Libya Shopping and Districts

(Libya, LY, North Africa)

Shopping in Libya can be a great experience. As well as tourist shops, visitors can browse a multitude of street stalls and souks for something special to take home or simply for those everyday purchases. Handcrafted souvenirs include everything from metal work and jewellery to leather bags and palm leaf baskets.

Shops tend to open in the morning from 08:00 to 13:30. In the afternoon, they are open again from around 16:00 to 20:00. On Friday, shops are only open in the morning, closing at noon. Remember that, during Ramadan, shop and office opening hours do change.

Where to Shop

Tripoli is home to many of the larger international shopping brands, including Marks and Spencer. Boutiques can be found in the Green Square area of the city. Another popular shopping spot is the Gargaresh Road area, where you can buy everything from furniture to computers.

Tripoli's Medina district is a great place to find souvenirs to take back home, including gold jewellery and clothing made from a multitude of colours and fabrics.

In Benghazi, most shops are centred around Sharia Omar al-Mukhtar. Here, it is also possible to buy locally crafted metal work, jewellery and leatherwork. A stroll around one of Libya's souks is an unmissable shopping experience. Souks tend to specialise in certain products, so you will find that each is dedicated to a different range of products, from spices to clothes and fabric.

Elsewhere in Libya, towns often have their own craft specialities. For example, in the vicinity of the Ubari Lakes, visitors can expect to see plenty of silver jewellery, all crafted by local Tuareg people. The town of Gharyan is well known for its pottery, sold in shops there as well as stalls set up along the road. In Ghadames, brightly coloured shoes and canvas slippers are on offer.

Street stalls are also good places to pick up fresh fruit and other produce, including locally produced honey, and fruit and date juices.