Algeria
#Culture#Food#Mountain#Beaches#Peace#Sun#Fishing#friends
Algiers/Tizi Ouzou/Tigzirt/Béjaïa/Sétif/Oran
August 2013
30 days
2000 Algerian Dinar /day (excludes accommodation and airfare)
Things to do
Algiers
- Go visit the Martyr’s Memorial. This place commemorates the war for the Independence. There is a museum inside that explains the history of Algeria and the relation with France. In front of the Martyr’s Memorial is the Botanical Garden, the Test Garden of Hamma, where you can see sub-tropical and tropical flowers.
Tizi Ouzou:
- Go to the center of the city and enjoy the market and places. This city is pretty small and the center can be done by foot.
Tigzirt:
- The best place in Tigzirt is obviously the beach where you can also go fishing with some locals.
- Visit the Roman Ruins of Tigzirt and enjoy a walk on the port.
- If you are a good swimmer, you can swim to Tigzirt Island. You can see a lot a small fish and the water is very clear.
Azeffoun:
- It is a little city on the way to Bejaïa, it is worth to stop at the port. You can have fresh fish in all the restaurants. On the roads, you will often see some street markets where people sell their potteries and hand-made kitchenware.
Bejaïa:
- Visit Gouraia National Park. You can do a 2 hour hike to the top of the mountain and will have a great view of the city and the ocean. I recommend you go there right before the sunset. You will see monkeys, donkeys, goats, all kind of animals in the park.
- Visit the Casbah, which is the citadel of the city.
Sétif:
- Go to Ain El Fouara Fountain. People go there and make a wish while throwing a coin in the fountain.
- Visit the Public Garden of Sétif. There is also a zoo inside, it is worth taking a walk there and see the animals.
Oran:
- The Santa Cruz Fort is a nice walk to do and have a nice view of the city. It is a fort on top of a hill where you can see Oran’s port.
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Eat & Drink
- Dishes to try in Algeria — Fish is amazing in every restaurant because it is fresh. Couscous is the specialty of this country, it varies depending on the family or regions. The couscous is the base, and depending on the restaurant, the chef will add different vegetables, or meat, even fish. The whole dish is served in a big plate, and you have a spicy sauce on the side called Harissa.
- Drinks to drink in Algeria — Tea is the most common beverage that you will drink at every meal. Most of the people add milk and sugar in the tea. Coffee is also very common. If you want some cold drink, you can try a soda called Selecto, but it is very sweet.
Restaurant/Cuisine Type/Food & Drinks
- I was staying with locals and barely ate outside. Culturally, people eat at home with the whole family, and they don’t go out that much (especially in summer when it is too hot outside). I was at a friend’s house so I was staying with him and his family.
Transportation
- The best way to travel in Algeria is with a car. It is very difficult to travel with public transportation unless you stay in Algiers Downtown.
Culture and Etiquette
- The best things to do in Algeria is to go to the mountain and the beach. This country has so much to offer in terms of nature, and everyone goes to the beach after work, it is very common.
- If you are a solo woman, it can be complicated to go to restaurants or coffee shop by yourself. It is socially accepted in big cities like Algiers, Béjaia or Sétif, but in small cities like Tigzirt or Azeffoun, I felt a little uncomfortable because I was the only woman in the coffee shop and everyone was staring at me. Some coffee shops will not accept to serve you. Also, it’s better to reserve the hotel in advance because some of them have a strict policy and don’t accept a solo woman, only married couples.
- As a woman, be careful on the way you dress. Wearing skirts or shorts that are too short can be disrespectful.
Health and Safety
- Health: Always buy mineral water.
- Safety: It is a safe country. I could travel and visit a lot of cities because I was accompanied by my guy friend that showed me around and knew a lot of nice places.
Most memorable moment
I had the chance to stay with local people thanks to a friend of mine, originally from Algeria, who invited me to a wedding in Tigzirt. I could see the big cultural difference in the way we do the ceremony and the wedding party. I loved to see all their traditions, with the Henna, the music, the ceremony, and how big of a thing it was! The wedding lasted a few days and we eventually moved the bride from her family to the man’s family house. Everyone drove there, packed the cars and drove back to the man’s house, where we had the final party.
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