Algeria

Algeria is not a country you can just show up to and get in; most visitors require a visa to visit the country and the government hasn't exactly opened up the country to the rest of the world. An Algerian visa requires reams of paperwork and often back-and-forth with consular officials. Merely obtaining one is often an accomplishment in its own right.

Algerian currency is the Algerian dinar, denoted by the symbol "د.ج" or "DA" (ISO code: DZD). There are coins of DA5, DA10, DA20, DA50, DA100 and DA200. Banknotes are issued in denominations of DA100, DA200, DA500, DA1,000 and DA2,000.

With an area of , travelling between major cities in Algeria can take a lot of time and can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

By plane

Due to the country's immense geography, the most convenient way of travelling long distances is by plane. That said, schedules are more guidelines in Algeria; expect delays.

The official languages of Algeria are Arabic and Berber. Many Algerians are multilingual. Algerian Arabic (also known as Darja), the local vernacular, is spoken natively by about 75-80% of the population. Algerian Arabic is often considered to be more difficult than other dialects due to its unique features and regional variations. The dialect is used primarily in informal and spoken communication and is not typically used for formal or written communication. If you don't know the local dialect,…

Do not travel to or in Saharan Algeria overland if you have no experience with driving in desert areas or knowledge of Algerian roads. The area is sparsely populated (which means help is limited), and you can get lost easily if you don't know what you're doing. For this reason, access the area by plane.

Although Algeria has a universal healthcare system that covers all citizens and provides free medical care at public facilities, the public healthcare system is notorious for being poorly maintained; the system has been beset by underfunding, understaffing, overcrowding, corruption, and mismanagement. In addition, expect little to no help if you're not proficient in Arabic, French, or both. Medical care in Southern Algeria, particularly in the Sahara, is virtually non-existent. If you’re planning a trip to the area, bring your own medical supplies.

Mobile phone connections

There are 3 main mobile services in Algeria - Mobilis, Djezzy and Ooredoo. It is easy to procure a pre-paid sim card for one of these operators at any airport, although Ooredoo generally has the fastest speeds. In September 2025, a SIM card with 100 GB of data was sold by Ooredoo for DA2500. There are several general stores all over the country which will sell you refill cards for these carriers.

Algerians share a common culture with other North Africans and Arabs in the Gulf; therefore, much of what is considered good manners in the Arab world applies to Algeria. Honour is an important cornerstone of Algerian culture and forms the basis of all relationships in the country. Algerians believe that turning down someone's request causes them to lose honour. Be smart about what you say openly — criticising someone in public or making someone look bad in front of others can cause an Algerian to lose their honour, i.e., lose face. While it's not a crime to publicly shame someone in Algeria,…