Venue & Travel Info
Visit Benghazi
WELCOME
AHLAN WA SAHLAN
Welcome to Libya, a country of breathtaking natural beauty interwoven with a kaleidoscope of history, legends and adventures.
Benghazi, the capital of Benghazi Municipality (Sha’biya), is the main port of Cyrenaica on the Mediterranean coast, in Eastern Libya, and as such it is one of Libya’s major economic centres. The city is the second largest in Libya after the capital Tripoli, with a population of nearly one million people (with confirmed 500,120 according to 1995 census).
Origin & Etymology of The Name Benghazi (Berenice)
The name Benghazi occurs in various forms, including Bengazi, Benghazi, Banghazi, Bingazi, Bengasi or Binghazi. During the Greek period the city was initially known as Eusperides or Euesperides (around 525 BC), after it was associated with the mythological Hesperides Garden, owing to the fertility of not only the area around Benghazi but also of the whole verdant Green Mountain we now know as Barqa. After Eusperides was abandoned around 347 BC, a new settlement was started nearby, which became Berenice (one of the five cities of the the Pentapolis) around 249 BC, after the Berber princess Berenice, Bernice, or Berenike, the daughter of the Cyrenaican king Magas.
The etymology of the name Berenice means: “the bearer of victory”, from which we also have the local name of the region of Cyrenaica, namely Barqa, Barce or Barka. These names appear to have had been used until around 1450 AD, when the name was suddenly changed to its current form Benghazi.
Brief History of Benghazi
There is no doubt that the city goes back to the ancient period when the Greek colonists occupied Cyrenaica, as it was mentioned by Herodotus (IV.204) in relation to the revolt of Barca and the Persian invasions in the region. This ancient city (Berenice) was located northeast of modern Benghazi. Coins dating from around the 5th century BC show the famous silphium plant that made Cyrene a prosperous city. It appears that the city was invaded by Greek colonists, rather than being built or founded by them, as historians (e.g., Thucydides) spoke of the Libyan siege of the city around 414 BC by the local Berber Nasamone tribes (the Nasamones). When the Romans arrived in the area, around the middle of the 1st century BC, the city fell under their domain and quickly became a Roman city right down to the 7th century AD. After the city had attained a strategic place in the economy of the region, as a mediator between European merchants and the locals of Libya interior, it was badly vandalised by the Vandals during the 5th century AD, and then when the Ottoman pirates invaded Benghazi in 1578 they continued to ruin rather than run the city until 1911, when the wars demolished what had remained. The Italian invasions of 1911 were strongly opposed by the locals, united under the resistance of Omar Almoukhtar, where more than 100,000 Libyans were said to have disappeared in Mussolini’s fascist camps. The destruction of the city reached its climax when it was bombed more than 1000 times during World War II. Then in 1942 the Allied forces invaded the area, defeated the Italians and controlled Benghazi until 1949, when appointed King Idris Assanousi made Benghazi the capital of Cyrenaica (Barqa) and ultimately the second capital of Libya.
TRAVEL TIPS
BANKS: Libya has several local and international banks that provide a range of financial services.
BUSINESS HOURS: Business hours in libya typically follow a Sunday to Thursday workweek, with government offices and many private businesses opening from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
CREDIT CARDS: Credit cards is not working, so, it’s advisable to carry cash for marketing.
CURRENCY: The dinar is the official currency of Libya. The dinar is divided into 1,000 dirhams.
DRESS CODE: When visiting shopping malls and other attractions, tourists should wear clothing that is not too tight or revealing. Certain attractions such as mosques or religious sites usually have stricter dress codes.
DRINKING WATER: While tap water is generally considered safe for consumption in libya, many people, including visitors, prefer to drink bottled water.
ELECTRICITY: 220/240 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. Standard two-pin plugs are used throughout the country. European or US-made appliances may need a plug adapter.
EMERGENCY SERVICES: The emergency contact number for police, fire, or medical assistance in libya is 991 and 998.
GREETING: A common libyan greeting is “As-salamu alaykum” (peace be upon you), to which the response is “Wa alaykum as-salam” (and upon you be peace). A friendly handshake is customary.
LANGUAGE: Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood, especially in urban areas and the tourism industry.
MEDICAL SERVICES: Libya provides excellent healthcare services, and major cities have modern hospitals and clinics.
PERSONAL CONDUCT AND ETIQUETTE: Libyan culture emphasizes hospitality and respect. Visitors should be polite and avoid public displays of affection. It’s also customary to accept offers of food and drink.
PHOTOGRAPHY: In libya, avoid taking pictures of military facilities, government buildings, and people without their permission. Always ask before taking photos.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Libya has a growing public transportation network, including buses and taxis. there is no metro or trains but there are national & international airports at different cities ( Benghazi airport is big international & national airport).
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Libya has a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure. Mobile networks, including Almadar and Libyana, provide good coverage.
TIME: libya Standard Time (GMT+2) is the standard time zone observed throughout the year.
WEATHER: The Climate of libya can be described as a high temperatures in summer (May to August) is very low rainfall. Daily maximum temperatures can reach 40°C. Winter is cooler with rainfall.
WIFI: Most hotels, restaurants, and cafes in urban areas provide free Wi-Fi for customers.
Here’s some useful vocabulary:
Marhaba – Hello | As-salamu alaykum – Peace be upon you (common greeting) | Wa alaykum as-salam – And upon you be peace (response to greeting) | Shukran – Thank you | Min fadlik – Please | Na’am – Yes | La – No | Ma’a as-salama – Goodbye
LUA25 takes place at Benghazi University, Benghazi is the second-most-populous city in Libya as well as the largest city in Cyrenaica, with an estimated population of 859,000 in 2023. Located on the Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean, Benghazi is also a major seaport. Benghazi remains a centre of Libyan commerce, industry, transport and culture, and one of the three largest cities in Libya with Tripoli and Misrata. It continues to hold institutions and organizations normally associated with a capital city, including several national government buildings.
