Gay travel guide to Algeria for first-timers

The men are beautiful!

The women too…

…was my first impression of Algeria.

And it's no surprise. This nation has a rich mix of people – Arabic, Mediterranean, Berbers, and Sub-Saharan tribes. There is no uniform ‘type'.

Located on the northern coast of Africa, Algeria is the largest country on the continent. It has strong ties with France despite its turbulent history. Algerians make up one of the largest immigrant groups in France – many Algerians call both countries home. Almost everyone in the country speaks French and Arabic. French culture seeps into every facet of daily life in Algeria, from the Colonial buildings in Algiers to the food products sold in the supermarket.

And then there's the music!

If you like Arabic music, Algeria has THE best sounds in my humble opinion: finding a background audio to accompany my Algeria Instagram Reels and Stories was a lot of fun!

But when it comes to LGBTQ rights, Algeria has a long way to go. While it's not up there as one of the most dangerous places in the world for gay people, neither is it a place we'd rate as one of the more gay friendly Arab countries.

Algeria is however safe – at least in the coastal region. People are religious and super conservative. At no stage did I ever feel threatened or unsafe anywhere, particularly when compared to other North African nations like our trip to Egypt.

Given its proximity to Europe, I think it's only a matter of time before tourism in Algeria takes off. It's almost there – getting a visa is a pain in the backside and foreign bank cards rarely work so you're forced to bring dollars/euros to exchange into Dinars on arrival. Until that happens, this is a place to head where you'll be the only foreigner, discovering a land that has barely been touched by tourism. A pretty exciting feat as far as I'm concerned…

Is Algeria safe for gay travelers?

So here's the dilemma. There are no proactive LGBTQ laws in Algeria whatsoever. The government instead has a nasty anti-gay law with a penalty of up to 3 years in prison, but as my friends in Lebanon said, you have to be ‘caught in the act' for this ever to be of concern to you.

To give you an idea, the Oscar-winning 2023 Barbie movie was banned in Algeria because they felt it “promotes homosexuality and other Western deviances”. The feeling I got from meeting local LGBTQ people is society Algerian society is heteronormative at every level, family takes priority over everything, few gay guys I met were out to their families, and sadly, many Algerian gay guys felt pressured into marrying a woman to appease their families.

Therefore it goes without saying that Algeria is a destination that you need to suppress all gayness and jump back into the closet for your safety. Whether you still want to visit is a personal matter. I wanted to because my curiosity always gets the best of me and I want to visit every country in the world. Other gay travelers will simply refuse out of principle – and that's fine!

If you do decide to visit, it goes without saying you need to be careful. But the upside, it's super safe! Much like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, people are so religious that the crime rate is low. I never felt threatened during my trip to Algeria, although my trip was limited to the coastal regions, avoiding the Southern part of the country as advised by the UK Foreign Office Algeria Travel Advice and the US Department of State Algeria Travel Advisory.

Are public displays of affection safe in Algeria?

All Algerian people I met were super sweet, educated, and friendly, but despite this, I would advise against all public displays of affection in Algeria. Society is super conservative and religious. Homosexuality is generally frowned upon so any form of PDAs would risk complications and discomfort that you'd no doubt want to avoid. Unfortunately!

Are there any gay friendly places to stay in Algeria

I'll start with the obvious: there are no gay hotels in Algeria! Neither are there any hotels that openly advertise as being ‘gay friendly'. Therefore, the big brand hotels are your best bet.

To be on the safe side, I would advise contacting them before your visit and asking if they're ok to host a gay couple and allow a same-sex couple to share a bed. Otherwise, accept the fact that you may have to sleep in separate beds during your stay in Algeria.

Fellow gay travelers I met in Algeria told me they felt comfortable bringing a guest back to their hotel room at the Sheraton Club des Pins Resort, Hotel El Aurassi, and Ibis Algiers Airport Hotel.

Are there any gay friendly spaces or parties in Algeria?

The question I asked all local LGBTQ people I met during my travels in Algeria was “Where do you guys go to hang out/make out/kiss etc?”

The sad short answer I got every time was ‘nowhere!' Maybe they'd go to another's house if they knew their family wasn't around. Or they head out to someplace dark and remote in their cars and make out there…much like we used to do in the West before the modern-day LGBTQ movement took off in the 1970s following the 1969 Stonewall Riots.

