The centre of Tripoli is dominated by the Red Castle, a fortress built by the Knights of St John of Malta on top of a Roman castrum. Part of it is the Jamahiriya Museum with a rich collection of archaeological finds, particularly Roman sculptures and mosaics, found in local archaeological sites.

On the city's central square, Green Square, is the main entrance to the medina, where most monuments date from the 16th-century Ottoman period, except for the second-century Roman Triumphal Arch erected in honour of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

On the other side of the square are the colonnaded streets of the downtown area built by the Italians, a small park and the harbour. Most sites in town can easily be seen in a day, but Tripoli is also the perfect base for exploring the Roman sites of Sabratha and Leptis Magna.

General People's Committee for Tourism
Near the ferry port on the main coastal road
Tel: (021) 333 6452/7576.
Website: www.libyan-tourism.org

There is no official tourist office in Tripoli and the General People's Committee for Tourism is, apart from handing out a few brochures, about as useful as their website. For practical information about the city and the country, contact one of the local tour operators (see Tours of the City).