Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Algeria
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Protest involvement
Do not participate in political protests or make critical comments about the government on social media. Doing so can result in authorities preventing you from leaving the country.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Polio
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Polio, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Algeria must obtain a visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries. The visa must be obtained from one of the Algerian diplomatic missions or on arrival for certain organized tours.
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Algeria. Terrorist attacks have often focused on the Algerian state, but attacks could be indiscriminate and target foreign nationals. There is also a risk that lone actors target foreign nationals. You should remain vigilant at all times and follow specific advice and direction of the local security authorities. The threat from terrorism is higher in some parts of the country, including: the southern border, where the kidnap risk is concentrated the Libyan and Tunisian borders rural, and in particular mountainous, areas in the north and between Tunisia and Algiers the Sahara The Algerian authorities continue to conduct effective counter-terrorism operations to disrupt terrorist activity but there’s a continuing threat of further terrorist attacks. The terrorist threat comes from individuals inspired by Islamist extremist and anti-Semitic ideology and established groups, such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb ( AQIM ). These groups have been active across the country and likely consider Western nationals legitimate targets. Recent significant attacks include: in 2021, a solider killed by an improvised explosive device ( IED ) in Tlemcen Province in 2021, 2 soldiers killed by an IED in Ain Defla Province in 2021, 2 soldiers killed in Tipasa Province
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Sexual acts between people of the same sex are illegal in Algeria. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Do not travel to or in Saharan Algeria overland if you have no experience with driving in desert areas or knowledge of Algerian roads.
- •Do not travel after nightfall; travel by plane if you can, instead of by car; travel with public transport; avoid minor roads; ask the police or gendarmes if you are unsure about your surroundings.
- •Travel is heavily discouraged for Jews, as anti-Semitism is ubiquitous in Algeria. Do not speak about any aspects of Judaism or Israel, and if you are Jewish, don't reveal it.
- •Political unrest: Since gaining independence in 1962, Algeria has experienced a long history of political instability.
- •Do not take part in political protests or make strongly worded comments against the government on social media; people, including dual citizens of Algeria, have been prevented from leaving the country for doing that.
- •Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings; if you see any signs of a protest or disturbance, you should leave the area immediately and seek a safe place.
Staying healthy
- •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 ma…
- •Algeria is sometimes struck by localized power cuts during summer in the south, which means that refrigerated foods may go bad.
- •Mosquitoes are also a problem in Algeria, but they are just a nuisance, as malaria is not common. In urban areas, there is periodic city-wide spraying against mosquitoes.
- •Do not expect very good water quality in southern Algeria. Buy bottles of water instead of drinking tap water: they are cheap at DA40 for 1.5L, so 5L of good water costs less than US$1.
- •Hygiene standards in Algeria are generally low, and litter is widespread—even in remote areas.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers report that Algeria is generally safe for tourists, particularly in major destinations, though some areas are best avoided. Visitors emphasize that the country is not plagued by the aggressive touts or common tourist scams frequently found in other North African hubs. In the M'Zab valley, local customs require visitors to be accompanied by a local guide to navigate the ancient towns. While black market currency exchange exists, it is conducted openly enough that police presence provides a sense of security against counterfeit notes. Travelers should respect strict local norms, such as avoiding photography of people in traditional areas, and rely on local guides for desert and cultural excursions.
“Please do not worry about safety. Go and enjoy Algeria before it becomes a victim of mass tourism.
— r/travel
“Our superb guide Said clearly had faith in our abilities, so he just told us to explore and come back after an hour. This would be disastrous in Cairo or Istanbul, but here we didn't feel unsafe or about to be conned at all.
— r/travel
“While parts of Algeria are best avoided, most tourist destinations are very safe.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 1548 / ambulance: 14 / fire: 14
Cash vs. Card
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.
Zoom in
One Algeria city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09