Libya: travel information
How do you get to Libya?
Airplane
The international airports of Libya are Tripoli, Benghazi and Sebha.
Ship
Currently there are no regular ferry connections for private individuals due to the unstable situation in the country.
Car/bus
roads lead from Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad and Egypt to Libya.
Travel in the country
Railways
There are no passenger trains in Libya.
Bus
There used to be a regular bus service between Tripoli and Benghazi, and a minibus between Benghazi and Tobruk. Whether the connections still exist cannot be found out – because of the extremely uncertain situation, probably not.
Roads, rental cars
The country’s road network covers around 85,000 km. The main thoroughfare from west to east runs along the coast. Some major roads lead inland, including to Sebha, Ghadames and Kufra. It is difficult for tourists to find their way around when driving because since 1969 only street signs in Arabic have been allowed. Repairs and the purchase of spare parts are generally problematic in the country.
Driving licenses are valid for three months, after which a Libyan driving license must be applied for.
Air connections
Domestic air connections exist between Tripoli and Benghazi, Sebha, Beida, Mersa Brega, Tobruk, Misurata, Ghadames and Kufra.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Libya is:
| LAR |
Libya: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
To enter Libya, tourists need a valid passport and a visa and must also have sufficient funds for the duration of their stay (at least 500 Libyan dinars; exceptions apply, for example, to package deals, holders of official business visas, etc.). Citizens of Israel, as well as those whose passports contain Israeli visas, will be denied entry and transit.
Entrants are obliged to register with the nearest passport authority within seven days and to indicate their whereabouts on the form provided for this purpose. (For overnight stays in a hotel, this is generally arranged by the hotel reception.) This does not apply to tourists who do not stay in Libya for more than seven days. The registration fee is ten Libyan dinars.
A valid yellow fever vaccination must be proven when entering from a yellow fever infection area.
Note
In view of the desolate situation in Libya, it is almost impossible to visit the country as a tourist.
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currencyThe import and export of the local currency is prohibited.
- Foreign currenciesThere is an obligation to declare the import of foreign currencies. The export is only possible in the amount of the amount declared on entry.
Import and export of goods
The following articles can be imported into Libya duty-free: 200 cigarettes or 250 g cigars or 250 g tobacco and 250 ml perfume. The import of alcoholic beverages and pork products is prohibited.
Libya: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Libya, the following infectious diseases, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected:
- Malaria: There is no risk of malaria infection in Libya.
- Schistosomiasis
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B
- Kala Azar disease – incidence nationwide
- Leishmaniasis Disease
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
- rabies
- typhus
Recommended vaccinations
when traveling to Libya are recommended vaccinations against the following diseases:
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B – a vaccination against hepatitis A should always exist, also in the home country.
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons older than one year and coming from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.
Yellow fever vaccination of children
In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is required, this also applies to children over one year of age, and in some countries even from six months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizen Service
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000 https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Shop
Shop opening times In
winter, shops in Libya are usually open from Saturday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and in summer from Saturday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
Popular souvenirs in Libya are leather goods, spices, metal engravings and jewelry.
Libya: Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Libya embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representation of Libya in Germany
Until the fall of Gaddhafi, the Libyan embassy was called: People’s Office of the Libyan Arab People’s Socialist Jamahiriya. The embassy is located in a very beautiful villa in the Podbielskialle in Berlin-Dahlem, in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district. It should be mentioned that the embassy of Iran is a few 100 m away.
Embassy of Libya
Podbielskiallee 42
14195 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 200 59
Email: info@libysche-botschaft.de
www.libyschebotschaft.de
German representations in Libya
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tripoli
Sharia Hassan el Mashai
PO Box 302
Tripoli, Libya
Tel: 00218 – (0) 21- 444 8552
00218 – (0) 21- 333 0554
Email: info@tripolis.diplo.de
www.tripolis.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Libya
Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Tripoli
Shara Khalid Ben Walid/Shara Arismondi
Dahra Area, Garden City
Tripolis
PO Box 3207
Tel: 00218 – (0) 21 – 444 3393
00218 – (0) 21 – 444 3379
Email: tripolis-ob @ bmaa. gv.at
Representations of Libya in Austria
Libyan Embassy in Vienna
Blaasstrasse 33
1190 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 367 7639
Email: office@libyanembassyvienna.at
Swiss representations in Libya
Embassy of Switzerland in Tripoli
El Moussawer Ben Maghzama Street
Bederi Area
Tripoli 10
PO Box 439
Tel: 00218 – (0) 21 – 361 4118/4119
Email: tri.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
www.eda.admin.ch/tripoli
Representations of Libya in Switzerland
Libyan Embassy in Bern
Tavelweg 2
3006 Bern 31
Case postale 633
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 351 3076
0041 – (0) 31 – 350 0122
