Public Transport In Libya

 

Public transport in Libya simply means shared taxis, buses and coaches. However, independent and private travellers and tourists coming by public transport from Tunisia or Egypt need to bear in mind that their Libyan visa and guide providers are not allowed by law to use public transport for their foreign clients and visitors, and as a result private transport is always assigned together with the required escort for those who arrive without transport.

This means that it is not possible for tourists to travel within or across Libya using public transport. This is a fact which can be confirmed by writing to a number of companies. If a Libyan company offers you a tourist visa without a guide and lets you use public transport then rest assured that they are breaking the law and that all they are interested in is to make a quick buck.

 

 

Tripoli City's Shared Taxi

Shared taxis operate from the centre of the capital to most of the other areas in the capital.

 

 

 

 

 

Tripoli City's Private Taxi

Private taxis in the capital operate like other private taxis in other countries. Private taxis are found only in large cities as well as the capital Tripoli.

 

 

 

 

 

Tripoli City's Public Taxi

The public taxi is like a bus: it travels from one area to another and stops at designated stops. However, it only operates along the circular road of the capital and does not venture into the city centre itself.

 

 

 

 

Questions & Answers:

 

Q:
Can I use public transport in Libya as a tourist?

A:
No. Tourists are not allowed to use public transport. The guide or the escort must have his own private transport. Please understand that this is a legal requirement and not just an invention of your guide and visa provider.

 

Q:
Can I hire a car in Libya?

A:

Yes, you can. But the cost would be much higher than if  your tour agent hires the car, because you need to pay a high insurance and a high deposit (which varies from company to company).  It is always cheaper and much safer to let your tour agent provide you with a private transport.

 

Q:
If I arrive via the airport and then decide to depart via the Tunisian border; can I take the coach or bus from Tripoli to Tunis.

A:
Yes, you can. We can arrange for your guide to drive behind the bus until you reach the border, just in case you get stopped at one of the check points and were asked for your papers.

 

Tripoli-Tunis Coach (Bus)

This is an example of an international coach, operating between Tripoli and Tunis.

 

 

 

Car Hire

You can hire or rent a car in Libya, but this is not recommended. There are several reasons for this including:

1. The accident rate can be high at times, and also hire cars may not be well maintained.
2. The cost would be much higher than if  you let your tour agent hire the car in their name, and have the cost included in the price of your tour.
3. Insurance claims can take a long time to complete (even years) and therefore most if not all hire companies require the client to sign a cheque to the hire company (normally equivalent to the value of the vehicle).
4. You will assume all responsibility of the vehicle including damage and accidents.

 

Ordinary Car	Ordinary car (like Mitsubishi): 70 LYD a day
Mid-range Car	Mid-range car (like Toyota):  200 LYD a day
BMW	Luxury car (like BMW): 1000 LYD a day
4x4 (old)	4x4 old model (1995): 800 LYD a day
4x4 (new)	4x4 new model (2009): 1000 LYD a day
Driver:	If the car will be rented with a driver then you need to add around 110 Libyan Dinars to the above prices.

Libyan Railway:

A photo of an old train from 1940s Libya.

Currently there are no trains in Libya, as the old lines were removed a few decades ago. The old line was mainly running along the coast from Cyrenaica to Zuwarah (near the Tunisian border). However, there are plans underway to reintroduce the railway lines. According to the chairman of the Libyan Railways Executive Board (REB), Mohammed A. Ali, as quoted by the International Railway Journal (January 2001), there will be two sections of the 3300km railway, one running along the coast from the Tunisian border to Benghazi (and ultimately to the Egyptian border in the future), and another cutting south to Sabha from coastal Misuratha (and ultimately with plans to connect with central Africa via Chad and Niger).

Air Travel:

Internal flights are maintained daily between Tripoli International Airport, Benghazi Airport and Sabha Airport; with intermittent services between the other minor airports of Ghadames, Ghat, Tobruk and Kufrah.

For more details, flights and prices please refer to our page: http://www.temehu.com/internal-flights-and-airports.htm