Good Time to Visit
Weather
The summers (June to September) in Libya are very hot and dry, whereas winters are mild with cooler evenings. The desert has hot days and cold nights. (For more information, see Climate in Libya).
Visitors are advised to bring long, loose clothes in natural fabrics. A cover-up may be required for the cooler months, and warm clothing should be brought for nights in the desert.
Festivals
As a Muslim country Libya observes all the main Islamic festivals as holidays. The dates of these events differ from year-to-year. Ramadan, the month of fasting, is a particularly important time for Muslims. Revolution Day, on 23 July, and the annual Date Harvest Festival in October, are other notable diary dates.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Libya:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 2 March | Jamahiriya Day |
| 28 March | British Evacuation Day |
| 11 June | Evacuation Day |
| 23 July | Revolution Day |
| 1 September | National Day |
| 7 October | Italian Evacuation Day |
| Variable* | Islamic New Year |
| Variable* | Ashoura |
| Variable* | Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet) |
| Variable* | Ascension of the Prophet |
| Variable* | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| Variable* | Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
* Although Muslim holidays always fall on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date they are celebrated on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar whilst the Gregorian calendar is solar. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year. The method used to determine when each Islamic month begins also varies from country to country.