Tourist Scams in Algeria — Safety Guide 2026

Unlicensed taxi drivers at Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG) solicit passengers outside the arrivals hall before they reach the official taxi rank, quoting fares of DZD 6,000–10,000 for the 45-minute ride to the city center. The legitimate metered rate from the official taxi stand is DZD 2,000–3,500 depending on traffic. Drivers from the unofficial rank use no meters and may take unnecessarily long routes to inflate perceived value.

How to avoid: Use only the official taxi rank located in the designated zone outside arrivals — look for the marked "Taxi Officiel" sign. Agree on a metered fare or negotiate DZD 2,500–3,500 maximum before entering any cab. Alternatively, use a pre-booked hotel transfer.

Strangers near the main entrances of La Casbah on Rue de la Casbah and around Place des Martyrs approach tourists offering to guide them through the medina's labyrinthine derb alleys. Once deep inside the maze — far from any recognizable landmark — the "guide" either demands a large cash payment to lead you back out, or disappears and sends associates to demand fees. Prices quoted are rarely mentioned upfront and can reach DZD 3,000–6,000 for a short walk.

How to avoid: Book licensed guides through your hotel or the Office National du Tourisme (ONT) only. If approached at a medina entrance, politely decline all unsolicited guide offers. Download an offline map of La Casbah before entering and note the GPS of entry points.

A well-dressed local approaches tourists on Rue Didouche Mourad or near Jardin d'Essai du Hamma botanical garden, offering unrequested help — pointing out directions, carrying bags, walking alongside to "show something interesting." After 5–15 minutes of this company, the person firmly demands payment for their time, framing it as compensation for their services. Refusal can result in a scene, loud accusations, or an escalating confrontation.

How to avoid: Politely but firmly decline unsolicited company from the outset by saying "non merci" and continuing walking. Avoid engaging in extended conversation with strangers who initiate contact near tourist sites, as any extended interaction is later reframed as a paid service.

Informal money changers operate on and around Boulevard Zighoud Youcef and near the central post office on Boulevard Mohamed Khemisti, offering exchange rates 10–30% above the official bank rate for Euros and USD. While the offer appears financially attractive, transactions are illegal under Algerian law and tourists caught participating face fines, confiscation of funds, or detention. Some changers also use sleight-of-hand to shortchange tourists during the count.

How to avoid: Exchange currency only at official bank branches or the licensed bureaux de change inside Houari Boumediene Airport. The legal rate is fixed and non-negotiable — the premium offered on the street is not worth the legal and personal safety risk.

Restaurants in the tourist-facing streets near Notre-Dame d'Afrique and along the Boulevard Colonel Amirouche present visitors with menus that carry prices two to three times higher than what locals pay for identical dishes. In some cases a second, cheaper menu in Arabic is not offered to foreign visitors. Final bills sometimes include undisclosed "service charges" or items never ordered.

How to avoid: Ask to see the price list before ordering and confirm whether service charges are included. Checking recent reviews on TripAdvisor for the specific restaurant helps identify consistent overcharging. Eating at busy local restaurants away from the immediate tourist circuit typically yields honest pricing.

After tourists photograph scenes inside La Casbah — doorways, street scenes, traditional djellaba-clad residents — individuals who were in the frame or standing nearby demand payment, claiming a "photography fee" is legally required. No such official fee exists at the Casbah. In some cases, a group surrounds the tourist and becomes aggressive until payment of DZD 500–1,500 is made.

How to avoid: Ask permission before photographing individuals, which is good practice regardless. If a fee is demanded, calmly state that no such fee exists and walk toward a more populated area or toward police. Do not hand over your camera or phone.

Even among non-criminal informal money changers, tourists exchanging currency outside official channels frequently receive counterfeit DZD banknotes or are short-changed through rapid counting techniques. The DZD 1,000 and DZD 2,000 notes are most commonly counterfeited. Tourists rarely notice until attempting to pay at a shop or restaurant, where the counterfeit note is refused.

How to avoid: Use only official bank branches (BNA, BEA, CPA) or the licensed airport bureaux de change. If you must count a large number of banknotes, do so slowly and away from the exchanger. Familiarize yourself with genuine DZD security features — the watermark and color-shifting ink on DZD 1,000 and 2,000 notes.

Street-level touts in central Algiers near Rue Didouche Mourad and around budget hotels in the Bab El Oued district pose as licensed tour operators offering heavily discounted packages to the Sahara Desert, Tassili n'Ajjer, or Tamanrasset. Deposits of EUR 100–300 are collected, with the remaining balance due "at the meeting point." Tourists who pay arrive at designated meeting points to find no transport, no guide, and no means of recourse.

How to avoid: Book Sahara tours only through operators registered with the Algerian Ministry of Tourism, verifiable through the ONT office on Rue Mohamed Belouizdad. Request a signed contract with company registration number before paying any deposit. Use hotel concierge referrals rather than street contacts.