←All destinations
Travel Guide
Visiting Libya
Select your passport to instantly check if you need a visa.
Avoid Some Regions
UK FCDO: The FCDO advises against all travel to Libya, except for Tripoli, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Derna and the surrounding Jebel Akhdar area, and Misrata, where it advises against all but essential travel. Heightened regional tension could lead to travel disruption at short notice. Travel insurance can be invalidated by travelling against FCDO advice.
Updated 2026-07-25 11:44:53
Discover
Top Attractions in Libya
The most iconic and unmissable experiences this country has to offer.
UNESCO World Heritage
Leptis Magna
Leptis Magna is one of the finest and best-preserved Roman cities in the world, situated on the Mediterranean coast around 100 kilometres east of Tripoli. Founded by Phoenicians in the 7th century BC and later the birthplace of Emperor Septimius Severus, the site encompasses a forum, theatre, Hadrianic baths, basilica, triumphal arch, and vast circus stretching 450 metres along the shoreline. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, it offers an extraordinarily complete picture of a prosperous Roman provincial capital.
UNESCO World Heritage
Sabratha
Sabratha began as a Carthaginian trading post on the Libyan coast west of Tripoli and developed into a flourishing Roman city whose centrepiece is a three-storey theatre considered the largest of its kind in Africa. Restored by Italian archaeologists in the 1930s, the stage wall features intricately carved golden stone columns that rise dramatically against the Mediterranean sky. The wider archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also includes temples, mosaics, and remnants of Punic-era streets.
Wise
Your bank marks up every USD you spend in Libya. Wise doesn't.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free ATM withdrawals up to your limit
- Pay in local currency at the real rate
4.8 ★ App Store·4.8 ★ Google Play
Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for Libya.
- No SIM swapping
- No data roaming charges
- Active in minutes
4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Health & Safety
Health & Emergency Info
Before You Travel
Before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Emergency medical number Call 1415 and ask for an ambulance. Medical help in remote areas may not be available. Even if your travel or insurance company has arrangements with an international air ambulance provider, they may not be allowed to carry out a rescue operation within Libya. The current status of Libyan rescue services is uncertain
Full health advice (FCDO) →Emergency Numbers
Police193
Ambulance191
Fire190
Health information sourced from UK FCDO. Always consult a travel health professional before departure.
Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Libya
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Libya page at Yoogo.
Libya uses the Libyan dinar (LYD). Cash is the dominant form of payment throughout the country, as card terminals are scarce outside a small number of larger hotels in Tripoli, and ATM availability is limited and unreliable. Visitors are advised to carry sufficient local currency for the duration of their stay.
Libya's security situation remains complex, with ongoing political instability and the presence of armed groups in various regions. Many governments advise against all or all but essential travel to Libya, and those who do travel typically do so with organised tour groups that include local guides and, in some areas, official escorts.
Within cities such as Tripoli, shared taxis (known as servees) follow loose fixed routes and are the most common and affordable way to travel, while private black-and-white taxis are also widely available. Intercity travel typically relies on long-distance shared taxis or private hire vehicles, as formal bus services are limited and scheduling can be unreliable. Renting a car with a driver is often the most practical option for reaching outlying archaeological sites.
The most comfortable months for travel are March to April and October to November, when coastal temperatures are mild and the desert interior is manageable for exploration. Summer months from June to August bring extreme heat, regularly exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in the interior, making outdoor sightseeing arduous. Spring can occasionally bring the ghibli, a hot dusty wind that sweeps in from the Sahara.
Arabic is the official and predominant language, with Libyan Arabic spoken in daily life and Modern Standard Arabic used in formal and written contexts. English is understood in some hotels, tour offices, and among younger, educated Libyans in Tripoli, but it is not widely spoken outside the capital. Learning a few basic phrases in Arabic is appreciated by locals and can be genuinely useful.
Travellers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission are required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Hepatitis A, typhoid, polio, and tetanus vaccinations are generally recommended, and travellers should consult a travel health clinic at least four weeks before departure for personalised advice. Medical facilities are limited outside major cities, so comprehensive travel health insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly advisable.