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Libya travel guide
Vast Roman cities by the sea and Saharan rock art.
Libya is a large North African country with a long Mediterranean coast and most of its land in the Sahara. It has some of the best-preserved Roman and Greek ruins in the world, such as Leptis Magna, Sabratha and Cyrene.
Travel tools
Getting there
International flights, mainly via Tunisia, Turkey and other regional hubs, serve Mitiga airport in Tripoli and Benina in Benghazi, though routes change often. Land borders with Tunisia and Egypt exist but may be closed or restricted.
Best time to visit: Oct–Apr – cooler weather for ruins and the desert.
Tougher months: June to August – intense heat, especially in the Sahara, and hot desert winds such as the ghibli.
Weather by month in Tripoli
- 18°J●
- 19°F●
- 21°M●
- 24°A
- 27°M
- 30°J
- 32°J
- 32°A
- 31°S
- 28°O●
- 23°N●
- 19°D●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Africa/Tripoli. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 2 of 198 other passports can enter Libya without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 188 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 8 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Libya (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 4: Do Not Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-31). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Libya travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Libya are based around Leptis Magna, Sabratha or Cyrene. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$40–70 for a backpacker and US$90–170 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Libya page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, D, F, L. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +218.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Leptis Magna (Tripolitania · Roman ruins): One of the most spectacular Roman sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Sabratha (Tripolitania · Roman ruins): Seaside ruins famous for their grand theatre and mosaics.
- Cyrene (Cyrenaica · Greek ruins): An ancient Greek city with temples and necropolises in green hills near the coast.
- Tripoli (Capital · medina & museums): The capital's old city, castle and museums tell the story of Libya's many layers of history.
- Ghadames (West · desert oasis): A whitewashed oasis town with an extraordinary maze of shaded passages.
- Tadrart Acacus (Fezzan · desert & rock art): A sandstone mountain range famed for its prehistoric rock art.
- Ubari Sand Sea (Fezzan · dunes & lakes): Golden dunes holding oasis lakes such as Gaberoun.
Things to do
- Explore Leptis Magna. Walk through a vast Roman city of arches, a theatre and a harbour, astonishingly complete on the Mediterranean shore.
- See the theatre at Sabratha. Gaze at a towering three-storey stage backdrop overlooking the sea.
- Wander the ruins of Cyrene. Discover Greek temples and tombs carved into the green hills of the Jebel Akhdar.
- Get lost in Ghadames old town. Walk the cool, covered alleyways of a UNESCO-listed oasis town designed to beat the desert heat.
- Discover rock art in the Acacus. See ancient paintings of animals and people in a dramatic sandstone landscape.
- Visit Tripoli's medina. Browse souks, Ottoman mosques and the Marcus Aurelius arch in the old city.
- See the Ubari lakes. Marvel at palm-fringed salt lakes hidden among towering Saharan dunes.
- Taste Libyan cuisine. Try couscous, bazeen, sharba soup and sweet mint tea topped with peanuts.
Source: full Libya guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Bazeen – barley dough with spicy lamb stew
- Shorba Libiya – spicy lamb and tomato soup
- Couscous – often served with lamb and vegetables
- Usban – stuffed sausage with rice and herbs
Source: RoamSun Libya guide
Money and safety
Currency: Libyan dinar (LYD). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not expected; rounding up is appreciated.
Emergency numbers: 1515 police · 193 ambulance.
- The currency is the Libyan dinar (LYD); bring cash, as international cards often do not work.
- ATMs and banks can have cash shortages, so arrange money in advance with your tour operator.
- Most governments advise against all travel to Libya because of conflict, unrest and the risk of kidnapping; check your government's latest travel advice before considering a visit.
- Consular help may be very limited or unavailable, and many travel insurance policies will not cover you.
Source: RoamSun Libya facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Libya?
Oct–Apr – cooler weather for ruins and the desert. Mediterranean on the coast with hot summers; very hot and dry in the desert.
What time zone is Libya in?
Libya uses Africa/Tripoli.
Do I need a visa for Libya?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 2 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 188 need an e-visa or eTA and 8 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Libya use?
Libya uses plug type C, D, F, L at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Libya?
The international calling code for Libya is +218.
Do you tip in Libya?
Not expected; rounding up is appreciated.
What is the emergency number in Libya?
1515 police · 193 ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Libya?
Traffic drives on the right.