Safety in Algeria

In the cities: The north is fine for walking in daylight and there is police presence on every corner. Petty theft happens in markets and on transport, so watch your bag. Violent crime against foreigners in the cities is very rare.
Desert and borders: Travel to the frontier zones with Mali or Libya is banned outright because of the terrorism risk. In the Sahara you may only move in a group with an official guide and permits, and military checkpoints on the roads are routine.
Solo women: Dress conservatively and avoid walking alone after dark. There will be a lot of male attention, though it is usually persistent curiosity rather than anything worse. The Algiers metro has carriages reserved for women and children.
Photography: Never photograph military installations, police or government buildings. It leads to detention, a long conversation and the deletion of your entire card. Always ask before pointing a camera at a person.
Scams: Fake guides in the Casbah can be extremely persistent about showing you the way. Decline politely and keep walking, or hire a vetted guide properly. At the airport, ignore drivers promising to beat the fixed fare.
Health: Medicine in the capital is acceptable, but qualified care is hard to find in the interior. Drink bottled water and wash fruit thoroughly. The sun is deceptive here, so sunscreen and a hat are not optional, and it is worth reading your own government's travel advisory before you commit to the south.

Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and receives very few tourists. There is simply no industry of deception here, but there are formalities and restrictions.

Currency exchange is the main practical subject. The official dinar rate and the parallel one differ substantially, and exchanging outside banks is formally illegal. International cards barely work in Algeria and ATMs for foreign cards are almost nonexistent. Bring cash euros for the whole trip.

Taxis. Meters exist but are not always switched on. Agree the price. The Yassir app operates in Algiers.

"Guides." In the Casbah of Algiers and at the Roman ruins of Tipaza and Djemila, walks are offered. Agree in figures.

Sahara tours. Tamanrasset, Djanet and Tassili n'Ajjer are visited only through licensed operators and with an escort. That is a requirement, not a choice.

Hospitality. Algerians are genuinely pleased to see rare foreigners, and invitations to coffee and help in the street are the norm.

Escorts and permits. Travel to the south, into the Sahara and to border zones requires an escort and an agreed itinerary for foreigners. In some wilayas the police may assign an escort unrequested. This is a security protocol rather than harassment.

Border areas. The frontiers with Libya, Mali and Niger and part of the Tunisian border are high-danger zones with an armed group presence. People do not go there.

Photography. Military installations, police, government buildings, airports and oil and gas infrastructure are categorically off limits. This is the commonest source of trouble.

Drones. Prohibited entirely and confiscated at customs.

Alcohol. Formally legal for non-Muslims and sold in certain places, but access is limited in practice and public consumption is unacceptable.

Drugs. The law is strict; the country lies on a transit route.

Dress. Modest. Algeria is more conservative than Tunisia and Morocco.

Religion. Preaching non-Muslim religions is prohibited by law.

Vaccinations. None mandatory. Hepatitis A and typhoid are advised.

Water. Not from the tap. Bottled is available everywhere.

Heat. The Sahara passes 45°C in summer, and daytime exposure in Tamanrasset and Djanet is dangerous. Southern trips are planned for November to March.

The desert. Distances are enormous, filling stations are few, and there is no coverage. Independent Sahara travel is impossible both by the rules and by common sense.

Healthcare. The public system is free but of uneven standard. Algiers has acceptable private clinics. Anything serious means evacuation to France. Insurance is needed — check that it works in Algeria.

Medicines. Pharmacy stock is limited by import restrictions; bring your own.

Earthquakes. The north of the country is seismically active.

Emergency numbers: 17 police, 14 ambulance, 1548 gendarmerie.

Algeria sits mid-table in Africa on corruption, and street crime in the major cities is moderate.

Security presence is heavy. Highway checkpoints are numerous and document checks routine. This is a legacy of the 1990s and current security policy.

Escorts. For travel in the south and certain regions, police accompany foreigners. Ask your operator in advance how this works on your route.

Reporting theft. Reports are taken and certificates issued. The languages are Arabic and French; English is little spoken.

Algiers at night. The city centre and the Casbah empty in the evening. Urban caution is needed, but crime levels are lower than in Morocco.

What actually matters. In Algeria the threat is not crime but formalities, photography and border areas. The country is closed and logistically difficult, but physically fairly safe in the places tourists are allowed.

Emergency number is 17.