Algeria flag

Algeria

History

Numidian kingdoms under Massinissa unified much of the north before Roman annexation.
Arab expansion brought Islam and Arabic across the Maghreb.
Algiers became an Ottoman regency and a major Mediterranean corsair port.
France invaded and began 132 years of colonial rule and settlement.
The war of independence ended French rule; independence came on 5 July 1962.
The civil war between the state and armed Islamist groups dominated the decade.
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CapitalAlgiers
Population47.4M
Area2.4M km2
CurrencyAlgerian dinar

Short facts

RegionNorth Africa / Maghreb
LanguageArabic
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Casbah of Algiers: The Ottoman-era citadel and medina above the bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Timgad: A Roman colonial town founded by Trajan around AD 100, preserved in the Aures highlands.
  • Tassili n'Ajjer: Saharan rock art spanning thousands of years, among sandstone formations near Djanet.

Find a city in Algeria

Showing all cities

Algiers thumbnailAlgiersCity

Planning questions

What is Algeria known for?Casbah of Algiers, Timgad, Tassili n'Ajjer.
What is the capital?Algiers.
Which language is useful?Arabic.
When is the national day?5 July.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Algiers as the first planning anchor for Algeria, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Casbah of AlgiersTimgadTassili n'AjjerAlgiersStreet foodCoffee
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