Libya Tourist Places to Visit in Libya, Tripoli, North Africa, Africa

Libya Tourist Places to Visit in Libya, Tripoli, North Africa, Africa

Libya is an African country on the Mediterranean coastline in the northern part of the continent. It shares land borders with Egypt towards the east, Tunisia and Algeria to the east, Niger and Chad towards the south and Sudan to the southeast. Libya is the 17^th largest country in the world by area (1,759,541 sq. km), while its people strength of 6,244,174 (as of the 2014 census) makes it the 108^th largest country in the global population list.

Tripoli is the capital and largest city of Libya, situated in the northwestern part of the country with a population of 1.7 million. Libya is a desert country with its around 90% of land area is covered by desert. The geographical coordinates of Libya are 27° N 17° E.

History of Libya:

The history of Libya dates back to 8000 BC, when it was probably settled by the Neolithic peoples. Colonization started in Libya 630 BC by the Ancient Greeks, who founded a city under name Cyrene. Later Libya came under the reign of many Islamic and European powers, including Persians, Ottomans and Romans. Italy took the control of Libya in 1911 following the outcome of the Italo-Turkish War and finally Libya gained independence from Italy on 10 February 1947.

Getting Libya:

Tripoli International Airport is the gateway to Libya, situated in the town of Ben Ghashir, around 35 south of the midpoint of the national capital Tripoli. The airport handles flights from Rome, London, Dubai, Istanbul, Casablanca, Madrid and many other global destinations.

Libya has no railway transportation but bus services are generally available between major Northern Libyan cities. Taxis are comfortable and reliable travel options to get around Libyan cities.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Libya:

Libya is predominantly a Muslim country with around 97% Muslim population, particularly Sunnis are in large number. Arabic is a widely spoken and official language of Libya.

The cuisine of Libya is the blended form of Italian, Bedouin and traditional Arabian cuisine systems. Pasta and rice are popular among Libyans as staple food. Electronics, furniture and cloth products are purchasable in Libya.

Must see in Libya:

Red Castle Museum:

The Red Castle Museum is the national museum of Libya, situated in the Old City of Tripoli. The museum exhibits a large number of artifacts, sculptures and other objects covering from the prehistory of Libya until the independence of the country in the middle of the 20^th century. It is also called the Assaraya Alhamra Museum and Archaeological Museum of Tripoli. It is worth a visit.

Gurgi Mosque:

The Gurgi Mosque is an iconic mosque situated in the historic part of Tripoli. It was built during the Ottoman rule in Libya by the order of the naval captain Mustafa Gurgi in 1834. Visitors can also see the tombs of Gurgi and his family at the antechamber close to the mosque.

Tripoli Zoo:

The Tripoli Zoo is the biggest zoo in Libya and is also famous as a botanical garden with abundant of indigenous and exotic plants, and trees. The zoo is situated to the south of the Tripoli city centre and adjoins Tarabulus Zoo Park.

23rd July Lake:

The 23rd July Lake is a beautiful lake situated amidst of the port of Benghazi and the city centre of Benghazi. Covering a surface area of 100 hectares, the lake is frequented by a substantial number of tourists for its amazing beauty, lovely environment and for different water sport activities.

Tadrart Acacus:

The Tadrart Acacus is a mountain range in the Ghat District of Libya. Lying in a desert region, the Tadrart Acacus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its distinct prehistoric rock paintings and engravings of animals and humans.

List of other important places to see in Libya include:

Museum of Libya
Stoa Of Hermes
House of Jason Magnus
Burtasiyat Madrassa Mosque
Nine Muses
Temple of Apollo
St John’s Church

When to visit Libya?

The climate of Libya is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Sahara Desert in the south. Probably the best time to visit Libya is from November to May.

Where to stay in Libya?

Libya owns a vibrant hospitality industry that is concentrated in the national capital Tripoli. Most splurge hotels in Tripoli have adapted additional amenities like restaurants, cafeterias, and shops. Here are some popular hotels in Libya (Tripoli):