Forty minutes east of Algiers by train, Boumerdès trades the capital's traffic for a run of Mediterranean beaches, a working fishing harbour and pine-covered hills you can hike in an afternoon. It is a province people from the capital treat as their own backyard beach, and it is close enough that you can base yourself here and still get into Algiers for a day without much fuss.

You can book a simple room near the train station or a seafront hotel in Boumerdès town itself, and either one puts you close to the water. Here is where to look, what it costs and which stays are worth booking first.

Where to stay in Boumerdès

• Dellys - the old port town, whitewashed lanes, a working fishing harbour and a casbah quarter dating back to Ottoman-era Algeria. Good for travellers who want a real town to wander, not just a beach. See stays in Dellys.
• Zemmouri - long sandy beaches, a lighthouse at the point and enough coves to find your own patch of sand even in peak season. See stays in Zemmouri.
• Corso - a straightforward family beach spot a short run from Boumerdès town, less crowded than the bigger resort towns further along the coast. See stays in Corso.
• Beni Amrane - inland and up in the hills, with pine forest walking trails and cooler air on a hot day. The pick if you want mountains more than sand. See stays in Beni Amrane.
• Boudouaou - the closest town to Algiers, handy if you want the beach province's lower prices with an easy run into the capital. See stays in Boudouaou.

How much is Boumerdès accommodation?

A night in Boumerdès starts from around AU$80, and most travellers end up somewhere between AU$80 and AU$270 depending on how close to the water you want to be and how much space you need.

• Budget stays - from AU$80 per night. Simple, clean rooms, fine as a base before you head to the beach or the train station.
• Mid-range hotels - from AU$118 per night. More room to move, a private bathroom, usually breakfast and a lift.
• Higher-end stays - from AU$267 per night. Seafront rooms and a bit more polish, the closest thing Boumerdès has to a splurge option.

Top-rated hotels in Boumerdès

• Hôtel Boumerdes Plaza - sits right on the Front de mer, so the beach is a walk out the door rather than a taxi ride.
• Medina Hotel - just south of the town centre, an easy walk to shops and the local buses if you are not driving.
• Coast Hotel - does exactly what the name promises, a coastal base close to Boumerdès' own stretch of beach.
• Hotel Adounia - out in Ouled Moussa, on the Algiers side of the province, useful if the motorway matters more to you than the sand.
• La Villa Hotel - a small villa-style stay on a quiet residential street, a good pick if you would rather not be in the middle of things.

Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Boumerdès

• Arriving from Algiers by train takes about 40 minutes, so a hotel near Boumerdès station saves you a taxi at the other end.
• Coastal towns like Zemmouri and Corso get busy from May to October, when the water is warmest. Book beach-side rooms early if you are travelling in that window.
• If you would rather have a quiet base and visit the beaches by day, look at stays around Boudouaou or Boumerdès town and drive out to the coast.
• Some coastal apartments are set up for week-long stays in summer. Filter by length of stay if you are only after a night or two, so you are not paying for a week you do not need.
• Public transport away from the train line is limited, so check whether a hotel offers airport or station transfers before you rely on local buses.

After the coast, the seafood is worth planning a meal around. Grilled fish straight off the boats at Dellys harbour and a hearty barley-semolina couscous with a vegetable-and-meat sauce are both easy to find in and around Boumerdès town.

If you are splitting your trip between the coast and the capital, hotels in Algiers are worth a look for the other end of your stay, or check hotels across Algeria if you are planning a longer route along the coast.