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Algeria is a geographical and historical colossus that awaits the traveler as one of the best preserved secrets of the Mediterranean. Being the largest country in Africa, this land contains a breathtaking contrast: to the north, hills covered with olive trees and vineyards descend towards turquoise coves and cities of stately French architecture and whitewashed Ottoman mansions; Inside, the Roman forums and triumphal arches compete in scale with those of imperial Rome itself; and to the south, the Sahara unfolds its most breathtaking kingdom through seas of golden dunes, sandstone cathedrals sculpted by the wind and volcanic massifs where the Tuaregs guard the caravan routes. Free from mass tourism, traveling to Algeria is to recover the excitement of the authentic explorer, guided by the dignity, selfless generosity and legendary hospitality of its people.
Capital
Algiers
Population
43.851.044
Langue
Árabe
Sites du patrimoine de l'UNESCO
0
Scores basés sur des données réelles de 0 à 100
In the heart of the Eastern Sahara, near Djanet, the Tassili n'Ajjer plateau is one of the most important sets of prehistoric rock art on the planet. Guided by Tuareg nomads in 4x4 vehicles or on foot, you travel through labyrinths of eroded sandstone rock shaped like 'stone cities' (such as Tikoubaouine and Essendilene) to see thousands of ancient frescoes depicting elephants, giraffes and enigmatic anthropomorphic figures ('the round-headed gods') painted when the Sahara was a fertile savanna.
Built on a steep hill facing the sea, the Kasbah is a living medina declared a World Heritage Site. Descending its steep staircases between whitewashed houses supported by wooden beams, Moorish tiled fountains and 16th century Ottoman palaces (such as the Dar Hassan Pacha Palace) allows you to immerse yourself in the history of Barbary corsairs and the scenes of the Battle of Algiers.
Constantine, the 'City of Bridges' and one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, rises spectacularly on a limestone plateau cut by a chasm more than 200 meters deep excavated by the Rhumel River. Crossing the dizzying Sidi M'Cid Bridge or the Sidi Rached Bridge on foot offers breathtaking panoramic views of the canyon, gorges and the monumental War Memorial.
Deep in the southern desert near Tamanrasset, the Hoggar volcanic massif displays basaltic spiers and lava chimneys that look like they belong on another planet. Ascending at dusk or dawn to the summit of Assekrem (2,726 m), where the priest and hermit Charles de Foucauld built his spiritual retreat in 1911, offers one of the most breathtaking and silent sunrises on the planet over an infinite sea of black rock mountains.
Located on the threshold of the Sahara, the M'Zab Valley is home to the 'Mozabite Pentapolis' (five fortified cities or *ksour*, including Ghardaïa and Beni Isguen). Founded in the 11th century by the Ibadi Muslim community, its pastel-colored cubic houses topped by conical minarets and narrow streets designed to preserve communal intimacy inspired avant-garde architects such as Le Corbusier.
Timgad (the 'Pompeii of Africa') was founded by Emperor Trajan in 100 AD. It preserves with astonishing clarity its layout in a perfect Roman military grid, its colossal Arch of Trajan, its theater and its baths. Towards the north, Djemila (ancient Cuicul) impresses by adapting classical urbanism to a green mountain slope, crowned by its Severian Forum, pagan temples and a museum full of mosaics of extraordinary quality.
Algerian cuisine is one of the most sophisticated, rich and varied in North Africa. Result of the millennia-old cross between the Berber cuisine of the land, the subtle Ottoman heritage, the Andalusian refinements and the Mediterranean contributions, it stands out for its masterful mastery of wheat semolina, slow-cooked spicy soups, crispy puff pastries and pastries scented with orange blossom water and pure honey.
Couscous is the supreme identity dish, declared Intangible Heritage by UNESCO. It is made by hand rolling durum wheat semolina and steaming it over the broth itself in a special container ('couscoussier'), varying its preparation from savory versions with lamb and chickpeas to sweet ones like 'Seffa'.
Complex mixtures such as 'Ras el Hanout', cinnamon stick, sweet paprika, fresh coriander, peppermint and caraway add depth to the broths without being excessively spicy, often balanced with floral touches of orange blossom water ('Mazhar').
Fluffy grains of wheat semolina steamed and flavored with clarified butter ('smen'), topped with tender pieces of lamb or chicken cooked in a red or white sauce scented with cinnamon, zucchini, turnips, carrots and young chickpeas.
Refined specialty of the capital, traditionally consumed during religious festivities. It consists of very fine handmade flat noodles steamed, served with tender chicken meat and sweet turnip quarters in a delicate and creamy white sauce flavored with ground cinnamon.
The most emblematic traditional soup in the country, undisputed queen of the month of Ramadan. Thick, comforting broth made from toasted and cracked green wheat ('frik'), finely chopped lamb, ripe tomato, chickpeas, celery and plenty of fresh coriander and mint, accompanied by 'boureks' (crispy puff pastries filled with seasoned minced meat, mashed potato, parsley and cheese).
Festive dish originating from eastern Sahara. Thin sheets of unleavened bread dough ('rougag') crumbled by hand into small pieces, bathed with a hearty and spicy stew of lamb or beef in a red sauce of concentrated tomato, chickpeas, zucchini and dried chilies.
Exquisite bittersweet ceremonial dish of Andalusian-Ottoman origin made with tender pieces of lamb meat cooked over low heat in a golden syrup flavored with orange blossom water, cinnamon sticks, sweet prunes, apricot kernels and crunchy toasted almonds.
