city in Libya
Misrata (Arabic: مصراتة, Misrata) is a city in Northwestern Libya and the third most populous city in Libya.
Misrata is bounded by the sea to the north and east and to the south by golden sands dotted with palm and olive trees.
Misrata is divided into two distinct sections. Older Misrata consists of small stone houses and narrow arched streets while the newer part of the city, which began to develop in the 20th century, consists of modern buildings, homes, factories and industrial areas.
The city is considered to be the "main center of the Turkish-origin community in Libya", composing two-thirds of Misrata's 400,000 inhabitants in 2019.
The history of Misrata is a long and rich one. The city’s location on the Mediterranean coast and near the Sahara made it a strategic and commercial hub for various civilizations and empires.
The Phoenicians established a trading post in Misrata in the 7th century BC, which later became a city known as Thubactis. Thubactis was one of the six self-governing cities in the province of Tripolitania, and prospered from trade in gold, leather, and slaves.
The Ottoman Empire eventually conquered Misrata in the 1550s, along with the rest of Tripolitania. The city saw modest urban expansion during Ottoman rule, and maintained its role as a caravan supply centre for the Trans-Saharan trade route.
You need a visa (if you're required to get one, that is) and a valid passport to travel to Libya. More information on entering the country and Libyan immigration formalities can be found in the Libya article.
Misrata is served by Afriqiyah Airways from Istanbul, Jeddah, Sfax and Tunis and Libyan Airlines from Tunis.
As of 2024 a ferry, the Kevalay Queen, operates between Misrata and Istanbul, in Turkey. Sailings are about once per week.
Misrata is often considered one of the safest cities in Libya.