To and from MOROCCO
There are two border crossings between Algeria and Morocco, both closed at the present. The most common is on the road connecting Oujda and Tlemcen in the northern parts. The other is the one connecting Figuig and Beni Ounif, in the western Algeria. Of these two, the one between Tlemcen and Oujda is from time to time open,- the one between Figuig and Beni Ounif will stay closed for still some time to come. The border crossing takes longer time the more people are inside the vehicle, meaning that a car is better than bus, and bus is better than train (only in the north). Both border crossings offer zealous officials, and this has grown into a time consuming activity during the civil war of Algeria.
To and from TUNISIA
Getting across the border to or from Algeria will still take some time, as the need to control is big on both sides. As Algerians have been attacking Tunisian border posts and villages in early 1995, and the civil war in Algeria still is not over, officials are zealous in their work. The border is crossed by trains, buses, or cars, and most people crossing are Algerians, who have found Tunisia as a very attractive place to stay for their vacations, in the recent years.
To and from MAURITANIA
At date, the one road connecting Mauritania and Algeria is closed for foreigners, in virtually for all without a very good reason for going this way. The reason for this is the presence of Polisario, the liberation army of Western Sahara (territory occupied by Morocco from 1975) in the Algerian city of Tindouf, close to both Mauritania and Morocco. Even if conditions are quiet down here now, the political situation remains heated.
To and from MALI
It still seems that crossing the border between Algeria and Mali is impossible. This will hopefully not last long, as the political differences between the two countries (Tuareg rebellion) is less of an obstacle than many other differences in North Africa. If the border is open, or soon to open, then communication will have to be done hitchhiking (and paying) with one of the lorries, or covering the whole distance with your own 4WD. The few buses covering this this crusade (we're talking about more than 1,000 km through hostile desert), use several days, and you have to change bus, and wait perhaps for some days, at the border (Burj Mokhtar).
To and from NIGER
All border points are closed at date. This has quite little to do with differences between the governments of Algeria and Niger. But the situation in Northern Niger and some areas in Southern Algeria is linked, and partly out of hand of the authorities. Closed borders for most, has more to do with cooperation than conflict.
To and from LIBYA
The border point, deep south in Libya, is presently closed for overland traffic, at least for tourists. As this is really far away, and only served by good roads on the Libyan side, this would have been an option only for the toughest of travellers.
To and from FRANCE
There are many ferries connecting France and Algeria, and many ports are used. On the French side, the following: Marseilles and Sète. On the Algerian side: Oran, Algiers, Bajaia, Skikda, and Annaba. Prices are high, one way one person starts at US$180, and one car one way starts at US$280. Marseilles- Algiers normally offers the lowest rates, but there are no major differences in prices between the ports. There are by far more sailings in summer than in winter.
To and from SPAIN
There are some ferries serving Algeria from Spain. The main port in Spain is Alicante, which has sailings on Oran and Algiers. One of the Marseilles- Algiers ferries stop in Palma de Mallorca. Price level compares more or less to what is found in France.
INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
There are good connections between Algiers and major European cities, as well as many North African and Middle Eastern cities. There are also flights between some French cities, and other cities than Algiers. Read more in International flights.
