What is the capital of Libya?

The capital of Libya is Tripoli. It is the country’s largest city and sits on Libya’s northwestern Mediterranean coast, in the historical region of Tripolitania.

Tripoli began as the Phoenician settlement of Oea in the 7th century BC. The name Tripoli comes from the Greek phrase for “three cities,” referring to the ancient region’s three major urban centers: Oea, Sabratha, and Leptis Magna. Over the centuries, the city was influenced by Greek, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, Italian, and modern Libyan rule.

Tripoli is Libya’s main political, commercial, and cultural center, as well as the site of the country’s principal port and many government institutions. Its historic medina contains mosques, markets, and Ottoman-era buildings.

A common mix-up is Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city and an important eastern center. Sabha is a major city in the Fezzan region, while Misrata is a prominent port city, but none is Libya’s national capital.