The most popular and loved street food in Algeria. Flat packages of very thin and elastic wheat semolina dough folded into square layers and cooked on a hot iron griddle, filled with a juicy sauté of caramelized onion, ripe tomato, garlic and spicy harissa paste.
The welcome ritual par excellence. Green tea leaves patiently cooked with plenty of fresh mint and cane sugar, poured repeatedly from high altitude to oxygenate it and create a dense layer of creamy foam ('the crown') in the glass.
The oldest national soft drink brand in Africa, founded in Algiers in 1878. Highlights include 'Selecto', a very popular dark fizzy soft drink with caramelized apple flavor and natural extracts, and the classic 'Hamoud' lemonade.
Traditional and very refreshing artisanal drink made with freshly squeezed natural lemon juice, pure orange blossom water, whole milk, fresh lemon slices, sugar and vanilla, served very cold.
Intense black coffee cooked in the traditional style in a copper coffee pot ('jezve'), to which a few drops of distilled orange blossom water and a pinch of cardamom or cinnamon are added before serving.
The most famous national sweet. Golden dough of wheat semolina kneaded with clarified butter and orange blossom water, filled with an aromatic paste of Deglet Nour dates or ground almonds with cinnamon, baked or fried and dipped in hot pure honey.
Dense, melty cake made with coarse wheat semolina, sugar and ground almonds, baked in the oven until golden brown and generously soaked in an orange blossom-scented syrup, topped with a whole toasted almond.
Jewels of Algerian haute confectionery. Small individual tartlets made of thin crispy dough filled with a spongy dough of finely ground almonds with lemon zest, sugar and orange blossom water, decorated with filigrees of dough and dipped in honey.
Festive and comforting dessert prepared to celebrate the birth of a baby or religious festivities. It consists of a hot pasta made with wheat semolina toasted in a pan mixed with melted butter and pure honey, decorated with ground cinnamon and dried fruits.
Algeria displays a colossal wealth of monuments and landscapes: from sandstone jungles and dune seas in the Sahara to intact Roman forums, Ottoman palaces and Mediterranean ports.
Djanet and the Tassili n'Ajjer plateau offer expeditions among red dunes, rock forests and rock carvings; Tamanrasset and the Hoggar massif dazzle with their volcanic landscapes and the Assekrem viewpoint; while northern oases like Taghit (in the Great Western Erg) captivate with their palm groves and adobe fortresses (*ksour*).
Algeria's Roman ruins are among the most complete in the world: the gridded military city of Timgad; the monumental Djemila with its mountain temples; Tipasa with its basilicas and forums on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea; and Cherchell, former capital of Caesarian Mauretania with its museum of classical sculptures.
The Pentapolis of the M'Zab Valley (Ghardaïa, Beni Isguen, Melika, Bounoura and El Atteuf) forms a unique medieval urban complex in the desert, with its traditional market squares, pyramidal minarets and ancestral irrigation and water distribution systems in the palm groves.
Constantine dazzles with its walkways and bridges suspended over the gorges of the Rhumel River (Sidi M'Cid Bridge, El Kantara Bridge, Mellah Slimane Bridge), the lavish Ahmed Bey Palace with its tiled patios and Andalusian gardens, and the monumental Emir Abdelkader Mosque.
The capital offers the mystique of the Ottoman Kasbah, the imposing Basilica of Our Lady of Africa on the sea cliffs, the Martyrs' Monument (Makam El Chahid) overlooking the bay, the Hamma Test Garden (a monumental 19th century botanical garden) and its neoclassical avenues facing the port.
Oran, the country's second city, combines its vibrant music scene and nightlife on the coast with a rich historical legacy: the Holy Cross Fort perched on Mount Murdjadjo, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (now a public library) and the lively maritime boulevard of the Sea Front.
To visit the northern regions (Algiers, Constantine, Oran) foreign travelers need to apply for a standard tourist visa at the Algerian consulate in their country of origin. To travel to the South Sahara (Djanet, Tamanrasset, Taghit), the government offers a 'Visa on Arrival' system managed compulsorily through an authorized local Algerian travel agency that issues the official invitation letter.
The official currency is the Algerian Dinar (DZD). The use of international credit cards is extremely limited to large international chain hotels in Algiers or Oran. It is essential to travel with enough cash in Euros (€) or Dollars (USD), which can be legally exchanged at official banks and exchange offices, or use the widespread informal exchange market ('Square Port-Saïd' in Algiers).
Given the colossal size of the country, the fastest and most efficient way to connect the cities of the north with the Saharan oases and enclaves of the south is the extensive domestic flight network of the national airline Air Algérie. For intercity routes in the north (such as Algiers-Oran or Algiers-Constantine), the national railway company (SNTF) operates modern, comfortable and punctual trains.
Algeria is a traditional and very respectful Muslim society. It is recommended to dress decorously (covering shoulders and knees, especially in medinas, mosques and rural or southern areas). Hospitality towards foreigners is a sacred value: it is very common for locals to offer tea, selfless help and friendly conversations. It is advisable to ask permission before photographing local people.
This guide is your key to one of the most impressive, monumental and authentic journeys that can be undertaken in the Arab and Mediterranean world. Algeria will captivate you with the infinite silence of its Saharan nights under millions of stars, the intact grandeur of its Roman cities and the sincere and protective nobility of its people. Plan your expeditions in advance, open your senses to the aromas of its cuisine and get ready to discover the untamed heart of North Africa. Marhaban bikum fi Al Yazair (Welcome to Algeria)!
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