Last Updated on October 4, 2025 by Laura
I think that my parents are now scared to ask me where I am going next, because every time they see “that sparkle” in my eyes it means I am plotting something that no one else in my family would have dared to do in their lives. Well, just to reassure you, I’m still here and in this Algeria travel guide I will explain you how to visit this beautiful, difficult country and maybe how to tell this to your mum.
Last year, more or less this period, I’ve announced to my parents I was going solo to explore the Artic Circle while I few months before I told them I was going to disappear in the Korean mountains to do martial arts with Buddhist monks. This year I told them I was sailing around North-Africa with the specific purpose of visiting Algeria, which translated in the Italian mind of my mum meant “I am going to dieeee”. Of course, this is not the case, but you know. Italian mums are always concerned about something.
A brief history of Algeria
Algeria, the largest country in Africa, has a rich and complex history shaped by diverse peoples and empires. Its story begins in ancient times, when Berber tribes inhabited the region for thousands of years. From the 12th century BCE, Phoenician traders established coastal settlements, most notably Carthage. This was followed by Roman rule after the Punic Wars. The Romans built cities, roads, and introduced Christianity. Nevertheless, by the 5th century CE, the region fell to the Vandals and later the Byzantine Empire.
In the 7th century, Arab Muslim armies conquered North Africa, introducing Islam and Arabic culture, which became deeply rooted in Algerian identity. The following centuries saw various Islamic dynasties. This included the Almoravids, Almohads, and Hafsids who ruled parts of the region, fostering trade and scholarship.
By the early 16th century, the Ottoman Empire established control over much of Algeria. They governed through local rulers known as beys. This lasted until 1830, when France invaded and began over a century of colonial rule marked by land seizures, resistance movements, and cultural suppression. One of the most significant independence struggles of the 20th century began in 1954, led by the National Liberation Front (FLN). After a brutal eight-year war, Algeria gained independence on 5 July 1962.
Since then, Algeria has navigated political upheavals, including a socialist era under its first president, Ahmed Ben Bella, and a civil war in the 1990s. Today, it is a republic with vast natural resources, a youthful population, and a vibrant cultural heritage shaped by Berber, Arab, and Mediterranean influences.
It is safe to visit Algeria?
Mmmm…according to my mum and various worldwide FCOs, including the famous Italian Farnesina, NO. Indeed, if you open the page relative to Algeria on the Italian FCO (Viaggiare Sicuri), the photo below will show you hundreds of warnings for the country and a clear “don’t travel unless necessary”.
If this justify partially my parents’ reactions, it doesn’t necessarily means the country is completely unsafe. I believe that most western preconceptions about Algeria come from the not-too-far “Black Decade” alias Algeria Civil War. In fact, from 1992 to 2002 the country was divided by extremely violent clashes between the Algerian Government and Islamist rebel groups. This war led to the death of about 200,000 people, uncountable atrocities and a controversial amnesty of terrorists involved in the war.
Since the end of this war, Algeria was mostly at peace with a relatively low profile in international affairs. However, because of its close turbulent past and political instability is still not considered among the safest countries to visit. Some desert areas in the southern part and borders with other countries that Algeria is in conflict (i.e. Morocco, Lybia) are off limits to tourism.
Does this correspond to reality? Partially. I would lie if I would say that I felt safe all the time but, likewise, I did’t also felt it was dangerous either. I believe that the country is not fully ready for tourism yet, there are still some very rough parts and if ones is really intentioned to visit is better to find a reliable local contact and triple check everything is organised perfectly as I don’t think is a country where you can just go with the flow.
Human Rights
On top of the information above, I want to open a little parenthesis on Algeria’s human rights. Indeed, since the newly-elected president came in power, it seems that Algerian government imposes restrictions on the freedom of the press, expression; and right to peaceful demonstration, protest etc. leading also to the censorship of media.
Moreover, our guides underlined us how LGBT communities are not really welcomed in the country since Homosexuality is illegal and punished with with up two years in prison. Despite younger generations are more and more openminded, display of public affection, especially for LGBT couples can put them in trouble. So please be extra careful if you decide to visit my friends!
Why Algeria is so difficult to visit?
Although things might slowly changing, Algeria remains to date a quite difficult country to visit. Visa issues are only a part of the problem. In fact, once there I noted other difficulties that are not immediately known if one is not in loco. For your convenience, I made little list below.
An almost impossible to get VISA
One of the main reasons why Algeria remains a hard to get country it’s the visa process. In fact, it seems the current government made the application a bureaucratic nightmare purposely aimed to discourage independent visitors (according to our guide’s opinion), especially from “non-friendly” countries.
