About Algeria

Sara and John say...

Stretching from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the centre of the Sahara Desert, this largest country in the whole of Africa has a varied climate. It’s not just hot and sunny!

That said, blue skies and strong sunshine prevail. And across the Sahara it stays that way for most of the year. Southernmost areas do see tropical showers in the midst of summer, but for most of the desert, rainfall is rare. The heat is punishingly extreme in summer, when temperatures routinely reach the 40s Celsius during the day from April to September, although it does cool off markedly overnight. Indeed, in winter-time, overnight frost is possible! But generally, travel to the desert is much more comfortable through the winter months, when daytime temperatures are typically in the low 20s from December to February.

Further north is a zone of mountains and plateaus. The high Atlas mountains generate lower temperatures and more rainfall through the year, most notably in wintertime, when snowfall is not rare. However, the spring and autumn are comfortably warm here and perhaps the best periods to visit hubs such as Setif. Summertime is hot and dry, with 30-degree days routine.

The coastal north provides a more moderate climate than the interior. Wintertime can be mixed, with occasional blustery showers.

The best time to visit is often spring and autumn, when daytime temperatures at Algiers are often in the comfort zone of the mid-20s Celsius. Through the summer months it gets hot, but this is a good time to choose a coastal resort, where the Mediterranean breezes provide a refreshing influence to combat the heat. Rainfall is rare at this time of year.

And whenever you visit Algeria, sunscreen is a must.