Algeria: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
28 harbours
Algeria: 28 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Algerian dinar
Clearing in: Visa in advance from the Algerian embassy in Berlin or the consulate general in Frankfurt; none is issued on arrival. The coastguard calls on VHF channel 16 as you approach and asks about crew, origin and destination; keep AIS switched on. Clear in at a commercial or fishing port (according to reports e.g. Annaba, Skikda, Béjaïa, Algiers with Sidi Fredj, Oran, Ghazaouet); customs come on board and issue a currency declaration, which is needed to exchange money. According to reports, anchoring outside the harbours is not tolerated. The German Federal Foreign Office warns against the border regions and advises against travel outside the larger cities without a police escort.
Documents: Passport with visa (valid for six more months, an identity card is not enough), boat papers, insurance, crew list, list of radios, valuables and spirits on board.
Fees: Harbour fees in the commercial ports; only one marina (Sidi Fredj near Algiers).
Fairway: Steep coast with few sheltered harbours; heavy seas in northerly and north-westerly winds.
Emergency: 17 (police), 14 (civil protection); MRCC Algiers, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Sources: Auswärtiges Amt: Algeria, travel and safety advice, Yacht Adina: sailing in Algeria, first-hand report (as of 2026-10-20)
Local winds
- Scirocco: warm south-easterly from the Sahara, humid and hazy over the sea, often with dust and poor visibility; high seas on south- and east-facing coasts
Harbours by cruising area
Central Algeria (Ténès, Tipaza, Algiers)
- Algiers Marina (Fishery)
- Club Marina Palm
- Leisure Port - Sablettes
- Petit Port de pêche El Koss
- Port Coco Plage
- Port de Beni Haoua
- Port de Cap Djinet
- Port de Chifalo
- Port de plaisance de Sidi Fredj
- Port de pêche Bouharoun
- Port de Tipaza
- Port Franco
- Tamentfoust
- Tigzirt
Eastern Algeria (Béjaïa, Jijel, Skikda, Annaba)
- Marina Annaba
- Port de pêche (Chetaibi)
- Port de pêche Collo
- Port de pêche d'El Kala
- Port de pêche et de plaisance de Stora
- Port El Marsa
Western Algeria (Ghazaouet, Oran, Mostaganem)
Frequently asked questions
Algeria: Do I need to clear in?
Visa in advance from the Algerian embassy in Berlin or the consulate general in Frankfurt; none is issued on arrival. The coastguard calls on VHF channel 16 as you approach and asks about crew, origin and destination; keep AIS switched on. Clear in at a commercial or fishing port (according to reports e.g. Annaba, Skikda, Béjaïa, Algiers with Sidi Fredj, Oran, Ghazaouet); customs come on board and issue a currency declaration, which is needed to exchange money. According to reports, anchoring outside the harbours is not tolerated. The German Federal Foreign Office warns against the border regions and advises against travel outside the larger cities without a police escort.
Algeria: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport with visa (valid for six more months, an identity card is not enough), boat papers, insurance, crew list, list of radios, valuables and spirits on board.
Algeria: What fees apply?
Harbour fees in the commercial ports; only one marina (Sidi Fredj near Algiers).
Algeria: What is the emergency number at sea?
17 (police), 14 (civil protection); MRCC Algiers, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Algeria: Which local winds blow there?
Scirocco.
Algeria: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 28 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.