Algeria offers a less crowded alternative to Morocco for travellers seeking the Sahara experience, with vast dunes stretching hundreds of miles to Mali. Unlike Moroccan excursions where tyre tracks and tourist crowds diminish the wilderness, Algeria's desert remains largely untouched.
The capital Algiers, founded as a Phoenician outpost in the 6th century BCE, showcases layers of Roman, Ottoman and French architecture. The kasbah district retains authentic daily life with workshops and markets catering to locals, free from tourist trinkets and aggressive touts.
Constantine, known as the “City of Bridges”, is split by a deep ravine offering dramatic viewpoints. The Sidi M’Cid Bridge was once the world’s highest suspension bridge, while the Mellah Slimane pedestrian bridge sways slightly underfoot.
Roman ruins at Djemila, meaning “beautiful” in Arabic, rival those around the Mediterranean. The ancient theatre’s acoustics amplify sound perfectly, allowing visitors to perform to an empty audience. The site sees few tourists, accompanied only by natural sounds.
Algeria aims to attract 12 million annual international visitors by 2030, up from 2.2 million in 2023. Direct flights from London Gatwick take under three hours, quicker than to Moroccan cities. However, most UK visitors still require a visa that cannot be processed online.