Another reply I got was – ‘Rent a hotel room for the night!'.

A stark reminder of how fortunate I am to live in a place where something like this is not something I have ever needed to consider!

What’s Grindr like in Algeria?

If you want to connect with and meet local LGBTQ people in Algeria, I found Grindr the best way to do this. In the absence of any gay scene, Grindr ‘becomes' the gay scene and is a way to find out what's happening underground, if anything at all.

After all the scare stories I've heard about using Grindr in Arabic countries, it was better than I thought it would be. It's not banned so you do not need a VPN to access it. Also, I've not heard of any reports of local police using it to target gay men (like they do in Egypt). However, almost every profile was blank, perhaps a torso, and if ever a face is shown, it's likely a fake picture.

I recommend reading our article highlighting safety tips for using gay dating apps and applying them to Algeria, in particular, making sure you verify the person's identity before meeting them – perhaps asking them to confirm their social media profile (usually Instagram) and/or a video call. Also, meet in a public place first so you can see in person what they are like. And above all else, always follow your gut reaction!

What’s the best way to connect with gay travelers in Algeria?

Gay dating apps like Grindr are a good starting point. Another way to connect with fellow like-minded squirrel friends is via the ‘free' walking tours. I don't know why, but almost every time I've done one I've always connected with another LGBTQ person in the group!

In every new place I visit, I Google the name of the city and ‘free walking' tour next to it and book myself into one for my first day. It's a fantastic way to orient yourself in a new place, whilst also checking off the main sites, guided by a local. The best part is you are ‘free to tip' however much you feel it's worth. I always advise being as generous as possible with tipping (at least €30 per person) because ultimately this cash is going straight into the hands of a local rather than to a big corporation based outside of the country.

And for some reason, every time I've done one of these tours, there's always been a fellow sister in the group who I end up becoming travel buddies with. If you try it out and have the same thing happen to you let me know your experience!

For Algeria, I used the Guruwalk Best of Algiers tour as I couldn't find any others online – which makes sense, given how undiscovered the country is from mass tourism.

What are the highlights of Algeria?

Algeria is a massive country with the sites spread out across this vast chunk of land. Thankfully, internal flights are super cheap, which makes getting around easy. For my trip, I only had time to explore the capital, Algiers, Constantine, Tipaza, and Cherchell. I was told that Oran is another highlight as is Timimoun towards the South as a base to explore the Sahara desert.

I summarise below what I found to be my favorite takeaways from Algeria, starting with the most important…

The men

Not sure if it's something they put in the water or a particular thing they eat, but Algeria breeds very good-looking men. Reason enough to book your flight over right away says me!

I had already been acquainted with gay Algerian men in France via my travels there with Seby, but having visited I now *get it*. Whilst they have the Arabic/Mediterranean gene pool, they also have a mix of Berber, French, and other tribes. The result is a group of people who have a beautiful mix of skin/eye/hair color, a wonderful amalgamation of different cultures.

(This applies to Algerian women as well…I just wanted a thirsty subheading for this section!)

The music

Slimane represented France in the 2024 Eurovision, and in my opinion, should have won. What a voice! I dare you to watch his live performance and not shed a tear… He's originally Algerian.

Other gems that are Algerian include Khaled's Aicha, Desert Rose with Sting and Algerian Cheb Mami (performed live at the 2003 Super Bowl halftime show!), and my favorite, Machafouhach by Mouh Milano.

Let's just say I had a lot of fun finding audio tracks to match the Insta Stories and Reels I posted online for my Algeria trip – after my trip concluded of course!

Constantine

Standing by the Bab El Kantra Bridge at sunset watching the cars go by with the dramatic surrounding mountain landscape with the mosque call to prayer filling the air was one of my favorite memories from Algeria.

Nicknamed ‘the City of Bridges', Constantine is super pretty. 8 high-level bridges cross the dramatic Rhumel River gorge. The most famous is The Sidi M'Cid Bridge – a 538-foot (164-meter) suspension bridge that leads up to the Monument of the Dead.

Constantine also has a cute old town to explore as well as the impressive Emir Abdelkader mosque and the Ahmed Bey palace.

