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Libya

Getting Started & Practical Information

WARNING: Libya is currently unstable, please read this travel warning before going!

When to Visit

Libya has two distinct meteorological climates with the desert interior and the Mediterranean coast. Along the coast extremes are more approachable as summers (June-August) are hot, and often humid, with an average temperature that hangs around 90°F (30°C). Winters along the coast experience lower temperatures with an average of about 62°F (16-17°C). Springs and falls (autumns) vary as the seasons change; generally the fall experiences a slow and somewhat predictable fall in temperatures, but the springs are sporadic. With winds out of the south, the desert heat can quickly escalate the coast's temperatures as other days will experience rain.

The desert inland can be, and typically is very different. Days get very hot while at night the temperatures tend to plummet significantly. During summer days temperatures can reach as high as 122°F (50°C) and even on "cooler" days the temperature tends to reach 105°F (40°C). The hottest recorded temperature on earth was in Libya when the desert hit 136°F (58°C). Nights experience much lower temperatures in the summer, requiring a coat on most days and during the winter month's night temperatures are as low as freezing.

Due to these extremes from season to season and region to region, the best time to visit Libya generally tends to be in winter, when both the coasts and desert are accessible. For coastal sunbathers, spring and fall tend to be preferred. For everyone though, the only time to truly consider visiting is when political stability has climaxed and this varies from month to month and year to year.

A final point to consider before planning your travel is local holidays. Holidays can make travel either more attractive, such as for large festivals, or less attractive due to tourist site closings and more expensive transportation options, so make sure you look into this before booking your trip. One holiday to be aware of is Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year compared to the Gregorian calendar) as this month tends to close shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Weather

Although weather can be generalized based upon years past, for more up to date weather patterns and predicted future weather patterns, visit weather websites like weather.com; many local news sources also have information for international weather forecasts.

Tours & Cruises

If you're looking for a pre-arranged trip, that involves little effort on your part, then you should consider going on an organized tour or cruise. Organized tours and cruises vary from all expenses included to only daily tours and perhaps hotels included in the price, but all the options below will help you arrange all the details so you don't have to worry about finding the best deal or right hotel.

Experience It Tours: A tour company focusing on North Africa, Experience It Tours rarely gets a poor review from travelers.

Guidebooks

If you are just traveling on business and have little free time or are already familiar with Libya, you may not need anything more than SafariTheGlobe.com's Mini Guide to Libya! However, if you need more detailed and up to date information, there is one guidebook available for travel in Libya.

Lonely Planet: Great maps and updated often with comprehensive housing information, restaurants, & transportation options. Backpackers and adventurers love these guidebooks.

Visas

Many foreign nationals need a visa to enter Libya, however the requirements for citizens of different nationalities varies. To learn more about who need visas, what type of visa is needed, what requirements are needed to obtain a visa, and visa costs, please visit the Official Website of Libya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (currently down in English; it is also available in Arabic) or contact your nearest Libyan Embassy.

Health & Insurance

Every part of the world has different health concerns and diseases, including Libya. Before traveling, consult with a physician to learn more about your destination and what steps you can take to prevent illness. At the time of writing, Libya didn't have any health immunizations that are required prior to arrival, although a number of immunizations are strongly recommended.

Many health insurance providers don't cover health care that is provided outside your home country. Before going abroad check with your health insurance to see if they cover international care. If not, consider purchasing an international medical insurance option, preferably from a company that specializes in international medical insurance.

Transportation

Unless you're on an organized tour or working with a travel agent, you will have to arrange some transportation. The below links can greatly help you start your planning, first by finding a flight to Libya, then with domestic airlines and car rental agencies. If you don't know where to begin, try the "Flight & Rental Car Search Sites" to learn competitor's prices during your trip.

Largest International Airlines: Air France, American Airlines; British Airways; Cathay Pacific; China Southern Airlines; Delta; Emirates; KLM; LAN; Lufthansa; Qantas; Singapore Airlines; United Airlines.

Largest Libyan Airlines: Air Libya

Flight & Rental Car Search Sites: Expedia.com; Farecast.com; Kayak.com; Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.

Housing

Housing options are numerous in most tourist destinations, but every individual seeks out something different when it comes to housing. The below links should help you get started, with low- to high-end hotels, hostels, and camping options.

Popular International Hotel Conglomerates: Accor Group (various price ranges); Choice Hotels (low- to mid-price range); Hilton (various price ranges); Hyatt (high-end to resorts); InterContinental Group (mid- to high-price range); Marriott Family (various price ranges); Starwood Hotels (high-end); Wyndham Hotels (low- to mid-price range).

Hotel Search Sites: Expedia.com; Kayak.com; Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.

Hostels: Although there are many hostel websites, some of the most popular and reputable include hostels.com, hostelworld.com, & hostelbookers.com.

Camping: Camping is still a foreign concept in Libya, plus camping is not safe in most locations. The desert is unforgiving, violence is widespread, and there are political extremists outside the major cities so setting up a tent is not a good idea.

Opening Hours, Expenses, & Tipping

Opening hours in Libya at local shops, restaurants, and stores vary. Some open earlier or later than 9:00 am, while they are just as varied for closing times. Most people eat lunch at about noon or early afternoon, while dinner begins after work. Restaurants don't begin to fill up in the evening until about 8:00 pm, although in tourist locations, restaurants and shops tend to be open all day to cater to the foreigners. Libya typically follows a Friday-Saturday weekend.

The one time of the year that shops and restaurants are closed more often than not is during Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year compared to the Gregorian calendar), when fasting is required from sunrise to sunset. Due to this Islamic requirement, most shops close down and it can be difficult to find an open restaurant anywhere outside major hotels catering to tourists.

Many of Libya's tourist attractions aren't overly expensive, but the more well known sights can be quite expensive and some even require that you hire a guide for your tour, making prices add up quickly and at times more expensive than a low-end hotel or hostel. Hotels prices can range from 20 dinar ($15) for a private room or hostel bed to well over 250 dinar ($200) in business hotels or hotels catered to tourists. Food prices also vary greatly; street food can cost as little as 2-4 dinar ($2-3), but eating in a nice hotel restaurant can cost up to 60 dinar ($50). Transportation in Libya is also fairly reasonable (if it's running), particularly if you travel by bus (although safety is suspect); most flights are roughly equivalent to costs associated with a flight in Europe or North America at a similar distance.

Tipping is not common in Libya. The only exception to this rule is in nice hotels and restaurants catered to foreigners, particularly. In these places tips are expected in the form of about 5-10% for a meal and about 1 dinar ($1) a bag for bell hops. If you hire a tour guide, tips are also expected, however the amount is at your discretion.

Crime & Safety

Libya is a country of extremes, from religious extremists to political extremists. While few of these extremists target foreigners, they create an atmosphere in which violence can break out with little to no warning. This has been especially true since the revolution began in early 2011. There are also certain cities to entirely avoid due to this same extremism so before departing for Libya check with your country's foreign (State) department for any travel warnings to Libya.

Pick pocketing is not extremely common except on crowded public transportation, so use street smarts wherever you are in Libya.

Another nuance to most tourists in Libya is from tourist touts and scams, so be careful whom you trust when it involves parting with your money. If anyone who gave you assistance asks for a tip, tip at your discretion; if they provided a service to you, it is expected you tip them, although this amount does not have to be large.

This page was last updated: November, 2011