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Voykit pocket guide · Algeria
Bechar
Skip unless you have a specific reason to visit the Saharan Atlas: one night is enough for the town itself, but most travellers use it as a transit stop to the desert.
Bechar is a small city in Algeria's Saharan Atlas, 600 km from Oran on the N6 highway. It serves as a gateway to the desert and the closed Moroccan border, but has few tourist sights. Most visitors pass through on their way south or use it as a base for the surrounding landscape. One night covers the town; two if you explore the nearby ksour and canyons.
- Country
- Algeria
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- DZD
- Money
- Currency is the Algerian dinar (DZD). Foreign cards are rarely accepted and ATMs often reject them; bring euros in cash and exchange at banks or hotel bureaux.
- Daily spend
- Budget DZD 3,000–5,000 excl. bed · Mid DZD 5,000–8,000 excl. bed · High DZD 8,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Mobilis, Djezzy and Ooredoo sell SIMs with a passport; buy in an official shop in town.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Protection Civile (fire, ambulance) 14 · Gendarmerie 1548
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or 5–10%.; Guide: €10–20 per day on tours.; Porter: DZD 100–200.
- Water
- Drink bottled water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets elsewhere.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | DZD 100–200 |
| Mint tea | DZD 50–100 |
| Couscous or tagine in a local restaurant | DZD 500–1,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | DZD 30–50 |
| Taxi ride within town | DZD 200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CBH · Bechar Boudghene Ben Ali Lotfi Airport
- check
Typical fares
- Overnight train Oran → Bechar
- about DZD 1,500–2,500, 12 h (check)
- Taxi from Bechar to Taghit
- about DZD 2,000–3,000, 1 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. For the surrounding ksour and canyons, you need a private car or a hired taxi. Check road conditions before heading out.
See and do
Known for
- Gateway to the Saharan Atlas and the desert
- Closed Moroccan border (since 1994)
- Ksour and canyons in the surrounding area
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Taghit | Car or taxi, about 1 h south on the N6 | About 1.5 h |
| Beni Abbès | Car or taxi, about 2 h south-west | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- City centre
- Hotels and guesthouses near the main square and railway station; most services within walking distance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | السلام عليكمas-salamu alaykum |
| Thank you | شكراshukran |
| How much? | بقداش؟bqaddash? |
| Where is the hotel? | وين الفندق؟win el fondok? |
| I don't understand | ما فهمتma fhemt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'salam'; hand on heart; avoid: Offering to shake a woman's hand first
- Dress: Long trousers and covered shoulders; avoid: Shorts in towns
- Checkpoints: Calm, patient, passport ready; avoid: Photos or arguing
- Hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; avoid: Rushing off
Scams and watch-outs
- The Moroccan border is closed; do not attempt to cross.
- Summer temperatures exceed 45°C; carry water and avoid midday sun.
- Police and gendarmerie checkpoints are common on the N6; carry your passport and visa at all times.
- Cash is king: ATMs are limited; bring enough dinars from Oran or Algiers.
Bechar is safe for tourists who follow standard precautions. The main risks are heat, limited medical facilities and police checkpoints. Do not approach the closed Moroccan border.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bechar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gateway to the Saharan Atlas and the desert
- Closed Moroccan border (since 1994)
- Ksour and canyons in the surrounding area
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bechar, revision 5242317 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242317
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bechar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.