Algiers

The capital, Algiers, will be most people's entry/exit point into Algeria. My favorite part of the city is the UNESCO-listed Casbah, comprised of tight cobblestone messy streets, citadel remains, ancient mosques, and Ottoman-style palaces.

Other highlights of Algiers include the grand Post Office building, the Botanical Gardens Le Jardin d’Essai du Hamma (where the 1932 Tarzan movie was set), Pasha Palace, and the Martyrs Monument from where you can take a téléphérique (cable car) up into the mountains for views over the city. Another impressive feat is The Great Mosque (Djamaâ El-Djazaïr), lauded as one of the largest mosques in the world.

Tipaza and Cherchell

Most tours to Tipaza will include a stopover in Cherchell to explore the old town, port, local market, and the National Museum. But the main highlight of the area is the UNESCO-listed Roman ruins of Tipaza. A former Punic trading post, it was conquered by Rome and transformed into a strategic base for conquests of the kingdoms of Mauritania.

My tour in the region included a stopover at the Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania – a grand funerary monument located on the road between Cherchell and Algiers. It is allegedly the burial site of Cleopatra Selene II – the daughter of Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony.

Algerian food

Couscous is considered the national dish of Algeria. It's usually served alongside stewed meat. Other culinary highlights include Algerian pizza and tagines. If traveling along the coast regions, the fresh fish dishes are a must to try.

I have a sweet tooth so treaties like Makroud made me very happy…all washed down with Algerian tea.

Practical info for traveling to Algeria

• VISA: apply for your visa at least 2 months before your trip and before booking anything else. It's not hard, simply a ‘process' and super archaic. For example, I had to provide x2 copies of every page of my passport(!) along with two passport photos, the application form, bank statements, and accommodation details. For the accommodation, I recommend using Booking .com and just booking a hotel that offers free cancellation. I had to take all my paperwork to the Algerian consulate in West London, leave my passport with them, and pick it up after a week.
• SIMPLE ITINERARY: for your visa just say you intend to visit Algiers. Don't complicate it. If you say you're heading to anywhere south of this, they will likely reject your visa application or request you provide them with details of a tour guide who will take you there.
• CHECK VISA: when I picked up my visa, they made a mistake with the dates and it had to be canceled, and a new one re-issued. So make sure the visa they give you covers the days you intend to visit.
• TAKE DOLLARS OR EUROS: our foreign bank cards do not work in Algeria. Maybe a few of the large chain hotels will accept them, but most places will not. None of the ATMs we tried at the airport or in Algiers accepted them. Therefore make sure you bring the amount of cash you will need in dollars or euros to exchange them at the airport for Algerian dinar. Avoid British pound sterling as they are not readily accepted as much as euros and dollars.
• POLISH UP YOUR FRENCH: it's widely spoken in Algeria so having a basic foundation of it will help you out a lot. English is becoming more prevalent in Algeria, particularly among the younger generation, but French and Arabic still rule the school.
• NO UBER IN ALGERIA: instead download Heetch and use that. Another one is InDrive but you have to negotiate the price of the taxi fare before agreeing to it. Trips are to be paid in cash not card.

…and why is the number 106 offensive to gay Algerians?

When my travel friend told our group of gay Algerian friends that he had been to #106 countries they started giggling with laughter. He looked at me bemused and I just shrugged back at him wondering what on earth they found funny about this.

The answer, ‘cent six' is considered a very gay thing to Algerians. It comes from this Algerian soap clip where an undercover policeman is dressed as a hotel maid and is trying to walk like her. His colleague says to him “meyah we sata“, which translates to “pretend to be a woman” because his walk is not feminine enough. This phrase also means the number 106 in Arabic so it has been adopted as a derogatory way to refer to effeminate men.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

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We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

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For more inspiration:

• Read which countries we rate as the most dangerous places for gay travelers
• Discover what gay life is like in Tbilisi in our interview with Giorgi from Georgia
• Discover what gay life is like in Bucharest in our interview with Alexandru from Romania
• Find out what we rate to be the most gay friendly countries in the world
• Use our gay Azerbaijan guide to plan your trip to this mysterious country in the Caucasus
• Read the story of how we met in London back in 2009