What Travellers Should Know About Algeria
Algeria is one of North Africa's least-touristed countries despite remarkable attractions. The scam landscape is shaped by its cash-only economy, bureaucratic visa regime, and limited tourist infrastructure.
Common Scams in Algeria
Algeria's tourist scams range from straightforward financial tricks to legally serious currency traps. Most are avoidable with awareness.
Men openly offer currency exchange near the Grande Poste in Algiers, outside banks, and in busy souks. The rate offered is noticeably better than official — which is the point. Risks include: counterfeit dinars that look authentic; fast-count tricks that deliver far fewer notes than agreed; and plainclothes police operating sting operations. A conviction can mean arrest, heavy fines, and deportation.
- Exchange only at official banks (BNA, BEA, CPA) or your hotel's exchange desk.
- Decline all approaches from street money changers — do not engage, even to check the rate.
- Declare all foreign currency on arrival as required — keep your declaration slip.
- The rate difference is not worth the legal and personal safety risk.
Unofficial taxis at Algiers Boumediene Airport charge tourists dramatically inflated fares — €50–80 for a journey that should cost DZD 1,500–2,500 (~€10–17). Drivers at arrivals target visibly foreign travellers, often claiming there is a fixed "foreigner rate" or that the metered taxi stand is closed. Similar overcharging occurs at Oran and Constantine airports.
- Use the Yassir ride-hailing app (available in Algiers) — download before arrival and book from inside the terminal.
- Pre-arrange airport pickup with your hotel — most mid-range and above hotels offer this service.
- The official taxi rank is outside arrivals — insist on the meter or walk past touts to find it.
- Never accept a ride from someone who approaches you in the arrivals hall.
The Algiers Casbah is a labyrinthine Ottoman-era medina — genuinely easy to get lost in. Men approach tourists offering to "show you around for free." After 30–60 minutes of guided walking, a payment demand appears, often aggressive. The same guide may steer visitors to carpet or craft shops where they receive a commission on any purchases. Prices in these shops are inflated significantly above street value.
- Book an official licensed guide through your hotel or a registered Algerian tour operator.
- Politely decline all unsolicited guide offers at the Casbah entrance — "Non merci" is sufficient.
- If you accept help from anyone, agree the fee explicitly before moving anywhere.
- Download offline maps (Maps.me, Google Maps offline) of the Casbah area before entering.
The Algerian Sahara requires a registered guide and, for some areas (Tassili n'Ajjer, Ahaggar), advance permits from the tourism ministry. Unlicensed operators — often found through informal online channels — skip permits, use unqualified guides, and cut corners on safety equipment, water supplies, and vehicle maintenance. Getting stranded in the Sahara without proper resources is a life-threatening situation. Some operators take full payment upfront and provide dramatically inferior service or disappear entirely.
- Book only with officially licensed Algerian tour operators — ask for their licence number and verify it.
- Ensure your tour includes mandatory guide registration, park permits, and emergency satellite communication.
- Never pay the full tour cost upfront — a 30–50% deposit is standard.
- Check operator reviews on TripAdvisor and in travel forums (Algeria travel groups on Facebook are active and helpful).
Handmade Algerian crafts — Tuareg silverwork, Kabyle pottery, Saharan carpets, and traditional leather goods — are genuinely beautiful. Tourists are routinely quoted 3–5× the price a local would pay. In the Casbah and M'Zab Valley souks, pressure-selling tactics are common once you enter a shop, and some items sold as "authentic Tuareg" or "handmade" are factory-produced imports.
- Visit the Office National de l'Artisanat Traditionnel (ONAT) shops — fixed prices, government-certified authenticity.
- Bargaining is expected in souks — start at 30–40% of the asking price and work from there.
- Never feel obliged to buy after entering a shop, regardless of hospitality offered.
- Ask your guide or hotel for fair price guidance before shopping.
Algeria has strict laws on photographing military installations, government buildings, airports, bridges, and border areas. Individuals posing as police or security officials sometimes approach tourists photographing in sensitive areas and demand payment to avoid a "fine." In most cases they are not official — but the situation can escalate. Separately, genuine police can confiscate equipment if you photograph restricted subjects.
- Never photograph military infrastructure, police stations, government ministries, or border zones.
- If approached by someone claiming to be police, ask to see identification and remain calm.
