Algiers Local Customs

The dinar (symbol : DZD) is the currency of Algeria and it is subdivided into 100 centimes.

1 USD is about 60 DZD
1 EUR is about 86.0556

The euro is very easy to exchange in the black market and the rate is more interesting for sure.

there are pieces of : 20, 50 centimes(barely used) and 1,2,5,10,50,100 dinars
there are banknotes of : 10,20,50 dinars (barely used) and 100,200,500,1000 dinars

The most common in algeria is that prices are used in centimes.. so 5 dinars = 5 hundrand, 50 dinars = 5000 (5 thousands), 1000 dinars = 100 thousands ...etc

The week-end in Algeria is different than western countries, it's thirsday and friday so saturday and sunday are normal days in the week. The only one exception is banks, they close friday and saturday!
Since Algeria is a muslim country, the friday prayer is very important so you may find almost all shops closed that day between 12.30pm and 2pm.

Although Algeria has 1200km of shoreline, the fish is terribly expensive. i wondered why, and then I was explained - the fishing industry is poor and there is not enough boats, nor the technology for fishing, so it mostly ends up to be individual fisherman or small boats. The fish is then sold on the street most often.

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Part of the old artisan shops in Casbah, there is also a tailor shop. It's quite rustic and the owner is very friendly and chatty and seemed to be in the great mood. The stuff is traditional, more or less, and the shop features photos of popular singers whose music was coming out of the shop.

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Near the main post office (la grande poste) is a stand selling old things, like old coins, newspaper, postcards and stamps, but especially photos from old Algiers, which was very interesting to see. One big photo costs 100 DA (cca. 1 EUR).

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You will find lots of places in Algeria to buy souvenirs and the prices are affordable. Even if you're not buying anything it's interesting to look around. The white face cover is not used anymore, only old women still use it. There are also imitations of the prehistoric cave drawings from the south of Algiers, traditional Berber souvenirs, and so on. All of it - hand made usually.

Bread is also sold on the street. Not only of course, but it also happens. This is baguette, the French bread, and my favourite is actually Algerian bread, almost flat like a pancake and very yummy. Pity I don't have the photo of it... They eat it both with salty and sweet food!!!

Algerians don't like infusion tea bags (understandable!), they prefer to serve a home made tea. We were lucky to visit an Algerian home, where my colleague's family served us a traditional couscous and other yummy things, and afterwards we relaxed with a wonderful home made mint tea, freshly picked up from the garden, and served in traditional cups and pot!