Algiers Culture :Algiers is a city of culture, an amalgam of Arab, Berber, and French heritage with a history of spirituality and warfare, an economy of tourism and poverty. Although generally lacking in worthwhile museums, monuments, and attractions to represent it, Algerian identity shadows the city streets and reverberates throughout the capital’s shops and mosques.
99% of the country is Sunni Muslim, which has made for an interesting political mix of policy that drifts towards the two contradictory poles of social and economic modernization and appeals towards Islamic fundamentalism. Languages spoken here include Arabic, French, and Berber, while English is used hardly ever—so brush up on at least one of the three.
The main attraction in Algiers is the old city, or Kasbah , a unique center of ancient street layout and architectural design, designated both as national landmark and UNESCO World Heritage site. Check the ancient monuments this city quarter sports, as well as its fortifications, outlying colonial houses, narrow and congested roads, palaces, mosques, and whatever other artifacts of the past that may greet you here.
Algiers Health & Safety :
Nearly the first tourist recommendation to those headed towards Algiers consists of some sort of safety warning, or reminder rather, along the lines that visitors enter at their own risk as Algiers is definitely not safe.
Having recently emerged from a civil war, intra-Algerian violence is far from finished, and this social and political instability is a threat only magnified for tourists as a result of Algerian Islamic hardliner attacks on Western visitors. Further, women must dress and behave with oppressive religious constrictions in mind when touring most of the country.
Still, a visit is manageable, so long as one stays in safe neighborhoods, well-known hotels , and indoors come nighttime. Also, keep drinking activity confined to the hotel bar and do not inadvertently offend anyone by discussing politics. Try to avoid public transportation and narrow streets. The old city and French city boroughs are not all that safe, but the beachfront is generally alright. Countryside locales make for riskier travel than does trekking around the capital, and while daytrips to and from Algiers are do-able, false roadblocks abound. It would be foolish to leave Algiers at night. source: tripadvisor.com
