Spring (March–May) is the best time to visit: pleasantly warm days, the orange blossom in March and the roses in April–May, and the mountains accessible by foot before the summer heat. The orchards of the Mitidja are at their most photogenic.
Summer (June–September) is hot in the city — frequently above 35°C — and many local visitors retreat into the mountains. Chréa is ten degrees cooler and a popular weekend escape from Algiers.
Autumn (October–November) brings the harvest and milder temperatures. The Chréa cedars are at their best.
Winter (December–February) can be cool and wet in the city, with snow on the higher mountains. The Chréa ski station operates from late December through March depending on snow conditions; it is small, rustic, and busy on weekends with skiers up from Algiers.