Libya flag

Libya

History

Greeks founded Cyrene; Phoenicians settled Leptis Magna and Sabratha.
Tripoli became an Ottoman regency.
Italy invaded and later fought a long campaign against Libyan resistance.
Independence came on 24 December as a kingdom under Idris I.
Muammar Gaddafi held power after a coup, until the 2011 uprising.
Africa thumbnailPart ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalTripoli
Population7.5M
Area1.8M km2
CurrencyLibyan dinar

Short facts

RegionNorth Africa / Maghreb
LanguageArabic
Time zoneEET (UTC+2)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Leptis Magna: One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean, a UNESCO site.
  • Cyrene: A Greek colony of the 7th century BC above the Jebel Akhdar.
  • Ghadames: A Saharan oasis town of covered alleys, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Find a city in Libya

Showing all cities

Tripoli thumbnailTripoliCity

Planning questions

What is Libya known for?Leptis Magna, Cyrene, Ghadames.
What is the capital?Tripoli.
Which language is useful?Arabic.
When is the national day?24 December.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Tripoli as the first planning anchor for Libya, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Leptis MagnaCyreneGhadamesTripoliStreet foodCoffee
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Africa thumbnailDesert and dry-season planningWeather windows, heat, distance and route timing.