travel bureau beirut

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Contact Lebanon: +961 1 428 824    Mobile/WhatsApp: +961 70 809 079 Contact UAE: + 971 507679102

Opening Hours: 9.00 - 18.00.

Find your special tour today

With travel bureau, why choose us.

We know better. Our travel experts live and breathe these destinations so we know what best to offer you. We have experience, stories, and advice for you to have an exceptional holiday.

Flexibility

We can do it all. We’re here to take the stress out and make planning easy for you. You can be as involved as you want as everything is tailored to your needs and preferences.

Overslept and missed a flight? Not an issue. While on your journey, help is never out of reach as we’re available 24/7 to handle unforeseen situations & ensure it doesn’t ruin your trip. You’re in good hands!

Value of Money

We have Unbeatable Prices. We will match and beat any offer you provide us with and find you the best rates for your holiday. Get nothing but the top deals from our agents.

Diverse destinations

We have available suppliers all over the planet. Any country, any region, any ocean. Travel the world with us!

Payment Facility

We offer our clients the best secure payment methods with credit facilities up to 6 months. No matter where you are there is always a way to settle your fees.

welcome to Travel Bureau

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our services

Airline tickets.

Ticket issuance for more than 600 Airlines over the world.

Hotel Bookings

All types of hotels from economical accommodation to luxurious resorts available all around the world.

Meeting and assistance at the airport with transfer to your hotel upon arrival and departure.

All kinds of cars from cost-effective cars to luxurious vehicles from leading car rental companies from all around the world.

Sightseeing & Excursions

All types of tours and activities.

Travel Insurance

Protects travelers medically as well as against sudden and unforeseen events.

Assistance and help with application for visa.

Flights Booked

Global destinations.

Czech Republic

Sharm Sheikh

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdoms

OUR PACKAGES

• Summer packages
• Christmas & New Year
• Low Budget Trip

Plan your trip

Any details about your trip: Please tell us as much information as possible. We always try our best to accommodate any request.

Likely Date of Travel *:

No. Of Travelers:

Accomodation Preference

Stars Rating:

How to find Us

Level 3, Pearl Building (next to TVA), Adlieh Main Street, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon

[email protected]

+961 1 428 824

Mobile Or WhatsApp

+961 70 809 079

B-1106-28 - Grand Tower, Ajman P. O .Box 4422, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

+ 971 507679102

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About Us ×

Travel Bureau is based in Beirut, provider of business & leisure travel to a wide variety of clients from multi-nationals. Although our clients all operate in different business sectors with different goals and strategies they do have one thing in common…

When it comes to travel they want:

• Great service
• Competitive prices
• The security that we will be there for them in times of emergency

Tbrooms is an online booking system offering access to thousands of hotels & Resorts worldwide. It provides 24 hours online access to the lowest hotel rates possible. TBrooms aims to bring quality holidays and first class special service.

Our Mission :

• Guaranteeing quality
• Exceptional personal tailored business & leisure travel solutions, allowing us to be more than just a booking machine
• Superior service
• Saving time, money and effort for the traveler

Contact Us ×

Company Name : Travel Bureau Address : Travel Bureau Headquarter Lebanon Email Address : [email protected]

Privacy Policy ×

Terms & conditions ×, about us ×.

We are a leading hotel reservations specialist with International presence and have been in existence for two decades. Our expertise in arranging hotel accommodation worldwide combined with the use of latest technology with our partners has led to the creation of BIZROOMS.

BIZROOMS is a revolutionary hotel booking tool designed for Traveller of any nature. It offers clients an easy to use, fast, informative and competitive solution for their accommodation requirements worldwide.

• One site for all your hotel bookings – International or Domestic
• Use online 24 hours
• Search hotels near your preferred location
• Ability to book Instantly by the traveller or travel manager.
• Hotel information – Location, facilities etc
• Choice of Refundable and Non Refundable rates.
• Track expenses for hotel stays
• Monthly /Quarterly /Yearly Reports of Hotel Expenses.

Bizrooms Sakinaka, Andheri (East) Mumbai 400072, India

For more details on how BIZROOMS can make your corporate hotel booking process easier and save money, please email us at:

[email protected] or call us on +91 22 28513000

Benefits ×

You can book a Hotel for your business travel at 6 am!

Question 1. Have you ever made the decision for a future travel outside your normal working hours?

Question 2. Were you able to make an instant hotel booking under your corporate account at that time?

Question 3. Did you have enough choice when looking for the most suitable hotels?

Question 1. will probably get more people answering Yes.

Question 2. would have less takers.

Question 3. even few.

Today business success depends a lot on being prepared as well as being dynamic. Especially, with corporates working on with International markets. Travel expense is a considerable component of company costs and very often decisions need to be made at the right time to ensure that deals are made while costs are controlled.

Bizrooms.net offers corporate travellers the convenience to book hotels instantly any time of the day or night, for anywhere in the world. It can give your hotel results based on your client's business address, and even filter results within your budget. Bizrooms comes with more features backed with expertise from leading hotel reservations specialists.

Registration for Bizrooms is now FREE until 27th January 2018, with absolutely ZERO set up costs.

Bizrooms Website www.bizrooms.net is intended for use of making travel related bookings by individuals (Customer) and accessible only on approval using a user-name and password. Bizrooms understands that making bookings online involves a great deal of trust on your part. We take this trust very seriously, and make it a high priority to ensure the security and confidentiality of the information Customer provide to us. This Privacy Policy applies to data collected on this Website. By browsing, visiting, accessing and/or using the services on this Website (or searching for any of the pages on this Website), the Customer explicitly consents and agrees to our Privacy Policy laid out herein. Customer also agree that the information furnished by them is lawful, true and correct and does not violate or infringe any laws. In case of any violations, infringement, furnishing of wrongful or unauthorized information, Bizrooms shall not be liable for the same. We encourage Customer to review our Privacy Policy, and familiarize with it. Please note that we review our Privacy Policy from time to time, and we may make periodic changes to the policy in connection with that review. Therefore, Customer may wish to periodically review this page to make sure they have the latest version of the Privacy Policy.

a. Personally Identifiable Information like name(s) and contact details which may include e-mail address, office address or contact number(s), password etc.

b. Booking information which includes information about the travel, bookings, passengers, travel preferences etc.

c. Other information that may be requested or gathered during the visit, access or use of the Website.

Besides the above, when you browse the Website, Bizrooms may collect information regarding the domain and host from which you access the Internet, the Internet Protocol address of the computer or Internet Service Provider you are using, and anonymous site statistical data, information furnished while navigating the Website, the systems and programs used and the time spent on our Website along with any other relevant information. The Website uses cookie and tracking technology depending on the features offered. Aggregate cookie and tracking information may be shared with third parties to cater to provide you a better service and experience.

We may also collect and furnish such other information as is required in compliance of various laws, court order, as requested by other government or law enforcement authority, or in the good faith believe that disclosure is otherwise necessary or advisable including, without limitation, to protect the rights or properties of Bizrooms or any or all of its affiliates, associates, employees, directors or officers or when we have reason to believe that disclosing the information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing interference to our operations rights, interests, whether intentionally or otherwise, or when anyone else could be harmed by such activities.

What is this information used for?

• To conduct Hotel bookings and payment transactions for the services available on the Website
• To communicate with regards to bookings made on the Website
• To improve the user friendliness of the site

All credit cards/debit cards / other payment details and related personally identifiable information will NOT be stored, sold, shared, rented or leased to any third parties.

Customer is solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of their passwords, and their account information. We request them to be very careful, responsible, and alert with this information whether online or offline.

Disclaimer ×

If you require any more information or have any questions about our website’s disclaimer, please feel free to contact us by email at [email protected]

All the information on this website is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Bizrooms does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. Bizrooms will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in relation with the use of our website.

Bizrooms makes every effort to ensure that any information or rates displayed on this website are accurate at the date of issue. Changes in market conditions or circumstances may occur after the issue date which may make information displayed on this website no longer accurate or no longer reflect the current position. Bizrooms hereby expressly disclaims any representation, warranty or undertaking in relation to the accuracy, completeness, quality or adequacy of any contents of this website. All offers, prices, and conditions of sale may be subject to change without notice including eligibility, minimum or maximum stays, seasons and/or blackout dates, and/or other conditions/restrictions.

Bizrooms makes every effort to work with its vendors and hotels to provide an acceptable standard of service and accommodation for the price paid. Bizrooms hereby expressly disclaims any representation, warranty or undertaking in relation to the quality or adequacy of any hotel listed on our website. Hotel information such as facilities, location, contact address, telephone numbers, etc. provided is through third parties and Bizrooms does not take responsibility for the correctness of the information. You are requested to do your own verification for the accuracy of such information.

You are specifically prohibited from use of this site for the following:

• Actions that impose unreasonably large load on the website's infrastructure, including but not limited to 'SPAM' or other such unsolicited mass e-mailing techniques.
• Upload, post, email or otherwise transmit information which you do not have a right to transmit under any law or contractual relationship.
• Violating any applicable local, state, national or international law including, but not limited to, any regulations having the force of law.

By using our website, you hereby consent to our disclaimer and agree to its terms.

Should we update, amend or make any changes to this document, those changes will be prominently posted here.

Our extensive network allow our suppliers/partners to get a wider exposure and marketing reach. In India, Ottila International started its operation in 1997.

Today Ottila International is one of the top wholesale tour operators with a network of 17 locations in India and representations abroad. Our services include worldwide hotel bookings, ground handling, city packages, apartments, groups, conferences, cruises, coach tours, self-drive, car rental, tailor-made packages and inbound and domestic tourism.

Mumbai-India Head Office

1B1 Gundecha Onclave, 1st Floor, ‘B’ Wing,

Kherani Road, Sakinaka, Andheri East,

Mumbai 400 072 – India.

Tel: +91 22 6720 5000

Fax: +91 22 6720 4880

Email: [email protected]

Ahmedabad-Branch Office

Address: 514, Shree Balaji Heights, Near IDBI Bank,

Near Lal Bungalow, Off C.G. Road, Navarangapura, Ahmedabad 380 006.

Tel: +91 79 2642 3001/ +91 79 2642 3002

Email: [email protected]

Bengaluru-Branch Office

Address: 3rd Floor, Srinivasa Avenue, No.42, 3rd Cross, 7th Main,

Near ESI Hospital, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru – 560 038.

Tel: +91 80 4152 9351 /52

Email: [email protected]

Chennai-Branch Office

Address: Fourth Floor, “G”, Mount Chambers,

758/4G/49, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

Tel: +91 44 2851 1467/ +91 44 4214 8280

Email: [email protected]

Coimbatore-Branch Office

Address: 302, SP ARCADE, 123, SAROJINI STREET RAMNAGAR,

COIMBATORE- 641009.

Tel: +91 422 435 0506

Email: [email protected]

Hyderabad-Branch Office

Address: 308, Legend Crystel, 03rd floor,

(Behind paradise), PG Road, Ramgopal Pet, Secunderabad 500003.

Tel: +91 40 40200301-304/ 6

Email: [email protected]

Indore-Branch Office

Address: 820, Shekhar Central, Manorama Ganj,

Agra-Bombay Road, Palasia, Indore–452 001 (MP).

Tel: +91 731 4911 373 / 74

Mob: +91 9656094032

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Kochi-Branch Office

Address: 62/2450–D, 02nd Floor, Emir Plaza, Kaloor–Kadavanthara Road,

Near St. Francis Church, Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017.

Tel: + 91 7593863900/ + 91 7593863902

Email: [email protected]

Kolkata-Branch Office

Address: 92, Hazra Road, Ananda Bhavan, 1st floor,

Kolkata – 700 026.

Tel: +91 33 2474 0347 / 50 / 68 / 69

Email: [email protected]

New Delhi-Branch Office

Address: 4050, Plaza II, Central Square 20, Manohar Lal Khurana Marg,

Off Rani, Jhansi Road, Delhi–110006.

Tel: +91 11 4141 4242

Mob: +91 9810441120/ +91 9810112114

Email: [email protected]

Pune-Branch Office

Address: Office No 3, 3rd Floor, Millennium Star,

Dhole Patil Road, Next to Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune 411 001.

Tel: +91 20 4002 6960 (6 Lines)

Mob: +91 9371033016

Fax: +91 20 2616 1376

Email: [email protected]

Goa-Associate Office

Address:Neha Tours & Travels,

Office No 6/7 Karma Plaza, First Floor,

Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa – 403 802.

Tel: +91 832 251 7168 / 69, +91 832 251 0552

Fax: +91 832 251 5296

Email: [email protected]

Jalandhar-Associate Office

Address:Drogpa Travels,

15, New Market, Behind Narinder Cinema,

Jalandhar, Punjab–144 001.

Tel: +91 181 222 3512/ +91 181 460 0112

Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Nashik-Associate Office

Address:Globus Tours,

Bldg.no.4, “Shraddha Sankul”, Old Ganapur Naka,

Behind Nashik Road, Deolali Vyapari Bank, Gangapur Road,

Nashik–422 013.

Tel: +91 253 231 0044 / 231 8822, +91 253 231 8822

Mob: +91 9922115888/ +91 9850088066

Email: [email protected]

Established in India in 1997 at Mumbai.

For 23 years, Ottila International Pvt Ltd has made its name prominent in the field of travel industry as a Wholesale Tour Operator. Ottila International continues to pursue the goal of providing quality holidays and first class personal service.

• To maintain our wholesale concept in all fields.
• Constantly strive to bring in new products, achieve maximum perfection and consistency of service.
• Brand Management by maintaining our unusual commitment to the product quality.
• Diversification by enriching our vocabulary of products, presentation formats and innovative ideas.
• To maintain a framework to easily follow the strategy, structure, style, systems, staff (people), skills and shared values.
• To create the required belief and coordination in being the best, important, superior in providing quality of services, willingness to support failure, enhance communication skills.
• To support our suppliers who recognize our potential as a complete wholesaler.
• To achieve overall leadership in inbound and outbound wholesale tour operator market
• To give opportunity to promising individuals and training them professional skills, knowledge and leadership qualities.
• Providing the latest technology, software and training to simplify the working procedures and to facilitate a better working environment.

Ottila International Private Ltd maintains www.ottila.net Website ("Site"). The following are the terms of use that govern use of the Site ("Terms of Use"). By using the Site you expressly agree to be bound by these Terms of Use of www.ottila.net privacy policy and to follow these Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations governing use of the Site. Ottila International Private Ltd reserves the right to change these Terms of Use at any time, effective immediately upon posting on the Site. Please check this page of the Site periodically. We will note when there are updates to the Terms of Use at the bottom of the Terms of Use. If you violate these Terms of Use, Ottila International Private Ltd may terminate your use of the Site, bar you from future use of the Site, and/or take appropriate legal action against you.

Limited License: You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, revocable and non-transferable license to utilize and access the Site pursuant to the requirements and restrictions of these Terms of Use. Ottila International Private Ltd may change, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Site at any time. Ottila International Private Ltd may also, without notice or liability, impose limits on certain features and services or restrict your access to all or portions of the Site. You shall have no rights to the proprietary software and related documentation, if any, provided to you in order to access the Site. Except as provided in the Terms of Use, you shall have no right to directly or indirectly, own, use, loan, sell, rent, lease, license, sublicense, assign, copy, translate, modify, adapt, improve, or create any new or derivative works from, or display, distribute, perform, or in any way exploit the Site, or any of its contents (including software) in whole or in part.

1.Site Operation: India is our Country of Domicile. Ottila International Private Ltd controls this Site from India. Ottila International Private Ltd makes no representation that this Site is appropriate for use in other locations. If you use this Site from other locations you are responsible for ensuring compliance with local laws. You may not use, export or re-export any materials from this Site in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, including, but not limited to any Indian laws and regulations.

Applicable Law: The Laws of the India shall govern the use of the Site and the Terms of Use, without regards to conflict of laws principals. All disputes arising in connection there with shall be heard only by a court of competent jurisdiction in Mumbai, India

2.Multi-Currency Priced Transaction: The displayed price and currency on the site, will be the price along with processing fee (if any) to be charged on the Card and printed on the Transaction Receipt.

Purchases: Ottila International Private Ltd accepts payment by Visa or MasterCard Debit or Credit Cards or American Express Credit Cards in INR for its products and services. Ottila International Pvt Ltd also accept payment through NEFT/Bank Transfer/RTG. All online purchases are also governed by the terms and conditions of respective merchant service providers. Please review respective merchant service provider’s user agreement and privacy policy before entering any transaction. Interpretation: These Terms of Use supersede all other written and oral communications or agreements with regard to the subject matters discussed in these Terms of Use. A waiver or modification of these Terms of Use will only be effective if made in writing signed by an authorized officer of Ottila International Private Ltd. All refunds will be made onto the original mode of payment.

3.Representations By You: By visiting the Site, you represent, warrant and covenant that (a) you are at least 18 years old; (b) that all materials of any kind submitted by you to Ottila International Private Ltd through the Site or for inclusion on the Site will not plagiarize, violate or infringe upon the rights of any third-party including trade secret, copyright, trademark, trade dress, privacy, patent, or other personal or proprietary rights. The customer using the website who are Minor /under the age of 18 shall not register as a User of the website and shall not transact on or use the website.

4.Permitted Use: You agree that you are only authorized to visit, view and to retain a copy of pages of this Site for your own personal use, that you shall not duplicate, download, publish, modify or otherwise distribute the material on this Site for any purpose other than for personal use, unless otherwise specifically authorized by Ottila International Private Ltd to do so. You also agree not to deep-link to the site for any purpose, unless specifically authorized by Ottila International Private Ltd to do so. The content and software on this Site is the property of Ottila International Private Ltd. The cardholder must retain a copy of transaction records and Ottila International Private Ltd policies and rules.

5.Your Account: If you use Ottila International Private Ltd Site, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password and for restricting access to your account from any devices, and you agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account or password. The Site shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, in any way for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of, or in connection with, your failure to comply with this section.

No Commercial Use: This Site may not be used by you for any commercial purposes such as to conduct sales of merchandise or services of any kind. You must obtain Ottila International Private Ltd’s prior written consent to make commercial offers of any kind on the Site, whether by advertising, solicitations, links, or any other form of communication. Ottila International Private Ltd will investigate and take appropriate legal action against anyone who violates this provision, including without limitation, removing the offending communication from the Site and barring such violators from use of the Site.

Links And Search Results: The Site may automatically produce search results that reference and/or link to third party sites throughout the World Wide Web. Ottila International Private Ltd has no control over these sites or the content within them. Ottila International Private Ltd does not guarantee, represent or warrant that the content contained in the sites is accurate, legal and/or inoffensive. Ottila International Private Ltd does not endorse the content of any third party site, nor does it make any representation or warranty about these sites, including that they will not contain viruses or otherwise impact your computer. By using the Site to search for or link to another site, you agree and understand that you may not make any claim against Ottila International Private Ltd for any damages or losses, whatsoever, resulting from your use of the Site to obtain search results or to link to another site. If you have a problem with a link from the Site, you may notify us at [email protected]

Copyright Policy: Ottila International Private Ltd may terminate the privileges of any user who uses this Site to unlawfully transmit copyrighted material without a license, express consent, valid defense or fair use exemption to do so. If you submit information to this Site, you warrant that the information does not infringe the copyrights or other rights of third parties.

Intellectual Property: Although Ottila International Private Ltd is not responsible for the content, quality or accuracy of data provided by users, compilations of such data, text, information and other materials made available to users through Ottila International Private Ltd’s system. The On-line Materials are Ottila International Private Ltd’s intellectual property, and are protected by international intellectual property laws. The On-line Materials may not be copied or redistributed either in whole or in part without prior written consent of Ottila International Private Ltd, except as expressly and specifically permitted under these Terms of Use.

The On-line Materials are and will remain the exclusive property of Ottila International Private Ltd. All rights, titles and interests in and to the On-line Materials will be and remain vested solely in Ottila International Private Ltd. Under no circumstances will you have any right, directly or indirectly, to own, use, copy, loan, sell, rent, lease, license, sublicense, redistribute, assign or otherwise convey the On- line Materials, or any rights thereto, except as expressly and specifically provided in the Terms of Use. Nothing in these Terms of Use will convey to you any right, title or interest, except that of a license with the express rights and subject to all limitations herein. Nothing in these Terms of Use grants you the right, directly or indirectly, to use the On-line Materials to create a product for resale or to use the On-line Materials in any way that competes with Ottila International Private Ltd.

You acknowledge and agree that Ottila International Private Ltd will own all rights, titles and interests in and to any copy, translation, modification, adaptation, derivative work or improvement of the On- line Materials made by or for you. At Ottila International Private Ltd’s request, you must execute, or obtain the execution of, any instrument that may be necessary to assign these rights, titles or interests to Ottila International Private Ltd or perfect these rights, titles or interests in Ottila International Private Ltd’s name.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY, LIMITATION OF DAMAGES. OTTILA INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LTD MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTY OF TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,NON-INFRINGEMENT OR OTHER VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN RELATION TO THE AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY, VALIDITY, RELIABILITY OR CONTENT OF THESE PAGES AND/OR THE SITE. OTTILA INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LTD ALSO DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY ADVICE, OPINION, STATEMENT OR OTHER INFORMATION THAT IS SUBMITTED, DISPLAYED OR UPLOADED THROUGH THE SITE BY ANY USER. OTTILA INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LTD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR FOR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SITE, EVEN IF OTTILA INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LTD HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THE LIABILITY OF OTTILA INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LTD WOULD IN SUCH CASE BE LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT OF LIABILITY PERMITTED BY LAW.

Violation Of Terms Of Use: You understand and agree that in Ottila International Private Ltd’s sole discretion, and without prior notice, Ottila International Private Ltd may terminate your access to the Site, or exercise any other remedy available and remove any unauthorized user information, if Ottila International Private Ltd believes that the information you provide has violated or is inconsistent with these Terms of Use, or violates the rights of Ottila International Private Ltd, or any third party, or violates the law. You agree that monetary damages may not provide a sufficient remedy to Ottila International Private Ltd for violations of these Terms of Use and you consent to injunctive or other equitable relief for such violations. Ottila International Private Ltd may release user information about you if required by law or subpoena.

Indemnity: You agree to indemnify and hold Ottila International Private Ltd, its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents and other partners and employees, harmless from any loss, liability, claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of or relating to your use of the Site, including also your use of the Site to provide a link to another site or to upload content or other information to the Site, or your breach of the Terms of Use.

Licence Granted To You: By providing materials to Ottila International Private Ltd, including by submitting or uploading content or materials for use on the Site you represent and warrant that you or the owner of all rights to such content or materials has expressly granted Ottila International Private Ltd an irrevocable world-wide right in all languages and in perpetuity to use and exploit all or any part of the content and materials provided by you. Ottila International Private Ltd may publish and distribute any such submitted content or materials at its sole discretion by any method now existing or later developed. You agree that you shall waive all claims and have no recourse against Ottila International Private Ltd for any alleged or actual infringement or misappropriation of any proprietary rights in any communication, content or material submitted to Ottila International Private Ltd. Any communication or materials you send to Ottila International Private Ltd will be treated as non- confidential and non-proprietary and may be disseminated or used by Ottila International Private Ltd for any purpose, including, but not limited to, developing, creating, manufacturing or marketing products or services.

Advertising: The Site may contain advertisements and/or sponsorships. The advertisers and/or sponsors that provide these advertisements and sponsorships are solely responsible for insuring that the materials submitted for inclusion on the Site are accurate and comply with all applicable laws. Ottila International Private Ltd is not responsible for the acts or omissions of any advertiser or sponsor.

Severability: If any provision of the Terms of Use is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect.

Payment Confirmation: Once the payment is made, the confirmation notice will be sent to the client via email within 24 hours of receipt of payment.

Cancellations & Amendments: The cancellation deadline varies for each and every booking and the same will be informed prior to confirmation. Bookings confirmed can either be cancelled/amended without charges before the cancellation/amendment deadline. If in case a booking is cancelled/amended after the cancellation/amendment deadline, charges will be applicable. On acceptance of the charges, the booking will be cancelled/amended. A booking cancelled after the deadline date would attract a minimum 1 night (For hotels) to 100% charges as deemed by the supplier. Kindly be informed that the full refund will be made to the payment solution used initially by the customer upon cancelling a reconfirmed booking before the deadline date.

Refunds: Refunds are subject to receiving confirmation from our supplier. Refund requests for partially utilized services will not be processed unless & until we receive an email in writing from the service provider that the guest has not utilized all the services in full as specified on our final confirmation and the supplier confirms in writing that a refund will apply to the un-utilized services. Refund requests will only be processed if received in writing within 30 days from the commencement date of the travel component. Refund requests for fully un-utilized services will be processed only when we receive the written request. A period of 10 to 45 days is required to process any refund requests. No claims would be entertained after a refund is processed. Please note that refunds will be made onto the original mode of payment.

For Refund request on waiver of charges an appropriate document will be asked by Ottila to be submitted for processing the same with respective suppliers. Refund/s will be processed only for the services rendered and not for any inconvenience caused or additional cost incurred due to the non- availability of the service.

No Shows: No shows will attract 100% charges.

Headings & section titles in this Agreement are for convenience and do not define, limit, or extend any provision of this Agreement.

