Algeria is the second largest country in Africa with 750 miles of coastline. About 90% of the population live along the coast where there are beaches and resorts that cater to tourists. There are also high mountains covered in cedar and pine, but most of Algeria is the Sahara Desert. Here you will find new industrial centers because of the exploration for oil and the two mountain ranges offer a wide opportunity to engage in all kinds of activities.

Attractions

See the impressive ruins in the capital of Algiers and enjoy the French influences on this city. There are beautiful Turkish houses and palaces to visit as well as the National Museum of Fine Arts, which is one of the best in North Africa.

Resort Excursions

Take an excursion from Algiers to see some of the most luxurious resorts in the country. There are fabulous beaches where you can lie in the sun or take a dip in the ocean. Zeralda has a replica nomad village and at Tipsa, you can visit Roman, Punic and Christian ruins. If you visit in the summer you will see many fig and olive groves, while the same areas are transformed into ski resorts in winter.

Sahara

The most striking feature of Algeria is the Sahara Desert. Visit the M?Zab Valley, where there are seven holy towns and is the domain of the Mozabites. Beni-Isquen is one of these and its four gates are continuously guarded. El Golea is often called the jewel of the desert because of the lush vegetation and abundant supply of water. Tamanrassett is the commercial center of the area and has many shopping centers and accommodations.

Travel to Algeria

With four main international airports, you won?t have any difficulty travelling to Algeria from major European and North American cities. There is also a passenger ferry from France and one from Spain and a daily train from Tunis. Road travel is not possible because of the border closures.

Travel Within Algeria

There are frequent flights from the main airports to smaller ones throughout the country and there is also ferry service between the coastal ports. Trains also operate within the country and the roads are in good condition. If you plan to drive into the desert area, you should make sure that the car you rent is in good running order.

Language

The official languages are Arabic and Berber, although French is also spoken, English is only spoken and understood in the major tourist destinations.

Safety

Due to recent terrorist attacks, you do have to very vigilant when travelling to Algeria. Areas such as the Casbah and the outer suburbs of Algiers should be avoided. Travellers by road in Northern Algeria are susceptible to attacks by terrorists and embassies warn tourists not to travel to the southern areas of the country.

Visa

You do need to have both a tourist Visa and a passport in order to enter Algeria.

Food and Drink

There are many different flavorings used in Algerian food, such as cinnamon, cumin and mint. Couscous is a staple food, which is a type of semolina pasta made from cracked wheat. Stews with lamb or chicken and vegetables are popular, but the traditional diet is more towards using goat as the meat of choice. Mint tea is very popular and the coffee is strong and sweet. Some of the local wines are Medea, Mansourah and Mascara.

Shopping

Leather, rugs, copper and brass are some of the things that tourists like to shop for. You can purchase beautiful Berber carpets and baskets from the Sahara. In Algiers, the best shopping district is the rue Didouche Mourad. This is an Islamic country, so the stores are closed on Fridays.

Entertainment

In the main towns, you will find an assortment of nightclubs and bars. Folk dancing is popular and in Algiers, some of the cinemas show movies with English subtitles.