Libya: Traveling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation

There are taxis but they do not all have meters. You should negotiate the fare beforehand. In general, a journey in town does not cost more than 4 LYD, between cities not more than 10 LYD and a set price for a day 100 LYD.

Maps of Urban Networks

Map of Libya
Maporama

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Tripoli (TIP)	24 km / 15 miles	LYD 20-25 / 30 min	-	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation

The railway network is nonexistent. To travel within the country, Libyans use national airline companies, vehicles or private buses.

Airlines

You Can Consult the List of Airlines Banned Within the EU. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Traveling By Yourself

Recommendation

The road network is of good overall quality but you should be careful as the highway code is not always observed. Moreover, it is inadvisable to drive at night. In the desert, you should use suitable equipment (4x4), and be permanently accompanied by at least one other vehicle. In these regions it is essential to take a driver or a local guide. You are also advised not to take private minibuses.

Libyan airline companies do not appear on the European list of companies prohibited in the European Union.

To travel around by car, there are taxis, but they do not all have meters. You should therefore remember to negotiate the price of the journey beforehand. Generally, a journey in town does not exceed 4 LYD, a journey between towns does not exceed 10 LYD, and the fixed rate for a day does not exceed 100 LYD. You can also hire a car. This comes to 80 LYD a day. You must have an international driving licence and drive on the right hand side of the road.

Road Maps

Road maps of Libya

Find an Itinerary

Google maps

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Libya contains the remains of several Greek and Roman cities, some of which are classified by UNESCO. They are:
- the Greco-Roman site of Leptis Magna in Tripoli.
- the Sabratha amphitheatre,
- the ruins of Shabbat
- the Fezzan rock paintings

Cultural

Cultural tourism in Libya can be symbolized by the Tripoli Museum which, on four levels, covers the history of Libya, from its first prehistoric inhabitants up to the Qadhafi years. The most remarkable collections are those of Roman mosaics, statues from the great cities of Antiquity, the Fezzan rock paintings, the traditional culture of the Bedouins and Tuaregs, and objects from the medieval period.

Nature

The Libyan deserts are very impressive. You absolutely should visit them. You can see two main deserts, the Akakus and the Fezzan. The Desert of Akakus, on the Algerian border, has been a UNESCO Heritage Site since 1985. There are thousands of rock paintings in very different styles, and the most ancient of them date from about 12 000 years BC. The most recent ones date from the first century.

You can also see the Desert of Fezzan which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. There is a salt-water lake, or Lake Mavo, known for being a lake which changes color. In the South, the region is scattered with oases.

Religious

Libyan mosques are very interesting to visit. They have characteristic roofs with domes, first found in Libya almost a thousand years ago. They are on all buildings, from the most ancient to the mosques of the nineteenth century.

Thermal

Nonexistent.

Beach

Libya has many sandy and rocky beaches on the Mediterranean coast.

Winter Sports

Nonexistent.

Outdoor Activities

Trekking in the desert.

Shopping

It is worthwhile bringing home craft items from the souks.

Tourism Organizations

Tourism Board of Libya

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from affected areas.

DTP and Hepatitis A vaccinations are strongly recommended for any stay in Libya, as are Typhoid, Hepatitis B and Rabies vaccinations if your stay is a longer one.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

Advice for travelers on this bi-lingual Canadian website

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Tripoli (GMT+2)

Summer Time Period

GMT + 1