Libya was, before 2011, one of the great undiscovered destinations on the Mediterranean. It holds two of the finest Roman cities anywhere in the world, a UNESCO-listed desert oasis town, and Saharan landscapes that rival anything in the Sahara. Very few travelers have seen any of it. The country remains extremely difficult and risky to visit, but for those who do make it, the rewards are extraordinary.
Leptis Magna. The birthplace of Emperor Septimius Severus is arguably the best-preserved Roman city outside Italy. The Baths of Hadrian, the Severan Basilica, the Forum, the Arch of Septimius Severus, and a harbour that was once the Empire's gateway to Africa all survive in remarkable condition. The setting — coastal, largely unexcavated, hauntingly empty — makes it unlike any Roman site in Europe. About 130 km east of Tripoli, usually visited as a day trip.
Sabratha. A Phoenician city that became a major Roman port, Sabratha's theatre is one of the most photogenic ancient monuments in Africa. Three tiers of carved columns rise directly from the site, with the sea behind. Also west of Tripoli, about 65 km.
Ghadames. A UNESCO World Heritage oasis town on the edge of the Sahara, near the Algerian and Tunisian borders. The old city is a maze of whitewashed mud-brick passages and interconnected rooftop walkways — the world above ground for women in traditional society, connecting every house without descending to street level. The architecture is extraordinary and unlike anywhere else.
The Akakus Mountains (Acacus). Another UNESCO site, the Fezzan region's sandstone massif holds some of the finest rock art in Africa — thousands of prehistoric paintings and engravings dating back 12,000 years, depicting animals long extinct in the Sahara. Accessible from Ghat or Sebha with 4WD. Logistically demanding but unforgettable.
Tripoli's medina. The old city's souk and the Arch of Marcus Aurelius are worth an afternoon. The Red Castle (Assaraya al-Hamra) museum, once among the best in the region, has suffered from neglect and conflict.
Cyrene. The ancient Greek and Roman city near Shahhat in the east was one of the great cities of the ancient Mediterranean. The Temple of Zeus rivals the Parthenon in scale; the Greek theatre and necropolis are magnificent. Currently inaccessible to most visitors given the security situation in the east.