Many people in Algeria spend their summers at the beach, on their way to the beach or trying to find a way to get to the beach.  As the weather gets hot and dry, many people crave the cool, salty Mediterranean spray, and will do anything to be near it. Whether it’s becoming overbearing houseguests at their relatives or friends of relatives, or even friends of friends living near the beach, renting at hotels near the water, or an Algerian favorite, camping at tent sights set up near many beaches.

There is something for everyone, and the long Algerian coast provides enough variety of beaches to satisfy any taste and most budgets. The most popular cities are Algiers with nearby Tipaza, Sidi Fredj and Zeralda. Annaba, Bejaia and Oran are also top destinations for beach goers.  Outside of major cities like Algiers, Oran and Annaba, there aren’t many five star hotels to accommodate high end tourists but there are many other options that can cater to most; including budget hotels and renting out apartments or bungalows near the beach. Camping is also a wonderful option if you’re up for adventure, not a whole lot of comfort but loads of fun. Tent renting at beach camp sites has become an Algerian family favorite because it’s cheap and it allows people to be right at the beach, therefore getting the most out of their vacations.

For people who aren’t beach bums, there are many sites you can visit during the summer in Algeria. For example, you can go visit many of the roman, byzantine and Phoenician ruins scattered all over the northern part of the country. Visit Tipaza for beautiful sites and a quaint downtown. The Wilaya (state) of Batna also has a massive display of well preserved remains of a roman city; it also has an international music festival in July of every year at the site which is worth attending if you reserve your hotel room in advance. You can visit Annaba, the birthplace of Saint Augustine and his basilica, and visit many religious and cultural vestiges in Tlemcen and Djemila, and  many others spread all over northern Algeria.

Summer in Algeria is also wedding season; there are weddings almost every day and on weekends they are innumerable. Algerian weddings are usually lavish affairs and you should find a way to attend at least one, which shouldn’t be too hard to do. Algerians are a welcoming, warm and generous people and would happily let you join them in their celebration if you ask. So be ready to hear a lot of music, see a lot of people hanging out of their cars trying to film wedding processions with their camcorders, meet great people and eat marvelous food.