Though the war that followed the toppling of Muammar Qaddafi has made Libya considerably unstable since 2011, that takes nothing away from its history, beauty, and Mediterranean beaches.
Though the U.S. State Department has put it at Level 4 due mostly to threats of terrorism, it still has some spots worth visiting should the region settles down.
Libya’s history as part of the Greek, Roman, and Ottoman empires has left some fantastic ruins, primarily along the coast near Tripoli. Leptis Magna, with its cobblestone streets and marble baths, is a wonder of preservation, as are the temples in the city of Cyrene. You can also visit Assai al-Hamra — or the Red Castle — a massive fortress that sits just above the city of Tripoli.
Libya also boasts over 1,200 miles of coastline and golden sands that few locals frequent. So should you visit one of Libya’s beaches, you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Or you can head to the sands of the dunes surrounding the Urabi lakes, and try your hand at snowboarding down a sand dune. But for now, we dream.