Libya
Benghazi travel guide
Benghazi is a city in Libya, home to about 632,000 people.
- Best months
- March to May, October and November
- Nearest airport
- BEN19 km · Benina International Airport
- Currency
- LYDLibyan dinar
- Time zone
- Africa/Tripoli
- Language
- Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic
About
About Benghazi
Benghazi () (lit. 'Son of Ghazi') is the second-largest city in Libya as well as the largest city in Cyrenaica, with an estimated population of 859,000 in 2023.
The people of Benghazi are incredibly friendly. However, very few people speak any English and, because of the writing style (which is written right to left in Arabic), it can be almost impossible to recognize any public signs if you don’t know how to speak or read Arabic. Most things can, however, be sorted out with a bit of pointing and hand waving. The name derives from the Ottoman Turkish word Marsa ibn Ghazi who was a Turkish soldier. The dress code is not as liberal as in Tripoli, and women should keep themselves covered - not because there would be trouble, but just out of respect.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Benghazi
See
- Benghazi Cathedral
- Atiq Mosque
- Museum of the Crimes of the Dictator
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Benghazi to stay in
Standards of maintenance are not always perfect and service can be slow, the rating system does not really correspond to international guidelines. Consider bringing your own towels.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Benghazi
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Benghazi are March to May, October and November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 78 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Benghazi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Benina International Airport (BEN), about 19 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Taxis in Libya are interesting. They are either minibuses that travel round a predefined route or black and white cars (dead pandas) with taxi signs. Stick with the cars. Taxi travel is very cheap, but the vehicles are generally in a bad state of repair. Try to sit in the back as the journeys can be somewhat exciting when in the passenger seat, when drivers tend to turn across traffic lanes. Judging by the number of dents on the sides of the cars, the drivers do not always make this maneuver successfully.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BEN · Benina International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Benghazi
Eat
Anything. There is nothing that isn't acceptable to the western palate - the food can be quite spicy, although not excessively so. Traditional Libyan fare appears to be couscous, kebabs, spicy potatoes, salads, and nothing that you wouldn't find in London. There are a number of good restaurants. Although very basic by western standards, they do produce good meals. Round the back of the Tibesti Hotel there are some good Turkish restaurants; most of their food is very edible, and the prices are very reasonable. Generally, service is very slow, so leave a good amount of time to have a meal.
Drink
Alcohol is not allowed in Libya. Coffee, although they do seem to want to give you Nescafe, as they think it's pretty cool; but just about everywhere you can get cappuccino or Arabian coffee, which are pretty good. The mango juice is good and very thick. Coke, Lilt, and 7Up cans are popular, as well as the lemon and mint teas. Alcohol-free beer is widely available (Becks), as is 'Spitz', which tastes like campari or cough mixture. If you really want alcohol, wine is available from butcher's shops, but it's expensive (whisky is about USD 100 per bottle). It is said that the penalty for being caught drunk or with alcohol is to be driven back to your hotel room by the police.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Benghazi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Benghazi?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Benghazi are March to May, October and November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 78 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Benghazi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Benina International Airport (BEN), about 19 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Benghazi?
Libyan dinar (LYD).
Nearby
Destinations near Benghazi
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.