Algeria - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

Allow 7-12 Days to get a good overall experience of Algeria. 21 Days if you want to include the Sahara.

Modes of transport

Road

Hitting the roads of Algeria is never an easy prospect – there are many aspects travellers need to be aware of.

The road network is well developed in the north; the Algerian government has made much improvements in the last years regarding road building, new highways were built to replace the already marod roads. The most important highway is the 1200 km long N1 (Route Est-Ouest) from Annaba to Oran, almost all bigger cities in the north are connected to this highway including Algiers.

A car is not necessary because of the well running public transportation system but could be sometimes useful to reach more remote areas. Keep in mind that driving habits are entirely different compared to western norms and that rules and prohibitive signs are more seen as guidelines, even by the police! It would be a wise decision letting a local Algerian do the driving for you in the first days to get an impression of the driving style if this is not possible it’s recommended to stay on the highways.

Drivers will encounter police and military checkpoints on major roads within and on the periphery of Algiers and other major cities. Security personnel at these checkpoints expect full cooperation.

Driving alone in the desert has been made illegal after kidnappings in 2003, and some checkpoints exist in the desert to ensure people only travel in groups.

Public transport

Trains

The Algerian Railways are operated by SNTF, currently the trains and lines are being modernised. Ten comfortable highspeed trains named Auto rail were bought, currently two of them are in operation. Tickets cannot be bought online, only at the train stations, prices are quite moderate

Taxis

It’s usual to take a taxi to travel between near cities or in cities, the prices are pretty moderate but when travelling between bigger cities with large distances taxis are the same or more expensive as flying. Try to avoid unofficial taxis since it’s very likely the driver will rip you off. Most Taxis have no taximeter so arrange a price in advance. Many drivers will try to take advantage of your lack of knowledge but never pay more than 30 DA per KM regardless of what you are told. Tipping is not necessary, but you can round up to the next 10 Dinars.

Flying

From Algiers, you can reach almost every major Algerian city by plane, and it is highly recommended to take a flight when travelling longer routes and to Saharan towns. Houari Boumediene, in Algiers, is the biggest airport in the country; there are other airports in major cities like Oran, Constantine & Annaba. The other airports are basic.

Climate

Algeria’s climate depends on where you are in the country. From the warm Mediterranean climate of the coastal areas, The cold snow-capped Atlas Mountains in winter to the extreme heat of the Saharan desert in summer.

Health Precautions

Huge improvements have been made in this sector with the construction of dozens of brand-new hospitals throughout the country.

Algerian doctors are highly qualified and offer a good service and pharmacies are well supplied.

Mosquitoes are also a problem in Algeria, but they are just a nuisance, as malaria is not common. In urban areas, city-wide sprayings against mosquitoes are periodically carried on.

Tap water is considered not drinkable although its quality is better than before. Once boiled, there is no problem in consuming it. Algeria enjoys a large variety of excellent mineral bottled water.

Food and Drink

Algerians are generally big meat eaters and meat in some form or another (normally grilled) is the centrepiece of most meals. It’s often eaten with bread and fresh or pickled vegetables. Along the coast superb seafood is widely available and thick, filling, slightly spiced soups are common everywhere. In the north, there’s plenty of delicious fresh fruit, while in the south dates are king.

Money

Algeria uses the Algerian dinar. Money can be exchanged at Banks or Post offices. Make sure that the exchanged bills are in a good condition, people tend to be picky with accepting ripped and older bills. Be careful with other currencies than the euro or US dollars it could be hard to find a bank that exchange less common currencies.

ATMs are widely available and can be found in every post office or larger bank you can withdraw Algerian dinar with any major credit card and maestro cards. If a pin with 6 numbers is necessary, enter two zeros before your pin.

Time Zone

Central European Standard Time

Time zone in Algeria (GMT+1)

Visas

You’ll need a visa to enter Algeria. Visas on arrival are only available for tourists arriving and departing by cruise ship. All other travellers require a visa in advance.

Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Algeria

Australia doesn’t have an Embassy in Algeria. For consular assistance, for assistance, while in Algeria, contact the Canadian Embassy. If not Australians can also contact the French Embassy.

Embassy of Canada

18, Mustapha Khalef Street

Ben Aknoun, Algiers

Algeria

Tel.: (213) 0770 08 30 00

Email: alger@international.gc.ca

Algerian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Australia

Embassy of Algeria

29 Cobbadah street

O’Malley ACT 2606

Tel: (02) 6286 7355

Fax: (02) 6286 7037

Email: info@algeriaemb.org.au

Electricity

In Algeria, the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Getting there (stopovers)

Qatar Airways flies daily to Algiers from most Australian capital cities via Doha, Emirates flies 5 days a week to Algiers via Dubai or Dubai and Singapore (depending on the day)

A brief history

In ancient times Algeria was known as Numidia. The Numidians were known for their army which rode horses, or cavalry. Later they were called the Berbers. Being on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the land of Algeria was part of some of the great Mediterranean empires over the course of history. The land was once under the rule of the powerful empire of Carthage, but was later conquered by the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. In the 8th century, the Arabs arrived and many Armenians converted to the religion of Islam. Parts of the region managed to maintain their independence for periods of time, but the great empires of the Mediterranean were an important part of the Algerian history.

During the Middle Ages, Algeria was lead by various tribes and Berber dynasties. In the 1500s, the Spanish Empire arrived and took over several cities and settlements. The Ottoman Empire intervened and soon Algeria became part of the Ottoman Empire.

In the 1800s the French invaded Algeria. The battle was brutal and the population of the country declined. However, many French came to settle Algeria. France would rule most of Algeria until the 1900s.

In the mid-1900s the Algerians began to rebel against French rule. The National Liberation Front (FLN) was formed in 1954 and began to fight France. In 1962, Algeria gained its independence and over 1 million French fled the country. For many years after, the country was ruled by a single socialist party that was almost a dictatorship. In the 1990s there was the civil war in Algeria. Today there are still many protests in the country with people wanting freedom of speech and improved living conditions.

Tipping

The wages are fairly low and so generous tipping is appreciated but not over the top (around 10-15%).