Travel in Algeria
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Informations on Algeria: history, politics, economy, culture, Did you mean: Algeria
For an other version of this travel guide, please visit Ooaj.com: Travel in Algeria + Hotels
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Algiers |
| Government | republic |
| Currency | Algerian dinar (DZD) |
| Area | total: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km |
| Population | 32,277,942 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects |
| Religion | Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% |
Algeria is a country in North Africa. It has a Mediterranean Sea coastline in the north. It is surrounded by Morocco to the northwest, Tunisia to the northeast, Libya to the east, Niger to the southeast, Mali to the southwest, Mauritania and Western Sahara to the west. After Sudan, Algeria is the second-largest country in Africa.
| Table of contents |
Regions
- Administrative divisions
- 48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain_Defla, Ain_Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El_Bayadh, El_Oued, El_Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk_Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi_Ouzou, Tlemcen
Cities
- Algiers - Capital
Ports and harbors
- Annaba
- Arzew
- Bejaia
- Beni_Saf
- Dellys
- Djendjene
- Ghazaouet
- Jijel
- Mostaganem
- Oran
- Skikda
- Tenes
Other destinations
Understand
Much of recent Algerian history has been dominated by civil wars and subsequent warlordism. That said, the country is gradually restoring order and will prove an interesting - if difficult - destination.
Electricity
Officially 220V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack an adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Algeria.
Get in
By plane
Regular direct flights from:
Spain: Barcelona, Madrid & Alicante
France: All major cities
Italy: Rome & Milan
UK: London
Germany: Frankfurt
Morocco: Casablanca
Tunisia: Tunis
By train
You can reach Algeria by train from Tunisia, but you will have to change the train at the border post. Trains are reasonable, but less comfortable than in Europe.
By car
The only realistic way to reach Algeria by car is across the Tunisian border, as the Moroccan border is closed. The Mauritanian and Malian borders present some security problems as well. Note that if you want to get into Algeria from Niger or from the Tozeur border post in southern Tunisia you'll have to contract an official guide to go with you across the Saharian routes, otherway police will not allow you to get into Algeria with your car. No problem at all if you want to get into Algeria from Tunisian border posts in the north.
By bus
By boat
Regular sails from:
Spain: Alicante to Algiers and Oran. Almeria to Gazhaouet Barcelona to Algiers and Oran.
France: Marseilles to almost every Algerian harbour.
Get around
Talk
The official language is Arabic. Be warned, though, that North African (Maghrebi) Arabic is quite a different dialect to that spoken in other parts of the Arab World (such as Egypt). The influence of the French language has resulted in different vocabulary and pronunciation.
French, the former colonial language, is still widely spoken, particularly in urban areas.
Algeria's Berber (Tamazigh) population also hold strongly to their own languages, which are different again.
Buy
Dates
Ghardaia Carpets
Kabyl jewelry and pottery
Eat
Couscous
Chorba (soup with meat)
Rechta
Checkchouka
Mechoui
Qalb El Looz (dessert)
Drink
Sleep
Learn
Work
Stay safe
Despite many Western Foreign Offices will advise you to travel to Algeria you must know that the terrorism is, at April 2005, focused only in certain areas by the evening. These are: Chlef, Ain Defla, Relizane, Laarba, Medea and Collo. Do not travel by night, take the flight if you can instead of car, avoid the minor roads, be informed by the police if not sure about a region and nothing will happen.
Stay healthy
Respect
As in all of North Africa, the majority religion is Islam and the normal religious prohibitions and attitudes will apply. When visiting a mosque, for example, be sure to remove your shoes as well as dress conservatively. The exact situation regarding alcohol is not the same around the country, some conservative cities do not have any bars or liquor stores. Keep in mind to only drink at home or in a bar, never on the street.
Also, given the recent political strife, talking politics is probably not advisable.
Contact
External links
http://lexicorient.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct-frame.pl?http://www.lexicorient.com/e.o/atlas/algeria02.htm Part of the Encyclopaedia of Orient. Contents: Political situation, Economy, Health & Education, Religions & Peoples, History and also information about special items and places searching by an index.
http://www.webtourist.net/countryinformation/tourist-information-about-algeria.html (Algeria city guides and Algeria tourist information)
http://www.tutiempo.net/tiempo/Djanet/DAAJ.htm (weather in Djanet with one week weather forecast. Also latitude, the moons, time for sunshine and sunset, etc.)
http://www.djanet.org/ (with information about this village (South East of Argelia), the Touaregs, the Tassili, Tourism, art and culture, etc.)