How can I get a Visa to Algeria
Visa to Algeria IS difficult to get but not entirely impossible. There are technically two ways to obtain this, one easier than another and below you can find information on both.
Visa on arrival
WOW! Is this even existing in Algeria? Yes it is, and it can be obtained only if certain conditions are met. These are:
- You are travelling with a group (cruise, tour operator etc.)
- You arrive in a specified port/airport that allows visa on arrival (e.g. Algiers).
This is the visa I obtained. It’s called “group visa”. This occupies only 1 page of the passport (rather than two) and it’s valid only for the dates of the stay. Furthermore, being a group visa means that you can’t move on your own and you’ll need to stay always with your group. This includes also a police escorting the group to ensure no one goes AWOL. Easy peasy but of course with a major freedom give up.
Consular visa
The regular processing visa (aka the one that needs to be done by independent travellers) is quite old-fashioned. Indeed, it includes a series of documents to be presented and one (or more?) visit in person to the Algerian Embassy/consulate of your country. Among the documents requested (at least the ones available on the UK consulate website)
- – 2 application form duly completed, dated, and signed by the applicant.
- – 2 recent passport-size photographs to be affixed on each application form.
- – The original passport, valid for at least 06 months and contains at least two (02) blank pages for a visa to be issued.
- – Two (02) sets of copies of all the pages of the passport.
- – Travel insurance is not required for British and Irish citizens (but is required for all the other countries)
- – Invitation letter “Accommodation certificate” duly certified by the local authorities in Algeria (town hall) bearing the name and address of the person inviting you and their relationship to you or, when applicable, an official invitation with itinerary from a travel agency in Algeria or a confirmation of a hotel booking.
- – “Letter of employment” or “evidence of activity or income”.
- – For children under 18, a copy of their “birth certificate” is required when applying for a visa, as well as a“Parental Authorisation”
- – Visa fees paid in GB Pound only by cash or postal order when lodged at the Consulate (no cheque, no debit or credit card) and only by postal order made payable to “The Algerian Consulate” when sent by post.
- – Non-British citizens must provide proof of residence in the UK.
US Visitor VISA to Algeria
Visitors from the US have very similar requirements. Is better to check what is requested on the Embassy of Algeria in Washington or the Embassy of Algeria in New York.
If you manage to get all this documents and and finally apply. You’ll need to pay the fees. In this case these are $160 for US citizens and £85 for British Passport holders. All other passports have different fees that you can check here.
Visa is released in 1-2 weeks depending on the period of the year. Algerian embassy might request even further documents if they are not convinced about your visit. Good luck!
Lack of infrastructures aimed to tourism
One of the things I noted once there, is that Algeria tourism sector is still very weak. Therefore, there isn’t anything that can make tourists visits easier. Particularly if independent. E.g. tourism offices, western-standard hotels, tourist itineraries etc. This because in addition to the restrictive visa policy, there is an insufficient investment in hospitality. Being a low-key tourist destination is not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. I love countries that don’t bend to the mass tourism standardisation, but I understand this can refrain many people from visiting. Moreover, independent travelling becomes even more challenging.
Lack of freedom
As I said before, tourists who come in group in Algeria are not technically “free to roam”. In fact, we’ve been closely escorted for the entire trip with no possibility of getting around alone or even buy souvenirs at the only two shops we spotted in Algiers. Moreover, we’ve been given a series of restrictions to observe and this included from a list of forbidden places to photograph to display of public affection etc. Our tours felt very North-Korea style, with guides showing us only what we needed to see.
Moving us around on foot and by bus required a quite intense coordination effort from the authorities. In fact, we spotted several Plainclothes police roaming around the area we were walking with the guides. These were checking the alleys, spotting potential hazards. When we genuinely asked why the need of all this police, the guide say “because of traffic! They help us passing through”. Mmmm…
Tourists are not very welcomed (yet)
I say this with a little heavy heart because it doesn’t apply blankly to the whole Algeria. However, despite I met very lovely welcoming people, the feeling of being an unwanted intruder was there at every single step we took in the country. Not only because of the limitation of freedom imposed by the government on group of tourists, but because of the people’s reactions to tourists. In fact, we faced various levels of hostility in different cities around the country with Algiers being the most unfriendly among the one visited.
We had several people shouting at us, cursing us (I do speak French so I understood them), one man decided even to plunge into our group and assault us verbally very closely. Apparently he wasn’t happy that our group was there. Just to say, the police had to intervene and took him away. In that moment, I understood the real reason for our escorting. Not all Algerians of course, but many people are not used to foreign tourists, they don’t understand the reason of foreign people being in their country and see them as a threat. Which, from a certain perspective is understandable after being colonised by France for over a century.
