Viva Algérie

Economy

Euro and Algerian dinar: official rate, parallel market and tourism allowance

Comparing the official rate, square indicators and tourism exchange allowance without mixing them.

By Viva Algérie Editorial2 min read
Bank of Algeria building

Editorial update: research completed on 21 July 2026 at 15:05 (Africa/Casablanca).

The euro-dinar debate in Algeria often mixes three different realities: the official Bank of Algeria rate, the rules for the tourism exchange allowance and indications from the parallel market. Mixing them leads to poor decisions.

Key points

  • The Bank of Algeria'showed 1 EUR around 152 DZD in its 20 July 2026 quotation.
  • Unofficial square indicators showed around 275-277 DZD for 1 EUR around 21 July.
  • The parallel market is not official data and varies by place, amount and time.

The official rate

The official rate applies to bank quotations and regulated operations. It is published by the Bank of Algeria and must remain the reference whenever institutional data is discussed. On 20 July 2026, the consulted page showed the euro at 152.0884 DZD in the commercial quotation.

Square Port Said in Algiers
The square is often cited as a parallel-market reference, without official value. Credit : Unknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The parallel market

Square Port-Said and private indicators provide an informal snapshot. Rates can change by city, amount, availability, season and time of day. They must never be presented as legal or guaranteed rates.

Parallel-market rates are not official data and can vary by city, amount and time.
Square Port Said at night
Informal rates vary by context and time; they do not replace a bank quotation. Credit : Ludovic Courtes, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Tourism allowance

The tourism exchange allowance changes the reading for travellers, but it does not remove the gap between official and parallel rates. Age, amount, stay length and procedure conditions should be checked with the relevant banks and the Bank of Algeria before departure.

Bank of Algeria logo
The official rate must be distinguished from any parallel indication. Credit : Bank of Algeria, public domain.

What to watch

Watch: the next Bank of Algeria quotation, bank updates on the tourism allowance and private indicators, always labelled as unofficial.

Main sources

FAQ

Which rate should be used for official information?

The rate published by the Bank of Algeria.

No. It is an informal and variable indication.

Does the tourism allowance remove the parallel market?

No. It regulates a traveller exchange right under conditions.

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