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A Travel Guide to the Best of Beirut, Lebanon

A travel guide to the best of Beirut, Lebanon  

Beirut has been through some tough periods in its not-so-distant history, but nowadays, the Lebanese capital attracts droves of tourists keen to experience its particular blend of modern European and traditional Middle Eastern cultures. After a recent visit to stay with Lebanese friends, FTT’s Digital Coordinator Caroline Hariri described Beirut as Paris-meets-Marrakesh, a place that marries fashion and architecture with delectable food and a wildly inclusive nightlife scene. 

If it’s a dynamic city break you’re after, this is the place. “They really have it all,” Caroline says. “It’s very family-oriented, and that makes people warm and friendly and open to conversing with strangers.” 

Read on for a rundown of how to spend your time in Beirut.

The Must-Do

Beirut is a city with one of those very idyllic locations, bookended by mountains on one side and ocean on the other. It’s probably a little too ambitious to suggest you try to squeeze skiing and surfing into one day, though both are popular activities here, but you definitely ought to visit the coast at least once. Head to the Corniche Al-Manara seaside promenade in the late afternoon and wander over to Raouche Rocks (AKA Pigeon Cliffs) in time for a sunset shisha. These pale-stone cliffs look even more dramatic with tangerine light bouncing off their ocean-carved archways and grooves.  

The Sursock Museum , in Beirut's fancy Achrafieh neighborhood, is a work of art in its own right. An ornate white-washed building with kaleidoscopic stained-glass windows and interiors of dark, carved wood. In the 1960s it played host to Lebanon’s finest artists and writers, esteemed guests of the mansion’s former resident, eponymous art collector Nicolas Sursock. Following an extensive seven-year renovation the museum is now Beirut's most beloved cultural institution, an 8,500 square meter display of the best modern art from local and international artists. 

Roughly a 30-minute drive from Beirut is the ancient seaport of Byblos. Archeologists trace the town’s founding back to the Neolithic period, and it was eventually designated a UNESCO World Heritage site . Besides the beautiful ruins, excavated throughout the 1920s, it’s the souk that gives Byblos its unique charm. Narrow paved alleys filled with little souvenir shops, market stalls, and cafes with outdoor seating shaded by trellised flowers or fabric awnings. It all makes for a very delightful and effortless day trip and a contrast to the big-city energy of Beirut.

When it comes to Beirut hotels, our recommendation is to book through L’Hôte Libanais , a company with a collection of small-scale accommodations (max 15 rooms) integrated with their respective communities and regions. In Beirut that means apartments, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts housed inside some of the city’s beautiful heritage architecture, owned by locals with an impeccable eye for decor. 

FTT’s three favorites are: Dar Al Achrafieh , a two-room bed and breakfast with art deco furnishings owned by a fabric designer; Beit El Tawlet , a 10-room guesthouse with a 70s feel (think psychedelic art and rattan galore) that’s attached to the popular restaurant Tawlet (more on this in the dining section below); and Henrymoon , a stunning private abode with soaring ceilings and antiques, owned by an artist named Henry. 

The aforementioned Tawlet should be at the top of your dining list. This ‘farmer’s kitchen’ in Souk el Tayeb invites cooks from villages all over Lebanon to prepare a feast each day, telling the story of their region through recipes. It’s a special experience and a great way to explore the Lebanese dishes local people eat at home, which you otherwise might miss out on.

Housed inside a dark, modern space comprised of concrete, wood, and metal, Burgundy is one of the most atmospheric and best-loved fine-dining restaurants in the city. As you might have guessed from the name, French cuisine takes center stage here, complemented by an unparalleled wine menu from the Burgundy region. 

For a totally different ambiance to Burgundy, book a table at Babel Bay , an upscale seafood-centric restaurant in swanky Zaitunay Bay. Request a spot outdoors for harbor views and a cooling breeze scented by the Mediterranean ocean. 

The Last Call

Family life and community are central to the Lebanese culture, and in Beirut, this even extends to nightlife. What we’re saying is, don’t be surprised if you see entire extended families partaking in late-night revelry together. 

The hotel Le Gray is one of our favorite spots for a cocktail. Head to Cherry on the Roof for poolside buzz with live DJs several nights a week, or Indigo on the Roof, which is technically a restaurant but has an award-winning wine list and views of the blue dome of the Mohammad al-Amin mosque that can’t be beaten. 

Hidden on the top floor of Centrale , a French restaurant with a beautiful honeysuckle scented garden, is an intimate bar with a retractable roof. It’s a teeny space – just a long line of stools against the bar and a few benches hugging the opposite wall – which gives it a cozy, conspiratorial feel.

You’ll find many restaurants in Beirut have a clubby vibe, with low lighting and DJs creating a party-hearty ambiance. At Mothershucker you can post up at the raw bar for oysters and champagne until the small hours, or stop by pre-nightclub for cocktails. Many of its recipes are designed to pair with oysters (i.e., the Mary Shucker: lemon, bloody mary mix, russian standard oyster-infused tomato juice, and smoked mesquite), but there’s plenty of options if you’re not a fan of the briny morsels. Try one of Mothershucker’s gin-based cocktails and pick your own selection of herbs and botanicals. 

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Spring has arrived in the state of Washington. Reel: @jakeguzman ...

Off the grid - at the end of the world, where dunes collide into the Atlantic Ocean. 📍 Sandwich Harbor / Namibia Reel: @formgestalter ...

Reel: @s.x.traveler ➡️ Escape to the rugged beauty of Calhau das Achadas da Cruz, where Madeira`s wild heart beats in harmony with the Atlantic`s endless blue. Nestled in the remote northwest, this gem in Porto Moniz is a world away from the everyday. ...

As any seasoned traveler will attest, having insider intel on your destination is the key to a memorable trip. Once you’ve arrived in Curaçao, chatting up small business owners (instead of your hotel’s concierge) is the best way to find the hidden gems. Link in bio for a hotlist of locals-approved beaches and non-touristy to-do’s you’re sure to enjoy. ...

Nothing beats spring in the English countryside. Reel: @dpc_photography_ ...

Swim with killer whales, camp with friends, and cool off in a river surrounded by the beauty of Baja, California. 🇲🇽 Reel: @rodtrvn ...

This surreal store in Chengdu, China, which includes over 80,000 books, is lined with images of books on the upper shelves so it would appear that they stretch from floor to ceiling. Reel: @losojosdelau ...

Patagonia is pretty much the most magical place on Earth. Reel: @kylekotajarvi ...

The best way to tap into any culture is through its culinary scene. The cuisine in Curaçao is a vibrant mix of Dutch, Caribbean, Latin American and North American fare, and part of the fun is enjoying the melting pot of flavors. Whether you’re craving the catch of the day, savory arepitas or a few bites of bitterballen, tap link in bio for a list of not-to-miss cafes and eateries to sip and savor every moment. ...

inspired by Space exploration’s seminal era, as it sits in quiet solitude surrounded by pitted rock format, Echo Camp in Antarctica gives you as close as you can get to feeling off the planet without leaving Earth. It`s the newest luxury adventure experience from White Desert where you can enjoy fine dining, ice climbing, cross-country skiing and for the adventurers learn life saving techniques. Reel: @jeremyaustiin ...

Welcome to the new @thewhitelotus hotel @fskohsamui 🌴 The resort offers stunning views, beautiful beaches, and upscale amenities, which align with the high-end and exotic backdrop often sought after by TV producers. Will you be tuning in to the new season? Reel: @postcardsbyhannah ...

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Ultimate Lebanon Travel Guide

The ultimate travel guide to lebanon.

Last Updated: 22 Feb 2023.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know for visiting Lebanon during the current crisis, updated regularly with the latest pandemic travel restrictions and for changes caused by Lebanon’s current crises.  I have lived in Lebanon for the past three years ( narrowly surviving the 2020 port explosion ) and have visited almost every inch of this beautiful and crazy country.

Lebanon was a beautiful country with vibrant cities and beautiful ancient historic sites before the multiple crises that began in 2019.  And actually, it still is.  With a bit of planning, it’s still possible to have an amazing trip here, despite the political crisis, economic crisis, electricity shortages, frequent protests and the after effects of the port explosion.

The 2,200 year old Roman temple of Bacchus, the wine god, in Baalbek.

Places to Visit

One of the best things about Lebanon is that almost any area can be visited as a day trip from Beirut.  You can choose to do the below as a series of day trips or stay overnight in different cities as you travel.  Staying overnight reduces the time spent travelling, but also means you have to take everything with you as you travel.

In my opinion, the real must see place in Beirut are the Raouche (Pigeon) rocks, which are a beautiful place to watch the sunset.  If you’re feeling adventurous, take the path down the cliff from the viewing point next to the Bay Rock Cafe (opposite Starbucks) and sit on the rocks opposite Raouche.  From there, not only do you get a beautiful view of the rocks themselves, but also of the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea.  It’s a great place to enjoy a couple of beers or a bottle of wine.  

The best place to view Pigeon Rocks (left, with people gathered). Also a great location to take a bottle of wine for a romantic sunset date.

One of the joys of Beirut is just strolling through its vibrant neighbourhoods.  I particularly recommend Hamra, which is an interesting mix of old and new, with boutique shops, bars and restaurants.  Gemayze and Mar Mikhael, the main bar district, are also gradually coming back to life after the port explosion destroyed them in 2020.  Zaytuna Bay is a chance to see the more upmarket side of Beirut.

The centre of the Beirut Souks area, including the iconic clock tower in Place de L’Etoile and the Roman baths, has reopened after being cordoned off by the military due to protests for the past two and a half years.  Until recently, it was still possible to enter the ‘egg,’ an abandoned cinema building purportedly left to remind people of the atrocities of the civil war (it’s full of bullet holes), but unfortunately the authorities have now built a fence around it to keep people out.  

The National Museum of Beirut reopened to tourists in summer 2021 and is currently open daily.  Be sure not to miss the ‘mummy room’ on the basement level, which houses three mummies from the Qadisha Valley.  It’s a little temperature-controlled room in a corner and easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.

The Beirut ‘egg’ (abandoned cinema) and the main mosque.

The Jeita Grottoes & Byblos

The Jeita Grottoes, located slightly to the north of Beirut, are spectacular and conveniently located not far from the coastal highway up to Byblos, making the two a convenient day trip.  You can also choose to stay overnight in Byblos before heading further up north.

At the Jeita Grottoes, you have to leave your phone in a little locker near the entrance, as they don’t allow photographs.  It doesn’t look very secure, but I’ve never heard of anyone having problems.  

The main attraction of Byblos is wandering the beautiful historic centre, with its ancient Mediterranean architecture, beautiful flowers growing up the walls and in some cases across nets over the streets and cute boutiques, bars and restaurants.  There’s also an ancient citadel that’s worth checking out and the picturesque little harbour.  

If you’re looking for something a little adventurous, walk along the right hand wall of the harbour (as you’re facing out to sea) until you reach the ancient tower at the harbour entrance.  From here, with a bit of care, you can climb up to the top of the tower for amazing sunset views, often without any other people.  

If the beach is more your thing, slightly north of the harbour you’ll find a pebble beach that’s great for swimming in the summer (approximately May to October).  Finally, Byblos is home to Fenicia restaurant, in my opinion one of the best restaurants in the whole of Lebanon.  

Byblos harbour is beautiful day and night.

A pretty seaside town in the north of Lebanon, Batroun is nice for an afternoon to wander it’s old town, which is basically a less touristy version of Byblos.  In the Batroun area there are several off-the-beaten-track places that are worth checking out if you have time:

• The Msailha fort, just up the main highway from the city, is small but impressive, standing alone on a huge rock (it’s also free to enter).  The location is here on Google Maps .
• The Rock of Hamat, a giant rock painted in the colours of the Lebanese flag, on the edge of the old cliffside road from Batroun to Chekka.  The location is here on Google Maps .
• The cliffside walk though the old road tunnel to the north of the cliffside road from Batroun to Chekka.  Go to coordinates 34.311459, 35.681865 ( here on Google Maps ) and then take the footpath on the left hand side of the road before the current tunnel entrance.
• For the more adventurous travellers, the disused railway tunnel.  To reach the entrance, after the current road tunnel walk about 100m then go down the footpath on the left hand side of the road.  Two thirds of the way down, there’s a little bank on the left that you can scramble up (about 2-3m).  The entrance to the tunnel is at the top of this bank.

The spectacular Mseilha Fort, just outside of Batroun.

Much of the time, Lebanon doesn’t feel like the Middle East.  There are no deserts, no camels (apart from a couple in Chouf that were imported from Saudi just to entertain tourists) and many of the main cities, including Beirut, Byblos and Batroun, have more of a Mediterranean feel than a Middle Eastern feel.  And then you reach Tripoli.  Check out the old souk (market) and the citadel.  The souk seems to close around sunset at the moment, possibly due to a lack of power after dark.  

Tripoli’s Corniche is, in my opinion, not as nice as Beirut’s, but Al Mina, the old town, is quaint and has several nice restaurants, including The Sailor Woman, my favourite seafood restaurant in Lebanon.  If you have plenty of time, you can also catch a boat from the Corniche to Palm Island, which has the biggest sandy beach in the north of Lebanon.  It’s a nice place to chill out and swim in the sea.  

Beach Day on Rabbit Island with a group of crazy Couchsurfers.

Anjar & Baalbek

The Roman ruins at Baalbek are some of the most spectacular in the world, especially the enormous temple of Bacchus, the wine God (gotta love Roman priorities).  That’s why you should visit Anjar first!  Anjar is beautiful and spectacular, but after Baalbek, it will seem small and insignificant in comparison.  Don’t forget to try sfeeha, the local delicacy, while you’re in Baalbek.  Baalbek is also home to the Sayyida Khawla shrine, one of the most beautiful and historic Shia shrines in Lebanon.

Local believe that Khawla, daughter of Imam al-Husayn, is buried in this tomb, although historians aren’t sure that Imam al-Husayn even had a daughter.

Baalbek has a bad reputation for safety, but this generally refers to other parts of Baalbek governorate, not Baalbek city.  If you’re concerned about safety, just don’t go north of the city (and definitely keep away from Arsel, which has a justifiably rough reputation).

Saida & Mleeta

Saida has probably the most beautiful souk (market) in the whole of Lebanon, full of ancient stone archways and local people hawking traditional wares (and delicious Arab sweets).  There’s also the small but worth-a-visit Dabane Palace Museum, a soap museum and the Hammam el-Sheikh traditional bathhouse.  The seafort on the waterfront is also worth a visit (although more spectacular from the outside than inside).  If you want a beer, go to Resthouse, a restaurant next to the seafort that is the only place in Saida allowed to sell alcohol.  Its garden is also a great place to take photos of the seafort.

Mleeta is a tiny village in the mountains that is home to probably the most well-maintained museum in Lebanon – The Hezbollah Museum.  Here, a free English-speaking guide will take you around and tell you about the various wars against Israel and Hezbollah’s role in protecting and driving out the enemy.  Whatever your political views, the museum is very well done and worth a visit.  It’s located about a 40-minute drive up into the mountains above Saida.

The Saida seafort – a castle in the sea.

One of the oldest cities in the world, Tyre is home to an ancient Roman Hippodrome.  The site itself is a bit rundown now, but the ruins are still impressive.  There’s also a pretty little old town with less tourists than other cities in Lebanon and a colourful harbour full of fishing boats.  The restaurants next to it are worth checking out for some fresh seafood too.  To the south of the city is Lebanon’s longest sandy beach.  This was affected by the oil spill off Israel in 2021, but is now clean again and safe for swimming.  

Tyre’s colourful harbour – a great place to eat fresh seafood.

The Northern Mountains

There are many beautiful places to visit in the northern mountains of Lebanon, aside from just the pleasure of driving through the local villages and the often breathtaking scenery.  The three I would recommend for visitors are:

• The 2,000 year old olive trees in Bchaleeh, which are supposedly the oldest in the world.  Local legends say that the olive branch from the story of Noah’s Ark came from one of these trees, but you can make up your own mind.   The location is clearly marked on Google Maps .
• The viewpoint at Aqoura.  Climb the rocky hill opposite the church for spectacular 360 degree views).   The start point is at Saydat Al Qarn church ( here on Google Maps ).
• The Batarra Waterfall.  This 255m (837 ft) waterfall, which passes through several layers of Jurassic limestone rock, is definitely the most beautiful in Lebanon.  It’s best visited in the spring when there is plenty of meltwater.  I went in early August once and there was no water at all.
• The Cedars of God.  At possibly 2,500 years old, the Cedars of God are some of the oldest cedar trees in the world and a UNESCO world heritage site to boot.

You will need a car to reach these locations, or you could try hitchhiking.  

The 255m Batarra waterfall. Try throwing a stone down into the chasm below and see how long it takes before you near it hit the bottom.

The Chouf Region

Home to the majority of the Druze population of Lebanon, the Chouf region also contains the country’s largest remaining cedar forests at the Chouf Biosphere Reserve.  This is a great place to do some hiking with trails from 5 minutes to a full day.  

The region also contains the Bettadine palace, which was built by the Ottomans, and the Moussa Palace, which was built over several decades by a crazy Lebanese man who wanted his own palace.  The latter contains a vast collection of ancient weapons and some very well done scenes from traditional Lebanese life, created with models animated in various ways.  I love the concept that the guy just suddenly decided to build himself a palace!

A traditional Lebanese scene in the Moussa Palace museum.

The Christian city of Jounieh used to be where Arabs from stricter countries in the Middle East went to party and unwind, as evidenced by the strip of hotels on the coast that look like they’ve seen better days.  Even now, the city is still home to Lebanon’s only casino, Casino du Liban, and a bunch of ‘super night clubs’ – basically stripclubs.

For tourists not looking for such things, the main attraction is Harissa, the hill behind the city with a statue of Our Lady of Lebanon on the top.  There is also a very nice (but steep) hike up from the city below through the dense forest with occasional views across the bay.  The start of the path is at coordinates 33.997710, 35.650976 ( here on Google Maps ).  Recommended for sunset.  

Hermel and Akkar

The far north of Lebanon is known as one of its most dangerous areas, but most reports are highly exaggerated.  The main attraction here is the 2,500 year-old Pyramid of Hermel, which I visited in 2021 .  Even now, no one’s quite sure who built it!  Worth a visit if you have the time, but its location in one of the most remote parts of the country means that it won’t fit many peoples’ itineraries.  

Nobody is sure why the Pyramid of Hermel was built.

The Far South (UNIFIL-Controlled Area)

The far south of Lebanon is interesting, because you can drive along beside the border wall with Israel, which is covered in security cameras and, in some places, graffiti similar to that seen in the Palestinian territories.  The coast at Naqoura also have the cleanest waters in Lebanon for swimming, thanks to the low population density and proximity to Israel, which has better sewage treatment facilities than Lebanon.  

The downside is that this area is under control of the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) and foreigners need a permit to enter it.  See below the section on Entering the UNIFIL-Controlled Area for details of how to obtain the permit.  

This picturesque little village in the mountains near Saida is often overlooked by travellers, which is a pity, as it boasts one of Lebanon’s most spectacular waterfalls.  For hikers, the village is surrounded by Lebanon’s largest pine forest.  For those who want something darker, there’re also some interesting abandoned buildings leftover from Lebanon’s war of resistance against Israel to explore.  Read more in my dedicated Jezzine guide here.

The sea wall south of Naqoura

Suggested Itineraries

Pick and choose where to visit from the places above.  However, my suggestions are as follows:

Two-day Trip: Beirut – Jeita Grottoes & Byblos .  This is way too short, but spend one day wandering Beirut, watch the sunset at Raouche in the evening and then head to the Jeita Grottoes and Byblos on day 2.

Four-day Trip: Beirut – Jeita Grottoes & Byblos – Saida & Mleeta – Anjar & Baalbek.   Best to base yourself in Beirut for this itinerary, which covers the major highlights of the country.  

One-week (7 day) Trip: Beirut – Jeita Grottoes & Byblos – Tripoli – The Northern Mountains – Saida & Mleeta – The Southern Mountains – Anjar & Baalbek. This itinerary includes most of the highlights of the country with a variety of cities, ancient ruins and nature.

Two-week (14 day) Trip or Longe r : Beirut – Jeita Grottoes – Jounieh – Byblos – Batroun – Tripoli – The Northern Mountains – Anjar & Baalbek – Saida & Mleeta – Jezzine – The Southern Mountains – Tyre .  You could easily spend more than a day in many of the places listed here, making the trip more relaxing and enjoyable.  Alternatively, add in some hiking or visit some random villages in the mountains, many of which are beautiful.  

If you have the time, check out the Rock of Hamat near Batroun for a very Instagrammable pic.

I had no idea until I moved to Lebanon, but the country has some amazing hikes.  My personal favourites are the following:

• Qornet As Sawda (Black Peak) – The highest mountain in not only Lebanon, but the entire Levant region, and 5th highest in the Middle East, at 3,088m.  The landscape is like nothing else in the country, as barren as the moon.  It gets very cold near the top and is covered in snow from around November to May, so it’s best to avoid these times.  The hike starts from the Cedars ski resort near the Cedars of God and the first two hours follow the ski lifts.  The total hiking time is about 8 hours and it’s long, but not difficult.  
• The Chouf Biosphere Reserve – The largest cedar forests in Lebanon make for some beautiful hiking.  The reserve is clearly marked on Google Maps and is suitable for short or long hikes.
• The Qadisha Valley – Possibly the most beautiful place in the whole of Lebanon, a Colombian monk lives in a tiny monastery perched high on a cliff above the valley.  The path to the monastery is narrow with beautiful views and not particularly difficult, although the monk himself has stopped meeting visitors recently, due to the risk of Covid, as he is very old.
• Jabel Moussa Biosphere Reserve – There are many hikes here, from short 3-5km jaunts to 20km marathons and over steep mountain paths.  The highlight is Chouwen lake, which is a beautiful turquoise blue.  It’s also possible to swim in it during the summer.  
• Bkassine Pine Forest – The largest pine forest in Lebanon is riddled with beautiful hiking trails.  Check out my Jezzine guide for details .

The moonscape of Qornet As Sawda is like nothing else in the whole of Lebanon.

A rare near eastern fire salamander, spotted by yours truly while hiking in the Chouf region.

Anyone who thinks the Middle East is only desert and camels has never been to Lebanon – the lush green of the Qadisha Valley is like something out of a Disney film.

Impact of the Crisis – Electricity

Lebanon’s national grid currently only supplies about 1-2 hours of electricity per day to most parts of the country, due to a shortage of fuel, insufficient capacity and various other factors.  This is terrible if you’re local and don’t have a backup power supply.  However, for tourists it’s actually not that big a problem, as major hotels have good generators that provide 24/7 power and most restaurants and other businesses also have generators, if not all the time.

The best advice here is check with your hotel before visiting.  Some generators are not designed to run 24/7 and so buildings can have gaps without power.  My apartment currently has seven hours in 24 with no power, split between the night and morning, when they let the generator ‘rest.’

The electricity crisis has made the roads more dangerous – many street lights and traffic lights are not operating.  If you do drive in Lebanon, when you come to a junction without working traffic lights, just slow down and drive slowly through.  Most Lebanese drivers are very cautious at these junctions, as the economic crisis has made imported car parts astronomically expensive and no one wants to damage their car.  

Protests occasionally turn violent, but luckily protest areas are easily avoided by visitors.

Impact of the Crisis – Hyperinflation

The most important thing to remember is to bring enough cash for the duration of your stay.  The best currency to bring is USD, but other common currencies, such as EUR and GBP, can also be exchanged at black market rates.  Licensed currency exchange shops are now permitted to exchange currency at black market rates, so you no need to be hooked up with a black market dealer.  

Pro tip : before coming to Lebanon, download the Lira Rate or Lira Exchange app for your smartphone.  These apps show the current black market rates and, although the rate on the street is usually slightly lower, give you a good guide as to the approximate rate you should expect when changing money.

If you do run out of money in Lebanon, don’t withdraw money from an ATM if you can possibly avoid it.  ATMs currently operate at the official rate of 15,000 LBP to the USD, so you’re losing most of your money to the banks.  The same applies to paying for things priced in LBP with credit/debit cards.  ATMs no longer offer USD currency withdrawal for foreign bank cards.  The best approach for travellers is to use a currency transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union, which allow you to transfer in foreign currency and collect it in USD.

One knock on effect of the economic crisis is that Lebanon is now significantly cheaper than it used to be.  Hotels have started charging foreigners in dollars again, but everything else, and especially food, is much cheaper than it was before.  A good Lebanese meal for two in a normal restaurant will usually cost about $15, including drinks.  In a slightly more upmarket restaurant, expect to pay around $30.  

The economic crisis is so bad that Batman had to trade in the Batmobile.

Impact of the Crisis – Safety

Crime rates in Lebanon are very low and, although they have risen recently as people become increasingly desperate, rates of petty theft are still lower than in most of Europe and criminals in general do not specifically target foreigners.  That said, the atmosphere can feel tense and the fortifications erected in some areas (lots of barbed wire, concrete barriers and patrolling soldiers) can give the impression that the safety situation is worse than it is.  

Most violent incidents that have been in the news recently have occurred during protests, often of a political nature.  If you do see the beginnings of a protest, such as groups of people marching together or tyres burning in the road, simply turn around and leave the area.  Protests usually start peacefully, but build to a point where the demonstrations spill over into violence.  Again, protests do not target foreigners, but there is a risk of being caught in the violence if you stick around.

