Money at Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Algiers, Algeria.
Algiers uses the DZD (دج). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly DZD 25–DZD 2000. Cash only; small DZD notes.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG)?
Algeria uses the DZD (دج). Airport ATMs dispense DZD directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from ALG to the city cost?
Expected fare on the ALG → Centre route is roughly DZD 25–DZD 2000. Around DZD 3000+ is already high, and DZD 4000+ unofficial is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at ALG?
Not expected. Drivers in Algeria don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at ALG?
Cash only; small DZD notes. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of DZD notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at ALG?
Only if you need $10–20 of DZD to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
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