digestive problems, etc.
For advice before your trip, don't hesitate to consult your doctor. You can also contact the Société de médecine des voyages at the Institut Pasteur medical center, or visit the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website under "Conseils aux voyageurs" (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs).
In the event of illness. Contact the French consulate. They'll be happy to help you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In the event of a serious problem, the consulate will also inform the family and decide on repatriation. To find out about emergencies and establishments that meet international standards, visit www.diplomatie.gouv.fr and www.pasteur.fr.
Repatriation assistance - Medical assistance. If you have a Visa® or MasterCard® bank card, you are automatically covered by medical insurance and repatriation assistance for any trip abroad lasting less than 90 days (you don't have to pay for your trip with your card to be covered; simply holding a valid card provides you with coverage). Ask your bank for details, and carefully check the overall amount of coverage and deductibles, as well as the conditions of coverage and exclusion clauses. If you are not covered by one of these cards, don't forget to take out medical assistance before you leave.
First-aid kit. You can limit your first-aid kit to the minimum essentials and sufficient quantities of your usual medication, as most common medicines can be found locally. Pharmacies that also sell parapharmaceutical products are often open late into the evening, every day except Friday.
French-speaking doctors. The number of doctors is unevenly distributed across the country, and public-sector hospitals are overcrowded and often short of medicines. Having studied in French, all doctors speak French. The French Consulate General in Algiers has a list of doctors: https://alger.consulfrance.org/
Emergency services. Protection civile: 14. Medical hotline: 115 (toll-free number for all wilayas)
Security Algeria
Algeria is a relatively safe country for tourists. We were able to travel to Algeria without any problems during our on-site survey. However, in view of the current international situation, we strongly recommend that you consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" page of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travelling to Algeria.
We are, however, a long way from the black decade of the 1990s, and the situation has changed considerably since the early 2000s. According to a report published in 2018 by the American polling institute The Gallup Organization, Algeria is the safest country on the African continent and the seventh safest country in the world. Today, it's perfectly normal to drive in city centers and to get around by car without any problems. Police and gendarmerie checkpoints are present on all the main roads and are constantly on the lookout for the country's safety, not hesitating to check vehicles that seem suspicious (at night, remember to turn off your headlights when you get to them, and turn on the light in the passenger compartment. Everyone does it).
While safety shouldn't be an obstacle to your travel plans, it's a good idea to prepare your trip by booking hotel accommodation in advance, so you'll have somewhere to stay, and by contacting local travel agencies to ask any questions you may have, no matter how naïve. Once you're there, you can ask someone to accompany you if you have any doubts and, as everywhere else, you need to take the usual precautions against crime and be careful about your own behaviour, which can sometimes be a little "showy" by leaving your jewelry at home and being discreet with your camera or smartphone.
The police. There are two types of "representatives of order" in Algeria: the police (in blue), and the gendarmerie (in green), but also security guards (in black). The ones we see most are traffic wardens. As we've said, city entrances are generally guarded, and it's still customary when passing a roadblock in the evening to turn on your overhead light to be stared at. On the roads, the police and gendarmerie patrol even the remotest corners of the desert. Generally speaking, and in the opinion of Algerians themselves, the country has regained its security.
Potential dangers and advice. For the latest information on safety in Algeria, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, which sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
A lone woman on a trip. A lone woman attracts attention, especially in a country where few women are allowed to travel alone. But beyond the sometimes embarrassing stares and questions this situation provokes, the risks are fairly limited if you accept a certain discretion. It's a great tragedy for Algeria not to see more tourists, especially for its young people who meet few foreigners, apart from expatriate family members or French TV presenters whom they know better than we do. So, girls, make sure you are respected gently but firmly, without arrogance, aggression or provocation - in short, with a smile. If the troublemaker insists, say that you're married, that your beloved is due to arrive at any moment, and so on. That's usually enough. In a place where you suddenly feel very alone among men, make yourself smaller, with the air of having been there at least a dozen times before. As for clothing, forget short skirts, low-cut tank tops or shorts (except on the beach, where some swimsuits will make you blush). In any case, if you dress too casually, you'll quickly feel rather uncomfortable. Stay discreet! In the South, people are used to seeing bare arms and legs, but they don't think less of it. You should also be aware that if the number of visa applicants is on the increase, it's not because the piece of paper is easier to obtain than it used to be - quite the contrary. Bear in mind that you represent the country to which people dream of flying... So be cautious of any attempt at seduction.
Travelling with children. No problem at all! On the contrary, children often make contact easier, and everyone will bend over backwards to please them. In the South, many agencies have designed tours for children, and their staff know how to adapt. If in doubt, ask them, but be aware that toddlers don't appreciate the desert: it can be difficult to explain to a child under four that the sea is far away!
Disabled travellers. Depending on your disability, travel can be complicated by the total lack of adapted equipment. However, there will be plenty of help available..
Gay or lesbian travelers. Homosexuality is taboo in the Muslim religion. It does exist, but is never visible, and gay and lesbian couples are never seen in public. So it's best to remain discreet.
Time difference Algeria
There is one hour less than in France in summer.
Spoken languages Algeria
Arabic (literal) is the official language, but the languages spoken in Algiers are Algerian Arabic - Derdja -, Tamazight and French, which has remained the working language in administrations and companies.
Learning the language: there are different ways to learn some of the basics of the language and the offer for self-study can be done on different media such as CDs, DVDs, workbooks or even directly on the Internet.
Communication Algeria
Numerous cybercafés have opened everywhere, as this mode of communication is very popular and inexpensive. Expect to pay a maximum of 60 DA/hour connection, or around €0.50. Broadband is now available everywhere in the major cities of the north. Finally, most hotels, cafés and restaurants offer Wifi.
Electricity and measurements Algeria
220 volts/50 Hz, same plugs as in Europe, with two round plugs.
Luggage Algeria
For any summer trip, make sure you wear light, loose-fitting but covering clothing, because there's no better protection against the sun and stares than fabric, preferably cotton and all-purpose. When it comes to footwear, think comfort first: you often have to take your shoes off (mosques, visits to friends, etc.), so it's best to avoid complicated lacing or shoes that prevent your feet from breathing. It's best to pack a pair of comfortable shoes for walking and a pair of sandals or flip-flops for resting. For everyday use, opt for a small, all-purpose backpack. In winter, add a warm, waterproof garment, because even if the thermometer reads 15°C, the thermal sensation is often much lower. An umbrella is not a luxury, and if you're planning a trip to Kabylia or Constantine, you should know that it snows there much more often than in Paris!
For any trip to the South, you'll need to add a pair of highly protective sunglasses to this basic suitcase, without the raincoat, umbrella and Moon Boots. It's best to forget your contact lenses, which don't stand up well to the drought and the sometimes sand-laden gales, and bring a pair of sunglasses with sun protection, a cotton chèche (available locally), warm clothing (wool or fleece) and a good sleeping bag for those chilly winter nights, and a highly moisturizing face and lip cream (such as Biafine® cream, which will also relieve sunburn).
Good to know. It is forbidden to bring binoculars with you to Algeria. They will be systematically confiscated on arrival when your luggage is scanned at the airport, just before you leave.
