Algeria: arrival and transport
How do you get to Algeria?
The fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get to Algeria is by plane.
Airplane
direct flights to Algiers go from Frankfurt/Main, Berlin and Geneva. There are also connections from various French cities to Algiers, Annaba, Batna, Béjaia, Biskra, Constantine, Hassi-Messaoud, Oran and Tlemcen.
Rail
There are train connections from Algiers to Tunis in Tunisia and to Marrakech in Morocco.
Car and bus
From Algeria there are roads to Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Niger and Mali. Before traveling to the northern part of Algeria, it is essential to obtain current information about the local security situation from the Federal Foreign Office. Bus connections run from Algeria to Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Niger.
Travel in the country
Air connections
Domestic flights go from Algiers to Annaba, Constantine and Oran. From these places there are flight connections to smaller cities and oases (e.g. Ouargla and Ghardaia) as well as to the oil cities.
Railway
The country’s railway network covers around 4,000 km. Trains run between Algiers, Oran, Béjaia, Skikda, Annaba and Constantine as well as from Annaba to Tebessa, from Constantine to Touggourt and from Mohammadia to Bechar.
Bus
Intercity buses run between all major cities.
Roads and rental cars
The country’s road network covers around 105,000 km. It is relatively well developed in the coastal region, and some asphalt roads lead into the northern Sahara. The two trans-Sahara highways in the south of the country are also paved. Otherwise, the desert roads are unpaved sand tracks and can only be driven on with all-wheel drive. During twilight and at night it is not advisable to drive outside the city centers, as the wrong roadblocks by criminal or terrorist groups must be expected. An international driver’s license is required.
Ferry connections
The larger port cities of Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Béjaia, Djidjelli, Ghazaouet, Mostaganem, Oran and Skikda are connected by ferries.
International license plate
The international license plate of Algeria is:
| DZ |
Tourist office
National Tourism Office
02, Rue Ismaîl KERRAR- Boulevard Ernesto Che Guevara
16000 Algiers
Tel: 00213 – (0) 21 – 43 8060
Fax: 00213 – (0) 21 – 43 8059
Email: ont@ont-dz.org
www.ont- dz.org/site_anglais
Information on the homepage in English, French and Arabic.
Algeria: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
Tourists need a valid passport, a visa and a return or onward ticket to enter Algeria. When entering from a yellow fever infection area, proof of a valid yellow fever vaccination must be provided. A visa must be issued in Germany
Visa department of the Embassy of Algeria
Görschstrasse 45-46
13187 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 43 73 70
Fax: 0049 – () 030 – 48 09 87 16
Email: info@algerische-botschaft.de
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currencyThe import and export of local currency is permitted up to an amount of 50 dinars.
- Foreign currenciesThe import of foreign currencies (except gold coins) is unlimited, but there is an obligation to declare.
Import and export of goods
The following articles can be imported into Algeria duty-free:
– 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400 g tobacco
– 1 l alcoholic beverages and
– 500 ml eau de cologne or 150 ml perfume.
There is an import and export ban on gold, firearms and drugs, as well as an export ban on jewelry. Valuable electronic devices (e.g. laptop) must be registered upon entry. A certificate of origin is required when exporting foreign currencies from EUR 7,650.
Entry with pets
An official veterinary health certificate is required for the importation of pets into Algeria, which certifies that the animal is healthy and free from parasites and does not have any diseases that can be transmitted to humans. In addition, the animal must be vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccination certificate must be authenticated by an official veterinarian before entering Algeria.
Animal transport on the plane with an accompanying person (owner)
In this case, proceed as follows: At the airport, the animal is locked in a transport crate previously obtained by the owner. It must be ensured that the container is large enough that the animal can stand in it and turn around, and it must also be ensured that no liquids can run out (urine). This is done using suitable absorbent material, in the simplest case using a sufficient amount of newspaper. There should also be a water bowl and, depending on the length of the flight, enough food. The transport container is handed over to the staff at the check-in counter. The transport fee depends on the weight of the animal. It is essential to ensure that there is space for the animal for the flight booked, as the number of animals that can be transported
The animal is located in the machine in an air-conditioned area between the passenger deck and the cargo area. As a rule, no member of the crew takes care of the animal during the flight, not even to give water or food. However, experience has shown that the stress of checking in and the take-off phase is so stressful for most animals that they sleep for most of the flight. The administration of sedatives before check-in is not only not recommended, as their effects cannot be foreseen under these conditions, but is even prohibited for reasons of security (smuggling). Many airlines also exclude a number of dogs (attack dogs) from transport.
