AlgiersCapital
Algeria · Country profile
Algiers is the capital of Algeria, the white city that climbs its terraced hills above the blue bay of the Mediterranean, its name taken from the islands that once sheltered the port. The old walled quarter of the Kasbah, a world heritage of the Ottoman era, layers the palaces, the mosques and the narrow lanes behind its gates, while the city below spreads the boulevards, the grand buildings and the gardens of the French colonial century and the monuments and the buildings of the modern state. The city is the seat of the government, the universities and the cultural life of the country, and its museums, from the museum of the antiquities and the fine arts to the museum of the people, hold the rich history of the nation. The waterfront of the bay, the gardens of the park and the viewpoints of the hills give the capital its magnificent Mediterranean setting.
About Algiers
Algiers is the capital of Algeria. The city's documented population is around 2,900,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Algerian Dinar (DZD) and Arabic is spoken; the dialling code is +213. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Houari Boumediene Airport.
The White City Rising Over the Blue Bay
Algiers is a grand, layered Mediterranean capital that rewards patience and a good pair of shoes. The Kasbah of the old city, with its maze of lanes and its Ottoman palaces, is the great historic walk, while the boulevards and the buildings of the colonial era below and the modern avenues of the centre spread the rest of the circuit. The city is less touristy than the great capitals of the region, and the welcome is warm and the pace relaxed. It is the natural base for the wider country, the Roman ruins and the coast of the region within easy reach, and its hills and its bay give it one of the most dramatic settings of the whole coast.
The Dinar, the French and the Seasons of the Coast
The climate of the coast is Mediterranean, with the mild, rainy winters and the hot, dry summers, and the spring and the autumn are the most comfortable seasons. The Kasbah, the museums and the citadel of the old town with its hilltop views are the essential circuit, and the gardens of the park and the waterfront of the bay fill the green side of the visit. The dinar is the currency, the Arabic and the French are both widely spoken and the cash is the practical way in the markets, with the cards working in the hotels and the modern shops. The city is safe in its main areas, and the metro and the cable car cover the hills and the centre easily.
The Kasbah Lanes, the Waterfront and the Notre Dame Views
The Kasbah of the old city, the walled quarter of the Ottoman era with its palaces, its mosques and its lanes of the crafts, is the essential walk, and the monuments of the quarter, from the palaces with their courtyards to the great mosque of the city, give the deep history. The museum of the antiquities and of the fine arts of the capital, with the Roman mosaics and the Algerian painting, and the museum of the people with the ethnography of the country, fill out the cultural picture, and the memorial of the nation on its height pays tribute to the war of the independence. The hill of the Notre Dame observation point and the botanical garden of the city complete the visits, and the cafes along the grand boulevards hold the open-air life of the capital.
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- Country
- Algeria
- Population
- 2,900,000
- Coordinates
- 36.6910, 3.2154
- Capital
- Algiers
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Algerian Dinar (DZD)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Calling code
- +213
- Country code
- DZ
Getting to Algiers
Airports we list for Algiers:
Frequently asked questions
Is Algiers the capital of Algeria?
Yes — Algiers is the capital of Algeria.
What currency do I need in Algiers?
The local currency is the Algerian Dinar (DZD). Languages spoken in Algeria include Arabic.
What is the dialling code for Algeria?
The international dialling code for Algeria is +213.
Which airport should I fly into for Algiers?
Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) is the airport we list for Algiers.
Flying out of Algiers? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.