An unfortunate legacy of the Lebanese civil war is that a lot of the populations still own guns.  At a recent protest in Beirut, not only were there shootings with machine guns, but the violence escalated with the use of RPGs.  This is an extreme case.  Again, I stayed away from the area.  

Guns are also often used at funerals or celebrations, where they are shot into the air in waves of celebratory gunfire.  Unfortunately, what goes up must come down, and people are occasionally killed by falling bullets or by bullets entering buildings through windows.  If you do hear shooting while you’re in a building, move to the interior, away from the windows and wait for it to subside.  If you’re outside, leave the area.  Funerals rarely happen in the city centre, which is the most interesting area for foreign travellers, so you probably won’t come across them anyway.  Furn El Chebek, Chiyah, Tariq El Jdideh and Jnah are common areas for funerals.

Lebanon is generally very safe. Even walking through the slummier neighbourhoods of Tripoli, Lebanon’s poorest city, I never felt unsafe.

Certain areas of Beirut experience violence far more than others.  In general, the southern suburbs of Beirurt, south of main road where the National Museum of Beirut is located, are less safe than the city centre.  In particular, Chiyah, Cola and Tayouneh and Tariq El Jdideh have all seen violent protests.  Martyr’s Square and the Beirut souks area also see frequent protests, but these tend to be less violent than those in the south.

As a tourist, the only areas you’re likely to visit to the south are Badaro (an upmarket bar street) and the Cola Intersection, as it’s the main hub for public transport to the south and the Bekaa Valley.  I visit these locations regularly and have never had problems, but keep an eye out just in case.

This may all sound very scary, but actually Lebanon is very safe for tourists.  Even now, by far the most dangerous thing is the roads, where accidents are frequent.  Just use a bit of common sense and you’ll be fine.

Impact of the Crisis – Fuel

One of the best ways to see Lebanon, and especially the more remote parts, is to rent a car and drive yourself.  During the summer of 2021, fuel became extremely difficult to obtain, often requiring queuing for hours (if you can even find a fuel station that’s open).  The only other option was to purchase it on the blackmarket at vastly inflated prices.

The good news is that, since the end of September 2021, fuel has been readily available again.  The government has let the price of fuel rise to close to market value, which has reduced incentives for fuel hoarding and smuggling to Syria.  

Bikers queuing for fuel at the peak of the fuel crisis in 2021

Ethics – Should I Visit Lebanon During the Crisis?

With frequent power cuts and shortages of some products, many people question whether they should visit a country while it’s in crisis, as they feel they may be using limited resources that are needed by the local population.  In the case of Lebanon, the answer is definitely yes, you should visit.  Lebanon produces very little domestically – even 80%+ of food is imported.  Shortages are not caused by a lack of supply on global markets, they’re caused by a lack of financial means to purchase supply (compounded by corruption and a range of other factors).  

By visiting Lebanon, you are bringing much needed foreign currency into the country and, by buying products and services from local businesses, ensuring that it reaches local people who need it.  One of the biggest problems for Lebanese people is that the value of the LBP to the dollar is so low, which makes imports expensive.  Everytime there is a large influx of visitors, for example with the Lebanese diaspora returning home over Christmas, the LBP gains value, helping local people.  This shows the positive effect that an influx of foreign currency has and, as an individual your contribution will be small, but will certainly be positive.  In other words, don’t feel bad about visiting!

Lebanese people are very good at enjoying life, even in the middle of a crisis.

One of the best ways to see Lebanon is to rent a car.  Car rentals are cheap now (about $20/day for a small car, including insurance) and Lebanon is a very car-based society.  A deposit of around $100 is often requested in cash for your first rental.  So far, I’ve not heard of any problems having this refunded.  In theory, an International Driver’s Permit is required, but in reality no one cares, at least not if your local driver’s licence is in English, French or Arabic.

I usually rent from Mike Rent-a-Car, which is a good option if you want to support local businesses.  The price is generally $20-30/day depending on the season for a small car and their Website is at www.mikerentacar.com .  Their office in Beirut is located here .  Alternatively, the big international car rental companies, such as Avis and Europcar , also operate in Lebanon.  They also have the advantage of having a presence at the airport, so you don’t need to bother with other transport to get to your accommodation. 

Cars and Drivers

If you don’t feel confident driving in Lebanon, it is possible to hire a car and driver from a hotel or hostel. This can cost upwards from around $70 a day plus fuel, but hotels may charge significantly more.

Ride Hailing Apps

Uber and Bolt both work well in Beirut.  Bolt is usually slightly cheaper, but Uber cars are generally in better condition and the drivers are more professional.  These apps are also by far the cheapest way to get to or from the airport in Beirut.  Just be sure to change the payment method to cash, as credit cards are billed at the official exchange rate so you’ll end up paying $50 for a 5-minute trip across town.

Public Transport

Lebanon has an informal public transport network made up for service (shared) taxis and minibuses.  These are operated privately with pricing regulated by the government.  There are also public buses from Beirut to Tripoli.  Vehicles licensed for public transport, including taxis, all have red number plates (or red lettering on the number plate).

To catch a service (shared) taxi, stand on the edge of a road (main roads are usually better) and hold out your arm when a taxi comes past (look for the red number plates).  Ask the driver “Service?”  If he agrees, it means the taxi is shared, so you will not be charged for a private journey.  Then tell him your destination.  If he’s going in the right direction and willing to take you there, he’ll agree.  Finally, ask him the price.  Most drivers are very honest, but a few do try to overcharge foreigners.  

Inside Beirut

Service taxis operate throughout Beirut, although explaining the destination can be tricky.  Often, the easiest approach is just to say the name of the area, such as “Hamra,” “Gemayze,” “Daora,” or “Cola.”  Minibuses on set routes also operate, but finding the routes is extremely difficult, so use the same approach as when taking a service and ask the driver whether he goes to your destination.  Prices for service taxis are just over $1 and for minibuses around $0.50.

Northern Lebanon

Shared taxis and minibuses run from the Daora roundabout in Beirut up the coastal highway to Jounieh, Byblos, Batroun and Tripoli.  Prices vary, but are cheap, starting at about $1 to Jounieh.  Just ask the drivers whether they go to the city you want to reach.

For Tripoli, there’s also a bus that runs on an actual schedule from Martyr’s Square in Beirut.  

Their current schedule can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/connexion.transportation . 

Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valle y

Minibuses run from the Cola Intersection in southern Beirut down the coastal highway to Saida and Tyre, as well as to Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley and to the Chouf region.  To visit the Chouf Biosphere Reserve, catch the bus to Barouk, the name of the nearest village.  From there, you need to walk several kilometres to enter the reserve and there is no public transport.  Hitchhiking could be an option. 

To reach Anjar, take the minibus to Baalbek and get off at Chtoura.  From here, there are other minibuses running to Anjar.  

The Jeita Grottoes

The Jeita Grottoes are located about halfway between Beirut and Byblos, approximately 5km from the highway.  Take public transport from the Daora roundabout and get off at the Ajaltoun exit of the main highway (coordinates 33.960616, 35.604071, here on Google Maps ).  From here you can either walk (5km uphill) or take a taxi.  There are usually several drivers hanging around this area, although prices can be high and will depend on your negotiation skills.  To get back to the highway afterwards, you can usually find a driver in the Jeita Grottoes carpark.  Another good option to reach the Jeita Grottoes is to take an Uber all the way from Beirut.  Uber is cheap in Lebanon, so this works out around the same price.

I’m not aware of any public transport option to reach this area of the country (including Aqoura, the Batara waterfall and the Cedars of God), so your options are really driving or hitchhiking.  

The view from Aqoura – there is still snow on the mountains in early May.  The northern mountains are a pain to get to without a car, but worth the effort.

Transport to and from Beirut Airport

Uber is a cheap and convenient way to get to or from the airport in Beirut.  This should cost around $6.  However, this can be tricky when first arriving, due to needing to obtain Lebanese pounds to pay the driver.  If the exchange counter at the airport is not open or the rate is bad, you can try negotiating with the Uber driver to pay in USD at the black market rate.

There are always plenty of local taxis waiting at the airport to take you to the city centre.  These often try to charge ridiculous rates to foreigners – up to $50 for the 10-15 minute journey.  With a bit of bargaining, you should be able to agree on around $10.

Checkpoints

There are military checkpoints on the roads throughout Lebanon and even within some parts of Beirut.  Generally, they wave foreigners through without saying anything.  If driving yourself, slowdown at the checkpoint, wind down the window and greet the soldier.  Most times, he’ll wave you though before you even come to a stop.  

In my two years here during which I’ve travelled the country extensively, I’ve been asked twice for my nationality and had my passport checked once (so carry it with you, just in case), and that was on the road between Hermel and Qobayat, one of the most remote parts of the country.

Entering the UNIFIL-Controlled Area

The only exception to the above is the checkpoints for entering the UNIFIL-controlled area south of the Litani river near the border with Israel.  Foreigners can only enter with a permit obtained in advance (with the exception of UN employees).  To obtain the permit, visit the police headquarters in Saida with your passport.  The police station is at coordinates 33.550327, 35.381710 ( here on Google Maps ).  You need to bring your passport and colour photocopies of the identity page and your entry stamp to Lebanon (and visa, if you come from a country that needs a visa to enter Lebanon).  It generally takes less than one hour and permits can be issued for entry on the same day.  Permits can be obtained for one or multiple days.

Northern Israel, as viewed over the imposing border wall in south Lebanon.

Recently (as of early 2023), the black market exchange rate has been hovering around the 80,000 LBP to the USD rate, whereas the official rate is 15,000 LBP.  Previously, currency exchange shops were prohibited from giving the black market rate, but the government has relaxed this rule, so any currency exchange shop can exchange money for you.  Just make sure you bring plenty of cash.

Whatever you do, don’t use a foreign bank card in an ATM or to pay in shops.  The banks still apply the official rate, so you’ll be paying several times the real price.  

Pre-crisis, these notes were worth about $66 each. Now they’re worth around $3.

Mobile Phone Service and SIM Cards

Lebanon has good mobile Internet even in most rural areas.  SIM cards are widely available from mobile phone shops.  I use Alpha, which has good 4G coverage across most of the country.  Passports are not required to obtain a SIM.  Prices fluctuate, but a SIM card with 6GB of data valid for one month can be obtained for around $20.  I have been warned to check that the seller gives you the packaging to ensure that it’s not a reused, although I’m not sure what the problem would be with this..  

Restaurants and Coffee Shops

One of the greatest pleasures of visiting Lebanon is the food.  This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are my favourite restaurants.  I happen to like coffee a lot, so I’ve also slung in a few coffee shop recommendations for good measure.

• Resto Ghazar: My favourite Lebanese-Armenian restaurant.  Try the soubeureg (cheese pastries), mouhamara (pomegranate with nuts) and manti.  Although not Armenian, their batata harra (spicy potatoes with coriander) is also out of this world.  Prices are very reasonable, at about $10-15 a person, including drinks.  
• Ohannes Restaurant: Another great Armenian restaurant, with beautiful tiled decor.  The food is also great, especially the Ohannes salad and fried liver.  This place is a bit more upmarket at about $15-25 per person, including drinks.
• T-Marbouta: A variety of great Lebanese food in the heart of Hamra with a nice outdoor seating area.  About $8-15 a person, including drinks.
• Sawani Falfoul: A great place for breakfast in Badaro, an upmarket bar street.  In particular, try the foul (a kind of chickpea soup, pronounced like the word “fool” in English), shakshuka (scrambled egg with tomato) and hummus (the “Malaysian” hummus is particularly good, if not very Lebanese sounding).
• Barbar Restaurant: Basic but tasty Lebanese barbeque restaurant in Hamra.  Not sure of the current price, but cheap!
• Le Chef: A traditional Lebanese restaurant that claims to be the oldest in Lebanon, although my Lebanese friends tell me that this is bullshit.  The place has a lot of character and was saved from bankruptcy by a donation from Russel Crow, who once ate there, after being destroyed in the port explosion in August 2020.
• Notes Speciality Coffee: My local coffee place.  Great brews and the chance to meet me if you’re there in the morning (I often work from there).  

Quail eggs with basterma (seasoned meat) – an Armenian-Lebanese delicacy.

• Fenicia: This restaurant is so good that I have hardly eaten anywhere else in Byblos.  Up there with Resto Ghazar as one of my two favourite restaurants in Lebanon.  The environment is elegant and the food is absolutely out-of-this-world.  The cheese/shrimp rolls and the mixed grill plata are my recommendations.  Prices are about $15-25 per person, including drinks.  The only problem is that they don’t take reservations and getting a seat can be difficult.  

Byblos has many local restaurants, like this Italian one, where you can sit outside and enjoy the old town vibe.

• The Colonel Brewery: Lebanon’s most famous craft beer brewery, the Colonel recently opened a restaurant with a view of the Mediterranean and a great selection of fresh seafood.  Try the delicious raw fish if you’re feeling adventurous.  A meal for two including drinks is around $30.
• Barrio 67: Not Lebanese cuisine, but delicious international food and nice decoration in the heart of the old town.  Prices are about $15-25 per person, including drinks. 
• The Sailor Woman: this cute little restaurant serves only six dishes – fish with tahini, calamari, octopus, french fries, fattouch (traditional Lebanese green salad) and Tabbouleh (traditional Lebanese salad with Parsley).  What makes it so special is that all the cooking is done by a little old lady in her apartment, which is just next to the restaurant.  The fish is also very fresh, as Tripoli is the centre of the Lebanese fishing industry.  
• Newtown Coffee: Great place to take a break from sightseeing and chill.  Nice environment and good coffee.  

My favourite fish in Tahini at The Sailor Woman restaurant.

Be sure to try some Lebanese sweets, which can be found across the country.

• Foul Abou El Ezz: Another breakfast place, simple, very local and delicious.  Try the foul (a kind of chickpea soup, pronounced like the word “fool” in English) and hummus.  
• Green’s Coffee: One of my favourite coffee shops in Lebanon with a great selection of coffees and even a deli counter.  The environment is top-notch with a nice retro feel.  
• Resthouse: Overpriced (although still cheap by international standards), but with a great view of the Seafort and the only place allowed to sell alcohol in Saida.  Perfect for a beer with a view on a hot summer’s day.

A man making local sweets at a little bakery in the winding streets of Saida’s old bazaar.

• Local sfeeha place: On the main street of Baalbek, on the left as you’re walking away from the Roman ruins, you’ll come across what is basically a traditional oven in a room on the edge of the street with a few tables outside (approx. coordinates: 34.005245, 36.208302, here on Google Maps ).   They make one dish – delicious sfeeha, the traditional meat pastry originally from Baalbek – and they make it really well.  It’s a while since I’ve been there, so not sure of the exact price, but twenty sfeeha cost a few dollars.

Local sfiha meat pastries being prepared for the brick oven.

• Fresh seafood: Tyre has a wonderful selection of reasonably-priced fresh seafood restaurants overlooking the harbour.  The location is at 33.274307, 35.194684 ( here on Google Maps ) and there are several small restaurants with harbour views nearby.  Prices start from about $10 a person, including drinks.

Accommodation

Hotels recently switched to charging foreign tourists in USD and so the prices are roughly the same as before the crisis.  You may be able to negotiate a deal with some of the smaller places when you’re here, but that’s tricky to do in advance.  AirBNB can be a very good option and relatively cheap.  With any accommodation, check the hours that they have electricty before booking.

Couchsurfing

Lebanon has an active Couchsurfing community.  Many people here host travellers and there are often events organised.  If you’re looking to meet local people, this is a great way to do it.  

Covid-19, PCR Tests and Entry Requirements

As of 28 September 2022, the Lebanese government cancelled all Covid-related requirements for entering Lebanon.  Once in the country there are also no longer restrictions and masks are not required.  

PCR tests are not required for departure from Beirut airport.  However, if you need one for your next destination, they can be obtained at many hospitals in Lebanon.  I have used Hotel Dieu de France hospital in the past. There’s also a lab that will send someone to your accommodation to do the test for you.  It’s very convenient and the results are available same day, sent via WhatsApp.  They can be contacted on WhatsApp at +961 3 444 925.  Wherever you do the test, it will have a QR code.  Prices vary depending on the exchange rate, but are generally around $10-12.

More about Lebanon

After two years living in Lebanon, I’ve visited almost every inch of the country.  You can read about my adventures here:

Jezzine Travel Guide

Why Visit Jezzine?  The picturesque village of Jezzine is perched high on a cliff top overlooking the incredible Jezzine waterfall - at 90m (295ft), one of the highest waterfalls in Lebanon.  It’s also practically surrounded by Bkassine forest, the largest pine forest...

Hermel & Beyond: Road Tripping Remote Lebanon

Hermel & Beyond: Road Tripping Remote Lebanon As a Scot, I’m used to living in countries far bigger than my own.  Lebanon is the exception - the entire country is only about 200km long and 80km wide at its widest point.  So how, you might ask, can there be ‘remote...

Looking for even more great ideas?  Here’s another in-depth travel guide to Lebanon by Romana and Jakub at Broken Naviation, including hotel recommendations for all budgets (living here I don’t stay in hotels much).  They have some really beautiful photographs too.  Check it out here:

• How to Travel to Lebanon in 2022 & 11 Days Itinerary

Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you enjoyed the article or have questions!

Beirut is one crazy beautiful city in one crazy beautiful country. I can’t not love it.

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30 Comments

Wow, this is a great post. Thank you so much. We’re travelling to Lebanon for a week in May (9th – 15th) and were a bit unsure of what to see/do because of the crisis. This has helped a lot. I’m coming with a friend. Hit me up if you’d like to hang out.

Hey mate, great to hear the guide was helpful. I’m actually outside the country travelling Sudan at the moment (another amazing place), so won’t be around on those dates. Enjoy Lebanon!

I absolutely love this guide. I am a 50plus woman who travels around the world and I am in Egypt now. I want to go and spend a month there in June/July and would love to contact people who want to meet and Argentina my age or around my age. I am not rich, my country goes through the same struggles than Lebanon with the second highest inflation in the world. I do have a website on the works and I can recommend your site, I believe the only waay we can make a change is to share

Hi Monica, that’s great. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Lebanon a lot. For meeting people, you might want to try Couch Surfing. The community in Lebanon is quite active.

Thank you so much for the useful information. I’m travelling to Lebanon for a week in 30th May – 6th June and was uncertain of what to expect. You information has helped me feel more confident. I’m coming by myself as my partner can’t make it because of work commitments. Feel free to contact me if you’d like have a chat over drinks. PS I’m keen to go to Sudan and see the Pyramids there. Hope you enjoyed it.

Hi Morris. Great to hear that the information was helpful. I would definitely be up for meeting for a drink, as long as I’m in Lebanon at that time. Could you drop me a message on the quitandgotravel Instagram page? I don’t want to put my WhatsApp number on this page as it’ll inevitably get flooded with spam.

Sudan was amazing! Working on a guide for that now, but will take some time.

This is amazing, thank you so much for publishing this! I’ve had a hard time getting a real read on the situation. We are planning a trip in July, probably just Beirut for 4 or 5 days. Do you have any hotel recommendations?

Hi Katie, glad to hear it was useful. July is a great time to visit, the weather will be beautiful. Beirut is a great place to base yourself, but I would suggest to do at least a day trip to Byblos and the Jeita Grottoes. Regarding hotels, as I live here, I don’t stay in them and so don’t have specific recommendations. However, wherever you stay, the main thing to check is whether they have a generator and how many hours of power they have per day. Generally, the higher-end hotels have 24/7 power, whereas the lower-end ones could be just a few hours a day.

Hi Rowan, this was SO helpful, thank you! Hoping to visit May 27-June 4 but was nervous about the US government “level 3” travel advisory. I saw your disclaimer about the elections last week – how is the sentiment now?

Hi Lily, glad this was helpful. The elections have gone relatively peacefully, so hoping things will be back to normal by then. Time will tell, so feel free to reach out to me nearer the time to confirm.

Think your guide is really helpful mate. I’m looking to visit with my girlfriend for at least a week in Oct before flying on to India, but we will not hire a car to keep the costs down, so hopefully we can visit places like Byblos and Kadisha Valley by bus/shared taxi etc as we’d love to do some hiking. Thanks again.

Awesome mate, glad the guide was helpful. Lebanon is very doable with public transport (and maybe a bit of hitchhiking to Kadisha). Enjoy India!

Is the situation pretty unstable atm mate? Been looking at uk gov website and it seems to say avoid all but essential travel to Lebanon. Not going until Oct, so I hope thing may improve then, but would you say wait to see if it calms down a bit before booking flights, or just take the gov advice with a pinch of salt? As your blog seems to indicate its not too bad 🙂 sorry for the bombardment of questions!

Hey mate, already replied to your email, but for anyone else reading, government travel warnings tend to exaggerate. It’s actually very peaceful here at the moment. Lebanese people are very friendly and crime rates are low. In Lebanon, the situation can change quickly, but I wouldn’t let that put you off visiting.

Hi Rowan, thanks for sharing those helpful Informations. Do you know if there is a possibility to get from Bcharré to Baalbek by public transportation in September

Hi Miriam. Glad the blog has been useful. Unfortunately, there is no public transport from Bcharré to Baalbek. By public transport, you’d need to go back to Beirut and then over the main highway to Baalbek, which is a huge detour. However, I’m sure you could hitchhike it without much difficultly. Lebanese people are very friendly and a female friend of mine who was volunteering in Anjar the past few weeks hitchhiked all over the country without problems.

Wowwwww I was just looking around, totally unsure about Lebanon and feeling no way I could Really do it but your post has totally changed my mind.

I hope to meet you for a coffee hello.

~A Solo woman traveller

Ps, Pls let me know your thoughts on overland travel from jordan through syria.

Hey, glad the blog helped inspire you! Overland travel from Jordan is possible with an organised tour, as that’s generally the only way to get the visa. It’s expensive but doable and I’ve spoken with people who’ve done it. A coffee sounds good, drop me a message on Insta @quitandgotravel when you know the dates.

This post re Lebanon is fantastic. I’m traveling alone; do you have any tour guide recommendations? Also, if you’re up for a cup of coffee and a chat, I’ll be there the first week of July.

Hi Stacy, great to hear the post is useful. I never use tour guides (except in North Korea, where it’s mandatory), so can’t recommend one. However, Lebanon is very doable solo. I’d definitely be up for a coffee and should be here that week. Can you drop me a message on Insta? @quitandgotravel

This blog was really helpful – I’m a solo female traveler and have been looking to go to Beirut to visit my friend’s dog and bring him doggie treats (and I guess say hi to my friend too and bring human treats) but with everything that has happened in the past two years it has been a bit difficult to get it organised. Due to my nationality it also appears the visa process will take longer than normal in my current country of residence. I would rather not have to get my (human) friend send some sort of invitation letter in order for me to get a visa, but I guess I’ll just have to see and try and Lebanese Embassy. I look forward to reading more of your blog.

Your poor friend, I can see that he or she is definitely second to the dog! Good luck with the visa though, I hope you get it sorted out okay, and thanks for your kind comments.

Thanks so much for this guide. I’m Lebanese background and even I found it very very useful. My Aussie partner and I are going to Lebanon in September and I’m wondering which neighbourhood to book our Airbnb. We want to be able to walk all of Beirut, prefer to flush toilet paper down the toilet haha and want to be walking distance to cafes, bars and be able to walk home safely afterwards (or is it safer to get a service/taxi?). Also did you have any issues with being overcharged for things? Memories of taxi drivers taking me around the block a couple of times in Syria and charging me double haha

Hi Lili. Great to hear that my blog is even useful to Lebanese! For AirBNBs, Gemayze is probably the best Neighborhood. It’s walking distance to most things and has power more often than Hamra, so is less dark. Beirut is still very safe and walkable, even now. I think it’s a cultural thing, but despite the ever increasing poverty levels, crime rates are still low here. Most people are pretty honest, so rip offs are not common. The worst are taxis, especially from the airport, so use Uber or Bolt and set the app to pay cash (don’t pay more than 200,000 LBP from the airport).

Rowan, as others have said this is a great blog. Many thanks for all this info. I am a keen cyclist but cannot find any of the major adventure tour companies who offer cycling holidays in Lebanon. Do you know of any cycling organisations in Lebanon who might be able to help me put together an itinerary.

Hi David. I’m happy you liked the blog. I focus on independent travel, so not sure about tour companies to be honest. I don’t think cycling is a big thing here though (drivers are not so considerate), but that said, it could be a good way to see the country.

I had planned a trip to Lebanon in May 2020 (tickets paid for and everything) but Covid happened. Since then, Lebanon had gone through some significant changes like the economic crisis, etc, and I was really unsure if this year was the right time to be visiting Lebanon; was thinking of doing so in December.

Your blog had really helped, it is positive yet realistic. I am leaning heavily on traveling to Lebanon this year.

I heard it is easy to do a day trip to Damascus from Beirut? Have you done this trip? If so, was it a good experience?

Hi Ivy. Great to hear that you’re planning to visit Lebanon. Keep your eye on the news, but if it stays like it is now, you’ll have a great time. Day trips to Damascus are easily arranged. I don’t like organised tours, so I haven’t done one. I’m still working on the visa now, but hope to visit Syria independently for a couple of weeks in the near future.

Thank you so much for all this great information. My husband & am planning to move to Jadra, Lebanon with in the next year and I am doing research now and came across your blog. Any information you can send me in a email would be much appreciated. I have never traveled outside the U.S. . We plan on visiting for 2 weeks before we actually move there.

