Algeria is one of the most interesting countries in North Africa and one of the friendliest. Yet, it remains an unknown destination. Pristine Sahara, gorgeous coastline, beautiful cultural sites, bustling cities, and mouth-watering food, Algeria is the place to visit if you want to get off the beaten track.
Located in North Africa, right between Tunisia and Morocco, Algeria is truly a unique and authentic place if you want to experience an untouched country.
You must visit Algeria now, and here’s why:
1. Algeria will surprise you
People commonly mistake Algeria as a gigantic desert that lacks infrastructure. That’s not true. Algeria is one of the most developed countries in Africa. It has some of the major cities in the Mediterranean and is dotted with a vast transportation system which includes metro, tram, and trains.
Since Algeria was a French colony, wandering around in Algiers and other coastal cities will make you forget that you are in Africa. It looks like you are in a European city instead.
➵ Read: 2-week Algeria itinerary
2. It’s the largest country in Africa
Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and hence offers a wide variety of natural environments to explore, and a beautiful cultural diversity to witness. Traveling Algeria may seem like traveling from country to country. The landscapes, language, food, people, and clothing differ widely from province to province and from one city to another.
3. Algeria is a destination for adventurous people
A trip to Algeria is not for everyone, at least for the moment. It’s the sort of destinations in which you can have a real adventure but not a relaxing vacation. Why? You won’t find a wide range of resorts or official bus timetables. However, the country has a very good highways and roads system to enjoy a road trip and catch the changing landscapes and colors.
4. Algerians are incredibly friendly
One of the best things about traveling to Algeria is that wherever you go, you will be welcomed by the locals. Algerians tend to be hospitable and open to talking to strangers. Some of them will even open their homes and invite you to enjoy some food or mint tea. So, if you are traveling to Algeria, don’t be surprised if someone invites you over.
➵ Must read: The Ultimate Algeria Travel Guide
5. The Sahara desert is majestic
The Algerian Sahara is huge, it actually covers 84% of the entire country, and hence offers a wide variety of landscapes ranging from semi-arid to arid and from vast stretch of sand dunes to rocky and stony plateaus.
In addition to the majestic landscapes, the Algerian Sahara is composed of brilliant and varied colors, that not only includes beige sand, but even reddish shades, golden-orange dunes, and brown rocks.
6. Algeria isn’t just about the desert
Although the Sahara might be the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about the landscapes in Algeria, the country has so much more to offer visitors. Its gorgeous coastline along the Mediterranean is among the longest as it stretches about 1600km (994 miles) in length. The country is also dotted with mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, and archeological sites. It’s even said that Algeria is the place that has the highest number of Roman ruins after Rome.
7. Algerian food is delicious
Be ready to gain a bit of weight if you are planning a trip to Algeria because the food is simply delightful. Algerian cuisine is a melting pot of influences, ranging from main dishes that originated from North-African-Berber- Mediterranean ancestors and Ottomans to other classic recipes with French and Spanish roots. Each province in Algeria has its own cuisine and every town, village and city has its own couscous recipe. Make sure to try as many dishes as you can while you’re here, but of course, start your culinary experience with couscous. If you are vegetarian or vegan, you should try Hmis, Mesfouf (vegetarian couscous), Chtitha Batata, and Mhadjeb.
8. The history of Algeria can be told through its buildings
Love historical sites? Here’s another reason to visit Algeria. Walking around the capital city of Algiers is like visiting an outdoor architectural museum. Its diverse architecture is a reflection of its rich history from the Casbah with its Moorish Palaces and old Ottoman-style mosques to Haussmann and French-colonial style architecture. There are also other cities like Oran and Constantine that should not be missed.
➵ Read: Things to know before visiting Algiers
9. Algeria is a tourist-free country
Since Algeria is still an undiscovered destination, you can travel for days without seeing any other tourist. You will feel like you are one of the few people experiencing the authenticity and essence of this country, untouched by tourism.
10. It is a safe country
One of the things you need to know before visiting Algeria is that the country is a safe place to travel in. Health concerns are low and the country has not experienced a single terrorist attack after the hostage crisis of 2013 in a gas facility near the Algeria-Libya border.
Yes, Algeria borders with some unsafe countries, but don’t forget that Algeria is huge and the tourist destinations are not close to the borders.
11. Algeria is a completely unique country
You will probably never visit another country like Algeria. It is a beautiful contradiction of charm and grit alike and it proudly celebrates its own unique heritage and history. Algeria even has its very own dialect.
Good to know: You probably think that Algerians speak Arabic, right? But the truth is that the Algerian dialect originates from Arabic and can be a language in its own right. Over the centuries, the Algerian dialect has incorporated many words derived from French, Spanish and Turkish-Ottoman. To confuse matters further, each region in Algeria has its own accent and pronunciation, some of them have even their own vocabulary that is not used anywhere else in the country.
Algerians are proud of their dialect, so try to learn a few words apart from the basic Arabic ones.
➵ Read more: Useful Algerian phrases and words
Does Algeria sound like a country you want to visit?
Thank you for making it all the way down to the end of the post. I hope you found these 11 reasons to visit Algeria useful. If there is anything else you would like to know about visiting Algeria, ask me in the comments section below.
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11 great reasons to visit Algeria
nin says
I have visited nearly all cities and scenic attractions in Algeria in absolute all regions over the time of several years. If one wanted to emphasize what is particularly impressive then I would say the great differences. Constantine, incredible with its suspension bridges, Oran magnificent because of its influences, unforgettable cityscapes in El Oued, Touggourt, Gardaia, unimaginable landscapes in Bechar, Beni Abbes, Timmimoune, Tamanrasset, the unique Kabylia, Anaba, Tlemcen.
Beaches are often totally filthy compared to the other side of the Mediterranean, with mountains of garbage. There is also obviously not enough regulation to prevent small shacks directly on the beach. I’d say that someone who likes a very clean environment and attaches great importance to hygiene, a trip to Algeria could well cause considerable problems. Today, I would not want to return again.
I have never made an organized trip and have always traveled in a group of friends or colleagues, by car, but I think that one must evaluate the issue of safety relatively. Under no circumstances should one assume that a trip to or in Algeria would be a safe one. The chances of handbag snatching or burglary are quite considerably high. One should carry money at all only on the body and also one should look very carefully with the choice of the accommodation.
Nesrine says
Hi, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Indeed, Algeria is spoiled with a variety of landscapes, unfortunately, environmental hygiene is still a big problem as sustainable behavior is not yet in the mindset of the local people.
Regarding Safety, I don’t want to make Algeria seems like a scary place! People who want to visit it are probably used to traveling to unfamiliar destinations. It’s not a destination that comes to mind when you don’t travel a lot. Also, travelers might know that they have to be aware of their surroundings and the climate of safety in some countries.
You had your experience, that’s great and we should not discourage people from having their own experience too either in Algeria or in another part of the world.
Maricela Hinojosa- Galicia says
I would like to visit El Oued, Algeria next year.
Jouri says
we would love to have you here! welcome anytime <3
Carmen says
I am an American o had the chance to visit Algeria not onec but twice it’s so beautiful amazing and absolutely you can’t jaust see it all in one vacation or two it’t incredibly large i love it, and the people are so friendly and cute, if had the chance to visit one more time i will do it of course.
Mohamed says
Algeria is so underrated. but it’s beautiful! I recommend visiting it!
imad says
i my self am an Algerian and i hate the fact that i never had the chance to visit the sahara desert it’s truly magnificent and beautiful, thus i strongly recommend to all foreigners out there to come and visit without any hesitation, you are welcomed in our country !
khadidja says
Good and good