Why Algeria for a Honeymoon
Algeria suits couples who would trade a swim-up bar for a sunset in an empty Roman theater. It holds seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including three remarkable Roman towns: Tipasa on the sea, Djemila in the mountains near Sétif and Timgad, a grid-planned city laid out for retired legionaries. You may have them almost to yourselves.
The cities are just as compelling. Algiers mixes a hillside Ottoman Casbah with grand French boulevards and one of the world's largest mosques. Constantine is built on cliffs above the Rhumel gorge. Oran, the second city, is the home of raï music and has a breezy seaside feel. Prices outside top hotels are low, the food is generous and the welcome is sincere.
Safety in Practice
Level 2 means real but manageable risk in the places tourists usually go. The State Department's Do Not Travel areas are rural zones within 50 kilometers of the Tunisian border, within 250 kilometers of the Libyan, Nigerien, Malian and Mauritanian borders, plus any overland travel in the Sahara. The US Embassy's ability to help outside Algiers province is limited by Algerian restrictions on its staff.
That last rule matters for the famous desert trips. Treks in the Tassili n'Ajjer near Djanet and 4x4 journeys in the Hoggar involve exactly the kind of overland desert travel the advisory warns against. Couples who go should use an established agency and understand the risk. Flying into Ghardaïa or Timimoun is the gentler way to see the desert.
Best Time to Visit
For the north, the sweet spots are April to June and September to October. Algiers sees highs in the upper 60s to low 80s °F in those months, wildflowers cover the Roman sites in spring and the sea is warm by late September. July and August are hot and humid, with beaches crowded by Algerian families on holiday.
Winter is mild on the coast but wet. November is the rainiest month in Algiers. It is, however, the season for the Sahara, where October through March brings warm days and cold nights. Avoid the deep south from May to September, when temperatures become dangerous. Ramadan slows the pace of daily life and many restaurants close until sunset.
Where to Go
Start in Algiers, which our Algiers guide covers in detail. Its Casbah, waterfront and hilltop basilica fill two or three days. Tipasa is an easy day trip.
Constantine is the second must. Walk its suspension bridges at dusk and take day trips to Djemila, whose forum sits on a mountain saddle. Timgad's long colonnaded streets make a second excursion. Oran and nearby Tlemcen, with its finely carved medieval mosques, make a western loop. The Kabylie coast around Béjaïa has cliffs, coves and Cap Carbon lighthouse. For a taste of the desert without long overland drives, fly to Ghardaïa in the M'zab valley, five fortified hilltop towns of pale ochre houses, or to Timimoun with its red mud architecture.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
- Days 1–3: Algiers. Casbah walk with a local guide, Notre Dame d'Afrique at sunset, a day trip to Tipasa and the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania.
- Days 4–6: Fly or take the train to Constantine. Bridges and the Ahmed Bey palace, then day trips to Djemila and Timgad with a driver.
- Days 7–8: Fly to Ghardaïa with a licensed guide for the M'zab valley towns.
- Days 9–10: Return north to Oran for seafood, the Santa Cruz fort view and a final evening on the Front de Mer.
Domestic flights save long drives but change often, so build in slack and confirm each leg a few days ahead.
Budget and Costs
Algeria is inexpensive day to day and pricier than expected for good hotels. As a rough guide, international chain hotels in Algiers and Oran tend to run from about $150 to $300 a night, while smaller hotels elsewhere are much cheaper but basic. A private driver and guide for a day of Roman sites often costs somewhere around $100 to $200.
Restaurant meals, train tickets and museum fees are low by US standards. Budget extra for guides and agency costs if you head south. Bring cash, since ATMs and card acceptance are patchy. Change money only at banks or official bureaus. These figures are approximate.
Getting There and Around
Flying from the US means one connection, most often in Paris, Marseille, Frankfurt, Rome, Madrid or Istanbul. Air Algérie, Air France, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, Iberia and Turkish Airlines are among the carriers that serve Algiers. Several also fly to Oran and Constantine.
Inside the country, Air Algérie's domestic network is the realistic way to cover long distances. Trains link Algiers with Oran and Constantine and are comfortable on the main lines. Roads are good in the north, though police checkpoints are frequent. Hiring a driver is easier than renting a car. In some regions authorities may ask foreigners to travel with an escort.
Culture and Etiquette
Algerians are proud and hospitable. Many are curious about Americans because so few visit. A few words of French or Arabic go a long way. Dress modestly in cities and especially in the M'zab valley, where local custom is conservative and photographs of residents, especially women, are not welcome.
Alcohol is legal and available in hotels, some restaurants and licensed shops. Algeria still makes wine in the hills around Mascara and Tlemcen. Public affection is frowned upon, so keep it to holding hands. Women can expect some staring and the occasional comment in busy streets, which is easier with a guide along. Avoid political discussion with strangers. The weekend is Friday and Saturday. Many shops close at midday on Friday for prayers.
Quick tips
- Book a licensed local guide for the Casbah and the Roman sites; they smooth police checkpoints and bring the history to life.
- Bring euros or dollars in cash to exchange at banks; cards work mainly in large hotels and dinars cannot leave the country.
- Tell your hotel or guide about road trips outside the cities, since police may want to know your route.
