Introducing Libya
Travel Alert: The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends against non-essential travel to a few areas and against all travel to the rest of Libya, please check with your relevant national government.
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Libya is a crossroads of history, continents and ancient empires. Home to the Mediterranean’s richest store of Roman and Greek cities – Sabratha, Cyrene and, above all, Leptis Magna – each of which is overlaid by remnants of Byzantine splendour, it’s a place where history comes alive through the extraordinary monuments on its shores. Every corner of cosmopolitan Tripoli resonates with a different period of history. It’s where the Sahara meets the Mediterranean.
Libya is also home to Africa’s most exceptional and accessible desert scenery. The Sahara engulfs over 90% of the country, offering up vast sand seas the size of small European countries. Visit the enchanting oasis towns of Ghadames and Ghat, where the caravans once showcased the riches of Africa. Marvel at palm-fringed lakes surrounded by sand dunes in the desert’s heart. Be bewitched by extinct volcanoes, such as Waw al-Namus, where black sand encircles multicoloured lakes. Go deeper into the desert and experience Jebel Acacus, one of the world’s finest open-air galleries of prehistoric rock art.
One important point to note is that visits to Libya can only be made as part of an organised tour. While those of you accustomed to travelling independently would probably love the chance to do so in Libya, remember that Libya is a vast country and on a tour you’ll be able to cover so much more territory than you otherwise could. Remember also that organised groups can be as small as a party of one (plus guide) and with most tour companies you can design your own itinerary.
Last updated: Jul 16, 2012
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Top cities in Libya
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Buyut ash-Shabaab
Tripoli
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Libya
Things to do
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- Sights (23)
- Tours (1)
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Our Top Picks For Libya
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1 Tripoli
World-class museum, evocative medina, Italianate architecture and the best restaurants in the country
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2 Leptis Magna
Unrivalled Roman ruins from one of the greatest cities of antiquity
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3 Nalut
Fairytale Berber architecture and old town perched atop the Jebel Nafusa
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4 Sabratha
Splendid Roman city with the finest theatre in existence
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5 Waw al-Namus
Black volcanic sands and multicoloured lakes in the Sahara's heart
Fast Facts about Libya
- Borders
Tunisia (Ras Adjir) and Egypt (Amsaad) open; Algeria, Chad, Sudan and (usually) Niger closed to non-Libyans
- Visa
Arranged as part of organised tour; can be picked up on arrival. Arabic translation of passport's details page required.
- Time
GMT/UTC +2
- Telephone
Country code 218; international access code 00
- Money
Libyan dinar (LD); US$1 = 1.23LD
- Seasons
Hot (June to August), wet (March and October), dry (rest of the year)
- Area
1.8 million sq km
- Population
5.5 million
- ATMs
Becoming more widely spread
- Capital
- Budget
US$50 to US$100 per day
- Languages
Arabic, Italian, English