Hey that’s awesome that you’re moving here to Lebanon. It’s a wonderful country. Jadra is an interesting choice of location though! Most of the relevant information is in the blog, but feel free to let me know if you have specific questions.

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Travel Guide to Beirut, Lebanon [with Sample Itinerary]

Read our Beirut travel guide to help you have an idea with your next journey to this wonderful capital in the country of Lebanon.

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Table of Contents

Beirut Travel Guide: Places to Visit in Beirut, Lebanon

1. national museum of beirut.

Suggested Tour:  Beirut: City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

2. Zaitunay Bay

3. Mim Museum – Mineral Museum

4. Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque

5. Pigeon Rocks in Raouche

6. American University of Beirut

7. Gemmayzeh Street

Gemmayzeh is another of Beirut’s nightlife districts, like restaurants after bars after cafes. It gets very lively, especially in the evening. If you’re looking for something to have fun, this is the place you should go to.

8. Beirut Souks

9. Hamra Street

If you want to “immerse” yourself in Beirut, you should not miss the highly lively Hamra street. There are lots of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, people, and cars. Might probably the “real Beirut”. Anyone who wants to shop will find all possible shoe and textile shops here. You can spend an hour just wandering around this street.

10. Corniche Beirut

Beirut Travel Guide: Sample Weekend Itinerary to Beirut, Lebanon

Day 1 – weekend guide to beirut, lebanon.

Mim Museum – Mineral Museum American University of Beirut Zaitunay Bay

Day 2 – Weekend Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

National Museum of Beirut Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque Hamra Street Corniche Beirut Pigeon Rocks in Raouche

Day 3 – Weekend Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Souks Gemmayzeh Street

Beirut Travel Guide: Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon

*All prices are subject to change.

Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon if you’re a Backpacker

Napoleon Hotel

Napoleon Hotel’s luxurious rooms are all air-conditioned and equipped with cable TV and a fully stocked minibar. The marble bathrooms feature sunken tubs, separate showers, and hairdryers. Guests can enjoy cocktails to the tunes of a string quartet at the piano bar.

Price: Starts at $30 per night for Standard Double or Twin Room, add $3 for taxes and charges, $12 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Talal Hotel

Price: Starts at $14 per night for Standard Double or Twin Room, includes taxes and charges, free breakfast, and it offers a free cancellation. Breakfast at Talal Hotel can be enjoyed in the lounge with its sofas and bright wall painting.

Price: Starts at $37 per night for Budget Double Room with Shared Bathroom, add $4 for taxes and charges, and it’s partially refundable.

Alaamira Furnished Apartments

Alaamira offers fully furnished studios and apartments with 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms and living rooms. All units have ACs, flat-screen TV, and a small kitchen equipped with a fridge, stovetop. Some units include a balcony.

Price: Starts at $43 per night for One-Bedroom Apartment, add $4 for taxes and charges, $5 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon if you’re on a Budget

Viccini Suites

Viccini Suites offers self-catering apartments with a kitchenette and private balcony. The air-conditioned apartments at Viccini come with free Wi-Fi and a seating area with LCD TV. The apartments have marble floors and are decorated in light colors.

Price: Starts at $50 per night for Exclusive Suite, includes taxes and charges, and it offers a free cancellation.

Mar Mikhael Heritage Apts

Mar Mikhael Vintage Apts features accommodation with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, and a kitchen. Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is 9 km away.

Price: Starts at $50 per night for Apartment-Split Level, includes taxes and charges, and it offers a free cancellation.

Silver Apartments

Silver Apartments is a self-catering accommodation. Wi-Fi access is available at an added fee. Accommodation will provide you with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a balcony. Rafic Hariri Airport is 15 minutes by car.

Price: Starts at $55 per night for One-Bedroom Apartment, add $6 for taxes and charges, and it offers a free cancellation.

Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon if you want Luxury

Mövenpick Hotel Beirut

This luxurious resort in Beirut’s center features 4 indoor and outdoor pools , 5 restaurants, and an expansive spa. Free Wi-Fi is available. The bright guest rooms at the Mövenpick Hotel Beirut have modern interior design. They include a flat-screen TV, a spacious seating area, and views of the sea, the city or the courtyard. A range of relaxation and recreational options are on offer at the Essential Spa & Health Club, including tennis courts, massage services, and a sauna.

Price: Starts at $255 per night for Classic King Room, add $28 for taxes and charges, $33 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Sofitel Beirut Le Gabriel

Sofitel Beirut Le Gabriel is a luxury full-service hotel with a range of upscale amenities tailored to suit business and leisure guests alike. The spacious rooms and suites come with modern furnishings. Each is fitted with cable TV, air conditioning, Bose sound system, minibar, and coffee machines. Free WiFi is available throughout. Guests can also relax in the indoor swimming pool, workout in the fitness center, and enjoy gourmet French and Lebanese cuisine.

Price: Starts at $350 per night for Junior Suite, add $39 for taxes and charges, $25 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Le Gray features a stylish design and a neon-lit, top-floor bar with 360-degree panoramas oversea, city, and mountains. All rooms have free Wi-Fi. This hotel houses spacious rooms featuring luxury fibers and soft hues. They all feature black-tiled bathrooms with a tub and luxury amenities. For a relaxing break from busy Beirut, Le Gray’s wellness center offers massages and beauty treatments. Indigo on the Roof Restaurant serves international cuisine with a Mediterranean twist and an impressive wine wall.

Price: Starts at $350 per night for Deluxe Double Room, add $39 for taxes and charges, $38 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Beirut Travel Guide: List of restaurants that you can try while in Beirut, Lebanon

1. Em Sherif Restaurant

Operating hours: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM / 8:30 PM – 12:00 AM (Sun-Sat)  Address:  Rue Victor Hugo, Beirut Lebanon

2. Ferdinand

Operating hours: 5:00 PM – 01:00 AM (Sun-Sat)  Address:  Mahatma Gandhi Street Hamra, Beirut Lebanon

3. Babel Bay

Operating hours: 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Sun-Sat)  Address:  Zaitunay Bay, Minet El Hoson, Beirut Lebanon

4. Appetito Trattoria

Address:  Hamra Mahatma Gandhi Street Hamra, Beyrouth, Beirut 1103 Lebanon

5. Abd El Wahab

Address:  Abdel Wahab El Inglizi Ashrafieh, Beirut Lebanon

And that’s our Beirut travel guide for you! We hope we’re able to give you enough insights about this city. Have you been here? Or are you planning to go here? Share with us your experience!

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ASIA , BEIRUT , LEBANON · August 15, 2019 Last Updated on March 13, 2024

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO VISITING BEIRUT, LEBANON

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link.

Packed with fascinating history, awesome natural wonders and a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene, Beirut is quickly starting to gain popularity among travellers who prefer adventure and luxury without the hordes of tourists.

Everyone I have talked to who has visited Beirut has quickly fallen in love with it. The largely progressive city is nothing like its middle eastern neighbours. Beirut is a unique place where you can find a nightclub next to a mosque, a bombed-out building next to a Chanel boutique, a place where Christianity and Islam sit together side by side and share a bowl of hummus.

Due to its past conflict, Lebanon is still feared by many as being unsafe, so a lot of travellers would not consider the country as a holiday destination. This means it has retained a strong sense of authenticity and creates a spectacular atmosphere for those who do choose to venture there.

I ended up going back to Lebanon twice (once was not enough) and had to share a few of my favourite features from this small but dynamic country. Discover your guide to this secret gem of a destination and get to Beirut before everyone else does!

WHERE TO STAY IN BEIRUT

Luxury hotels.

On my first trip to Lebanon, I stayed at the opulent and historic Hotel Albergo . A hot spot for the wealthy Lebanese and by far one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in.

Spending a night or two here in their luxuriously decorated rooms will have you feeling like a Persian princess. Every detail of their hotel is meticulously thought out right down to the dried rose petals for you to throw in your bath while you soak.

Breakfast on their rooftop terrace is a must and I would highly recommend a sunset alfresco dinner in the same spot for a romantic evening under the stars while the call to prayer tings out over the city. The concierge will also be happy to help you with any further information you need about the city.

Other well reviewed luxury options in Beirut include:

• Four Seasons Hotel Beirut
• InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut
• Louis V Hotel Beirut

On my second trip back to Lebanon I was doing some work for an NGO and needed somewhere a little more down to earth. There are not a lot of hostels in Beirut, which was why I was super lucky to grab a few nights at Beirut Hostel .

Famous among backpackers in Beirut, this is not a party hostel but has a welcoming and inclusive vibe, helped by its beautiful communal outdoor seating areas. A great safe space for solo travellers and groups alike, they also give the proceeds of the hostel to an NGO helping refugees in Lebanon.

There is no shortage of stunning, internationally owned, luxury chain hotels in the city, however, I prefer to go local whenever possible and I’m so glad that I did after finding these unique gems! Make sure you book in advance to secure your room in these popular places.

Subscribe to get our FREE eBook with tips on saving money when you travel!

WHERE TO EAT IN BEIRUT

The late and great Anthony Bourdain was a huge fan of Beirut , so much so it even gained the title as one of his favourite “douche free destinations”, and it’s not hard to see why. Food is humble, with a homemade feeling, simple but utterly delicious. It’s no wonder that such a small country has such a large reputation for delicious food, and these restaurants will let you enjoy the best of the cuisine.

EM SHERIF RESTAURANT

Em Sherif Restaurant  was undoubtedly the best meal I had while in Lebanon. The service is impeccable, the decor is opulent and the food was drool-worthy. We let the waiter choose a selection of food for us as we were having trouble deciding and we were not disappointed! A must-visit for a special night out!

Babel  is located on the waterfront this is a great spot for those who love seafood and a bustling atmosphere. With both indoor and outdoor seating it’s the perfect place to soak in the vibe of Beirut while enjoying delicious mouth-watering food.

AL HAMRA STREET

Al Hamra Street  is a great place for a more local, street food atmosphere check out El Hamra street. This lively street is packed with cool dive bars, English style pubs and of course delicious street food (falafel heaven). It’s also a great area to go out at night and meet the friendly locals.

WHAT TO DO IN BEIRUT

Sursock museum.

The Sursock Museum is not only houses but some beautiful exhibitions and artworks but is a stunning work of architecture itself. Even better is that it’s free!

My favourite part of the museum was a section detailing the trips of the early European explorers to come to the middle east including some beautiful photos of Lebanon in the late 1800s. After making your way through the museum it’s worth having a drink at their sunny outdoor café in the courtyard.

JEITA GROTTO

Jeita Grotto is one of the most memorable experiences I have had when it comes to natural world phenomena. Entering these caves is like entering a whole new underground world that looks like something out of a David Bowie, Labyrinth fairy tale.

Stalactites and stalagmites surround you to create the most otherworldly atmosphere that leaves most people speechless. You are not allowed to take photos inside and you will be asked to leave your camera at the entrance, so just be in the moment and enjoy the wonder!

BAALBEK TEMPLES

Forget Rome or Greece. For the most jaw-dropping incredible ruins, the Baalbek Temples are where it’s at!

Baalbek is an ancient Phoenecian city 85 km from Beirut which dates back as early as 3 rd century B.C. The UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the largest noble Roman and temples ever built which are among the best preserved in the world with breath-taking detail and 20 metre high columns still intact.

And what’s possibly even more incredible is that fact that you will highly likely have this place all to yourselves! You will need to hire a driver or join a tour to get out there and due to its proximity to the Syrian conflict, it may not always be possible to go. But if you can, do not miss it!

HELABI BOOKSHOP

Helabi bookshop  is a 70-year-old bookshop located near the Palestinian refugee compound has become an institution in Beirut. Packed with books from floor to ceiling you will want to stay in the cosy atmosphere and chat to its owner Abdallah forever. He’s normally happy to meet people all over will probably offer you a cup of coffee and a chat.

CHATEAU KSARA

If you’re keen on trying some Lebanese wine then Chateau Ksara is a great stop on your way to the Temples of Baalbek. The Ksara winery offers guided tours of its huge underground roman caves followed by a tasting.

Ksara has been making wine consistently since 1857 and is the country’s oldest winery. I personally wasn’t a big fan of the wine itself, but the experience is the perfect little pick me up for your drive.

WALK AROUND THE CITY

Beirut has got to be one of the most interesting cities to just wander around in. The mix of modern building and post-war ruins mixed with street art and funky shops means you can keep exploring forever. In the summer bougainvillaea flourishes in the city, making for some very Instagram worthy moments!

HOW TO GET AROUND

Taxis are aplenty and easily found in Beirut. You can choose from a shared taxi called “service” where the cost is divided among the passengers or a private taxi. Let the driver know which you would like when getting in the taxi. A taxi around anywhere in the city should not cost you more than 10,000 LBP (~$7 USD).

PRIVATE DRIVER

On my first trip to Beirut, we hired a private driver for a few days. It was a great way to see the country in comfort with the added bonus of having an experienced and knowledgeable local who was also able to act as our guide. If you’re looking for a relaxed holiday, I would highly recommend this.

OUTSIDE OF BEIRUT: BYBLOS

If you want somewhere even more relaxed than Beirut, then Byblos is the perfect seaside escape. This small but historic UNESCO town houses a range of great bars and restaurants in the most photogenic surroundings. Make sure you grab lunch at Chez Pepe’s restaurant , an institution in Byblos famous for its mouth-watering fresh food and beautiful port views.

You may decide you want to stay in this ancient beautiful town for a couple of nights and I wouldn’t blame you. There are a few great little hotels including Chez Pepe’s which offers accommodation next door to its restaurant, so you don’t have to wander far for lunch. Other well reviewed hotels in Byblos include:

• Aleph Boutique Hotel
• Monoberge Hotel
• Byblostar Hotel

If you do have an extra day there make sure you also take the time to check out the stunning  Crusader Castle  and harrowing  Armenian Memorial Museum .

Lebanon was one of the most underrated countries I have ever been to, and if it’s not on your bucket list, it should be! If you’re into exploring places before they become too cool, I would be booking my ticket as soon as possible. The history, architecture, culture, and (more importantly) food in Beirut awaits you!

We hope that this article has helped inspire you to visit Beruit, Lebanon. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Go to our Contribute page for guidelines and to submit your article.

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Read More About The Middle East

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• Things To Do In Oman

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Florian says

December 3, 2019 at 1:41 am

I am planning a trip to the middle east and our main stations will be Dubai, Riyadh and Beirut!

Do you have a recommendation for us for how long to stay in each city or where it is from your point of view most exciting and beautiful? Sadly, we have only 1,5 weeks for our whole journey!

Kind regards, Florian

Adriana Covate says

January 2, 2020 at 11:23 am

Hi there. Can you provide me with your private driver’s information? Any additional details around cost and where they took you would be great. Thanks!

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Lebanon travel guide: a 2-week itinerary

By Joan Torres 58 Comments Last updated on April 5, 2024

This is a compelling travel guide to Lebanon that shows how to visit the Levantine country during the crisis, including where to exchange in the black market. It also includes things to do, how to move around, where to stay and more.

Despite its tiny size, Lebanon is the most diverse country in the Middle East, a nation that chaotically combines both Arab and European Mediterranean culture, with their love for good wine and the most exquisite food in the region, without never losing their Arab essence.

Lebanon, however, is not in their brightest moment.

A deep economical crisis fuelled by the port explosion and also COVID-19 has left an impoverished country with terrible inflation, and an absolutely desperate population.

As a traveler, Lebanon has changed a lot, the crisis is particularly palpable but that should not stop you from visiting such an alluring country, which is also desperate for foreign currency .

This guide contains travel tips for Lebanon, as well as a complete itinerary.

In this Lebanon travel guide:

Table of Contents

• COVID-19 restrictions
• Traveling during the crisis
• Power shortages
• Useful books
• Travel insurance
• Moving around
• Day 1,2,3 – Beirut
• Day 4 – Byblos
• Day 5 – Zahlé
• Day 6 – Baalbek  
• Day 7, 8 – Tripoli
• Day 9, 10 – Kadisha Valley
• Day 11 – Sayda & Mleeta
• Day 12 – Tyr
• Day 13 – Go off-beat – Lebanese-Israeli separation wall
• More Information

😷 COVID-19 Travel restrictions for Lebanon

In October 2022, Lebanon lifted all its COVID restrictions.

🪪 Visa for traveling to Lebanon

Most nationalities can get a free 30-day visa on arrival at the airport in Beiru t , which is extendable for 2 additional months.

You just get an easy, friendly stamp, that’s it, and it’s valid for multiple entries.

💻 Internet and connectivity in Lebanon

Wi-Fi connection has improved over the last few years, but it’s still not the best, it tends to fail in most budget hotels, and that’s why I recommend buying a SIM Card.

One company I used was Alfa , their internet packages costing the equivalent of around 20USD.

Get a VPN for traveling in Lebanon

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Lebanon. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

Read: A travel guide to Palestine

💰 How to travel in Lebanon during the crisis

As mentioned, Lebanon is immersed in a hugely deep financial crisis, and below are the things that might affect you as a traveler.

1 – Need to know about money in Lebanon during the crisis

In Lebanon, the official currency is the Lebanese Pound (LBP) .

The official exchange rate versus US $ is 1 USD equals 1500LBP .

That’s the official (and old) bank rate. However, because of the crisis, the official rate in the black market is today:

1 USD = 27,000 LPB

The Lebanese pound has devalued more than 15 times its original value in just a few years, it’s absolutely crazy.

Lebanon travel tip – I recommend you download Lira Exchange on your smartphone, an app that gives you the current black market exchange rate.

However, for some reason, Lebanese banks like to keep the old rate.

This means that you should never ever use your credit card in Lebanon, never pay by card, and never withdraw from an ATM, never ever because you’ll get the old rate.

Lebanon is today a cash economy, bring all your money in cash, don’t use your credit card. In the hypothetical case you run out of money, ask someone to send you cash via Western Union or similar, but never without your debit card.

How to exchange money in the black market of Lebanon

They call it black market but basically, the black market for exchanging money in Lebanon is anywhere, including the official money exchange offices which can be found everywhere, especially along Hamra Street in Beirut.

Which currencies do they accept?

You can exchange Euros (€), US dollars, or British Pounds, among others.

If the Lebanese Pound has devalued more than 15 times, does that mean that everything is 15 times cheaper?

No. The currency devaluation has brought massive inflation too.

For example, before the crisis, a bottle of beer in a supermarket used to cost 1,500LBP. Today, you can buy it for 15,000LBP.

2 – Need to know about power shortages in Lebanon

One of the biggest consequences of this unfortunate crisis for the Lebanese people is their shortage of electricity. When you travel in Lebanon, you’ll see that power cuts occur very often, every day.

As a traveler, if you only stay in fancy hotels and eat in top-end restaurants, the power cuts won’t really bother you, since pretty much all use powerful generators.

However, in cheaper hotels, as well as outside of Beirut, power cuts occur pretty often.

By the way, one top travel tip for Lebanon is not to order meat from certain cheap restaurants, since their fridge might not be always on due to the power cuts.

3 – Is it safe to travel to Lebanon during the economical crisis?

Lebanon has never come without its own issues but this has always been one of the safest countries in the Middle East , a country home to a huge cultural and religious diversity, where there’s never been a place for extremists.

In the last couple of years, however, since the unfortunate crisis started, many travelers are questioning the country’s safety, claiming that traveling to Lebanon isn’t safe anymore, but I strongly disagree.

Crime has always been pretty insignificant in Lebanon and, despite that many Lebanese are in urgent need of cash, it still remains low, and there are no travel reports telling otherwise.

Public demonstrations

Since the crisis started, the only place or moment of potential violence has been during the street protests. If you bump into a public demonstration, it’s recommended to stay away from it.

Moreover, one of the most tangible legacies of the Lebanese Civil War , is that many people in Lebanon have guns at their homes, and many still like to carry them outside of their respective houses.

Once, I took a shared taxi in Beirut , from Hamra to Burj Hamood, and one of the passengers was carrying a gun, yet, nobody seemed to care about it.

This is the reason why in most public demonstrations, some demonstrators have guns, and they tend to like shooting into the sky. Being around those people is, obviously, dangerous.

🛫 How to get to Lebanon

How to travel to lebanon by air.

The national airline in Lebanon is Middle East Airlines (MEA) , which has several connections across Europe and the Middle East.

Moreover, you can also fly to Beirut International Airport from Paris (Air France), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Barcelona (Vueling), Istanbul (Turkish and Pegasus) and pretty much any country in the Middle East .

How to travel to Lebanon by land

Lebanon shares a border with Israel and Syria.

• Traveling to Lebanon from Israel: The border with Israel has always been closed, not possible to cross it.
• Traveling to Lebanon from Syria: It’s fully open and very easy to cross. We use it all the time for our group expeditions .

For more information, read my Syria travel guide .

How to travel to Lebanon by sea

Apparently, the ferry from Cyprus to the northern city of Tripoli isn’t running anymore but you can take a ferry from Tasucu, Port of Mersin (Turkey). However, there isn’t any reliable information online regarding departure timings so overlanders should just show up in Tasucu.

Travel reports are more than welcome 🙂

📚 Useful books for traveling in Lebanon

Lebanon travel guide by bradt.

This is the most up-to-date travel guide to Lebanon. I am a Bradt Guides fan because all their guides are extremely insightful, both from a local perspective and also, because they give plenty of tips for independent travelers which help you easily plan your itinerary for Lebanon.

Middle East Travel Guide by Lonely Planet

It has only one chapter about Lebanon but, at least, the information here is updated.

🚑 Travel insurance for visiting Lebanon

Lebanon is one of those countries where you must travel with insurance, as it is a wild place where people drive crazily.

I recommend IATI Insurance  because:

• Plans for all budgets.
• Covers all countries in the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq
• Full COVID coverage
• It covers senior citizens too
• Readers of this blog can get a 5% exclusive discount

🕌 The country: people & culture

For me, the highlight of traveling to Lebanon is by far, the Lebanese people.

However, I am not talking about their kindness and hospitality – since that would be falling into the classical cliché one can say about any country in the Middle East – but I am talking about the cultural diversity.

There’s no other country – at least that I am aware of – where there can be so many groups of people living in such a tiny space.

Shia, Sunni, Catholics, Orthodox and Druze, but also Armenians, Palestinians, and Syrians.

From Hezbollah areas to Christian districts inhabited by European-like people and Sunni women wearing the niqab , the cultural mix in Lebanon is so chaotically mixed that it can’t be defined as a whole, and that’s what Lebanon is about.

Which language do they speak in Lebanon?

The official language in Lebanon is Arabic.

English is widely spoken in Beirut among well-educated Lebanese, especially in the districts of Hamra and Gemmazyeh.

Outside of Beirut, English is less spoken.

French is also spoken among a tiny part of the Lebanese population.

🍲 Food in Lebanon

Lebanese food is a Mediterranean cuisine with influences from both the Middle East and the French colonial era and, as in Spain, Italy or Greece, olive oil is the base of any dish.

Typically, most restaurants serve mezza , an array of small dishes similar to the Spanish tapas, which includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

From the classic  hummus,   kibbeh (a local steak tartar), kebabs and   syadye  (rice, fish, and almonds in a gravy sauce) to a tasty olive oil of the standard of any southern European country and a strong wine culture, Beirut is home to the best food in the entire region.

Read: Iraqi Kurdistan travel guide

🛺 How to move around Lebanon

Remember to get travel insurance for Lebanon I strongly recommend IATI Insurance as it has COVID-19 coverage + 5% discount Get your 5% discount if purchasing via this link

Everything in Lebanon can be reached in less than 2 or 3 hours.

Except for the northern mountains, where you might need to stay overnight, if you wanted, you can visit the entire country on different day trips from Beirut .

However, in order to enjoy all the places to their fullest, I really recommend spending some nights outside of the capital.

Traveling around Lebanon by public transportation

Lebanon is a very easy country to move around.

There are public buses and mini-vans going to almost every corner in the country from Beirut, where there are 2 main stations named Charles Helou and Cola Station . Charles Helou is ideal for traveling to the north, whereas Cola is to the South.

For more information about these 2 stations, check my Beirut Travel Guide and for more details about how to reach each city in Lebanon, check the Itinerary Section on this post .

Travel around Lebanon by taxi

If you can share the costs with other travelers, traveling by taxi around Lebanon is relatively cheap and pretty convenient, since most places can be reached from Beirut on a day trip.

One easy option would be calling an Uber, but I recommend getting in touch with a local taxi company. One I tried is located in Hamra street . They have fixed rates for going anywhere in Beirut.

Self-driving in Lebanon

You can also rent a car, no problem.

Just be aware, however, that the driving in Lebanon is pretty insane, but definitely not more than in Saudi Arabia , Iraq and any other country in the Middle East .

As per rental car companies, some travelers recommend a local company named Mike Rent a Car , but Hertz or Europcar are also available.

📍 Lebanon travel guide: a 2-week itinerary

Here you will find the best itinerary for Lebanon.

It might be a bit challenging to include all of these places in just 2 weeks but, if you plan ahead, it is totally feasible.

Day 1, 2 – Beirut – The most liberal city in the Middle East

What can I say about Beirut that I haven’t said already?

The Lebanese capital is the most westernized and liberal city in the Middle East (outside of Israel), only comparable to Tehran and a city full of contrasts and owner of deep and interesting history.