Food standards
I’m not very fussy with food when travelling. I try almost everything and I discovered being more adventurous with foreign food than I am with Italian one. However, because Algeria is not yet into tourism, the food standard is not the one one foreign tourists are used to. Differently than neighbouring countries such as Morocco or Tunisia, Algerians still miss out on the fact that foreigns have sensitive stomachs. Indeed, we’ve been served several times tap water (which, of course, I didn’t drink) or invited to taste meat standing under 40 degrees for I don’t know how many hours. I believe all of this is because they are not yet used to tourism, so the concept that we can fall sick from something they eat/drink regularly every day is still a surprise to them.
Indeed, some of the food conditions I’ve seen in various shops walking around were totally unacceptable to western standards and could be a direct ticket to the hospital for a tourist. Having said so, I have been lucky to try some, delicious, Algerian food. This has been homemade prepared on different occasions. My instinct says that I have 100% trust that nonna‘s food is good wherever place I go and I was right. Therefore, if you want to try Algerian some food, the real, good one, make sure to get invited by an Algerian family rather than pick a random street food shop.
Lack of medical infrastructures
On this note, make sure to be health and fit for your trip because we’ve been informed by our guide that in Algeria (the biggest country in Africa) medical infrastructures are lacking with an average waiting time to see a doctor range between 24-48 hours. Not sure how much of this information is true but I wouldn’t risk to falling sick while there.
Practical information for your Algeria visit
Here below you can find some practical information for your visit in Algeria.
Where is Algeria?
Algeria is a country in North Africa. It’s the largest nation in Africa and it border with several other countries including Morocco, Tunisia and Lybia.
What is the best period to visit Algeria?
Algeria has different climate zones. Therefore, the best time to visit might change depending on which part of the country one would like to visit. October to May are generally the best months to visit the country overall. However, one can do a further division as division per area. Coastal areas are usually better between May to September to make sure of experience a full summer. However, if skipping the beach and explore the coastal cities is better to travel during spring. For inland and mountainous regions as well as for the desert areas, the best months are Spring (April-May) and Autumn (October-November) that provide milder temperatures to explore.
What currency do I need in Algeria?
The currency in Algeria is the Algerian Dinar. The current change is of about 1 AD =0,77 USD. Differently from Morocco and Egyptian currencies, you can order Algerian Dinars in advance. Nevertheless, this is quite difficult to find and available only in specialised banks.
Can I pay by card/Apple pay in Algeria
We’ve been informed that many places accept only cash in Algeria. Contactless payments are becoming slowly more popular but most of the country is cash-based.
What mobile sim do I need in Algeria?
Some of the popular sim providers in Algeria are Djezzy or Mobilis. Visitors can purchase a sim upon arrival at the airport from operators. However, similarly to the visa process, also the sim one can be quite lengthy. The best thing to do is activate an e-sim before hand. I personally use Airalo. Since I discovered it for my trip to Japan, my life is changed! No more hours lost at the airport, no more tiny sims to install on my phone and lots of money saved! Sim cards for Algeria are available on Airalo as cheap as £3,50 ($5).
What do I wear in Algeria?
Algeria travel guide – Some outfits we wore in Algeria
Algeria is a muslim, conservative country. Therefore, is better to follow the clothing etiquette expected for any other muslim country. No shorts/skirts, crop tops or uncovered shoulders. Dress modestly and for women, wear head scarves when entering mosques. For a good 90% of my visits I used linen trousers and a simple t-shirt and I was perfectly ok with it.
I can’t really say if Algerians are strict in enforcing those clothings “rules” as we were literally the only tourists around so all the eyes were on us regardless of what we were wearing, but I spotted women wearing casual dresses while visiting the Jardin d’Essai. In any case, the best recommendation is dressing modestly as this is still a Muslim country.
How many days do I need to visit Algeria?
Algeria is the largest country in Africa. Therefore if you are planning to visit extensively, you’ll need at least 3 weeks. However, if you want just a taste of the country and its main sight 3 days to 1 week can give you a good experience.
Things to see in Algeria
Being a vast country with many different landscapes and climate, Algeria offers something for any type of visitor. From populous cities, to beach escapes and Roman ruins. Below, you will find a selection of best places to visit in Algeria and to add to your itinerary. As a first-time visitor, this vast amount of places to visit can be overwhelming and certainly not easy to plan in a small amount of time. For this reason, I divided the best things to see in Algeria in smaller categories. This will help you prioritise what you feel it’s important (especially if this is a first visit) and decide which part of the country you would like to focus.
