Time

GMT plus one hour.

Geography

Algeria is the second largest country in Africa. With a total land area of 2.38 million square km, the country comprises three distinct regions: a narrow coastal plain, which has the most fertile soils and houses the majority of the country's population, agriculture and industry; the uplands of the Atlas mountain chain, which tend to be semi-arid steppe in the valleys; and the vast sandy desert to the south.

Algeria has borders with Morocco to the west, Tunisia and Libya to the east and Niger, Mali and Mauritania to the south.

Climate

The coastal region has a temperate Mediterranean climate, averaging 13 degrees Celsius (C) to 24 degrees C throughout the year and rising to a daytime high of 32 degrees C during the summer (June to September). The rainy season is October to May, with rains especially heavy from November to February. The desert is constantly inhospitable, with temperatures rising to 45 degrees C during the day, falling to 10 degrees C at night, and with very little rainfall.

Dress codes

Western-style dress is acceptable, with lightweight or safari suits recommended in summer. Women should not wear revealing clothes.

Entry requirements

Required by all

Visas are required by most nationals: visit http://algeria.embassyhomepage.com/ for details and application form or contact your local Algerian embassy. Visas are usually valid for 90 days.

Business visas must be accompanied by an invitation from an Algerian company (in duplicate).

Nationals of Israel

The import of foreign currency is unlimited, but must be declared on arrival; export of foreign currency is permitted up to the amount declared on arrival. Local currency may be imported and exported.

Visitors are advised to change money through official sources only; it can sometimes be difficult to reconvert dinars to foreign currency. Declaration forms, issued on arrival, should be kept and used at each successive currency change to be surrendered on departure. Failure to comply with these regulations may mean visitors are liable to forfeit the currency.

Travellers cheques can only be used in very limited outlets; US dollars and Euros have most recognition.

Health (for visitors)

A yellow fever and/or cholera vaccination certificate is required if arriving from infected or endemic areas.

Hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, TB, typhoid, tetanus and polio vaccinations are advisable. There is risk of malaria in some areas, therefore prophylaxis is recommended. There is also a rabies risk. Water precautions should be taken throughout the country. Bottled water is often hard to find, particularly in southern parts of the country.

Hotels

There is a limited range of hotels on offer; hotels are either high-luxury or modest one- two-star hotels. It is advisable to book well in advance as accommodation in Algiers is difficult to obtain.

The service charge is usually 15 per cent.

Credit cards

The use of credit cards are restricted to urban areas.

Public holidays (national)

1 Jan (New Year's Day), 1 May (Labour Day), 19 Jun (Revolutionary Readjustment), 5 Jul (Independence Day), 1 Nov (Anniversary of the Revolution).

Eid al Adha (two days), Eid al Fitr (two days), Islamic New Year, Ashura, Prophet's Birthday.

Working hours

The Muslim weekend is Thursday afternoon and Friday, but many industries close all day Thursday.

Sun–Thur: 0900–1530.

Sat–Tue: 0800–1200 and 1300–1700; Wed 0800–1200 and 1300–1600.

Sat–Wed: 0800–1200 and 1400–1730; Thur 0800–1200.

Sat–Wed 0800–1230 and 1430–1800; Thu: 0800–1300.

Telecommunications

GSM 900/1800 services are available mostly in inhabited areas in the north and isolated towns in central and southern Algeria.

Electricity supply

Electricity supply varies from 127–220V; a compensator for use with electronic/computer equipement is advisable. A variety of plug fittings are used.

Social customs/useful tips

Business appointments should be made in advance. Business cards are exchanged after introductions. French-style courtesy should be adopted by visitors. Hospitality is regarded as very important, and visitors are usually entertained in restaurants and hotels. Wives seldom accompany their husbands to social engagements outside the home.

Care should taken to respect local customs, especially during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Security

Violence was endemic during the 1990s. Although there have been fewer violent incidents since 2000, visitors should still take precautions by avoiding travelling alone and avoid the provinces of Tamanrasset, Djanet and Illizi in the south-east, where tourists have been targetted for kidnapping. Incidents of assaults on foreigners have increased in some urban and rural areas and visitors should avoid carrying valuables and large sums of money.

Getting there

Air Algérie

Algiers (Houari Boumédienne) (ALG), 20km from city. Facilities include duty-free shop, restaurant, bank, post office, shops, car hire.

Annaba (Les Salines) (AAE), 12km from city; Constantine (Ain El-Bey) (CZL), 9km from city; Oran (Es Senia) (ORN), 10km from city.

None

The border between Algeria and Morocco is closed and access is denied. Roads are good in the coastal and northern Sahara networks, while access to Mali, by the trans-Saharan highway, is unsealed and its use is subject to seasonal conditions.

The National Travel and Transport Company (SNTV) operates bus services linking Libya, Niger and Tunisia with Algeria – and with Morocco when possible.

A daily train service (the Trans-Maghreb) links Tunis with Algiers and Oran.

Regular ferry services connect Algieria with France and Spain.

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Oran.

Getting about

There are frequent services from Algiers to Annaba, Constantine and Oran provided by Air Algérie. Regular flights also link these towns with other principal centres. Fares are generally low for domestic flights but overbooking can occur, especially in summer.

Main roads are in good condition generally, but desert routes are rarely maintained.

Long-distance coach services are operated by Société Nationale des Transports de Voyageurs (SNTV) and Altour. Bookings for long trips should be made well in advance.

The service is operated by Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires (SNTF). There are two classes; some services are air-conditioned and some have couchettes.

Taxis are widely available in main centres; they are radio-controlled in Algiers. Taxis are identified by a local colour code. They are supposed to be metered, but owing to demand, usually operate without a meter and use a minimum fare system instead. A surcharge is imposed after dark. Tips are usually 10 per cent of fare.

A state-owned service operates in Algiers, which can be overcrowded during rush hours. Daily and longer duration tickets are available.

Car hire is available in most main towns and at airports. An international driving licence and third-party insurance are required. The maximum speed limit is 50kph in towns and 100kph on main roads.