Algeria is difficult to match in the diversity of its geographical, cultural and historical offerings. In addition, the country is ranked 4th in the world for price competitiveness (World Economic Forum).
Reasons to go
Algeria is an attractive travel destination for a variety of reasons. Here, we briefly present three of the main ones.
1) Geography
Algeria has 1600 km of Mediterranean coastline with over 300 beaches. On the opposite spectrum, the Saharan desert offers breathtaking views of silent vastness.
2) Urban culture
Algeria has several vibrant cities with two – Algiers and Oran – having over 1m inhabitants. The cities offer a variety of cultural offerings from Islamic, Christian and Berber cultures.
3) Cultural heritage
In addition to geographical diversity, Algeria has important cultural and historical sites. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage sites including ruined Roman, Christian and Islamic historic sites. Also, a variety of seasonal festivals and traditional rituals are included in the UNESCO list of “intangible cultural heritage”. Prehistoric rock art is found in Saharan desert, as well as traditional nomadic tribes, whose lifestyle offers a stark contrast to the city life in Algiers or Oran.
Safety and Prosperity
Algeria is a very safe country and was ranked the world’s 7th safest country by US Gallup poll in 2017. People are generally well off and welcoming. Algeria was ranked Africa’s happiest country by the 2017 World Happiness Report, and Algeria has Africa’s 3rd largest score in Human Development Index (2016).
Languages
The official languages are Arabic and Berber, but French is used widely, especially in the cities. Also English is spoken well especially in the hospitality industry.
Safety and Prosperity
Algeria is a very safe country and was ranked the world’s 7th safest country by US Gallup poll in 2017. People are generally well off and welcoming. Algeria was ranked Africa’s happiest country by the 2017 World Happiness Report, and Algeria has Africa’s 3rd largest score in Human Development Index (2016).
Useful Links
- Visit Algeria
- Guide d’Alger (in french)
- Lonely Planet country profile
- World Travel Guide country profile