Planning to travel to Algeria? Curious about what currency is used in Algeria? Money matters in Algeria is somewhat challenging for most travellers for several reasons. Here we will address some of the common frustrations with money matters in Algeria and also include some travel tips that might help.
The Algerian Dinar is a Closed Currency
The first thing you need to know is that the Algerian Dinar is a closed currency. This means Algerian Dinars cannot be purchased in advance from your home country, and can only be purchased in Algeria. In fact, importing and exporting Algerian Dinars is illegal. As a result, currency exchange is only possible within Algeria, and you should spend your remaining Algerian Dinars before leaving the country.
What is the Currency in Algeria?
Algeria’s national currency is the Algerian Dinar (DZD).
The most common bills are 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 Dinars
Coins are valued at 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Dinars.
Exchanging Currency in Algeria
Within Algeria, there are fewer options to exchange cash or withdraw from a bank account. Though efforts have been made to make foreign exchange easier in Algeria, opportunities to exchange your money into the local currency remain quite limited.
Algiers International Airport will have the most options for currency exchanges. We highly recommend exchanging enough money at the airport for your whole Algeria trip and keep the receipt to return cash at the end of your tour if needed.
Most ATMs are not compatible with VISA or Western banks. You may even run the risk of a cash machine “swallowing” your bank card. If necessary, many Algerian Post offices host a Western Union. However, in the southern parts of Algeria, there may be no option to exchange currency. If you are traveling in Algeria on a private tour, then you should ask your tour guide if you need help exchanging currency.
During your visit in Algeria, you may be approached by strangers wanting to exchange Algerian Dinars with your foreign currency. We do not recommend exchanging money with strangers even if they offer you a better rate.
Cash in Algeria
Cash Since Algeria is a cash-based society, we recommend you use primarily cash instead of Traveler’s checks or credit cards. Aside from carrying Algerian Dinars, we also recommend keeping extra USD or Euros on your person throughout all your travels.
Credit Cards in Algeria
You will likely be unable to use credit or debit cards during your time in Algeria. Very few select banks accept Western cards, including VISA. In the unlikely event of an emergency, your guide will help you locate a compatible bank or a Western Union.
Declaring Cash at the Algerian Airport
For arrival or departure, visitors must declare cash amounts in any currency that exceeds the equivalent value of €1,000. The total value of imported or exported currency cannot exceed €7,500.
Do not forget that it is forbidden to take Algerian Dinars out of the country.
Budgeting in Algeria
How much money should you plan to exchange in Algeria?
The amount will be determined by many factors such as your group size, length of travel, travel budget, shopping budget, etc. We wrote another article How Much Does it Cost to Visit Algeria? The Complete Guide which has in-depth information from food prices to tipping expectations in Algeria.
Plan a Hassle-Free Tour to Algeria
By choosing a private Algeria tour with us, the main expenses of your Algeria trip such as hotel accommodations, tour guide, driver, and transportation are already included in your tour package. The only expenses you will need to account for are your personal shopping, dining, and tipping. Our customers often tell us how much they appreciate our help in handling all the travel logistics including money matters so that they can fully enjoy their time in Algeria.
If you are interested in a hassle-free Algeria tour, you can start by browsing some of our Algeria tour packages. Contact one of our Algeria Travel Experts to start planning your unforgettable trip to Algeria!
Estar en contacto para viajes al norte de Africa. Por el momento solo dispongo de 15 o 20 días de vacaciones para viajar porque aún estoy e activo trabajando.
15 to 20 days is plenty to explore North Africa. If you want to focus on one country, then you plan a grand circuit that will travel throughout the country. You can also consider a Combined Countries tour to visit multiple North Africa countries. We recommend spending AT LEAST 5 days in one country. Just complete the inquiry form on our website to let us know your interest and one of our Travel Experts will get back to you shortly.