Medieval Kasbah
Algeria travel guide – Casbah of Algiers
Similarly to Morocco and Tunisia, also Algeria has numerous Kasbah (or Casbah). These citadels are typical of North Africa medieval urban layout and not really available anywhere else in the world. One of the most unique Kasbah you can visit in Algeria is certainly the the Casbah of Algiers. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 10th century. It’s quite a unique place because it’s both a kasbah and a medina. Moroever, it elevates at 400 mt above the seas (so it’s quite steep!). Being both kasbah and medina offers architectural elements of both type of medieval towns. Indeed, it used to be a fortified walled citadel but also a residential labyrinth-style old town similar to those seen in Fez and Marrakech.
Other popular Kasbah to check out in Algeria are the Casbah of Bejaia, Casbah of Dellys and Bab El Kasbah in the city of Tlemcen.
Roman Ruins
Algeria travel guide – Annaba Hippo Regius
Algeria is one of the most important centres for Roman history. Indeed, it possesses some of the best preserved Roman sites outside Rome. If you are planning a visit around these sites, make sure to allow enough time as some of them require a few hour by coach to be reached. Among the most important ruins, the ancient city of Tipasa (now Tipaza) features some beautiful coastal ruins and the enigmatic Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djemila, at about 3/4 hours from Algiers is one of the best preserved Roman sites in North Africa. It’s actually very similar to the Roman site I’ve visited in Jerash, Jordan
Moreover, Hippo Regius, within the city of Annaba and home of Augustine of Hippo, has some valuable ruins and beautiful mosaics to preserved (in the local museum). The site is not too far from the St. Augustine Basilica that is worth a further stop.
Lastly, in the Roman Ruins of Timgad (easier to visit from Constantine rather than from Algiers) you can discover a military colony built by the Emperor Trajan in AD 100. It’s an extensive site, quite well-preserved that requires a few hours of exploration with a good guide if possible.
Beaches and coastline
Algeria travel guide – Coastline of Algeria
I have to admit that the few beaches I’ve seen in Algeria (very close to the cities), didn’t impress me much. They were small, dirty and cramped with people. However, I know that Algeria has some wonderful locations that are worth to explore with some extra time. Among these:
- Madagh beach near Oran, has a beautiful setting with a mountainous background
- La Crique, near Chlef, is similar to Madagh but smaller
- Messida beach, near El Kala is constellated of archaeological Romand and Numidian ruins
- Boutribicha, not too far from Messida is another beautiful spot
- Plage de Laqitar. Beautiful spot with white cliff and grottoes
For a boat ride or exploration of grottoes in general, the coast of Bejaia is really stunning. Particularly in Cap Carbon/Cap Noire. These are part of the Gouraya National Park that can be explored also from the towering hills dominating the landscape.
Desert Exploring
One of the places that is high on my bucket list for Algeria but quite difficult (and a little dangerous) to visit is the Tassili N’Ajjer National Park. This is a vast desert plateau in the Sahara Desert which makes look Wadi Rum in Jordan like a little cousin. Indeed, this part of the Sahara has some beautiful shades of red and orange with immense rock formations and one of the most important groupings of prehistoric cave art in the world. However, it’s a very remote and difficult to visit area.
Indeed, due to its proximity to Lybia, this part of Algeria is heavily militarised and “not recommended” due to the risk of terrorism. Nevertheless, I encountered almost the same geo-political conditions when I visited the Western Desert in Egypt. Therefore I’m not too concerned. I might got lucky, but my Egypt visit was wonderful with no issues at all. Therefore, if one day I’ll have the chance, I will check also this beautiful area in Algeria. Of course, with a reliable tour operator.
The Ahaggar National Park is a second desert area that is well-worth the visit. Possibly even more remote than Tassili, this place looks like Mars.
Historical cities
Algeria travel guide – Algiers and Annaba
My first visit to Algeria was largely focused on historical cities and Roman ruins. It’s a good first approach to Algeria being such a huge, varied country. If you’ve been to Morocco before, cities won’t be that overwhelming and, despite the strong French influence, there are some similarities with the layouts of Moroccan medinas.
If you are planning a city trip, Algiers should probably at the top of your list. As capital of Algeria, is one of the largest cities with many different sights to visit. From the beautiful UNESCO Casbah to the stunning Jardin d’Essai (that was my favourite highlight). I believe it takes two or three days to appreciates properly.
Annaba was also a favourite of mine. Lots to see from Roman ruins to beautiful mosaics and a lively city. Bejaia has a small centre with a nice well- preserved Casbah. However, most of the principal sights are actually in the surrounding areas. Indeed, the city is mostly visited for the Gouraya National Park. Other interesting places to visit are Constantine, Blida and Bordji Bou. All these cities are in the northern part of Algeria. In fact, the souther part is mostly has a desert landscape with smaller towns.
Plan your trip to Algeria
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