Beirut is composed of several neighborhoods, each one with its own subculture, so different from each other that, when you are wandering around them, it looks like you are in a different city, from the hipster neighborhood of Gemmazyeh to Hezbollah areas, Armenian, Christian, refugee camps and fancy districts with the most glamorous stores and the best restaurants in the region.

For more information about Beirut, read my article: A travel guide to Beirut

Where to stay in Beirut

Budget Hotel –   Embassy Hotel  – This is the cheapest hotel in town. The rooms are getting quite old but, at this price, you won’t find anywhere better. The location is great, however, in Hamra, a very cool area to hang out.

Backpacker Hostel –   Hamra Urban Gardens – Located in the main Hamra Street. It offers both suite and dorm rooms with a seasonal outdoor pool and bar.

Mid-range Hotel –  O Monot Boutique – Strategically located at the heart of Beirut, this property was highly recommended by many because of their amazing facilities especially their rooftop bar with a panoramic view of Beirut.

Top-end Hotel –  Radisson Blu Hotel – If you are looking for a comfortable place which has a delightful design, a good restaurant and other various facilities, this 5-star hotel is a perfect choice. Located in Dunes shopping center and 5-minute walk away from the beach.

Day 3 – Byblos – The native home of the modern alphabet

With 8,000 years of history, Byblos is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and the place where the first inscriptions containing the modern western alphabet were found.

Byblos derives from the Greek word bublos , meaning papyrus , as the town was the stopping place for the Phoenicians who shipped papyrus from Egypt .

Besides a super interesting museum that explains the history of the creation of the alphabet, in Byblos you can also visit a crusader castle from the XII century, built by the Franks, a restored souq, a beautiful Mediterranean harbor full of restaurants, where you can eat seafood feasts, and some archeological sites containing mainly Roman ruins but also from many other civilizations, from the Neolithic settlements 8,000 years ago to Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek and Ottoman.

Book a tour to Byblos from Beirut It also includes Jeita & Harissa CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

How to get to Byblos from Beirut

Byblos is around 50km from Beirut. Buses depart from Charles Helou station.

Where to stay in Byblos

Byblos can be reached on a day trip from Beirut but, in case you wanna stay here, here’s a few options:

Budget Hotel – Sea Valley – The cheapest hotel in Byblos is a very decent aparthotel. 

Mid-range hotel – L’Hotel de mon pere – With stunning panoramic sea views and really awesome breakfast, this super pretty modern hotel serves the best quality in Byblos, at the lowest price. It is really close to the beach and even closer to the Old City of Byblos, so you can’t ask for more!

Top-end hotel – Byblos Sur Mer – This boutique hotel is at the most privileged location in the whole of Byblos, next to the ruins, on the seaside and at the heart of where the exquisite social life in Byblos is, which consists of eating at the seafood fancy restaurants that compose the harbor.

Day 4 – Zahlé – The face of Lebanon you didn’t know about

What I loved about Zahlé was that, even though it is a Lebanese city located in the heart of the Bekaa Valley, it is more similar to the villages of Mediterranean Europe than to Lebanon itself, as this city, with a Christian majority, is famous for its wineries and for its restaurants, serving the best mezza in the whole country.

In Zahlé, you can’t miss Berdawini , located just outside of the city, a green area with a river flowing, plenty of high-quality restaurants, slightly pricey for my taste but delicious.

When I went there, it was not only full of Lebanese people from the middle-upper class but also, there were plenty of Western diplomats escaping from Beirut for the weekend.

I also recommend you go to Ksara Winery , the oldest and most famous winery in the whole country.

I always prefer visiting small, traditional wineries, rather than big corporations (check my Kakheti travel guide ) but I have to admit that the wine I tasted here was excellent. Their tour was OK but there wasn’t any need to book it in advance.

Book a wine tour from Beirut which includes 3 different wineries in the Beqaa Valley CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

How to get to Zahlé from Beirut

Zahlé is on the way to Baalbek, so you should first take a bus to a town named Chtoura. From there, you can get on a second bus to Zahlé.

I got it at Cola Station but there may be a direct bus from Charles Helou station.

Where to stay in Zahlé

There is no cheap accommodation in Zahlé: the most budget accommodation starts at 70USD, so if you are on a budget, you should spend the night in Baalbek or go back to Beirut.

Mid-range Apartment Hotel – Berdawni Apartments – This apartment-hotel is nothing outstanding but it really fulfills its function, with very comfy beds and the best location, right next to Berdwani river, the highlight in town. It is a good value money for money option and, in any case, you won’t find anything cheaper!

Top-end Hotel – La Place Hotel – Located in the old part of town, people love this hotel because it manages to combine the old and traditional with very modern facilities and exquisite decoration. The breakfast is great and they have the purest and kindest Middle Eastern service.

Day 5 – Baalbek – The most impressive and off-the-beaten-track Roman ruins

Lebanon travel tip – Pay the entrance ticket in Lebanese Pounds (LBP), not in USD, since they will give you the official bank rate, meaning that you’ll pay no more than 1 dollar to enter the site. Before the crisis, the entrance fee was $15

Visiting Baalbek is one of the best things to do in Lebanon, a city that has some impressive Roman ruins, built on a giant scale and often considered the most important in the Middle East and, controversially, one of the least visited off-the-beaten track Roman ruins in the world, even lesser visited than Palmyra in Syria , which used to receive hundreds of thousands of visitors before the war.

The temple of Jupiter and the temple of Bacchus are the buildings that dominate this stunning architectural masterpiece.

Seriously, these Roman ruins are just outstanding and, when I went there, I had the ruins completely to myself.

Book a tour to Baalbek from Beirut the easiest way to visit the site with no hassle CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

How to get to Baalbek from Beirut 

Baalbek is 90km from Beirut.

From Cola Station, there are buses going to Chtoura, situated half-way, a town from where you should take a second bus to Baalbek.

Where to stay in Baalbek

Even though you can visit Baalbek on a day trip, I strongly recommend spending one night there to see the ruins at sunset time.

Budget Hotel  – Jammal Hotel – This is the most budget hotel in Baalbek but you can’t book it online. It is OK for 1 night. 

Mid-Range Hotel  –  Palmyra Hotel  – This is, perhaps, the most famous hotel in the country and the reason is that it has never been closed since it was opened in 1874. it has hosted famous people such as Nina Simeone and the President of France It is also located next to the Roman ruins. I personally think the hotel is absolutely overpriced, since there hasn’t been any renovation for decades.

Day 6 – Tripoli – The most traditional Lebanese city

Tripoli is the second biggest Lebanese city, a city that would probably fit in what you think are the Lebanese standards, with its beautiful old souq of spices, ancient medieval architecture, and a citadel from where you get fantastic views of the city.

In Tripoli, a city famous for its sweets, live the Lebanese people who have the famous Arabic hospitality, as it’s impossible to be wandering the streets, kind of lost, without several locals offering you their help.

This is a city to get lost in around its narrow alleys and an old city belonging to the XIV century.

Furthermore, you can’t miss the fortress of Raymond de Saint Gilles, built in the XI century and the lovely neighborhood around the harbor.

By the way, you probably heard that the U.S. Embassy describes Tripoli as a dangerous city to travel to. Why is that so? Since the Civil War, there have been one-off clashes between Sunni and Alawi Muslims who reside in the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jebel Mohsen, respectively. Throughout the years, these clashes have killed several people.

This is a one-off conflict happening in a specific area, far away from the city center. It’s a fight between two small districts and doesn’t go beyond.

The rest of the city is totally cool and safe. However, since I’m an extremely curious human being, I also went to Jebel Mohsen . And what can I say? Life there was merely normal. Again, clashes and bombings happen once a year, not more.

How to get to Tripoli from Beirut

Located 80km, there are buses leaving from Cola Station continuously, as well from Charles Helou.

Where to stay in Tripoli

There are very few options in Tripoli but these would be the most popular:

Budget Guest House –  Haddad Hotel– The facilities and rooms are very old but the staff is a lovely family that will give you a very charming welcome and a great, traditional breakfast. With an awesome location, close to the old city, this is the best place for budget travelers and backpackers. Online booking not available. 

Mid-range Hotel – Via Mina Hotel – Being the top rated hotel in Tripoli, Via Mina has a kind of rustic style but with very modern facilities at the same time. It is located right in front of the sea, has a great pool and the staff will bless you with great hospitality.

Day 9, 10 – Kadisha Valley – Lovely Christian mountain villages

If you either want just to relax, eat good food, visit beautiful Christian monasteries or to go hiking, the Kadisha Valley in Lebanon will always be the perfect place for you.

Kadisha means ”holy” and owes this name to the fact that this valley is home to some of the most ancient communities of monastic Christians  in the Middle East.

In case you don’t know, monasticism is a way of life for which the person (in this case Christian monks) renounces everything to devote himself completely to spiritual work.

The valley is full of natural caves, difficult to access, that once served as places of isolation for the monks living lives devoted to Christ.

How to get to Kadisha from Tripoli (or Beirut)

If you come from Beirut, you will have to go to Tripoli first.

Once in Tripoli, there are buses leaving from 9am to a small village named Bsharri, which is a great base to explore the rest of the valley. For coming back, the last one is at 4:30pm.

Where to stay in Kadisha Valley (Bsharri)

Kadisha is one of those places where you really should spend one night at least, especially if you come by public transportation. Otherwise, you will just have 1 hour to explore it entirely.

Budget Guest House – Tiger Guest House – This is an ideal place for budget backpackers and, basically, the only cheap accommodation in town. Everything is very simple but the family is lovely and very helpful.

Mid-range Hotel – Bauhaus Chalets Apartment – Breathtaking views, a very accommodating owner, and pretty modern facilities, this hotel is pretty good, given the low range offer in Bsharri.

Day 11 – Sayda and Mleeta – Hezbollah territory

Sayda is a small city located 40km from Beirut. Slightly conservative, Sayda is a nice place to visit on a day trip, wandering around its labyrinthine, covered souq, full of cafés where the Lebanese are sitting outside, looking with expectation at the few foreigners that pass by.

Perhaps, the most iconic building in the city is the castle, built in the XII century, located on a tiny island just 80m from the shore, whose walls turn into a beautiful orange during the sunset.

Mleeta, the Museum of Hezbollah

A fantastic day trip from either Beirut or Sayda is visiting the Mleeta Museum, aka the Hezbollah Resistance Museum .

Hezbollah is a Shia militia and armed group created in Lebanon during the war against Israel.

They don’t like to be called militia, however, but they consider themselves a resistance organization against a common enemy named Israel.

The area around Mleeta was their headquarters and stronghold during the war and today, they have built an amazing museum where you can visit the underground tunnels they used to hide in, as well as some captured Israeli tanks and artillery.

The museum only costs a few $ and it includes a guided tour with a member of the militia.

While it’s true that his explanations are pure propaganda, the guides are open to absolutely any question, and they are actually very pleasant people. A must-see.

How to get to Sayda from Beirut 

To get to the south of Lebanon, Cola Station is the best and only option.

Where to stay in Sayda

Sayda isn’t famous for its accommodation. To be honest, I didn’t stay here but came on a day trip from Beirut. In any case, if you plan to stay here, these are the most feasible options:

Budget / Mid-range Hotel – Yacoub Hotel – A very old hotel from 1920, Yacoub is located very close to the old city and the beach, the main city’s tourist attractions. However, many people have complained about cleanliness, especially because it is not a cheap hotel for what you get.

Mid-range Hotel – Al Qualaa Boutique Hotel – This boutique hotel isn’t bad but, for what you pay, the experience should be way better. The location is unbeatable, next to Sayda Old Fort and, overall, it is in a very cute building and the breakfast is just great. However, people complain about small details, like power cuts, the shower was not working and a large etcetera.

Day 12 – Tyre – Your beach destination in Lebanon

The most southern city in Lebanon, Tyre brags about being the place where you find the best beaches in the country.

In summer, every day, tons of Lebanese come from Beirut to spend the day and chill at its beaches and eat awesome seafood at the many restaurants that are found around the harbor.

In Tyre, you also find a castle, Roman ruins, a corniche, and a beautiful and colorful harbor, full of seafood restaurants.

How to get to Tyre from Beirut

Tyre is 90 kilometers from Beirut and buses leave from Cola Station.

However, you should first take a bus to Sayda and, from there, take the second one to Tyre.

Where to stay in Tyre

In Tyre, accommodation is super expensive. I didn’t stay there but, if you are a beach lover and you can afford it, this is the most popular hotel:

Mid-range Hotel – Asamina Boutique Hotel – Tastefully furnished and with really cozy rooms and comfortable beds and located in the old city, very close to the sea, this is one of the best boutique hotels in the country. They serve an amazing traditional breakfast, with really fresh products and the staff are just extremely accommodating. I think this is the best option in Tyre, better than any of the other resorts, which kind of lack of personality and authenticity.

Day 13 – Go off-beat – The wall that separates Lebanon from Israel

Both Lebanon and Israel have been in continuous war for several decades and, today, diplomatic relations between both countries don’t exist, since they still consider each other to be enemies. This is one of the most sensitive borders in the world.

These two Middle Eastern countries share a 79-kilometer border. For the most part, it is unreachable, as it’s located too far from the road. But I was told that there’s one area where you can actually get close to it. I liked the idea pretty much, so I decided to go there.

Visiting it is an adventure, as the whole area is full of military facilities and soldiers from the United Nations, who are guarding the border.

You need to be very cautious when visiting it. I was there by myself, with a camera, and I got arrested. If you wanna read my full story, check out this article: The day I was accused of being an Islamic State spy .

Please note that this is a Hezbollah area, which means that a permit is required . It’s very easy to obtain and you can get it at the police station in the city of Sayda.

They give it to you instantly but remember that a permit makes you eligible to enter the area and it doesn’t mean that you can take pictures or walk freely along the wall.

How to get to the Wall from Beirut

Be aware that it is not recommended to get there by public transportation, as you will trigger the suspicion of the Hezbollah Army.

It is not about walking around the wall but just that tourists never go there, so seeing a dude wandering there by himself is kind of weird, according to their eyes.

As I said, I got arrested when I was there but, in part, it was because I had a camera hanging from my shoulder.

Going there on your is your own responsibility but, if you decide to go, here’s how to get there by public transportation.

From Beirut, go to Cola Station and take a bus to Sayda. From Sayda, take a bus to Nabatiyeh. In Nabatiyeh, you need to take a shared taxi towards Kfarkela. You have to drop off as soon as you see the wall. Please note that you may have to wait for over an hour for the taxi to be completely full.

❗ More information to complement your Lebanon itinerary

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Lebanon destination

• Beirut Travel Guide
• Solo Female Travel Guide in Lebanon
• The day I was accused of being an Islamic State spy
• Is Lebanon Safe

Travel guides to other countries in the Middle East

• Iran Travel Guide
• Iraq Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Oman
• Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia
• Syria Travel Guide
• Palestine Travel Guide
• Yemen Travel Guide

You will also be interested in: Where in the Middle East is safe? and The most beautiful places in the Middle East .

58 comments

Wow, Lebanon looks beautiful! I like the mix of elements it seems to have based on your photos. I’ve always been a fan of the food too 😉

Hey Shannon, thanks for your comment. It’s a very underrated country and, the mix of elements you say, is what makes the country great ;9 ª

I am Lebanese!!! And i’m so happy you enjoyed your trip to Lebanon

Really? That’s awesome! It’s one of my favorite countries 🙂 !

I’m so glad I just stumbled on your blog. I am a Syrian/Lebanese American traveling to Lebanon for the first time in a few days. I have family in a village east of Tripoli named Aalma, I have yet to locate them but I do know that is where my family came from before migrating to the US. I will be spending a week traveling across Lebanon, a journey I have dreamt of for a long time coming.

Not to keep you for too long but I wanted to thank you for shedding light on Lebanon. A country which is mistakenly given a bad reputation due to strict travel warnings from my government.

Hey man! That’s amazing that you are going on a trip to Lebanon to know more about where your family comes from. Are you going to stay with some relatives? Please, do let me know if I can help you with anything. Cheers,

Hey, do you think I can show up at the cheap hotels in Tripoli and Baalbek and there will be a room available? By the way when you speak about Zahlé you say it’s called Berdawini but it’s Berdawni.

Hard to say, man. I went during low season and one of the hotels in Baalbek was fully booked… If there’s the option, I would book in advance!

Wanting to travel to Lebanon do many people speak English? Do I need a guide? If so what’s the charge. And where is the airport? Close to what country

Hi Linda. Most educated people speak English. You don’t necessarily need a guide, it’s up to you. The airport is in Beirut.

Amazing Joan. What a special place.

Is it possible to arrive by boat from Cyprus? And how much is a visa?

Yes, it’s possible and visa is free

Hey i am planning a one week Lebanon. Is it possible to cover all the famous destinations within one week?

Hi, maybe you could cover Beirut, Baalbek, Byblos and Tripoli, yes, why not.

Can all these be done as day trips? The hotel in Tripoli is expensive.

hi, do you think having my wedding in LEBANON (BERUIT) is a good idea/

Sure, why not 🙂 ?

Hello there,

Your blog about Lebanon is really great ! My parents are lebanese and Im going there for the 1st time this summer. I really liked your itinerary. I was wondering if we needed a private driver to go from one place to another when we leave Beirut, since there isn’t really public transportations outside of Beirut. For example, I want to visit the cedars, and I would also like to go from byblos to Baalbek. Cheers!

Hello! There is public transportation all over the country, you don’t need to worry about anything. Only to the cedars, you may need to hire a taxi, including the taxi. In the article itself I give plenty of transportation tips, like how to get from each city to the other

Hey Joan Thanks for your blog! I enjoyed reading it. I’m going to Lebanon for eight days, so far I plan to stay in Beirut for three nights, nearby Chouwen lake for two nights and then to Byblos and/or Tripoli. Do you think I’m trying to cram too much in? I’d love to hear any thoughts you might have on that plan. Thanks

Hi Madeline, 8 days is good enough for what you want to visit and I think you can even visit both Byblos and Tripoli, spending 1 night in each.

we are looking for a great in -Lebanon travel organiser to essentially fix all elements of our trip for us. Maybe not the flight from the UK but everything else. 8-10 days. Can you recommend either the best local company for that or even one based here in the UK looking to come in either May or October.

Many thanks for this blog.

Hi Keith, I don’t know about any specific travel agency for Lebanon, sorry. I did everything independently

Fab information! Do you know if having a Lebanese stamp in your passport will stop you from entering any countries – and if so, which?

Thanks! Emily

Hey Emily, no, it won’t stop you from going anywhere. Please, refer to this for more information: https://againstthecompass.com/en/avoid-israeli-passport-stamp/

Hi there, I enjoyed reading your blog. We’re going to Lebanon from the UK for two weeks in October. We’re planning on spending a week in Beirut, and maybe three nights in Byblos and Batroun. Does this seem a good way to divide our time? Thanks!

Hi Ellbin, it’s all right, but try to save one day for going to Baalbek at least!

Hi Joan, Just a few questions as you seem pretty familiar with the middle east. Will it be an issue entering Israel with visas from Sudan, Kurdistan and Syria? Am planning a trip to cover Lebanon, Israel and Jordan early next year and am considering adding on Kurdistan or Syria. Any ideas on itineraries. Will have to do at least one flight from Kurdistan and also from Lebanon to Jordan if not crossing through Syria.

Hi Melody! I suggest you check out this post 🙂 https://againstthecompass.com/en/avoid-israeli-passport-stamp/

Hi! I just booked my tickets to go to Lebanon in September. I’ll stay there for 2 weeks! I’ll spend about one week in Beirut (visiting some places from there), and then I’ll explore the Q. Valley and do lots of hiking. Thanks SO much for this information, it’s been very helpful! I also love the Middle East. I’m getting ready to go to Israel (second time) with my kids :). We’ll spend more time in the North this time. Blessings!!!

Thank you, Laura, have a great time in Lebanon!

Hi Joan, I read your blog and a couple of others and booked a trip to Lebanon a couple of months ago and was really exited. However, I have just read that if you have the exit stamp into Jordan on your passport you won’t get passed border control (even when flying from the UK) in Beirut. We went to Israel and Jordan in 2018 so I have the entry, exist and “residence for one month” stamps in my passport. Do I need to cancel my trip? We are due to leave on Sunday so I’m not really concerned we won’t be able to go. Thanks, Alex

P.S. I have already read your blog “avoid Israeli stamp” but there was only one stamp on the passport photo in this blog. We have two which I assume is entry and exit as we left and then returned to Israel. Surely these would be the stamps you would get if you entered and exited the country from anywhere?

Where did you enter and exit from, via airport or by land?

Hi Alex, a Jordanian stamp is fine but you won’t get into Lebanon with an Israeli stamp. Just change your passport, report it lost or something, probably cheaper than cancelling your trip.

Hi, please advise if it is still safe to go to Tripoli, I supposed to meet my engaged and get married there next month…I will wait for him at Beirut airport and then go to tripoli….

Yes, Tripoli is very safe

I’ve been to Lebanon a year ago and agree with most of what is said, except for food and accommodation because I was hidted by locals.

Naqoura and the very South are a gem undisturbed by big hotel complexes. A permit us indeed needed but not because it’s un Hezbollah territory but because it’s UNIFIL zone. You do have to get it in Salida but it takes a while and the process is quite opaque. Plan in advance if you can

Sorry about the typos, I should have read before posting.But I guess the text can be understood. And it’s Saida, not Salida, of course

Dear Joan, Thank you for your excellent information on Lebanon. A remark and a question: – The text of LEBANON TRAVEL GUIDE: A 2-WEEK ITINERARY appears only in Spanish (English flag not working) – Is it OK to get visum at Beirut Airport if passport contains stamp from Iran? Thanks.

Thanks for telling me, I really appreciate it. It’s been fixed now 🙂

Yes, no problem to enter Lebanon if you have an Iranian visa or stamp.

Hello Joan, This is a request that I take the liberty to put on your blog. As part of a master class in photojournalism with the National Geographic magazine I am looking for a ‘story’ in Beirut. For this I need to find a local guide to ‘develop’ this story. To show me around Beirut, make the contacts etc. Not so much the tourist sites but the life itself, after the explosion. I would be very grateful for your suggestions.

Thanks for the info. As of Oct. 29, a Covid test is no longer required.

Many thanks for an excellent blog post! Great to know about bringing currency to exchange before visiting Lebanon. I am visiting Lebanon for the first time in May for two weeks. I intend on booking a hostel online in Beirut to base myself for day trips for the first week and then go hiking around Kadisha Valley and spending time around Baalbek before flying onwards.

My question is – approximately how much $US/day would you recommend bringing over with you? I plan on staying in hostels/budget hotel, using public transport where possible and doing a bit of solo hiking. Just wanted to know a ballpark figure so that I don’t find myself short and have to use my debit or credit card and deal with the terrible exchange rate offered by the banks.

Hi Sam! I think you need around $50 a day, so I’d bring the equivalent of 70 a day, just in case! But it’s always hard to say. There are so many restaurants and night bars in Beirut, so you also need to think about that!

I was thinking about this itinerary, private tour, two people, hotel 3/4 only breakfast, if is possible italian speaking guide: 1 arrival beirut 2 beirut 3 Jeita Grottoes – Harissa – Byblos 4 Tripoli-Ehden 5 Valley of the Cedars – Baalbek -Zahle 6 Anjar – Beittedine – Deir al Qamar 7 Tire – Sidon 8 Beirut – Italy Greetings. Ilario giacometti

Thank you so much for this fantastic post! I was wondering how late are the last buses from places like Byblos and Baalbek since most of the hotels are expensive/booked out? Thanks again for making such a great page!!!

Hi Dhruv, I am not entirely sure, maybe around 7pm?

Hola Joan. Gracias por tu gran e interesante y profesional información de tu blog. De todos los países que visitas En cuanto a Líbano.. no es conveniente llevar euros? Se usa más dolares? Gracias

Hola Poli, en general, puedes cambiar de euros a libras libanesas sin problema alguno.

Sin embargo, hay hoteles que solo aceptan pago en efectivo y en dólares.

Lo que resulta mejor es llevarlo todo en euros y para el hotel, cambiarlos allí mismo a dólares. La tasa que ofrecen es mucho mejor que si compras dólares en Europa.

Lo que yo hago es llevar todo en euros, y lo cambio todo a libras o a dólares.

Hi, I´ve seen some comments and foregin governments advising not to go to Baleek. Is there any threat of doing this? Seems like a very touristic place. Going to Lebanon in october.

Hi Simon, it’s fine, it’s just that in that region there’s been local issues related to drug trafficking

Hi this is an awesome resource thanks so much for putting it together. Just wondering what the weather is like in October ( first couple of weeks). Want to go when it’s hot. Thanks

October is autumn, not super hot but pleasant

Hi, Do you still recommend going to Lebanon in March?

Beirut and more north than that should be fine to travel

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A Local's Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

Malak Yacout

https://www.foratravel.com/guides/TRKWPH/a-locals-guide-to-beirut-lebanon-malak-yacout

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Curator’s statement

I have a romantic relationship with Lebanon that is difficult to describe. Here, you are prompted to think with your heart. Beirut and how it’s made, including its political, economic and social system, goes against logic. It taught me to face challenges, one after the other, with bravery and grace. Yet, in this mess of a city, I feel alive. I find a rhythm in its chaos. Beirut is part of who I am and I am a part of Beirut. When it comes to what to do here, this small country has endless options that you’ll probably need a minimum of a week to enjoy. Here, you are guaranteed mountain and beach landscapes, history, smiles and unparalleled food experiences. From Ottoman Souks to a unique urban patchwork and a mixed Mediterranean culinary heritage, Lebanon takes hospitality to a whole new level.

