Surman, Libya

With a population of just over 100,000, Surman is a modest city on Libya's western coast, situated 60 km from the capital Tripoli. While it lacked the revolutionary fervor of other cities during the 2011 civil war, Surman was not spared the wrath of Gaddafi's forces and NATO airstrikes, which targeted the city's industrial sites and homes of regime figures. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city's status has shifted between district and municipality over the years. And with reports of ISIS cells operating near the border, personal safety can't be taken for granted. Overall, Surman offers a quieter, more provincial experience than the chaos of Libya's major centers - but that tranquility comes with its own set of challenges.