There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Oran each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national) Third month of the Hijri calendar: Eid Al-mawlid an-Nabawi (national)The birth of the Prophet Muhammad is celebrated each year in Algeria. Prayers and celebrations during these two days make them a family-holiday.
March 20: International Francophonie Day (national)49 French-language speaking countries including Algeria celebrate their link with France. Poetry and writing contests are held for the youth, as well as meals and games about French culture and language for everyone.
May 1: Labour Day (national)Labour Day is a public holiday for all Algerians. This day is spent on parades and worker marches.
Ninth month of the Hijri calendar:Ramadan (national)The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, is an especially pious time in Algeria, a country with a majority Muslim population. Fasting begins each day at sunrise and ends at sunset. For the entire month, Oran operates at a slower pace during the day and stirs into action at nightfall.
First day of Chawwal (date set according to the Hijri calendar): Eid al-Fitr (national)In Islam, this day marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is a time for celebrations with family and friends.
July 5: Independence Day (national)This holiday commemorates the Independence of Algeria as proclaimed on July 5th, 1962 by General de Gaulle. It is an opportunity for many official speeches, parades and popular rejoicing.
July 19: Righting Day (national)The Anniversary of the Algerian coup d'état of June 19th, 1965 which saw Houari Boumédiène take over as president is cause for yearly celebration.
Tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah (date set according to the Hijri calendar): Eid al-Adha (national)It is considered the most important of the yearly Muslim holidays and honours Ibrahim as a model for all believers. This is also an occasion for sumptuous family gatherings, for which it is recommended to multiply offerings and gifts.
November 1: Anniversary of the Revolution (national)November 1st, 1954 is the official starting point of the war between France and Algeria. This event is cause for yearly celebrations, official memorial services and political speeches.
Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 5 | 17 | 44 | Not the best period to go |
February | 6,5 | 18 | 44,5 | Not the best period to go |
March | 8 | 20 | 35 | Good period to go
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April | 10 | 21,5 | 30 | Good period to go
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May | 13 | 24 | 27 | Good period to go
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June | 17 | 28 | 4 | Good period to go
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July | 19,5 | 30,5 | 2 | Not the best period to go |
August | 20 | 32 | 3 | Not the best period to go |
September | 18 | 29 | 13 | Good period to go
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October | 14 | 25 | 25 | Good period to go
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November | 9,5 | 21 | 55,5 | Not the best period to go |
December | 7 | 18 | 45 | Not the best period to go |
The Ahmed Ben Bella International airport is 12 kilometres (7 miles) south of Oran.
In Oran, tramway is the celebrity. It is the most reliable and efficient way to get around the city.
Driving around town may be a difficult experience: lack of signage in some neighbourhoods, heavy traffic during rush hour, shortage of parking spaces… We advise you not to use a car to get around in Oran.
Oran's new tramway line opened in 2013. It crosses the city from east to west and stops at several of Oran's main points of interest. From Es Sénia Station, it connects the Othmania garden, the sports arena, the 1er November Square (city centre) and the Sidi Maarouf bus station. It is operated every day from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with one train every 4 minutes during rush hour. Tickets are DZD 40. You can buy them at the automated machines in every station or in the tramway. A 5-day pass is also available for DZD 320.
Taxis are a good way to navigate the city of Oran, even though you have to consider the dense traffic. Be careful and do not hop into non-official taxis. Taxis in Oran must be yellow and bear a "taxi" sign. The fare must not exceed DZD 40 per kilometre.
Upon your arrival in Oran, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Algerian tourism boardSee your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Oran counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
VaccinationsObtaining a booster vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, typhoid, hepatitis A and B is recommended. For longer stays, it may also be recommended to obtain a booster vaccination against rabies.
For more information, contact the Air France Vaccination Centre:
It is recommended to:
It is recommended to drink water from sealed bottles.
A valid visa is mandatory to enter Algeria, except for residents of certain countries.
For more information, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria:
www.mae.gov.dz/default_en.aspx
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Oran, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few useful phrases in Arabic for your stay in Oran:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Sabah al-khair
Thank you very much: Shukran jaziilan
Could you repeat ?: Mumkin te'id ?
What time is it ?: Kam el sa'ah?
Train station: Mahattat al-qitaar
I'm looking for (…): Abhass ane (…)
Do you have (…)?: Hal 'indak (…)?
Where can I find (…)?: Ayna ajed (…)?
Tipping
Tipping is not necessarily required, although always appreciated if you are satisfied with the service. You may leave a tip in restaurants and hotels, for 10 to 15% of the bill.