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Where to stay in Beirut

Arthaus beirut.

Family-run, stylish hotel with a sustainable ethos that wows all the senses.

$100 food / beverage credit

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Hotel Albergo

Urban sanctuary in the heart of Beirut featuring a rooftop pool and landscaped terraces.

Breakfast daily.

Complimentary roundtrip private airport transfers.

Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

Saifi Suites

Trendy four-star hotel with contemporary accommodations and the best of luxury.

Eco-friendly retreat featuring guesthouses inspired by nature, complete with an outdoor pool, restaurant, spa and popular coffee shop & cafe.

Luxurious and quiet stay with a modern design overlooking the Mediterranean.

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Things to do in Beirut

1. In the capital, Beirut, get on the hop-on-hop-off bus to visit the city's most coveted ruins, sightseeing spots, mosques and churches in an open-air double-decker. Alternatively, a walking tour that begins downtown and ends in the narrow streets of Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze is also a lovely option. 2. Jeita Grotto, a finalist in the competition for the new seven wonders of the world, is an incredible cave system in the limestone rock of Mount Lebanon mountain range made up of two separate enormous caverns. Admire the thousands of naturally-made stalactites and stalagmites and take a short boat trip on the lake that covers the floor of the lower cave.

3. After Jeita, head to Harissa, where you can opt to take the cable car up to the impressive statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, towering high above the city, and enjoy spectacular views over the coast and sea year-round. For adventure geeks, we can arrange paragliding in Harissa. 4. There is always some event happening in Beirut. Think : Exhibits, theatre production and poetry nights. Some must-see museums in the capital include Beit Beirut (in memory of the civil war,) Sursock Museum , National Museum of Beirut and Dar el Nimer . Located outside of Beirut, the wax and soap museums are also an experience.

For day trips, stay at the nearest guesthouse to spend less time on the road and more time making memories. There are hotels and guesthouses to suit every taste, every pocket and every season.

Camp at Le Couvent Rouge Winery above the fields of the Bekaa. Far from everything you know, Le Couvent Rouge is a small boutique winery where you can set up an atypical lunch, dinner or even overnight. It caters to groups of up to 12 people. While it is two hours away from the capital, it is only 45 minutes away from Baalbek— the temple of the sun, which is also a must-visit when in Lebanon.

Two nights at Beit Trad — my absolute favorite home away from home. Beit Trad is a classic Lebanese mansion turned boutique hotel in Kfour (North Lebanon.) It is a precious haven passed from one generation to another, filled with memories and objects left behind by people who have experienced glorious moments of Lebanese history. I don’t want to spoil the experience, so I will just say: stay at Beit Trad to experience Lebanese hospitality at its finest. It is also surrounded by majestic forests making it equally great for people who enjoy hikes or nature activities. After Beit Trad, drive 30 minutes up North to Abdelli Terraces on a Sunday and enjoy their Sunday buffet. This is yet another guesthouse steeped in Lebanese nature. Stay at La Maison du Bonheur . I have a yearly stay at La Maison du Bonheur that I never skip. Ama, your host, is an amazing soul and her home turned into a three bedroom guesthouse is a cozy Lebanese house steeped on a hill atop Deir el Qamar, the former capital of Lebanon. La Maison du Bonheur translating as The Home of Happiness will genuinely leave you with joyful memories and peace of mind. It offers a magnificent masterpiece of a view all to yourself. Bonus : It is very close to Beyt el Jabal (weekend Lebanese lunch buffets,) and many bountiful hike trails. Hiking in Arz El Barouk Biosphere Reserve is an experience that I cannot rightfully describe with words. One of the richest natural treasures of the country, it is an experience you cannot miss. This is where you will find a diversity of fauna, flora and the traditional cedar tree (on the Lebanese flag.) Covering nearly 5% of the Lebanese territory, the Reserve provides all sorts of trails with different levels. In Jezzine, you need to stay the night because you haven’t come to Lebanon if you don’t experience the hospitality of home-cooked and hosted farm-to-table lunch, and this is the place to savor it. To catch two day experiences that you will remember for a very long time, Blue Jay Valley is the perfect place to spend one (or more) nights. Blue Jay Valley has bungalows of all sizes and an infinity pool overlooking the largest fruitful pine forest in the Mediterranean. Its restaurant also offers amazing Lebanese food and ambiance. Don’t miss it at dinner. Think : starry nights, food for the soul and light oriental music.

Piazza 1140 in Hammana never disappoints. Nestled in a cobblestone street under the church bells of the old souk of Hammana at 1140m above sea level, I repeatedly drive to this Italian restaurant to escape the city's hustle. They mainly serve Neapolitan pizza, but everything on their menu is great. The lasagna is one of the best I’ve had in my life, and the salads are fresh. It's charming atmosphere (often with live music) and the spirit of Lebanese hospitality and Italian cuisine means everyone leaves with a smile.

Places to eat & drink in Beirut

Tawlet , my favorite concept, boasts the bounty of the Lebanese farmer’s market. Every day, Tawlet invites a cook from one of the thousands of Lebanese villages to tell the tale of their village and traditions through home-cooked cuisine. No two lunches are the same at Tawlet. It is no coincidence that the founder of such an empowering social enterprise has just been named one of the Middle East’s culinary icons by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022. La Ménagerie is one of my favorite spots. A flower shop by day and a bistro by night, La Menagerie is one of those places that retain Beirut’s charms, liveliness and elegance. Steeped in a 1850’ Lebanese architectural jewel, Beit Kanz is a newly-opened café and social enterprise arm of one of Lebanon’s most active NGO's. At Beit Kanz, beneficiaries of the NGO can sell their produce with the support of the gastronomic vision and experience of star chefs. Beit Kanz represents unmatched effort of historians, activists, advocates of human dignity and patriotic citizens who came together to preserve Lebanese culinary and cultural heritage, helping those who need it the most.

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This diminutive Mediterranean nation is a fascinating nexus point of the Middle East and the West; of Christianity and Islam; of tradition and modernity. It’s a place where culture, family and religion are all-important, but where sectarian violence can too often erupt – claiming lives and scarring both the landscape and the national psyche.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Temple of Bacchus

Baalbek's Temple of Bacchus is often described as the most beautifully decorated temple in the Roman world, and it's certainly one of the best preserved…

Baalbek Ruins

Dominating the centre of modern Baalbek, this wonderful Roman temple complex is one of the Middle East's major archaeological highlights. The monumental…

National Museum of Beirut

Located on the former Green Line, this is Beirut's major cultural institution. Its impressive, magnificently displayed collection of archaeological…

Shouf Biosphere Reserve

The largest of Lebanon’s three natural protectorates, comprising an incredible 5% of the total land area, this is the largest natural cedar reserve in the…

Al Bass Archaeological Site

This sprawling site lies 2km east of the centre, entered off the highway. Just past the entrance is a vast funerary complex, with hundreds of ornate…

Under the St Joseph university, this atmospheric and beautifully designed museum presents an extraordinary collection of exquisitely selected and…

Main Square

The main square is a showcase of fine Arab architecture, including the Mosque of Emir Fakhreddine Maan, built in 1493, and, behind it, a cobbler's souq…

An enticing blend of tradition and modernity, the web of narrow streets of Tripoli's port quarter makes for wonderful strolling. The Phoenician city stood…

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Lebanon and beyond

Ultimate Travel Guide to Beirut & Top Things To Do in 2024

• On Aug 14, 2022

This travel guide contains the best things you can do in the capital of Lebanon, Beirut. What are the top places to see, where to eat, where to stay, and how does the current crisis change the city and in general, we tell you updated information, as many things changed after the Beirut port explosion and with the current economic and political crisis. 

Beirut is a cosmopolitan city where East and West meet. Actually, after our visit, we can say that West prevails. After almost 30 years of civil wars, a deadly port explosion not long ago, and elections, we would say this country suffered enough. Yet, there is so much hope and determination in people, it’s fascinating. When we walked the streets in Gemmayze district, the area that was pretty much all destroyed by the explosion in 2020, we saw a lot of reconstructions, newly renovated stores, smiley people, modern cafes and restaurants. I mean, the city was destroyed and rebuilt seven times! It speaks for itself. 

We had a blast travelling around Lebanon in April 2022, leaving a strong impression on us until today. If you follow our  11-day itinerary for Lebanon , you will soon learn how easy it is to base yourself in Beirut and just make the day trips from there, as the country is relatively small and the transportation is fantastic. 

Essential reading:  Detailed travel guide to Lebanon & 11 days itinerary

Know before you go

Money – Lebanese pound, in April 2022 $1 = LBP 23500 on black market. Make sure you bring cash for the whole length of your stay as if you use your bank card, you will pay ten times more, as they calculate it based on the official exchange rate! You can exchange your $ dollars or € euros on Hamra street. 

Language – Despite Arabic being the official Language, many (usually young) people speak great English or French. 

Population – almost 2.5 million, but with a crisis with Syrian and Palestinian refugees, it is tough to say the actual number.

Visa – most nationalities get a 1-month free visa on arrival; however, check the exact info before you go.

Wifi/ internet – well, the internet and wifi are trouble in Beirut and the rest of Lebanon. Even the local data sim card sometimes didn’t work with all the frequent electricity cuts. You can find some cafés with the internet, but the speed is not very impressive.

Simcard – very easy to obtain, especially in Hamra street . Get one from the best providers such as Touch or Alfa. 

Tours – so many tours are worth it in and around Beirut. Find a local guide who can show you around, or  check out the best local tours here .

Is it safe to visit Beirut? 

I hear this from all sides. Is it safe to visit Beirut? And we were asking the same question. However, after our visit, we can say, yes, it is very safe to visit Beirut and other places in Lebanon. Of course, the country has problems, and you should know which areas you should avoid. But if you use common sense, the country has open arms for you. In Beirut, make sure you  avoid the area  south of the Camille Chamois Sports Stadium, the suburbs west of the airport hwy, and south of Adnon El Hakim to Abbas El Mousawi rd. 

Read more: Is it safe to travel to Lebanon? Actual information from 2022

How to get to Beirut 

The best way to get to Beirut is by flight. Rafic Hariri international airport is a busy transportation hub, and you can find cheap deals. We flew to Beirut from Cyprus after road tripping in the  Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , and the flight took only around half an hour. 

After a few weeks of travelling around Lebanon and Syria, we continued by flying to  Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan . So as you can see, you can explore many interesting areas around Lebanon. The national airline is MEA, the Middle East Airline, and you can find the best deal at the following link. 

Check the cheap flights to/from Beirut here.

How to get from Rafic Hariri International airport to Beirut Center 

Your hotel will probably offer to arrange a taxi waiting for you at the airport for $25. Absolutely overpriced. In the best case, have the app Bolt ready before you come to Beirut. You won’t have a local sim card yet, that’s fine as you can use the airport wifi. However, it is available only for 30 minutes! So make sure you connect once you are ready to call your Bolt driver (Uber works too, but it’s more expensive). We used Bolt on the way back from the city centre to the airport for $3.

If this for some reason won’t work for you, just arrive and find a taxi. You will have to negotiate, but you shouldn’t pay more than $10 . We arrived after 10pm, and there were still plenty of taxi drivers around, fighting for any customers. 

TOP THINGS TO SEE IN BEIRUT

Even though there are not many specific landmarks, there are still many things you can do. Especially the Beirut district’s characters vary from each other very much. 

Beirut could be easily called an outdoor post-Civil war museum since the bullet holes mark half-destroyed buildings, and some buildings are clearly left untouched and abandoned after the war. Why is that? Lebanese people simply decided to leave it as it is. Either as a reminder of the horrific times or today as a cool, strange way of expressing art. This was actually one of the best parts of walking around, to see those places with our own eyes. 

Pigeon rock

Walk through Hamra street until you reach the gorgeous limestone outcrops known as Pigeon rocks. You can either admire it from the seafront, sit down on one of the benches, or there are cafes on the cliff with an impressive view. Optionally, make your way down the unpaved, rocky path, which takes you to a couple of viewpoints to see the rocks from different angles. The sunset over the ocean is magnificent from here.

Mohammad Al Amin Mosque

Everyone knows this mosque from photos, postcards, and magazines, as it is the most significant landmark in Beirut. Close the Martyrs square, with majestic blue domes, has been open since 2008. Thanks to its 65 m high minarets, you can see the mosque from many places around Beirut. We loved the contrast of religions, as the Mohammad Al Amin Mosque stands next to the Saint George Maronite Cathedral. The religious diversity is so fascinating to see in Lebanon.

Saint George Maronite Cathedral

Built-in 1772, but went through a massive restoration after the Civil war. Obviously, as many other important buildings. The architecture is inspired by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, and the whole interior is made of marble. This cathedral is right behind Mohammad Al Amin Mosque. 

The Beirut Egg

Very close to Mohammad Al Amin Mosque is the Beirut Egg. Huge concrete building in the shape of the egg. You can see the sides clearly destroyed from the times of the civil war. It was impossible to get very close when we visited, as it is enclosed by a fence. 

The interesting thing is, when you come to Beirut for the first time, you can be in shock as you will see many war-destroyed buildings, bullet holes in house walls or shuttered windows after the port explosion. However, your effort to understand the country’s complicated history will soon pay off. As I once said about Lebanon: ,,You cry twice. Once when you arrive. And once when you are leaving”. Today, it’s safe to say we love Lebanon and can’t wait to go back. 

Graffitis 

The visit to Beirut is not completed without a graffiti hunt. They are everywhere, and some of them hide really powerful messages. Just keep your eyes open. Our favourite graffiti is two pigeons with the ” hope ” sign. It is just a few meters down the Mohammad Al Amin Mosque. 

Martyr’s square 

The great point from where you explore most of the famous signs – the Beirut Egg, Mohammad Al Amin Mosque, Saint George Maronite Cathedral and also interesting graffiti. It is a historical public square between Gemmayze and Beirut’s downtown/government area. A martyr’s monument honouring Lebanese Patriots stands in the middle of the square.

Travel Insurance

Many western governments advise against all travel to Lebanon, which makes it harder for us travellers in terms of travel insurance. Not every company will provide coverage of costs in case something unexpected happens. It is crucial you do research what your insurance cover and what not. One of the few companies that provide travel insurance to Lebanon and also Syria, if you plan to visit on the same trip, is IATI Insurance . They also cover expenses regarding Covid 19, and you can comfortably arrange the insurance even if you already travelling. As a reader of our blog, Broken Navigation, you also get an exclusive 5% discount if you purchase your travel insurance using the link below. 

Get your 5% discount with IATI travel insurance here.

BEIRUT DISTRICTS IN GLANCE 

Bourj hammoud.

The Armenian district of Bourj Hammoud is more than 100 years old. Many Armenians run to Lebanon after the Turkish genocide, creating this neighbourhood so different from the rest of Beirut. It’s a pretty scenic place with good restaurants, shops and narrow streets. We met a friend who took us to Resto Ghazar restaurant, and the food is absolutely amazing there. 

Gemmayze 

A famous street with hipster and modern cafés and restaurants and our favourite restaurant in Beirut, Le Chef, is here. Gemmayze connects Mar Mikhael with downtown, a bustling area. Bear in mind, there is no street food! But rather modern restaurants. If you want street food and a more authentic experience, head to Hamra street. 

Mar Mikhael 

Same as Gemmayze, the residential and commercial neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael was pretty destroyed by the port explosion in 2020. You find here the liveliest bar and club scene in Beirut, as well as art galleries, bakeries and shops. It’s a great place for evening drinks since Beirut has one of the liveliest party scenes in the Middle East, with beer and alcohol widely available. A cool place to hang out with other people is  Tota  on Asfahan street. If you walk through Gemmayze, you eventually end up in the Mar Mikhael district; Beirut is pretty much small, so as you can see, just walk around! 

Hamra 

Compared with modern streets in Gemmayze and Mar Michael, Hamra street is more traditional and lively with locals and students. It’s the best place to buy Simcard, exchange money, and have Lebanese street food (falafel, local sweets, shawarma & much more). Hamra is a student and economic centre. Therefore many street foods can be found here. 

Corniche 

Corniche is a seaside promenade that will take you all the way to the famous Pigeon Rock. It is a pleasant walk, especially during the sunset. Many locals come here to have a walk along the ocean.

Downtown 

Newly built part of Beirut. Previously known as Paris of the Middle East. However, it felt pretty empty and plastic to us. Not many people were around the overly luxurious shops. We saw just a few businessmen and almost empty streets. It is worth a visit, but a quick walk through this neighbourhood is more than enough. 

Government area 

Right next to downtown. The army guarded this area, and as of April 2022, it wasn’t possible to visit it further. After the huge protests, it is surrounded by a wired fence and graffiti-painted wall. 

Zaitunay Bay 

Many luxurious hotels, restaurants and cafes line the port and yacht club. It is nice to sit down here and watch the sunset or take an evening walk, like many other Beirutis and expats. The long seaside walk leads all the way to the fence bordering the exploded port. Even though this district is a bit more expensive, we stayed here in Regis Hotel, the only budget place in the area, just 200 m from Zaitunay Bay. 

HOW TO GET AROUND BEIRUT

Travelling around Beirut is very easy and convenient. Even though there is no public transport, there are three options.

• Bolt  – the number one app. It works the same as Uber but is a bit cheaper. We never waited for a ride longer than 5 minutes. It is safe, affordable and fast. The ride within city costs around LBP 32 000 – LBP 55 000 ($1,2-$2).
• Uber  – another convenient option. We personally always used the Bolt, but we know Uber works well too. 
• Taxi  – just wave on a taxi by the road, and they will pick you up. The prices are similar to Bolt or Uber, but sometimes it can be tricky to communicate where you want to go if the driver doesn’t speak English.

All the service cars meant for transportation of people have a  red plate,  or the numbers on the plate are red. Make sure you don’t get in a car with a different plate colour as it means they are not official. It applies to all – Bolt, Uber, Minivans, Buses, taxis…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

There are two main bus stations – Cola and Dawra . After the explosion in the port in 2020, the Charles Helou station doesn’t work anymore .

• From Cola intersection : Saida, Tyre, Baalbek, Zahlé
• From Dawra station : Byblos, Tripoli, Batroun
• A fast option to Tripoli (Byblos, Batroun): go-to station on Martyr’s square from where big Connexion buses running 
• To Bcharré: Estephan Transport company run buses from the little roundabout near Dowra . 

You can easily travel from Beirut to other cities such as Tyre, Saida, Baalbek, and Tripoli, but remember Charles Helou station doesn’t work anymore!  Read more about travelling in Lebanon here; it includes a detailed guide on how to get between the cities and useful contacts for bus companies & drivers.

Yes, it is absolutely possible, and many travellers opt for it. Distances are short, roads are great and renting a car is easily doable even online before you arrive. We met many travellers exploring the country in a rented car, and if you can, go for it! The driving style of locals is a bit crazy, that is true, but soon you will learn how to live in chaos, don’t worry. 

Check the rental car’s availability and prices here.

WHERE TO EAT IN BEIRUT 

Every district in Lebanon is full of restaurants and cafés. If you search for hipster or fancy places, head to Gemmayzeh or Mar Michael. For street food, head to Hamra street. Luxury dining is to be found in Zaitunai Bay. 

Le Chef 

The most traditional and popular place to have a quick lunch is Le Chef in Gemmayze. Very authentic restaurant, not luxurious by any means compared to restaurants around it, but with a high charm. The food is delicious, and the price is low. Warning! They have an excellent espresso. 

Falafel Karim Sahyoon

For street food, head to Hamra street. Great place for having falafel sandwich is Falafel Karim Sahyoon. The place is clean, and the sandwiches are very rich and tasty, which brought us here many times during our stay in Beirut. 

WHERE TO STAY IN BEIRUT

It might get a bit overwhelming when planning where to base yourself in Beirut, as the districts are so different from each other, and each offers something different. We recommend you choose either Gemayze or Zaituna Bay based on what you’re looking for. If you want to be near restaurants, cafés and pubs where most travellers meet, go for Gemayze. If you want to enjoy the walks on the seafront and port, where it also gets lively, go for Zaituna Bay, like us. 

Stay in Gemmayze

Budget I The Grand Meshmosh Hotel – The Grand Meshmosh Hotel has basic rooms, but the location is awesome, and you won’t find a better place for this price. This place has a restaurant, terrace, garden and shared lounge. You can also rent a whole apartment with a kitchen. 

Mid-Range I Hotel Lost – we are absolutely in love with the design of this place. So cool and stylish. Breakfast is included, and you can expect wifi and clean rooms. It is a short walk from Gemmayze street. 

Luxury I Arthaus Beirut – a cute place with a beautiful design, an outside pool and some room comes with their own terrace. Pretty cool place. You don’t have to worry about electricity cuts here.

Stay in Zaitunay Bay

Budget I Regis Hotel – we stayed here. The price is very good for what you get. The location is in a good, clean neighbourhood close to Zaitunay Bay and 1 km from Hamra street. There was hot water, and our room had a nice balcony. We paid $20. The guys running this hotel are absolutely amazing and, beyond words, helpful. We felt like at home during our whole stay, and if we ever come back, we will stay here again. 

Mid-Range I B Residence – this place is excellent if you want to book a whole studio with a kitchen or simply if you need a bit more comfort than in a cheap room, but at the same time, you don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for other places. It is a short walk from the bay. You get a great view over the ocean. 

Luxury I Bayview Hotel Beirut – luxurious hotel in Zaitunay Bay. You can rent a whole apartment with a lodge for watching a sunset over the bay or private rooms. The rooftop terrace with bar and restaurant is an absolute bomb with stunning views. Even if you don’t stay here, you can come and have a drink or food. 

If you want to stay on Hamra street, the hotel Embassy  is the most popular option. The basic rooms are with balcony, wifi, and guest like the breakfast, which you, however, have to order separately. 

Crossing the borders to Syria

Lebanon shares the borders with Syria, and crossing the border between those two countries is pretty easy. From Beirut to Damascus, it is only 113 km, and a whole crossing doesn’t take more than 4 hours. As of May 2022, a special security clearance is required to get a visa. To learn how to get to Syria and travel around, what places are safe to visit and our experience, read our detailed article below. 

Read more:  How to travel to Syria in 2022 & Is it safe?

I hope you like our travel guide to Beirut and that you found what you need to plan a smooth trip. Make sure you share any updates with us in the comment sections below, and we hope you will enjoy Beirut as much as we did!

It’s time to plan your trip!

Find our travel resources below that help you plan your next trip. Good luck and safe travels.

Book your flight

Skyscanner is our favourite tool for searching for the cheapest flights and flight combinations. Multi-city or Explore Everywhere helps us to find real bargains.

The best platform to rent a car and compare the prices for your next road trip anywhere in the world is Discovercars.com . The booking process is hassle-free.

Find your acommodation

On Booking.com we always find the best deals for accommodation. Another great option for cheap accommodation is Hostelworld .

Travel insurance

We always recommend IATI Travel Insurance which offers excellent plans. As a reader of Broken Navigation, get an exclusive 5% discount. For Europeans Truetraveller offers perfect travel insurance for the best price.

Explore more with Tours

Some places are better off explored with a knowledgeable guide. Or, if you simply want to save time and hassle, we recommend GetYourGuide . Another great option that also has an amazing range of activities is Viator .

protect yourself online by VPN

We always use  NordVPN  everywhere we travel for safe internet browsing and access to specific sites that might be blocked.

Disclosure: We recommend only companies we personally use. If you book services through any of the affiliate links in our posts, it earns us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Travelling for years now, she found the passion in unique and off the beaten path places. Romana is a food lover, but it doesn’t stop her from hiking the mountains for several days. By sharing her experiences, she wants to help you experience the same.

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Update April 12, 2024

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Lebanon Travel Advisory

Travel advisory january 29, 2024, lebanon - level 3: reconsider travel.

Updated to reflect lowering the overall Travel Advisory to Level 3, information about southern Lebanon, the border with Syria, and refugee settlements in Lebanon, information on crime and political violence, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, and the “If you decide to travel” section.

Reconsider travel to Lebanon due to  crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and armed conflict . Some areas, especially near the borders, have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

• Southern Lebanon due to the  potential for armed conflict;
• The border with Syria due to  terrorism and armed conflict;
• Refugee settlements due to  the potential for armed clashes .

Country Summary : U.S. citizens in Lebanon should be aware of the risks of remaining in the country and review their personal security plans. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid travel to southern Lebanon, the Syrian border, and refugee settlements in Lebanon.

U.S. citizens in Lebanon should be aware that consular officers from the U.S. Embassy are not always able to travel to assist them. The Department of State considers the threat to U.S. government personnel in Beirut sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security. The internal security policies of the U.S. Embassy may be adjusted at any time and without advance notice.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Lebanon. Terrorists may conduct attacks with little or no warning targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.

The Lebanese government cannot guarantee the protection of U.S. citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence and armed conflict. Family, neighborhood, or sectarian disputes can escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with no warning.

Local security authorities have noted a rise in violent crimes, including political violence. Multiple unsolved killings in Lebanon may have been politically motivated.

Kidnapping, whether for ransom, political motives, or family disputes, has occurred in Lebanon. Suspects in kidnappings may have ties to terrorist or criminal organizations.

