Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Tripoli is the capital and largest city of Libya, on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, famous for its walled Medina, the Red Castle and the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius. It grew from Oea, a Phoenician trading post that became one of the three cities of Roman Tripolitania. Spaniards, the Knights of Saint John, Ottoman pashas and Italian colonists all left their mark, still legible in its walls, mosques and squares.
The heart of the city is the walled Medina, a maze of lanes, souks and courtyard houses beside the sea. At its edge stands the Red Castle, the old seat of power, overlooking Martyrs' Square, while inside the walls the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius rises beside Ottoman mosques such as the Gurgi, Karamanli and Dragut. Beyond the old town, broad Italian-era avenues and arcaded buildings lead to the modern centre.
Tripoli is also the gateway to some of the finest Roman ruins in the Mediterranean, with Sabratha to the west and Leptis Magna to the east. Conditions in Libya can change quickly, so check official travel advice and go with a licensed local operator.
The Red Castle of Tripoli, Assaraya al-Hamra in Arabic, is the fortress at the corner of the Medina that has guarded the harbour for centuries, rebuilt by the Spanish, the Knights of Saint John and Ottoman rulers. Its walls overlook Martyrs' Square and house the national museum.
The Libyan National Museum, inside the Red Castle in Tripoli, displays prehistoric rock art, Greek and Roman sculpture, mosaics from Leptis Magna and Sabratha, and Islamic and Ottoman collections. Check that it is open before you go, since it has been closed for long periods in recent years.
Martyrs' Square is the main square of Tripoli, laid out in the Italian colonial era beneath the walls of the Red Castle. Known as Green Square under Gaddafi, it was renamed in 2011. Arcaded buildings, palms and fountains frame it, and it is the natural starting point for a walk into the Medina.
Algeria Square Mosque in central Tripoli was built by the Italians as the city's Roman Catholic cathedral and was converted into a mosque in 1970. Its great white dome, shaded arcades and tall bell tower turned minaret make it one of the most recognisable landmarks of the Italian-era centre.
The Medina of Tripoli is the walled old city, a dense web of narrow lanes, arched passages, mosques, old consulates and courtyard houses, many from the Ottoman and Karamanli periods. Wander with a local guide to find craft workshops and hidden courtyards, and allow a full morning at an easy pace.
The Arch of Marcus Aurelius in Tripoli was built in the 2nd century AD for the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus and is the only major monument left standing from Roman Oea. The four-sided marble arch sits in a small square in the Medina, its reliefs showing figures of Apollo and Minerva.
Tripoli Clock Tower is a slender late Ottoman tower rising over a small square in the Medina, long a meeting point for traders and shoppers. The lanes around it lead straight into the old souks, so it makes an easy landmark for getting your bearings in the tangle of streets of old Tripoli.
Souk al-Mushir, close to the Red Castle and the Clock Tower, is one of the oldest and busiest arcaded markets in the Medina of Tripoli. Its arched passages are lined with stalls of textiles, jewellery, perfumes and household goods, and lead on to specialised souks for leather, copper and silver.
Gurgi Mosque, built in 1834 for the naval captain Mustafa Gurgi beside the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, is one of the most richly decorated mosques in Tripoli. Glazed tiles, carved stucco and marble columns fill its prayer hall under 15 small domes, and its slim minaret rises above the Medina.
Ahmed Pasha Karamanli Mosque was built in the 1730s by the founder of the Karamanli dynasty, which ruled Tripoli for over a century, and is one of the grandest in the Medina. Its domes, colourful tilework and tall minaret sit close to Martyrs' Square, and family members are buried here.
Dragut Mosque in the Medina of Tripoli is named after Dragut, the Ottoman admiral who helped take the city from the Knights of Saint John in 1551 and later governed it. His tomb lies in the complex near the harbour, and its hall of columns and arches is among the most atmospheric in the city.
Al-Naqah Mosque is regarded as the oldest mosque in Tripoli, standing in the heart of the Medina and rebuilt in the early 17th century on much earlier foundations. Its low prayer hall is roofed by rows of small domes resting on columns, giving it a calm, simple beauty that rewards a quiet look.
No reviews yet. Been to Tripoli? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Tripoli? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Daniel and Kate Pett, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Lojain HB, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mohamed L AwaDi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mohamed Tailamun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Victor Korniyenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Franzfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Wafa Fennir, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: rahuldlucca, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ridda Basheer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Franzfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mohamed Ben zeglam, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tawil81, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: SashaCoachman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Libiya11, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: SashaCoachman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Franzfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Martin Beek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ثورة القطيف 2025, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: الرادود السعودي محمد بوجبارة, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: SashaCoachman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tawil81, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jan Hazevoet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Alfred Diem, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ridda Basheer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ridda Basheer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ridda Basheer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Moataz Jamal, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Abdul-Jawad Elhusuni (عبدالجواد الحسوني), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Libyan Studies, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0