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🇱🇾Things to Do in Libya
From the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna to the rock art of the Acacus Mountains - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them, when conditions allow.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Libya holds some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the entire Mediterranean, largely because decades of political isolation kept them away from mass tourism development - but ongoing instability since 2011 has made most of the country inaccessible and unsafe for travel. This page records the country's significance for reference; check your government's official travel advisory carefully before considering any visit.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Leptis Magna
One of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere in the Mediterranean, a UNESCO World Heritage site with an intact amphitheater, forum and market largely untouched by modern development.
📍 Khums, near Tripoli
🚉 The Roman city is 130km east of Tripoli on the coast road, about two hours - visits are arranged with a licensed operator, and the site is among the best preserved anywhere.
Acacus Mountains
A remote Saharan mountain range with prehistoric rock art dating back thousands of years, depicting animals and human figures from a period when the region was considerably less arid.
📍 Acacus Mountains, Fezzan
🚉 The rock-art massif is in the far south-west near Ghat, reached by internal flight to Sebha and then a long 4x4 desert crossing with a guide - not a route to attempt independently.
Sabratha
Another well-preserved Roman-era city on Libya's coast, with a particularly striking three-story theater facade still largely intact.
📍 Sabratha, near Tripoli
🚉 The theatre and Roman ruins are 70km west of Tripoli, about an hour by road, and are normally combined with Leptis Magna on an operator-run itinerary.
Mark Libya, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Libya?
Not a straightforward answer under current conditions - check your government's official travel advisory before planning any specific itinerary.
What's the best time to visit Libya?
Current safety and access conditions should be your primary consideration, not seasonal weather.
Is Libya good for a first-time visit?
Not currently recommended for most travelers given ongoing instability - check your government's official travel advisory carefully before considering any visit.
Do I need a visa to visit Libya?
Visa requirements vary by nationality, but this is secondary to the current travel advisory situation. Check the official information for your nationality: mfa.gov.ly.
What are some things to do in Libya on a tight budget?
Not applicable under current conditions - this section will be updated once travel to Libya is broadly considered safe and accessible again.
Can I rent a car in Libya, and what licence do I need?
Most governments advise against all travel to Libya, and there is no ordinary visitor rental market. Where travel happens, it is with licensed local operators who supply the vehicle, the driver and the permissions, and who navigate the checkpoints - the desert routes to the Acacus in particular cannot be driven independently. Visas must be arranged in advance through a sponsor. Consult your own foreign ministry before making any plans, and do not rely on standard travel insurance, which will not cover it.