Unexploded landmines and explosive remnants of war are a hazard along the border with Syria. Heed land mine warning signs. Do not venture off the road into areas marked off with red and white plastic tape. Avoid roadside ditches, shoulders, and unmarked trails. Never touch anything resembling unexploded munitions.

U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests as these have the potential to turn violent quickly and with little notice. Protesters have blocked major roads, including thoroughfares between downtown Beirut and the area where the U.S. Embassy is located, and between Beirut and Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Lebanon.

If you decide to travel to Lebanon:

• Visit our website for information on   Travel to High-Risk Areas .
• Appoint one family member to serve as the point of contact with kidnappers/hostage-takers, media, U.S. and host country government agencies, and members of Congress if you are kidnapped, or taken hostage.
• Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Do not touch unknown metal objects and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths due to risk of unexploded ordnance.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Lebanon.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Southern Lebanon – Level 4: Do Not Travel (See map below)

The U.S. Embassy strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid southern Lebanon; that is, all parts south of the city of Saida, to include inland areas, as illustrated in the map below. Cross-border rocket, missile, and artillery fire continues to impact southern Lebanon on a daily basis and has caused a significant number of fatalities and injuries.

Border with Syria – Level 4: Do Not Travel

The U.S. Embassy strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid the Lebanon-Syria border, which has seen clashes between Lebanese security forces and Syrian-based violent extremist groups. The U.S. Department of State also warns U.S. citizens of the risk of traveling on flights that fly over Syria, which include some flights to and from Beirut.

Refugee Settlements – Level 4: Do Not Travel

The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to avoid travel to refugee settlements in Lebanon, which are prone to outbreaks of violence including shootings and explosions.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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Local time Beirut

Introducing Beirut

About beirut.

• Weather / Best time to visit
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• Getting around
• Attractions, tours and tickets
• Things to see
• Things to do
• Restaurants

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• Travel to Beirut

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• About Lebanon
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• Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

Beirut Travel Guide

It may be a cliché but cool, cosmopolitan Beirut is indeed a city of contrasts. Possessed of some of the friendliest locals on the planet, it was also the scene of one of the Middle East’s deadliest conflicts.

While you’ll find beautifully restored colonial relics and old mosques delicate-looking minarets Downtown, venture towards what was once the Green Line and you’ll find buildings still peppered with bullet holes and missing chunks of masonry.

Nevertheless, while Beirut might have suffered more than most, it remains one of the most vibrant cities in the Middle East – and one of the most beautiful.

Perched on the Mediterranean and backdropped by the mighty Mount Lebanon, it is also one of the few cities in which you can sunbathe and ski over the course of a single day.

Its streets are a rabbit warren of shops and bars, many decorated with street vendors and nearly all choked with traffic – among them the speeding cabs manned by frantically chain-smoking drivers who have conspired to turn crossing the street into something of an extreme sport.

All this and the legacy of many years of conflict have resulted in a people whose motto appears to be ‘carpe diem to the max’ and nowhere is this more apparent than in the city’s nightclubs. As a result, the student quarter of Gemayzeh never seems to shut up shop and is wonderfully busy come weekends.

Although the war ended a long time ago, Beirut's reputation remains intricately tied to its volatile past. Some Lebanese like it that way. They think it gives Beirut an edge, although explaining that to inhabitants in the city’s southern refugee camps might prove difficult.

But despite the darkness, Beirut remains a symbol of hope in the frequently troubled Middle East as a place where people have managed to put their differences aside – however grudgingly – and make compromise possible.

The result is an intriguing, often unpredictable, clash of old and new, conservative and liberal, east and west, secular and religious. But in short, it’s nothing short of exhilarating.

Related Articles

City Highlight: Beirut

One of the oldest cities in the world, Beirut is an intoxicating mix of East and West.

Book Accommodation

Featured hotels.

The Casa D'Or is a welcoming, comfortable alternative to functional budget hotels or the home-stays that dominate the lower end of the market. It's not especially glamorous but rooms are clean, comfortable and well appointed, and a decent breakfast is included in the price. It also offers low season discounts.

Talal Hotel

Talal Hotel offers bright, clean rooms complete with comfortable beds for next to nothing. Better still, it's within striking distance of Gemmayzeh and Place des Martyrs. The atmosphere is lively and the hotel also has a communal kitchen. The result is friendly but a bit like living as a student.

Regis Hotel

At first look, you could be forgiven for thinking that you'd just pitched up at the Lebanese Fawlty Towers. However, staff are warm and welcoming, rooms are clean and the breakfast is excellent. All rooms have modern air-con, fridges and TVs, but better still is Regis' proximity to the Corniche.

A remarkable 5-star hotel in the centre of Beirut, Le Gray offers 87 modern rooms bathed in natural light. The infinity pool overlooks the city, while the spa, bar and restaurant could all be destinations in their own right. LCD TVs, Wi-Fi, fresh fruit and flowers are all part of the deal, Mediterranean and Mount Lebanon vistas included.

InterContinental Phoenicia Hotel

When you're looking to rub shoulders with Beirut's A-list, this prestigious hotel is the play to stay. It certainly looks the part with acres of marble floor, draped silk curtains and gold gilt fitting. Plus, it has some of the best facilities in town, including an excellent gym and pool area.

Hotel Albergo

If nothing but the finest will do, make Hotel Albergo your base. With just 30 rooms and a swimming pool, everything screams opulence, including the excellent rooftop bar, complete with fabulous views of the city. Rooms are themed in European, Oriental, colonial and Mediterranean styles, and the lovely Italian restaurant is also well worth a visit.

© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved 2024

Beirut Travel Guide: Itinerary, Activities, Best Hotels and more

A complete guide to visiting beirut, lebanon.

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

Table of Contents

B eirut is back, not only as a desirable vacation spot but also as a center for the latest culture and nightlife. As far as historical sites are concerned, there isn’t all that much to see in Beirut, just one excavation of Roman ruins, and you have to know where it is to find it.

But there are some rather exotic museums like the Mouawad Museum, which exhibits a private collection from Roman statues to the diamond-encrusted bra, which Heidi Klum wore as an angel for Victoria’s Secret!

But, Beirut truly is a Phoenix risen from the ashes. Walk along the Corniche, Hamra Street, or the newly developed Zaitunay Bay promenade, and life buzz around you.

Some of the great buildings along the Corniche and even the trunks of some palm trees still show bullet holes from the devastating civil war or even scars from more recent bombs.

Make sure to get a day membership for the Beach Club on the Corniche. Not only can you enjoy a swim in the ample pool or the sea and get really close to the landmark Pigeon  Rocks and have seafood in the excellent restaurant, but the greatest attraction is also your fellow members.

They are friendly and inclined to tell the outsider personal stories from the war and current life. If you need any recommendations, this is the place to get them.

You can walk around on your own or join a walking tour or even a guided bicycle tour. A word of advice for pedestrians: watch out. Traffic in Beirut is horrendous, and drivers do not respect pedestrians much.

You aren’t even 100% safe at zebra crossings or traffic lights. Wait for a gap and then just go, by no means stop or hesitate.

Beirut’s nightlife is legendary. The famous Sky Bar has been around forever, but there are plenty of new venues with a great variety of music and entertainment.

Nothing gets really started before midnight, but then you can party the night away straight to your breakfast in one of the typical cafes on Hamra Street. A Lebanese breakfast cures any hangover.

Beirut may not have all that many remains from antiquity, but it’s a great starting point for day trips to majestic sites such as Byblos, Tyros, Sidon, Baalbek, and Jeita Grotto.

In this Beirut Travel Guide blog, we listed helpful DIY Beirut travel tips and advice on how to get there, get around, great activities, restaurants, best hotels, tour packages, and more.

Best time to visit

Beirut has a hot Mediterranean climate, but the only scorching and muggy month is August. The best time to visit is spring and fall with mild temperatures and little rain.

How to get there

Beirut’s International Airport, which serves many airlines, is your port of entry and the only airport in the country.

Public transport from the airport to the city center does not exist, which leaves you with taxis. You recognize taxis by the red number plates, and you must agree on the price in advance.

Getting around

There are plenty of buses in Beirut, but as there is not yet a bus plan project in operation, it’s tough to find your way around, especially if you can’t read Arabic.

This leaves taxis, of which there are different options. The cheapest is a shares taxi. It’s not recognizable from the outside, so if you see a red number-plated taxi, you stop it, go to the driver window and ask: Servees? If the answer is yes, you state your destination, but you may be dropped more or less in the vicinity for the driver’s convenience and your co-passengers.

Better to stop a regular taxi, but agree on the price in advance and have cash! Or you can book a taxi through several companies like ALLO TAXI but still must confirm the price with the driver.

Currency, language, etc

The currency in Lebanon is the Lebanese Pound (LBP). You need plenty of cash for taxis, restaurants, etc. Often USD are also accepted but make sure you have small bills.

The official language is Arabic, but English and French are widely spoken.

WiFi is available in hotels and the airport.

Places to stay

Four seasons hotel beirut.

Address: 1418 Professor Wafic Sinno Avenue 2020 4107 Minet El Hosn Beirut, Beirut City Center, Beirut, Lebanon

[ Check Rates and Availability ]

Not only do you find all the luxuries and amenities of the usual Four Seasons hotels, the location with a fabulous view over the port, and all the private yachts, as well as the mountains in the back, is unbeatable. On the 26 th floor, you find the Asian inspired rooftop bar and restaurant, one of Beirut’s trendiest. You can even book a wine tasting tour through the hotel or a boat trip.

Saifi Suites Hotel

Address: Maroun Naccache Ave – Saifi, Beirut, Lebanon

If you have come to Beirut primarily for a party, you might want to be close to the nightlife center of Gemmayzeh, and the Saifi Suites Hotel is just a short walk away. There are a pool and gym too, and the rooms even have a kitchenette

City Suite Hotel

Address: Simon Bolivar Street, Raouche, Beirut, Lebanon

It’s located in Raouche, which means a walking distance from Pigeon Rock and Hamra Street. Rooms are comfortable with floor to ceiling windows for splendid views, an ample breakfast buffet, wifi, and a welcome drink on arrival.

Best places to eat

Al falamanki.

Address: Monot Street

This is where the Beirutis go to eat, celebrate, and spend many hours of the day playing cards or backgammon. The founder’s story is fascinating, which you can follow by looking at the many pictures on the walls. The best of Lebanese cuisine is offered here fresh to be enjoyed either indoors or on the tree-shaded terrace outside. Simply unique.

Café Hamra is, of course, located in Hamra Street. And an excellent choice for a ‘shopping break’ as well as a longer meal or breakfast. They have an ample menu of Lebanese specialties, and the half-open half-closed venue makes for a pleasant stay. Try to get a table in the open backspace and help yourself to the salad buffet.

If you fancy Thai cuisine for a change, try Jai Restaurant.

Things to do and see

Many Beirutis start their day with a run or jog along the Corniche, and you might opt for the same. Admire the landmark Pigeon Rock, often compared to Capri and the (expensive) new and elegant apartment buildings which have sprung up on the opposite side. Have breakfast in one of the many cafes which line the promenade and be prepared for a treat. It’s the most important meal of the day, so expect all kinds of bread and labneh, cheeses, fried eggs, chickpeas, eggplant, and much more.

Thus fortified, you can start Beirut sightseeing, and if like me, you are a museum fan, you can’t miss the extraordinary Mouawad Museum in Army Road in Beirut’s Zokak el Blat district. It is an amazing private residence and fabulous gardens, housing a collection of artifacts from antiquity to moderns times collected by an avid traveler.

Next is the National Museum, a huge building documenting the 5000 years of history, which make up Beirut’s background, one of the oldest cities in the world.

What makes Beirut so appealing are the many different districts with their own architecture and atmosphere. The mile-long Hamra street with shops and boutiques of every kind was once Beirut’s most famous street.

Visit the pedestrian zone around Nejmeh Square, the Place de l’Etoile, and, of course, Zokak el Blat, the souk. The old one was destroyed during the civil war, just one archway has been left standing. The new building is the venue of the most famous designer brands in the world. A giant Luis Vuitton case is even a piece of modern street art! Many more sculptures and works of art are to be found everywhere in Beirut.

Travel a bit outside and visit Our Lady of Lebanon, a huge statue of the Virgin Mary in Harissa, overlooking the port. Access is by cable car up the mountain.

Then, of course, there is the nightlife and club scene with new venues springing up all the time. The SkyBar has been around for a long time, and it’s difficult to get in. Focus on two districts: Gemmayzah with one bar, pub, nightclub after another, and the newer hub: Badaro. Kissproof in Badaro is very popular, and Riwaq in Assad Rustom combines bar and performances with a library.

For open-air fans: Garten, an open-air club in the port district.

Best place to shop

Zokak el Blat and Hamra Street.

Once visited, never forgotten, Beirut will cast her spell over you.

• Travel Planning 101: Finding Perfect Place To Stay
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Written by Inka PIegsa-Quischotte

Inka was an international attorney before turning travel writer and novelist. She contributes to BBC/Travel, VIE Magazine, GoNomad and several in-flight magazines. After some years in Turkey, she now lives in Spain's Costa Blanca.

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Here you'll find all collections you've created before.

• 1 Districts
• 2.1 History
• 2.3 Climate
• 2.4 Public holidays
• 4.1.1 Regular taxis
• 4.1.2 Car rental
• 4.4 By taxi
• 5.1 By taxi
• 5.2 By service
• 5.5 By foot
• 5.6 By bicycle
• 6.1 Landmarks
• 6.2 Museums and galleries
• 6.3 Parks and squares
• 6.4 Festivals and events
• 9.1 Shopping streets
• 9.2 Shopping centers
• 9.3 Markets
• 10.1 Lebanese cuisine
• 10.2 International cuisine
• 10.3 Fast food
• 13 Stay safe
• 14.1 Embassies
• 14.2 Radio stations
• 14.3 Newspapers

Beirut ( Arabic : بيروت‎ Bayrūt , French : Beyrouth ) is the capital city of Lebanon with a population of approximately 2.1 million people in its metropolitan area. The city is on a relatively small headland jutting into the east Mediterranean. It is by far the biggest city in Lebanon. Due to Lebanon's small size, the capital has always held the status as the only true cosmopolitan city in the country, and since independence, has been the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon.

Districts [ edit ]

Beirut is composed by many different neighborhoods, each own having its own distinctive atmosphere and character. Damascus Road, which connects the center with the National Museum, was known as the "Green Line" during the civil war era (1975–1990). At that time, it separated the mostly Muslim western sector of the city and the Christian eastern sector.

Martyrs' Square and the post-war development of Beirut Central District (BCD) are the geographical pivot of the city and serve quite well for orientation. The city sprawls over a peninsula with the sea to the north and the west, and the Mount Lebanon ridge to the east

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ]

Beirut has survived a rough history, falling under the occupation of one empire after another. Originally named Bêrūt, "The Wells" by the Phoenicians, Beirut's history goes back more than 5000 years. Excavations in the downtown area have unearthed layers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman civilizations.

Following World War II, Lebanon gained its independence from France and Beirut became its capital in 1943 - Bechara El-Khoury and Riad El-Solh, Lebanon's first president and prime minister respectively, are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and national heroes. Beirut thrived as a major commercial and tourist center of the Middle East. It was a top destination among wealthy Arabs and European tourists, due to Beirut's unique geography, climate, diverse culture, and freedom. Beirut was seen as the "European gateway to the Middle East" and vice versa, and was often called the "Paris of the Middle East".

Beirut is home to more than 10 recognized religious sects. Religious tension between the Christian and Muslim factions sparked a brutal civil war in 1975. The conflict lasted nearly a decade and a half, ravaging the city. The central area of the city, previously the focus of much of the commercial and cultural activities, became a no-man's land. Throughout the war, the city was divided between the Muslim west part and the Christian east, and tensions between different sects remain to this day.

Since the end of the war in 1989, the people of Lebanon have been rebuilding Beirut. The city has undertaken an aggressive rebuilding policy. The city is working hard to regain its status as a tourist, cultural and intellectual center in the Middle East which it has lost to Cairo as well as a center for commerce, fashion and media which is dominated by Dubai and other rich Gulf states. However Beirut with the rest of the Middle East has gained momentum.

People [ edit ]

Some areas of Beirut have a friendly atmosphere, and some Beirutis have a reputation for being very sociable and outgoing. The locals are used to the sight of foreigners and would be happy to show you around the city, if you ask them.

Sectarianism is still prevalent in Lebanon, as a result of the French colonial legacy of divide and rule, which leads some Christian Lebanese to identify culturally with Europeans, particularly the French, and some denying Arab identity altogether; preferring to identify themselves as Phoenician (referring to their ancestral roots in ancient Phoenicia.) Many Muslim Lebanese identify culturally and ethnically with other Arabs and Muslims of the Middle East.

It is helpful to display some basic courtesies. A simple Bonjour when entering a cafe or shop can work wonders, and might even get you a special rate, or when hopping into a taxi, might just keep the driver from overcharging you. Say Merci when given or offered something, and if you'd rather not accept, then say La'a merci and smile; otherwise you might be taken as rude, even though you're not.

Most Beirutis love going out. If (and when) you go out at night, depending on the venue, dressing up well will most certainly get you some respect. The locals like to see that foreigners are doing what they can to fit in. Expect to be offered a drink or a cigarette. Alcohol is very cheap in shops and supermarkets, yet in night venues, prices can rise up to European standards (e.g. LL8,000/beer, LL15,000/cocktail))

Smoking is very common in Beirut, a large portion of the people smoke both outdoors and indoors. However, most restaurants and bars now abide by the law forbidding smoking indoors.

Climate [ edit ]

Beirut enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Come in April to June for warm, dry days and long, cool evenings (19–25 °C). Temperatures in July and August rise to around 30 °C (86 °F) and humidity can be somewhat overwhelming – make sure your hotel has air conditioning. The wettest months are December to February so bring a good coat, rain boots, and umbrella because the rain often comes in torrential downpours. Streets have poor drainage and can quickly turn into rivers, so waterproof boots are highly recommended for the rainy season. Lebanon's ski season runs from December till early April.

Despite the diverse climate that changes noticeably per season, the weather is very predictable; the weather forecast, on radio and TV stations are normally very accurate, so you normally shouldn't find yourself caught in a sudden downpour in the winter months.

Public holidays [ edit ]

Due to Lebanon's diverse religions and sects, many public holidays are celebrated, some of which more than once: New Year's Day, Epiphany and Armenian Christmas (6 Jan), Eid al-Adha – Feast of Sacrifice, celebrating the last day of Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Al Hijrah – Islamic New Year, Feast of St Maroun (9 Feb), Mwalid Al Nabawai – Prophet's Anniversary, Good Friday and Easter Monday (Apr), Labor Day (1 May), Liberation of the South (25 May), Assumption (15 Aug), Eid al-Fitr - Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, All Saints' Day (1 Nov), Independence Day (22 Nov), Christmas Day (25 Dec). Based on the lunar calendar, Islamic holidays move forward approximately 11 days every Western year.

Dress [ edit ]

Anything goes in Beirut. Shorts and T-shirts are perfect for the summer heat, for both men and women, while heavier clothing is necessary during the winter.

You should cover up if visiting religious sites, such as mosques and churches. Some neighborhoods are more conservative than others, so bear that in mind when exploring the city. Going out at night is a smart affair, so dress fashionably to fit in, although this does not mean dressing up in a suit; you will find many men in sporty T-shirts, dark jeans, and smart running shoes at even the trendiest nightclubs.

Talk [ edit ]

Beirut is very culturally diverse, and thus, multilingual. Lebanese Arabic is the native language but everyone speaks Standard Arabic, the official language, while English and French (especially the former) are also spoken by most people.

Shop signs are in both Standard Arabic, English and French. Most restaurant menus, event listings, and such are also in English alongside Standard Arabic and sometimes in French. Road signs, however, are in Standard Arabic and French.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Car parking is available at the airport for around US$2.5 per hour. The parking time is rounded to the upper hour (i.e. 1.1 hours is rounded up to 2 hours).

Public transport

There are regular public minivans (usually every five-ten minutes) that go to the Downtown area and to the Charles Helou Station from the airport. They are run by private individuals but are distinguished from normal vehicles by a red number plate (indicating that it is a public transport vehicle). There is no set bus stand outside the terminal, but it is outside the departures terminal upstairs. Rides cost $1 or LL1,500 ( lira ). Both currencies are accepted. Wait outside the terminal and flag the vans down, as they may not stop. You pay when you leave. Tell the driver where you are going before entering and they will say yes or no.

Airport taxis

They are plentiful and comfortable taxis that are authorized by the airport are parked next to the terminal in the arrivals level and have an airport logo on the side ( official airport taxi fares ). Although these taxis claim to be regulated by the airport authorities, they are definitely not honest in their rates.

Regular taxis [ edit ]

They are also available and are located a little farther from the airport, but these are not guaranteed and are to be used at your own risk. The approximate rate Airport - Hamra street is LL25,000. However, the so-called regulated taxis' drivers, will ask you anywhere between US$30 to 50 for any downtown locations. So, start bargaining from $10 and stop at $15 as the upper limit, both ways to and from the Airport. Uber works in Lebanon, and as of February 2016 they had a $14 fixed rate to/from the airport. Considering this is only a 7 km long drive, and gas price is approx $1.5/litre in Beirut, this price is definitely a rip off that taxi drivers would not miss. Taxi types are wildly changing, so pick the best and newest looking ones to guarantee aircon, and collision safety in Beirut traffic.

Car rental [ edit ]

All major car rental companies have booking offices inside the airport. More information can be obtained through the airport's webpage on the topic .

By car [ edit ]

Beirut is linked with all coastal cities through the coastal road. Entrances/exists off this road connect it to districts adjacent to the coast such as Maten and Kesrwen (and others). Beirut is linked to Zahle and Baalbek (and the rest of Bekaa) through Dahr Al-Baydar road (linked to Emile Lahoud highway at the entrance of Beirut].

There are four border crossing points between Lebanon and Syria:

• Masnaa ( on the Beirut-Damascus Highway )
• Qaa ( at the northern edge of the Békaa Valley )
• Arida ( north of Tripoli along the coast )
• Aboudiyeh ( northeast of Tripoli ).

You can travel between Lebanon and Syria by private/rental car, bus, private taxi, or service taxi.

Stay updated with safety conditions in Syria if coming from there. There are no reports so far that border points were closed; however, check the news to stay up-to-date.

By bus [ edit ]

Charles Helou Station lies approximately 1 km east of Nejmeh Square, on Charles Helou Avenue, facing the Beirut Port. From there you can take the city buses or hop onto the larger coaches that link Beirut with the neighboring cities.

Buses connecting Beirut with the south of Lebanon arrive at an intersection next to the Cola bridge. The bus stop is known as "Cola" among the locals. This place is in the southern part of Beirut - in area known as Mazraa.

Buses connecting Beirut with the North of Lebanon as well as Aleppo in Syria leave from the Charles Helou Bus Station just north of the city center.

As of April 2014 most buses to and from Damascus in Syria have been relocated to the Charles Helou station. Be sure to check the security situation in Syria before leaving.

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis to Damascus , Syria are lined up at the Charles Helou bus station. The security situation between Beirut and Damascus has improved significantly in early 2014 (as of April 2014), but this does not mean that the trip can in any way be considered safe. If you must go, see war zone safety .

Taxis in Beirut will drive you to anywhere along the coastal road, but may be reluctant to drive to Tripoli given the security situation there. It is also possible to rent a taxi for the whole day for about the same prices at renting your own car.

Refer to the Get Around section for information on how to get to other parts of the city.

Get around [ edit ]

There are two types of taxis in Beirut; the old (often) battered hail-taxis, and the prebooking taxis.

• Hail-taxi - The most convenient form of transport in Beirut, as they are absolutely everywhere. Those taxis are predominantly Mercedes Benz cars (though due to increasing petrol prices, taxi drivers are opting for more economic forms or transport) and can be quite easily identified by their yellow illuminated taxi sign on the roof and red number plate. Fixed meters aren't provided so it is recommended to ask how much your trip will cost before hopping in. The fare will be charged per destination and not per distance traveled (which is an advantage since traffic is a big problem in the city). A typical journey from one side of Beirut to the other (roughly 3 km) may cost LL10 000. Many taxi drivers speak at least a few words of English and French. Knowing the name of your destination in the local language may solve any misunderstanding.

Keep in mind the names of the landmarks around the city , as they will come in handy when traveling by public transport (some drivers aren't that good at orienting!).

• Prebook taxi - These require that you call them and book a ride, they generally cost more but are much more luxurious and are normally air conditioned. All hotels should provide you with a taxi directory, if you wish to use this type of service. Taxi prices are considered cheap if compared to US and European taxis. Major taxi companies are: Geryes Taxi (+961 1-332747), Taxi Premiere (Tel 1260 or +961 1-389222). Allo Taxi (Tel 1213 or +961 1-366661),

By service [ edit ]

The more common form of transport, especially with daily commuters, as they are cheaper than the taxis, but ironically, are in fact the same. Service [ser-vee-s] are shared-taxis, the same taxis as above but shared between four or more people. The biggest advantage with the Service system is that the price of the ride is fixed at 2,000 L.L (€1). They come with drawbacks of course, and apart from having to share a small car with three other complete strangers (great for meeting new people actually), Service drivers may choose not to take you if you are not going in the same direction as them. Hailing a service or taxi usually entails yelling your destination to the driver if he slows down, then chasing the name of your destination with either 'taxi' (for private taxi LL10,000 should you want one.)