Animal transport without an accompanying person
In this case, a specialist company must be commissioned with the transport, which then takes care of everything else. However, it should be ensured that the animal is picked up at the arrival airport by someone who is familiar to the dog. And of course all import regulations for pets for the country have to be explored beforehand and strictly adhered to.
Note
It has proven to be very helpful if you have accustomed the animal to such a transport container at home a few weeks before the intended flight.
Algeria: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations and Warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Algeria, the following infectious diseases are to be expected, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria: In Algeria, with the exception of the Illizi region (in the south-east of the country), there is no risk of contracting malaria. There is a low risk of infection in the months of March to October. Virtually only tertian malaria infections occur.
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Schistosomiasis mainly in the Maharashtra area
- cholera
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Typhus, especially in the northeast of the country
- Hepatitis A and B
- Kala Azar disease
- Leishmaniasis Disease
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
- rabies
- typhus
Vaccination recommendations
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons who enter from an area of yellow fever infected by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
The costs for the following vaccinations have been reimbursed by most statutory health insurances since June 2007. There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory co-payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of € 10. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge. Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis. As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens Service
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Algeria: Currency, Shopping, and Exchange Rates
The national currency of Algeria is the Algerian Dinar (DA)
1 DA = 100 Centimes.
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 50
- 100
- 200
- 500
- 1,000
Exchange rate
You can find a currency converter at the following URL:
http://www.offizz.de/helpdesk/hd_devisen.html
Bank opening times
Banks in Algeria are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.
Shop
Store opening times
The stores in Algeria are usually open from Saturday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
In Algeria , tourists like to buy leather goods, copper and brass items, clothing, jewelry and patterned Berber carpets as well as lacquered wicker, ceramics and earthenware from the Sahara.
Algeria: embassies, consulates
Representations of Algeria in Germany
German representations in Algeria
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Algiers
165 Chemin Sfindja
16000 Algiers:
Ambassade de la République fédérale d’Allemagne
BP 664,
DZ-16000 Alger
Algeria
Tel: 00213 – (0) 21 – 741 941
Tel: 00213 – (0) 21 – 741 956
Tel: 00213 – (0) 21 – 745 499
Fax: 00213 – (0) 21 – 740 521
Email: info@algier.diplo.de
www.algier.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Algeria
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Algiers
17, Chemin Abdel kader Gadouche
16035 Hydra
Tel: 00213 – (0) 21 – 691 086
00213 – (0) 21 – 691 034
00213 – (0) 21 – 691 091
Fax: 00213 – (0) 21 – 691 232
Email: algier-ob@bmeia.gv.at
Representations of Algeria in Austria
Embassy of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in Vienna
Rudolfinergasse 18
1190 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 369 8853
0043 – (0) 1 – 369 8855
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 369 8856
Email: office @ algerische-embschaft. at
www.algerische-botschaft.at
Swiss representations in Algeria
Embassy, Ambassade de Suisse in Algiers
Villa no 5, rue Numéro 4
Parc Paradou
16035 Hydra/Alger
Postal address
Ambassade de Suisse
BP 443
16035 Hydra/Alger
Algérie
Tel: 00213 – (0) 21 – 606 960
00213 – (0) 21 – 607 680
00213 – (0) 21 – 691 504
00213 – (0) 21 – 694 831
Fax: 00213 – (0) 21 – 609 854
00213 – (0) 21 – 694 833
Email: alg.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
www.eda.admin.ch/alger
Representations of Algeria in Switzerland
Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Algeria in Bern
Willadingweg 74
3000 Bern 15
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 350 1050
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 350 1059
Email: ambalg.berne@bluewin.ch
www.ambassade-algerie.ch
Consulate General of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Route de Lausanne 308bis
1293 Bellevue
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 774 1919
Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 774 1906
www.consulat-algerie.ch
