Places to Visit in Ghadames, Nalut, Tripolitania, Northern Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Ghadames, Nalut, Tripolitania, Northern Africa, Africa

Ghadames, also spelled Ghadamis, is a town situated in the Nalut District in the Tripolitania region in the Northern African country, Libya. It is located in the northwestern part of the country, around 330 meters above sea level, around 460 km southwest of Tripoli, the capital of Libya. Ghadames lies near the border of Algeria and Tunisia with Libya, between 30°8′ N latitude and 9°30′ E longitude. The historic part of Ghadames was declared as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1986 for its rich architecture and historic significance. Ghadames also houses a museum and an airport.

History of Ghadames:

The documented history of Ghadames begins with the Roma rule in the area in the 1st century BC and then Ghadames was called by the name Cydamus. After Romans leaving Ghadames during the Crisis of the Third Century, the Muslim Arabs occupied Ghadames during the 7th century. Ghadames also noted itself as a base for the Trans-Saharan trade in the history.

How to reach Ghadames?

Ghadames Airport is the airport serving Ghadames, situated around 20 km east of the city centre. This airport is catered by Libyan Airlines with scheduled flights from the national capital Tripoli.

Ghadames also has good connectivity by bus to its neighboring cities, including Nalut. Visitors can rent car from the local travel agency for airport travel and sightseeing purposes.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Ghadames:

Berbers is the predominant ethnic group in Ghadames and there is also a museum in city showcasing their culture and history. Modern shops and restaurants are limited in Ghadames but one can find many traditional options.

Things to do in Ghadames:

Visiting museum
Exploration of old city
Traditional shopping
Walking

Places to see in Ghadames:

Old Town of Ghadames:

The Old Town of Ghadames is the first preference of tourists coming to the city Ghadames. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring a spring water pool, dwellings and mosques. Tourists are suggested to take a guided tour for the easy and complete exploration of the old town.

Ghadames Museum:

The Ghadames Museum is centered on exhibiting the history and culture of Berbers, who are the dominating ethnic group of Ghadames. The museum also holds many objects showcasing the importance of local wildlife.

Ghadames Mosque:

The Ghadames Mosque is most important religious site, landmark as well as tourist attraction of Ghadames. Generally mosques are not allowed for non-Muslim visitors but its exterior beauty is great to see during night under light. It is must a watch.

Ghadames Airport:

The Ghadames Airport is situated around 20 km away from the city centre, can be reached by bus, car and taxi. The airport is situated 341 meters above sea level and has 3,600 meters’ runway.

List of other places of interest in and around Ghadames include:

Tripoli’s Medina
The Arch of Marcus Aurelius in Tripoli
Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli
Tripoli’s Jamahiriya Museum
Arebi Dive Center in Tripoli
Tripoli’s Red Castle in Tripoli
Pottery Stalls of Gharyan in Tripoli

Best time to visit Ghadames:

Throughout the year is best, especially from November to May is the most preferred time to enjoy the tour of Ghadames.

Hotels in Ghadames:

Being a popular tourist destination, Ghadames houses some nice tourist favor hotels with upgraded amenities. Those hotels are generally available for advance booking and it is advised for visitors to book hotels well in advance prior to reaching the city to avoid difficulty in finding hotels during high season. In below list, the first 5 hotels are in Ghadames and the rest of hotels are located in the capital Tripoli (around 460 km from Ghadames):