Is Eastern Libya Safe to Visit in 2026?

Effie Frank

Dec. 28, 2025

Many people ask us if Eastern Libya and cities like Benghazi are safe. While I understand why people ask, I’m always surprised to get the question from experienced travelers who have visited much more dangerous parts of the world. While your state department will absolutely tell you not to visit, we have never had any problems visiting Eastern Libya ourselves.

It’s important to keep in mind that, as a tourist, you are required to always have a government-appointed security escort with you. For the most part, being attached to a tourist police official is annoying as it takes away an independent traveler’s freedom to roam around on their own but at least having them by your side means it’s unlikely that any shady characters are going to approach you. This person will also have the most up-to-date information about potential skirmishes and have the best intel on how to avoid them. While many people think Eastern Libya is more dangerous than Western Libya, there are actually more small conflicts in the area around Tripoli than around Benghazi and Tobruk. That doesn’t mean there is no fighting in Eastern Libya, so it is still good to exercise caution and listen to your police escort (not that you have a choice). However, there have been fewer than 15 deaths related to fighting each year for the last 5 years. Probably the most excitement you will catch in Eastern Libya will be the grand opening of a new coffee shop.

Why is Eastern Libya separate in the first place?

When Libya’s Revolution happened in 2011, it brought about an end to the reign of Muammar Gadaffi, however, a new power did not naturally fall into place. No one could agree on who should be in charge, and there were several different groups that wanted power and control of the nation’s rich oil supply. Each group had weapons and militias, and some had the backing of powerful tribes.

The main power player in the east became Khalifa Haftar. Haftar was actually an army officer under Gaddafi but was ousted after a defeat in the Chadian-Libyan War (which was a mess best explained in a different blog). He returned to Libya after the revolution and promised to fight militias and extremist groups which would bring stability and safety to communities that had been experiencing a long period of chaos. This appealed to many people and after a few years, Haftar, which the help of his Libyan National Army (LNA), had taken control of Eastern Libya’s cities, military bases, and oil plants. In the west, the general attitude to Haftar is one of fear and disbelief that he can actually bring peace and unity to Libya. They believe he just wants to be a dictator himself. Haftar did attempt to take Tripoli in 2019, but after fourteen months of conflict (and some serious help from Turkey on Tripoli’s side), a ceasefire agreement was drawn up, and the two sides have been separated ever since. The ceasefire is very fragile and applies to the smaller local militias as well as the bigger players. It tends to be the smaller parties fighting for control of oil-rich towns that break the truce most often.  Different countries have supported different sides, which has prolonged the conflict. While the UN officially recognizes Tripoli and western Libya, countries like Egypt, the UAE, and Russia, have backed Eastern Libya.

Is Benghazi safe?

While there are occasional skirmishes in Benghazi, it is very unlikely that you will fall into one. It is even less likely that you would be kidnapped or mugged. Even something as minor as being rudely shouted at has a slim chance of happening. Of course, any tourist in Eastern Libya is going to have a tourist police escort, which is going to be a natural deterrent to would-be attackers. But even if there were no security accompanying you, it is very unlikely that someone would try to mess with you in Benghazi. It is a city like any other, with life going on as normal. The atmosphere is very relaxed. There are families strolling the corniche at night and groups of women and men hanging out at restaurants. Of course, there can be danger in every country and corner of the world, so I can’t say with 100% surety that nothing bad will happen to you, however I have never experienced or had a traveler experience anything remotely close to danger or harm in Benghazi, day or night.

Is Cyrenaica safe?

The ancient sites of Cyrenaica are also quite safe. The countryside is beautiful, and the towns are small and quiet. Cyrenaica, also known as the Pentapolis , or “Five Cities,” was originally inhabited by the Berber people of Libya, then colonized by the Greeks in the 7 ^th Century BCE. The Greek cities were then taken over by the Romans around the 1 ^st century BCE. It’s these Greek-turned-Roman sites that attract history lovers to this region. You will undoubtedly have any of the ancient sites to yourself (and your government-appointed travel buddy).

It is just under 300km from Benghazi to the furthest site of Apollonia.  The sites and roads in between are safe, in my experience, however you should be mindful of the fact that there are reports of a multitude of unexploded ordnance in Eastern Libya. At the sites themselves and in well-traveled areas, this should not be a concern, but it is something to be aware of.

Is it safe for women to travel to Eastern Libya?

Women should not fear for their safety when traveling in Eastern Libya. For the most part, they are treated with respect. Libyans tend to be quite calm and quiet by nature. It is unlikely that you would be harassed or catcalled in any part of Libya, particularly if you are dressed conservatively. Personally, I recommend that women wear loose-fitting clothing with arms and legs covered. It’s not so much that you would be in danger if you didn’t, but it will draw less attention to you in an increasingly conservative country, and to dress as the locals do is a sign of respect to the culture of the women and men who live in Libya. Whether or not you cover your head as a woman in Libya is up to you. When I first started traveling in Libya, one of the first things I was told by locals I met was that it is a free country and I do not need to feel pressure to cover my hair. However it seems that 99% of women in Libya do wear a hijab. I told myself if I counted 5 women who didn’t have their hair covered throughout the week, I would consider taking off my headscarf – I only counted four.

One thing solo female travelers should note is that you will most likely have a team of exclusively men with you. Tourist police escorts are entirely male, and while women can drive in Libya, they are not employed as drivers. There are a few women working as guides, but they are rare and would not be allowed to accompany you overnight (without a male relative joining them). So if you are a woman traveling on your own in Libya, you will likely have 2-3 local men traveling with you. In two years of regular visits to Libya and working closely with different men, the only time I was made to feel slightly uncomfortable is when my tourist police escort followed me and a couple other travelers to my hotel room and sat on my bed. He didn’t make any advances, just scrolled on his phone, and he left after some prompting. The whole situation didn’t feel dangerous in any way, it was just…weird. If you’re a woman traveling on your own, know that there is absolutely no reason why a tourist police escort would need to enter your room, and they should not do so.

How can you visit Eastern Libya?

Travel to Eastern Libya must be arranged through a tourism agency, which is where SAIGA can help! We offer a standard 2-night Eastern Libya trip as an extension (or stand-alone tour) to any of our Libya group tours, which you can find here . We can arrange custom tours for any length of time though. It is cost rather than safety that is the biggest barrier for travel to Libya. Currently, there is a hefty permit fee for Eastern Libya, and you must pay for your required tourist police escort. Hopefully this changes in the future, but for now, that is the reality of travel in Eastern Libya. If you’d like to travel to Benghazi and Eastern Libya yourself, send us an email at [email protected] to find out more!