Major Tourist Attractions In Libya

The capital, Tripoli, is the also the main port of the country. It houses most of the administrative buildings in the country.

The old part of the town retains much of its, well, old-world ambience and is the most full-of-character city in the country.The city also boasts a good medina, filled with traditional ware including some fine jewellery and clothes, and a very good museum – the new Jamahiriya Museum. The northern end of the medina is marked by the only surviving Roman monument in the city – the Arch of Marcus Aurelius.  

The Assai al-Hamra (the Red Castle), a vast palace complex with numerous courtyards dominates the city skyline. There are some lovely classical statues and fountains from the Ottoman period scattered about the castle. The Gurgi and the Karamanli Mosques, with their intricate decorations and tilework, are fine examples of the artistic skills of local craftsmen.

 Benghazi is the other city in the joint capital, and an important centre of commerce, apart from also being a port. It has a vibrant, bustling souk just off Sharia Al-Aguriyah and the bathing beaches outside the city. 

The city is a good starting point for expeditions to the Green Mountain area that has, apart from lovely stretches of green that are a sight for desert-sore eyes, several charming, rustic villages.

The other sights in Libya can be divided into desert towns and sites of archeological interest. Of the former, the attractive oasis town of Ghadhames is recommended for the amazing examples of typical Libyan desert architecture there.  

Of the buildings, the Ghadhames merchant’s house, replete with traditional furnishing, is especially recommended. The town of Ghat in the deep south of Libya is close to some spectacular desert landscapes in the Acacus Mountain area. The Mountain also contains arguably some of the most superb examples of prehistoric rock art on the continent. In Ghat itself, there is a wonderful mosque frequented by the local Tuareg people.

The most superlative archaeological site in Libya has to be the Leptis Magna, once belonging to Carthage, one of the flourishing cities of the Roman Empire and a hub of the African trade route. 

The site is near the town of Khoms and about 120km east of Tripoli. The surviving examples of the glory of the Roman Empire in Leptis Magna are the splendid basilica, theater and luxuriously huge baths. There is also a good beach in Khoms proper.

 The town of Sabratha was considered the sister of Leptis Magna. It is preserved in all its former glory today, with the highlight being the rose-coloured Roman Theatre and museum.

The Roman city of Cyrene (next to the modern village of Shahat) is another must-see in Libya, as it is considered a replica of the amazing Delphi in Greece. Not far from Shahat is the ancient port of Apollonia, now partially submerged and therefore, absolutely magical to explore for divers (technically, swimming is not allowed, but it is possible anyway).