Algeria currency: the dinar, exchange and cards

Travelling to Algeria from the UK, the US, Canada or elsewhere and wondering which currency to bring? In Algeria everything is paid in Algerian dinars, and cash is still the most common way to pay. Here is what to know before you go: the dinar itself, where to exchange money, how far bank cards will get you, what customs expects and which official sources to check. We do not quote any exchange rate here: it changes every day, and only the rate displayed by the banks counts.

The Algerian dinar (DZD), Algeria's currency

Algeria's currency is the Algerian dinar. Its international code is DZD; on price tags, menus and receipts it is usually shortened to DA. It is issued by the Bank of Algeria, and the first Algerian banknotes replaced French ones in 1964.

The notes in circulation include 500, 1,000 and 2,000 dinars, with new series issued by the Bank of Algeria in recent years; small amounts are paid with coins. Always keep a few small notes: a taxi driver or a small shop may not have change for a large one.

Where to exchange money in Algeria

The simplest option is to exchange money when you arrive, at a bank or an authorised exchange office, at the airport or in town. The official rate is published by the Bank of Algeria and displayed in banks; the amount you receive may include fees.

Change your pounds, dollars or euros only through these official channels. Changing money in the street or with private individuals is not permitted, and it also exposes you to miscounting and scams.

Keep every exchange receipt. If you are a non-resident, customs may ask you on departure for proof of the exchanges you made during your stay: receipts from the bank or exchange office, or your entry declaration stamped by them.

Finally, do not plan to take dinars home: taking them out of the country is in principle strictly limited. The easiest approach is to spend them before you leave.

Cash or card?

In Algeria cash is king: taxis, small restaurants, cafés, markets, tips and most small shops are paid in cash. International bank cards are mainly accepted in large hotels and in some shops in the big cities, and a payment can fail without explanation. Treat your card as a backup, not as your only way to pay.

Cash machines (ATMs) are more common in the big cities, but few of them take foreign cards, and those that do do not always work. Before you go:

• tell your bank about your trip and check your payment and withdrawal limits;
• make sure you know your card PIN;
• bring two means of payment rather than one;
• do not rely on a single cash machine for the day's spending.

Declaring currency at customs

Algerian customs require travellers to declare foreign currency above certain amounts, on arrival and on departure. According to the 2025 leaflet of the Algerian customs administration, a written declaration would be required above the equivalent of 1,000 euros for an Algerian traveller, resident or not, and above 5,000 euros for a foreign traveller. Taking foreign cash out of the country would also be capped per calendar year, unless you have a bank document or an authorisation from the Bank of Algeria.

These rules change regularly. Before each trip, check the current amounts and forms on the Algerian customs website (douane.gov.dz) or with the Algerian consulate that covers your area; your country of departure also has its own declaration rules. Declare before you go through the checkpoint, and keep the stamped form for your whole stay.

How much cash should you bring?

It depends on your trip, and we do not quote any amount here. If your hotel is booked and paid before you leave, what remains is day-to-day spending: taxis and transport, meals, entrance fees, shopping and gifts. For an idea of accommodation budgets by city, read our article on hotel prices in Algeria.

Your hotel, settled before you travel

Reserving your hotel before you leave means you do not have to carry a large sum for accommodation. On Nreservi you book your hotel online. In Algeria, you or your relatives pay in dinars without a bank card: BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly office. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment.

Depending on where you live, also read our guides to how to book a hotel in Algeria from abroad and from Canada. Couples should read our article on the family record book at hotels before travelling.

Before you go

Visa. Most foreign travellers in principle need a visa to enter Algeria, and the rules depend on your passport. Check the current requirements with the Algerian consulate that covers your area before you go, and see our Algeria visa page.

Safety. Before you go, read your own government's travel advice (FCDO in the UK, the State Department in the US, Global Affairs Canada, France Diplomatie). Our article Is Algeria safe for travellers? explains where to find it.

See hotels in Algiers

Sources: Algerian customs administration (currency declaration leaflet, 2025); Bank of Algeria; Visit Algeria; International Trade Administration (United States); TSA (1 August 2024); Algérie 360 (29 December 2024); Maghreb Émergent; Radio Algérie (accessed 13 November 2026).

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.