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Algeria✨ 10 best things to do in Algeria

Things to do in Algeria

1. Wander the Casbah of AlgiersLose yourself in the steep, whitewashed alleys of this UNESCO-listed Ottoman-era citadel above the bay.
2. Walk the streets of TimgadStroll a near-complete Roman grid town with its triumphal arch, theatre and colonnaded avenues on a high plateau.
3. Trek the Tassili n'AjjerHike among sandstone forests and prehistoric paintings of cattle, giraffes and dancers in the deep Sahara.
4. Explore the M'zab valleyVisit Ghardaïa's five fortified hilltop towns, whose clean geometric architecture has inspired modern architects.
5. Watch sunset at AssekremClimb to the Hoggar mountains' famous viewpoint for a sunrise or sunset over a sea of volcanic peaks.
6. Cross Constantine's bridgesWalk the suspension bridges strung across the dizzying Rhumel gorge in the 'City of Bridges'.
7. Picnic among Djemila's ruinsEnjoy mountain views from a Roman town draped over a ridge, complete with mosaics in its small museum.
8. Swim on the Kabylie coastFind coves, cliffs and pine-backed beaches around Béjaïa and Tigzirt.
9. Sleep under Saharan starsCamp among the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental near Taghit or Timimoun for silence and blazing night skies.
10. Eat couscous on a FridayJoin locals for the weekly family couscous and try regional dishes such as chakhchoukha and rechta.

Algeria🗺️ Where to visit in Algeria

Where to go in Algeria

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  AlgiersCapital · Mediterranean coastA grand bay of French-era boulevards, the historic Casbah and the hilltop Notre-Dame d'Afrique basilica.
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  OranNorthwest · coast & raï musicA lively port city with Spanish forts, sea views and the birthplace of raï music.
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  ConstantineNortheast · gorge cityPerched on a rocky plateau split by a deep gorge, it is one of the most dramatic cities in North Africa.
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  Timgad & BatnaAurès · Roman ruinsTimgad is a vast, superbly preserved Roman town; the Aurès mountains around it hide Amazigh villages.
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  TipasaCoast · Roman seaside ruinsRuins scattered among pines right on the shore make this an easy, beautiful day trip from Algiers.
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  GhardaïaM'zab valley · desert townsA UNESCO-listed group of oasis towns with a unique, centuries-old way of life and architecture.
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  Djanet & Tassili n'AjjerDeep south · desert & rock artGateway to one of the world's greatest open-air galleries of prehistoric art amid surreal rock landscapes.
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  Tamanrasset & the HoggarDeep south · mountainsBase for the volcanic Hoggar (Ahaggar) range and Tuareg culture, including the Assekrem hermitage.

Algeria🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Algeria

Best time to visit Algeria

The north has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, while the high plateaus are cooler and can see snow. The Sahara, covering most of the country, is hot and dry with big day-night temperature swings and is best visited from October to March.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Algiers (approximate averages).

Algeria🎉 Festivals & events in Algeria

• January
  Yennayer (Amazigh New Year)A national holiday celebrating the Amazigh new year with family feasts, crafts and cultural events, especially in Kabylie.
• Varies (Islamic month of Muharram)
  SebibaA centuries-old Tuareg festival in Djanet with drumming, chanting and rival groups in ceremonial dress, recognised by UNESCO.
• 5 July
  Independence DayFlags, fireworks and concerts mark the anniversary of independence across the country.
• Varies (end of Ramadan)
  Eid al-FitrThe end of the fasting month brings family gatherings, new clothes and trays of sweet pastries.

Algeria🧭 Algeria itinerary ideas

How many days in Algeria?

Algeria🎒 Backpacking Algeria – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $30–50 a day

• Long-distance buses and shared taxis connect most northern cities cheaply; the coastal train between Oran, Algiers and Constantine is comfortable and inexpensive.
• Internal flights are the realistic way to reach the deep south, and desert trips such as Tassili or the Hoggar generally require a local agency and guide.
• Hostels are rare, so look for simple family-run hotels near city centres and bus stations.
• Street food is excellent and cheap: try garantita (chickpea flan), mhajeb (stuffed flatbread) and fresh bread from bakeries.
• Learn a few words of Arabic or French – English is not widely spoken, and locals are often keen to help.

Algeria🛡️ Safety & money in Algeria

Emergency: 17 police · 14 fire & ambulance

Algeria🛬 Getting to Algeria

Most visitors fly into Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport, with further international flights to Oran and Constantine. Ferries link Algiers and Oran with ports in France and Spain; the land border with Morocco has long been closed.

✈️ Cheap flights to Algeria: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Algeria💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Algeria

• Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area, and more than 80 percent of it is desert.
• The Tassili n'Ajjer holds one of the largest collections of prehistoric rock art in the world.
• Saint Augustine, one of Christianity's most influential thinkers, was born in what is now Souk Ahras.
• The author Albert Camus grew up in Algiers and set several of his works in the country.
• Amazigh (Tamazight) is an official language alongside Arabic.

Algeria❓ Algeria travel FAQ

Algeria travel questions