- Do not pay on the spot — ask to be taken to the nearest official police station.
- Ask your guide or hotel which subjects are safe to photograph in each area you visit.
Risk by City & Region
Algeria's tourist experience varies significantly between the cosmopolitan north, the interior cities, and the vast Saharan south.
The capital is the most visited city and has the highest concentration of tourist-oriented scams. The Casbah and the area around the Grande Poste are the main hotspots. Central Algiers (Didouche Mourad, Belouizdad) is generally safe to walk around during the day.
- Airport taxi overcharging at Houari Boumediene Airport
- Black market currency touts near the Grande Poste and central banks
- Casbah unofficial guide scams and commission-shop steering
- Pickpocketing in crowded markets and on public buses
- Overpriced "tourist restaurants" near the Martyrs' Monument
Algeria's second city has a more relaxed, Mediterranean character. The Santa Cruz fortress and old French quarter are the main tourist draws. Scam risk is lower than Algiers but airport and taxi issues persist.
- Airport taxi overcharging at Ahmed Ben Bella Airport
- Black market currency offers in the city centre
- Overpriced souvenirs near the Santa Cruz fortress
- Unofficial "guides" at the old Kasbah of Oran
The "City of Bridges" is one of Algeria's most dramatic urban landscapes — gorge-spanning bridges over the Rhumel River. Tourism infrastructure is limited; most scam risk is transport-related.
- Taxi overcharging from Mohamed Boudiaf Airport
- Louage (shared taxi) drivers overcharging tourists on routes to Timgad and Djémila
- Currency exchange approaches near the city centre banks
- Unofficial guides at Cirta Museum and the old medina
The UNESCO-listed M'Zab Valley pentapolis is one of Algeria's most extraordinary sights. The Mozabite community is conservative and welcoming — crime against tourists is very rare. The main issue is craft overpricing and guide commission schemes in the souks.
- Carpet and craft shops quoting inflated "tourist prices"
- Guides steering visitors to shops where they receive commission
- Photography restrictions — always ask before photographing people or religious sites
Gateway to the Ahaggar massif and the far Saharan south. Unlicensed tour operators are the primary risk. The town itself is low-risk; the danger lies in poorly organised desert excursions without proper permits, equipment, or guides.
- Unlicensed Sahara tour operators without official permits
- Upfront full payment demanded by unverifiable operators
- Tuareg craft sellers misrepresenting machine-made goods as handmade
- Guides claiming border zone access that is actually restricted
Tlemcen is Algeria's "city of art and history" — Andalusian-influenced architecture, ancient mosques, and Roman ruins at Pomaria. Tourist numbers are low; scam risk is correspondingly minimal. Standard precautions apply.
- Unofficial guides near the Grand Mosque and Mansourah ruins
- Overpriced traditional rugs and embroidery in the medina
- Taxi overcharging from the airport and train station
Safety Tips for Algeria
Algeria rewards careful preparation. The majority of issues stem from the currency situation and transport — both easily managed with the right habits.
- ✓ Bring sufficient euros or US dollars in cash — Algeria is largely cash-only and ATMs for foreign cards are unreliable outside top Algiers hotels.
- ✓ Exchange money only at official banks (BNA, BEA, CPA) or your hotel desk — never on the street regardless of the rate offered.
- ✓ Declare all foreign currency on your arrival form if required — keep the declaration slip until departure.
- ✓ Use the Yassir app in Algiers and Oran for metered, transparent taxi fares — download before arrival.
- ✓ Pre-arrange airport transfers through your hotel for a fixed, agreed price.
- ✓ Book Sahara tours only with licensed operators — ask for their official licence number and verify it with the local tourism office.
- ✓ Register your trip with your embassy before arrival — the US STEP programme and UK FCDO registration are straightforward online.
- ✓ Do not photograph military, police, or government buildings — the legal consequences are serious.
- ✓ Dress conservatively outside major hotels, particularly in traditional cities (Ghardaïa, Tlemcen, Constantine) and when visiting mosques.
Book Smart, Travel Safe
Preparation is everything in Algeria — use trusted, verifiable services before you arrive.
Emergency Numbers & Contacts
Emergency services in Algiers and major cities are reasonably responsive. In rural and Saharan areas, response times can be very long — self-sufficiency and preparation are essential.