Must See

Tripoli

Libya's capital city is full of heritage, with narrow alleyways, souks, grand mosques and traditional khans (public houses). Tripoli's architecture reflects its past rulers; Turkish, Spanish, Maltese and Italian. A stroll through the bustling souks in the Medina (historic city centre) is an fun way to spend a few hours.

Situated on a promontory above Tripoli is the Red Castle, or Assai al-Hamra, an imposing fortress that houses a maze of courtyards and buildings. Next to the fortress on the Green Square is the Jamahiriya Museum, which was designed in conjunction with UNESCO, and houses mosaics, statues and other artefacts.

Leptis Magna

Visitors can delve deep into Libya's fascinating history, as they wander through this wonderful archaeological site east of Tripoli, regarded by many as the best Roman site in the Mediterranean. At the mouth of the Wadi Lebda, it's all that is left of a large port city built by the Phoenicians, which then became a major Roman settlement. Beautifully preserved by invading sands, it remains a great splendour to this day. Highlights include the grand Severan Arch, built in honour of Emperor Septimus Severus, and the marble- and granite-lined Hadrianic Baths. There's also an amphitheatre, an impressive forum complex and a detailed basilica.

War Graves

Libya was the scene of much fierce fighting during World War Two. The most famous combatants were the British soldiers garrisoned at Tobruk - the so-called Desert Rats. Today at Tobruk, four cemeteries mark the final resting place for some - a poignant pilgrimage for surviving veterans.

Zallaf Sand Dunes

The Zallaf Sand Dunes are home to the native Tuareg tribe, where the dunes are surrounded by palm trees and saline lakes with high mineral content. Visitors can enjoy relaxing sand baths and salt-lake bathing in this unusual environment.