Zuwara is a port city in northwestern Libya. It is famous for its beaches and seafood. It is the capital of the Nuqat al Khams district.

Understand

Zuwarah, or Zuwara (Arabic: زوارة; Berber: ⵜⴰⵎⵓⵔⵜ ⵏ ⵡⴰⵜ ⵡⵉⵍⵍⵓⵍ Tamurt n Wat Willul), has a population of around 56,000. Its population speaks Zuwara Berber, a Zenati Berber language.

This area of Libya is referred to as Tripolitania. Other regions are Cyrenaica in the east and Fezzen is in the southwest.

History

The settlement was first mentioned by the traveller al-Tidjani in the years 1306-1309 as Zwara al-saghirah ("Little Zwarah"). It served as the western outpost of Italian Libya (1912–43), being the terminus of the now-defunct Italian Libya Railway from Tripoli. Its artificial harbour shelters a motorized fishing fleet. Cereals, dates, and esparto grass (used to make cordage, shoes, and paper) are local products.

In September 2011, and following the fall of the Gaddafi government, Zuwara was the first town in Libya to democratically elect its local council.

Get in

It is 102 km (63 mi) west of Tripoli and 60 km (37 mi) from the Tunisian border.

• 1 Mitiga International Airport (MJI ^IATA). Tripoli International Airport was severely damaged in the second Libyan civil war, leaving Mitiga, to the east, as the airport serving the area.  

Do

• 1 City Park. City park along the water. Has playground and nearby restaurant. (updated Feb 2024)

Buy

• 1 Market area. Variety of retailers in one location. (updated Feb 2024)

Safety

See the warning on the Libya article for information on the security situation.

Go next

• Northern Tunisia has popular Mediterranean beach resorts and nearby mountains.