What to see in Libya: 10 must-sees

Walk through the Arch of Septimius Severus and step into one of the Mediterranean's best-preserved Roman cities, right by the sea at Jumaylah. Follow the Street of Columns to the forum, sit in the amphitheater built for 15,000 spectators, and take a close look at the mosaics of the Sun. Touch the marbles that recount 1,000 years of Punic and Roman splendor at this UNESCO World Heritage site, an exceptional testimony to a vanished civilization.

Cross the Jebel Akhdar plateau to Shahhat, where Cyrene rises — the so-called 'Athens of Africa' and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Before you, the Temple of Zeus from the 6th century BC sums up 2,500 years of history. Walk the Street of Altars, sit in the Greek Theater with the Mediterranean in the background, and venture into the necropolis: some 1,000 tombs spread across 10 hectares. Every colonnade and every rock-cut tomb attests to a vanished civilization still legible in the stone.

Marvel at the petroglyphs of Tadrart Acacus, near Ghat, which tell 12,000 years of Saharan history: elephants, giraffes, and human figures carved when the desert was green. Explore rock formations in shades of red, orange, and purple, sculpted by the wind into arches and towers. This UNESCO World Heritage site represents an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition and a vanished civilization.

Cross the red-sand desert of Idhan Ubari, near Sabha, where the oasis lakes —Umm al-Maa, Muzayrigh, Gaberoun— hold crystal-clear waters among 100-meter dunes. Camp under a clear sky to gaze at the Milky Way and visit the remains of the ancient city of Garama, capital of the Garamantian kingdom. The silence of the deep Sahara is broken only by the wind over the sand. Here dune hiking combines with birdwatching of migratory birds that stop at the lakes' salty shores.

Admire the 12th-century Gurgi Mosque, the Church of St. Francis, and the Ottoman walls as you wander the 10 hectares of alleyways in Libya's oldest medina. Step inside the National Archives, pass through the Gate of Spain, and end your walk at Lower Delhi, where cafés serve mint tea beside the souk stalls.

Explore the ruins of Cyrene's ancient port city, where the remains of the theater, the Byzantine church, and the aqueduct overlook the Mediterranean. Walk through the necropolis with its rock-cut tombs and take in the views from the cliff where Phoenician ships set sail 2,600 years ago. Explore the archaeological site where ruins, artifacts, and history tell of civilizations that flourished millennia ago. Walk among the stones, admire the remains, and discover the past.

Climb the 13th-century Ottoman castle that crowns the medina of Tripoli and admire the mosque, the marble courtyards, and the keep. Discover the Libya Museum with Roman pieces from Leptis Magna and the panoramic view of the bay where the Genoese traded for centuries. Behold the monument that tells centuries of history and culture. Wander through its structures, admire the architectural details, and uncover the history held within its stones.