Flights to Libya

Join Etihad Airways on flights to Libya to explore modern cities and ancient ruins alike throughout the country.

Choose Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, for flights to Libya on which you will be travelling in comfort and style. 

Watch this video and find out why we won the esteemed World's Leading Airline Award at the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 World Travel Awards.

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About Libya

About Libya

Although the territory has only been known as Libya for just under a century, the region has a vast and rich history. Evidence suggests the coastal region was first inhabited about 10,000 years ago, and rock art in the Acacus Mountains and at Wadi Mathendous suggests an established civilisation in what is now the Sahara Desert.

The first known contact between the ancient tribes of Libya and the outside world came with the arrival of Phoenician traders, who set up many colonies along the coast. These included modern-day Tripoli (known as Oea), plus the sites of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, now each a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Greeks also established five colonies in the east of Libya, with Cyrene being its largest. However, all of these, plus the Phoenician cities, would later come under the sway of the Roman Empire. 

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Later centuries would see Libya ruled by the Ummayad, Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphates, then the Ottoman Empire. Italy would be the final foreign power to control the region, establishing Libya as three separate colonies. Libya achieved full independence in 1951 after the Italians relinquished control following World War II.

Libya, apart from its extensive coastal areas along the Mediterranean Sea, consists mostly of arid desert. In certain parts of the Sahara, decades may pass between rainfalls, making these some of the driest places on earth. These desert conditions sometimes spread to the coastal areas through ghibli - strong winds carrying dust and sand. However, the coast, which includes major settlements such as Tripoli, generally has a moderate climate.

Libya Attractions

Libya Attractions

Given its variety of cultural influences and former colonies found in the country, Libya can be a great place for finding archaeological sites. Leptis Magna, to the east of Tripoli, was once one of Rome's most powerful outposts in North Africa, and many of the city's important features remain intact, including the marketplace and theatre. In the west, Sabratha retains its Roman ruins while still functioning as a modern city.

The Greeks also colonised a portion of Libya known as Cyrenaica, where ruins of the empire's grandest city, Cyrene, can be found. Many ancient temples and other structures have been excavated by archaeologists, giving tremendous insight into one of Greece's most important African colonies. Nearby Apollonia, which served as Cyrene's port, has also been partially excavated, adding to the historical importance of the area.

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For a look further back into the Libya's culture and history, travellers can visit the Wadi Mathendous to view ancient rock carvings or take a trip to the Acacus Mountains for cave paintings showing typical domestic scenes.

Tripoli, Libya's capital, beckons visitors with its modern cityscape as well as the many beaches found along the coast. Also Libya's largest city, Tripoli has many of the country's museums, including the national Red Castle Museum, and contemporary cultural attractions, many of which can be found around Martyrs' Square. Benghazi, which arose from the ancient Greek colony of Euesperides, is the second-largest city in Libya and features an expansive Italian quarter.