It is important to remember that if you want a service, give the name of the general district you want and not a specific address. When you get close the driver will ask you where you want to get out. If you recognise the area you want to be in say just ask to stop. After you have paid you and the driver asks you, can give a more specific address like "Crowne Plaza" (a landmark on Hamra St.)and the driver will drop you as near to it as he is going, often pointing out where you have to walk to get there. When you get in to a service pay the LL2000 for each person right away. If you fail to do so, the driver will assume you asked for taxi, and will overcharge you at taxi-rate when you want to get out. However if the driver stops to ask for other fares or picks up another passenger only pay the Service rate of LL2,000.

Taxi drivers in Beirut are notorious for overcharging tourists much more so than neighboring Syria. Most will demand absurd fares and demanding 2-3 times the service rate is very common. If you're pressed for time paying 2 service may be a compromise (LL4000), otherwise you may have to wait a bit to find an honest cab driver willing to take you for LL2000. Always get a price before leaving otherwise the driver will most definitely rip you off. Also, virtually no one tips cab drivers unless some extraordinary service has been rendered, like a very long wait time while you run an errand or something. Some drivers will ask you for a tip particularly near holidays. Payment is usually at the end of the journey.

There are two public transport companies. The OCFTC that operates a fleet of blue and white city-buses, and the LCC with a fleet of red and white minibuses; Bus fares cost either LL500 (OCFTC bus 24) or LL1000. The service is very efficient and the buses come very often, to get onto a bus you must stand at the side of the road and signal with your hand as a bus approaches; the buses will stop anywhere.

Driving in Beirut is not to be recommended for much of the day, particularly in the city center. Traffic is heavy, and impossible during rush hour. Walking around the city is much more of an experience, and is in fact necessary in the very center since that part of the city is a pedestrian area.

It can be difficult to find parking other than in multi-story and off-street car parks. On-street parking, if you are lucky enough to find one, is allowed for a short time of two hours. Tickets must be purchased through the parking meters usually located at either end of a street. They can be paid by either cash or card. Overstaying your time may get you a ticket. Enforcement of the parking limit isn't done very efficiently, but obviously the last thing anyone would want to find is a ticket that will ruin their day and set them back financially.

Renting a car is recommended if you're planning to visit neighboring towns and cities, or if you're planning to go out late at night when public transport isn't operating. Car rental prices range from economical LL40,000/day to luxury prices. Those can change according to season, so make sure you contact the car rental company beforehand to check prices as well as pickup/drop-off locations.

If you are traveling to the country during high season make sure to book your car rental in advance since it is normal to find that all rental companies are completely booked.

Driving in Beirut is on the right-hand side of the road. Driving can be hazardous because of crowded grid, lack of proper signing, and aggressive driving style. Only the central areas of Beirut have traffic lights operating, though plans have been made to cover all of the city.

By foot [ edit ]

As the city is quite compact, walking is the best way of getting around, and perfect for getting off the beaten track to find unexpected surprises. Most people however will not walk throughout the city, rather they will walk within certain districts and take cars/taxis to get from one district to another. Streets are generally well signposted, but few Beiruti locals would know how to navigate according to their names, directions are usually given by building placement ("straight down the road until you reach building X, turn left there, then right..."), and many streets have local nicknames that wouldn't match the map. That said, if you find yourself lost in the streets, simply ask any passer-by for directions; no one will refuse to help! Otherwise you can stop at the nearest hotel or shop and ask. Hotel concierges and shop keepers will most definitely speak some limited English.

Some roads in Beirut are in poor condition. Not so much in the center, but the farther you get from downtown the more road works you will most probably find. So take care!

You can always check out a Beiruti-run walking tour called Walk Beirut. They offer weekly tours around the city.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Road blocks make cycling relatively safe the rest of the time as the result of reduced traffic.

See [ edit ]

Beirut was once the self-proclaimed "Paris of the Middle East". It still has an outdoor cafe culture, and European architecture can be found everywhere. Many Beirutis (as well as other Lebanese) speak French and/or English, to varying degrees, along with Arabic.

Each district has its own sights and places to visit. The following listings are just some highlights of things that you really should see if you can during your visit to Beirut. The complete listings are found on each individual district page.

Landmarks [ edit ]

• Pigeon Rocks ( Rawcheh District) A monumental natural arch jutting up from the Mediterranean. Great place to sit at one of the roadside cafes and watch the sun set.
• Place de l'Etoile (Nejmeh Square)( Downtown District), built by the French in the early 20th century in the very center of the Downtown district, it suffered a lot of war damage during the war but has been restored. It is under heavy security given that the Parliament sieges in the middle of it, and there are many army and police barrages to limit the access thereto.
• Martyr's Statue Downtown Martyr's Square, east of Nejmeh Square towards Ashrafieh.

Museums and galleries [ edit ]

• Beirut Art Center ( Sin El-Fil District), Rue. 97 (street), Sin El-Fil, Beirut. ( Contemporary Modern art ), the first non-profit public space in Beirut, housing an exhibition space, screening and performance auditorium, bookstore, mediatheque, cafe and terrace. Designed by architect Raed Abi Lama. +591 1 397 018.
• Matignon Gallery ( Lebanese and International contemporary art ), Sin El Fil, Greater Beirut , ☏ +961 1-500265 , +961 1-484115 , fax : +961 1-484115 . M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-2PM .  
• Musee Emmanuel Paul Guiragossian , Emmanuel Guiragossian Art School, New Jdeideh, Greater Beirut ( near Eden Hotel ), ☏ +961 3 711755 , [email protected] .   .

Parks and squares [ edit ]

• Sanayeh Park , Emmile Eddé Road, Hamra , Beirut
• Horsh Beirut (Beirut Pine Forest) , (adjacent to the Beirut Hippodrome south of Ashrafieh )
• Khalil Gebran Park Downtown District (between Amir Amine St. and Toufik Khaled St.)
• Debbas Square Saifi village Downtown (between Charles Debbas St. and Dmascus St.)
• Nejmeh Square Central Downtown
• Herbal Garden Riad El Solh St. Downtown
• American University of Beirut campus By far the biggest and greenest park in Beirut. Non-students are only allowed to enter through the main gate on Bliss Street in Hamra . Visitors are required to show ID.
• Lebanese American University campus . While much smaller than AUB, the LAU campus in southern Hamra/Qoreitem is a cozy and quiet refuge from the busy streets of Beirut. ID is required to enter.

Festivals and events [ edit ]

• Beirut International Film Festival . Held annually in October, the Beirut Film Festival exhibits films from all over the middle east, usually in either Arabic or French. The films vary enormously and some can be intensely political.  
• Beirut International Jazz Festival . Held annually during the month of July over a period of four days, some of the greatest international jazz artists as well as musicians from around Lebanon play some quality music near the Beirut marina.  
• Festival du cinéma francophone , ☏ +961 1 293 212 . Held between the month of March and April over a period of two weeks, films are in French. Cinéma Métropolis - Masrah Al Madina, Beirut.  
• One Big Sunday , Beach party with live DJs held every Sunday during the summer months in various resorts and beaches, organised by Mix FM .
• Bacardi Night , Annual festival held during the summer with some of the hottest DJs and bands from around the world, organised by Mix FM .

Do [ edit ]

There are many things to do in Beirut. Check the different districts to find out what each has to offer. Meanwhile, here are a few highlights:

• Bet on an Arabian thoroughbred every Sunday in the Beirut Hippodrome, officially called Hippodrome Du Parc De Beyrouth . The hippodrome is home to popular horse races, attracting a dedicated betting crowd (often old taxi drivers). Foreigners should join the fun in the afternoon for free entrance (ID or passport required). Open on Sundays only.
• Soak up the sun in one of the beach clubs on the Beirut coast. Very few actually have sandy beaches, and most unfortunately have been converted into spas with swimming pools and paved terraces, but despite all that, they all have access to the sea. A few of them are completely private and members-only, but can be accessed by paying for a guest ticket if going in with a member. The Saint George Yacht club in Ain El Mreisseh and the Riviera Beach and Yacht Club at the Riviera Hotel are two such popular clubs, where access to the beach club for non-members is US$20 per day. You can chill in one of the pools or have a drink at the bars and cafes while listening to music in the afternoons. Long Beach Club is another good place. The entrance is just to the left of the Ferris wheel on the Corniche right before the hill. Bring a beach towel.
• 33.8786 35.4801 1 Ramlet Al-Baida , ☏ +961 71 799 869 . There is one at least one public beach though, right here. Lots of sand and pounding waves but sadly trash and pollution, maybe even some sewage releases into the water, too. Uff, at least you can watch the surf and sunset anyway. It is said to be a bit of a gay cruising spot too. ( updated Sep 2020 )

• Test your golfing skills at The Golf Club of Lebanon ( 18 hole ), Ouzai - Beer Hassan ( next to Henry chehab barrack ), ☏ +961 1 826335-6-7 , fax : +961 1 822474 , [email protected] .  
• Take a ride on the Beirut Balloon ( 30 passenger helium filled balloon, offering breathtaking views from an altitude of 300 m ), Allenby St., Downtown Beirut ( Entrance is through Biel Convention Centre. Look for it in the sky! ), ☏ +961 1 985901 . 10AM-10PM .  
• Walk, jog, skate, cycle, stroll (or whatever you consider exercise) along Paris Avenue which links up to General De Gaulle Avenue (both locally known simply as the corniche ) which stretch around the entire Central Beirut perimeter (approx. 5 km). Start the walk, jog, skate etc... at the Beirut marina ( Downtown Beirut District ) about an hour or so before sunset and finish at the Pigeon Rocks in Rawcheh , in time to watch the sun go down while sipping on a drink at one of the outdoor cafés.
• Calypso Beirut Diving Club , Movenpick Hotel & Resort, General de Gaulle Avenue, Raouche, Beirut , ☏ +961 3-314557 , fax : +961 1-785300 , [email protected] .  
• NISD ( National Institute for Scuba Diving ), ☏ +961 3-204422 , fax : +961 1-739206) , [email protected] . Solidere Beirut Marina, Downtown Beirut.  
• LD ( Lebanon Divers ), ☏ +961 1-322826 , +961 3-602614 , fax : +961 1-329441 , [email protected] . Mardelli Building 2nd Floor, Saide Street Ashrafieh.  
• Atlantis , [email protected] . Bel Azur Hotel, Jounieh, Greater Beirut.  

Learn [ edit ]

• AUB - American University of Beirut - The American University of Beirut (AUB) was founded in 1866 as a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher learning, functioning under a charter from the State of New York. AUB has grown from 16 students in a rented house to a major university with over 6,900 students located on a 73-acre campus overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The university is governed by an autonomous Board of Trustees comprised of international leaders in business, education, diplomacy, engineering, philanthropy, science, and medicine.
• LAU - Lebanese American University - The Lebanese American University is an American institution chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and operating in Lebanon. LAU has two campuses: one in Beirut, and a second in the Mount Lebanon city of Jbeil (Byblos). The university offers programs leading to Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in the arts and sciences, and Doctorates in Pharmacy. LAU is the only institution outside of the United States with an ACPE-accredited pharmacy program. LAU is a candidate for accreditation by the Commission on Institution of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
• USJ - Université Saint-Joseph - A private university founded in 1875. A member of the Association of Arab Universities, the International Association of Universities, the Association of French speaking universities (AUPELF) the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the European Federation of Catholic Universities, the Association of Jesuit Institutions of Higher Learning in Europe and Lebanon and the Euro-Med University (Téthys).
• Lebanese University - (Arabic: الجامعة اللبنانية‎, French: Université Libanaise) is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 16 faculties as of 2018 and comprises various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers.
• Haigazian University (Arabic: جامعة هايكازيان, Armenian: Հայկազեան Համալսարան) is the only Armenian university in the Armenian diaspora founded in 1955 as Haigazian College. English is the main language of instruction although the university has an Armenological Department for studies in Armenian. It offers programs in English leading to Bachelor's degrees in the Arts and Sciences as well as Business Administration and Economics, in addition to Master's degrees in the Arts, Sciences and Business Administration.
• ALLC International House Beirut International House Beirut is the only school in the country to offer speaking-only courses in the Lebanese dialect, as well as the Cambridge CELTA (Certificate for Teaching English as a Foreign Language). IH Beirut also provides classes in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Modern Standard Arabic.
• Saifi Institute for Arabic Language Saifi Institute is the most well known of Lebanon's Arabic language schools. It is located in the Saifi Urban Gardens campus in Beirut's Gemazye district, which includes a cafe and student accommodation. Saifi Institute hosts around 120 students per 5-week term throughout the year. Courses are offered in the spoken and written communication of daily life (Saifi's own curriculum called "Urban Arabic"), as well as Modern Standard Arabic.
• Lycee Abdel Kader - A private French Lycée in the traditional area of Karakol El Druze near Beirut downtown: it is particularly known for offering French and Lebanese baccalaureates and for its highly competent students and staff. It is ranked among the top 5 private schools in Lebanon with a 100% success rate in the French Bac.

Buy [ edit ]

Clothes and fashion - Beirut is the fashion capital of Lebanon and the region, with many prominent Lebanese designers located here, including ( Elie Saab , Basil Soda [dead link] , Pierre Katra and Robert AbiNader [dead link] .)

Shopping streets [ edit ]

There are several shopping districts around the city.

• Downtown Beirut - The renovated city center that boasts fancy and designer stores.
• Hamra Street - An area featuring much revitalization over the last few years, with many international and upscale brands returning to the district.
• Mar-Elias Street - A busy street towards the south of Beirut. Many of the shops are Lebanese brands which means this is the perfect place to find bargains as most brands are local and cheap.
• Rue. Verdun - A shopping street with several high-end shopping malls and department stores.

Shopping centers [ edit ]

• ABC Mall , Achrafieh Alfred Naccache Street, Mar Mitr , ☏ +961 1 212888 . Many international brands are here along with great restaurants, cafés, and a movie theater all in a mixed indoor/outdoor setting.   A second branch of this mall has also opened in Verdun Street.
• Souks de Beirut is a mall in downtown with international brands in an outdoor setting.
• Beirut Mall , ☏ +961 1 385888 . Tayouneh roundabout.  
• ABC Outlet , Hamra street, facing Cinema strand, +961 1 344740. Women's specialty store. Open M-Sa 9:45AM-7:45PM, closed Sunday.
• City Mall , Dora highway roundabout, Greater Beirut, +961 1 905555. 100 stores, 15 cafés and restaurants, a Hypermarket, and 9 movie theaters.
• Music, books, event tickets: Virgin Megastores has several branches in Beirut including: Beirut International Airport, City Mall (Dora roundabout), ABC department stores (Ashrafieh, Verdun, Dbayye), Beirut Souks.

Markets [ edit ]

Flea markets are surprisingly hard to find, occasional organized markets are held that are made to resemble flea markets.

• Souk El Tayeb Held every Saturday near BIEL downtown 9AM-2PM, is Beirut's first organic farmer's market. Promoting traditional methods of farming and preserving, it's a great place to pick up local honey, cheese and breads, plus artisans' crafts. It also runs regular cookery classes, to learn how to make that perfect tabouleh (bulgur salad).
• Sunday Market Get up early and join the locals for a rummage at the Sunday Market which is open 7AM-1PM, next to Beirut River in the east. You might find antique jewellery, clothing and beads, or maybe just bric-à-brac, but there's an eclectic selection of goodies on show. Remember to bargain hard.
• Burj Hammoud Beirut's Armenian quarter, perfect place to shop for cheap bric-à-brac, artisan's' crafts, souvenirs, copper and brass ware and faus-brands. Don't forget to haggle. Burj Hammoud is located to the East of ashrafieh across the Beirut river.

Money [ edit ]

• Cash: Lebanese pounds (LL) and US dollars are both accepted everywhere, except for tiny number of government offices. Payment and change for transactions may be given as a combination of the two. The exchange rate is fixed at LL1,500 to US$1.
• Payment cards: Many shops, hotels, restaurants, bars, etc., accept international payment cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or American Express.
• Automatic bank tellers: Withdrawal can be made from any automatic bank teller found in any region of the country. Withdrawals can be made in either Lebanese lira or the US dollar.
• Traveler's checks: Lebanese banks can exchange them very easily.

Eat [ edit ]

Lebanese cuisine [ edit ].

Lebanese cuisine is a mix of Arab, Turkish and Mediterranean influences, and enjoys a worldwide reputation for its richness and variety as well as its Mediterranean health factor. Olive oil, herbs, spices, fresh fruits and vegetables are commonly used, as well as dairy products, cereals, fishes and various types of meat. A visit to Beirut includes the traditional Lebanese Mezze (Meza) , an elaborate variety of thirty hot and cold dishes. A typical Mezze may consist of salads such as the Tabboule and Fattouch , together with the caviars: Hommos and Moutabal , and some patties such as the Sambousseks and finally, the stuffed grape leaves, with of course the Lebanese flat pita bread which is essential to every Lebanese Mezze.

• Mankoushé/Manakish: a Lebanese pizza, or at least that's what it looks like, the Mankoushé is a baked pizza-shaped dough with either a mixture of thyme (called za'atar) or local cheeses (or a mixture of both) on top, can be bought from all bakeries as well as special Forn Mankhoushé which specialize in this type of food, usually had for breakfast. cost between LL1,000 and LL3,000.
• Ka'ek: a different version of bagels, about 30 cm in diameter and hollow, normally filled with thyme but you can ask for cheese spread as well. Commonly purchased from street vendors that ride bicycles or motorized scooters and honk a manual horn, but you can also find it at major bakeries. Although not of Lebanese origins, they're quite popular and are always found near Rawcheh area, they're worth a try. Cost about LL1,000.
• Roastery Nuts: roasted nuts are them local favourite appetizers particularly with the older people. Local brands have dedicated roasteries where customers walk in and order fresh, they produce some of the best nuts in the region, and certainly the most varied. Pecans, cashews, macadamias, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, peanuts. Ask for Krikri in thyme, spice, or cheese flavour.
• Sweets: every religious or national event sees stalls set up on pavements outside churches and in public squares, where traditional Lebanese sweets are sold such as: Maamoul, Ktaef, Halawet el Jibn, Halawet el Riz,and Ashta . If you're lucky enough to come across those be sure to give them all a try, otherwise visit any påtisserie where the same sweets can be purchased.

International cuisine [ edit ]

Beirut's different cultures brought different tastes for food, and restaurants of all different origins have opened all around the city. Restaurants have different price ranges, depending of course on the quality of the ingredients used; check the different districts for the listings.

Fast food [ edit ]

If you're on a tight budget, or if you simply miss the food that you can get back at home, fast food is your best option. All major international fast food restaurants have opened chains in Beirut (KFC, McDonald's, Burger King, Hardee's, Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut, Dunkin' Donuts, Subway), but many local fast food restaurants have sprung up to compete with the major franchisers.

Drink [ edit ]

Nightlife: Alcohol is readily available in Beirut. Many of Beirut's districts have their own fair number of cafes, bars, and clubs, although many areas are "dry" or, while serving alcohol, do not have a vibrant nightlife. This said, two of the hotter nightspots, with the highest concentration of pubs and nightclubs, are Gemmayze (mostly pubs) and Monot St (mix of nightclubs and pubs), both located within close range in the Ashrafieh district. Hamra is also seeing a revival in its nightlife, with over a dozen new pubs and bars open there now. The best way to find out what's in and whats not is by checking the local press or simply going there and seeing for yourself. There is no curfew in Beirut, thought expect most pubs and bars to empty by 2AM, and most nightclubs to empty between 4AM and 4:40AM.

During the summer, Monot tends to be much less busy, as many open-air clubs outside of the area tend to dominate the nightlife in Beirut. Gemmayzeh remains popular year-round.

• SkyBar in Biel, next to downtown, is an open-air nightclub. It may be the hottest nightclub in Beirut, and has a view overlooking the Sea. It is closed during the winter months.
• Iris. A rooftop bar on top of the an-Nahar newspaper building, with an outdoor area overlooking the sea, downtown, and the mountains.

Locally brewed beer include Almaza and Laziza (non-alcoholic). There is also a microbrewery that started producing several styles of more flavorful beer in 2006, called "961 Beer" [dead link] . "LB Beer", which is brewed without the use of any corn or rice. it has gained a large following by the younger, independent minded crowd and is a regular staple at locally organized parties. All are worth a try when visiting.

Sleep [ edit ]

There are lots of hotels in Beirut's metropolitan area, ranging from cheap hostels to luxury suite hotels. Prices and quality vary across the spectrum, but if you look well enough, there's bound to be the perfect hotel inside whatever budget you set. Check the different districts to find places to sleep.

Stay safe [ edit ]

After 2009, Lebanon became a safer place and the number of tourists is dramatically increasing (more than 2 million in 2009), although the number has peaked since then. The US government's warning to travelers visiting Lebanon was lifted in 2009 but was later renewed, in part because of the risk of spillover from the Syrian civil war. The violence in Naher al-Bared has ceased. If you choose to visit Lebanon, visit the touristic cities like Jounieh, Byblos, Tyr and Tripoli. Beirut itself is relatively safe.

Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut are approachable, but try to bring a local. She/he will be worth a lot when it comes to logistics and safety. Camps vary in size and appearance (the camps in Beirut are worse than some rural camps, which can resemble more open villages). Most refugees however are both civil and open in the encounter with foreigners. The key is of course openness on your part as well. Of course, Downtown Beirut will always be a more safe alternative, but for the most part you won't encounter any problems while in a refugee camp.

Photography of military personnel and installations is prohibited. You should also be careful in taking photographs in the Dahiyeh (the southern suburbs), if you don't want to get in contact with Hezbollah. The safest thing is to ask an official nearby for permission, although your request will very likely be turned down. Keep your camera in a purse just for safety. If a Hezbollah official approaches you, seeing your camera, he can't know if you've been taking pictures before that. Should you be taken in for questioning (because of taking pictures), remain calm. It might take a long time getting out of it, but it's highly unlikely that things should escalate or turn ugly. Bottom line: consider not bringing your camera at all. A trip to Dahiyeh is way too interesting and different to be spent getting questioned by the authorities.

Avoid any governmental or military convoys that may be passing by. Lebanese people have adapted to all those situations.

Cope [ edit ]

Beirut sees no more criminal activity than any other major city, if not less. Be aware of pickpockets and scams involving overpricing. The last is mostly a problem concerning taxi drivers, so be sure always to agree on a price before setting off.

If you are unlucky enough to fall ill, head straight for the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), also known as AUH, (near the AUB campus) - you will need to pay around US$40 upfront (cash or major credit card) and be reimbursed later by your insurer.

Pharmacies in Lebanon are able to prescribe drugs on-the-spot. While this is likely to be a boon for a minority of travelers, it can leave you even more ill than when you came in to begin with. Don't chance it - see a doctor first.

City stress

Escaping to the mountains near Beirut is a good option for those about to burn-out. Aley and Beit Mery are both near enough to the city (20–30 minutes) and are generally clean and green.

Embassies [ edit ]

Radio stations [ edit ].

Radio in Beirut is quite popular, particularly with the younger people who listen to the English-spoken stations as all events and concerts are advertised through those. Arabic and French broadcasted stations are plentiful, and are worth a listen if you'd like to experience the traditional culture. Below are radio stations that are broadcasted in English:

• NRJ (99.1FM)
• Mix FM (104,4FM)
• Radio One (105.5FM)
• BBC World Service (in English) (1323AM)

Newspapers [ edit ]

Official Newsboxes can be found throughout the commercial areas in the city, mainly in Sassine Square ashrafieh, Verdun st. Verdun, Concorde st. Hamra. All Minimarkets/Supermarkets/Hypermarkets distribute newspapers and magazines as well.

• The Daily Star [dead link] Independent daily English-language newspaper covering local, national and international news.
• L'Orient Le Jour a popular independent French-language newspaper.
• Ad Diyar a popular independent Arabic-language newspaper.
• Al Akhbar a popular Arabic-language newspaper.
• Al Anwar a popular Arabic-language newspaper.
• Al Joumhouria a popular Arabic-language newspaper.
• Al Mustaqbal a popular Arabic-language newspaper.
• An Nahar a popular Arabic-language newspaper.

There is a huge variety of Arabic newspapers of all sorts, as well as ethnic newspapers such as the Armenianllanguage dailies Aztag , Ararad and Zartonk .

===Hospitals===

• American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) ( Internal medicine, General surgery, Heart surgery, Maternity, Pediatrics, Urology, Ophthalmology, Specialized Eye center, Family medicine, Intensive care unit, Physiotherapy, Blood bank, Pharmacy, Laboratory, and Emergency services. ), Makdissi Street, Hamra , ☏ +961 1 350-000 , fax : +961 1-345325 , [email protected] .  
• Hotel Dieu Hospital: ( Internal Medicine, General Surgery -Heart Surgery, Kidney, Liver and Bone marrow transplant, Maternity, Pediatrics, Intensive Care Units, One day surgery, Outpatient care, Diagnostic procedures, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, blood bank, Medical Imaging services, Radiation Oncology, Hem dialysis, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Emergency services. ), Adib Ishak Street, BVD. Alfred Naccache, Achrafieh, , ☏ +961 1-615300 , +961 1-615400 , fax : +961 1-615295 , [email protected] .  
• Saint George Hospital University medical center: ( internal medicine, general surgery, heart surgery, maternity, pediatrics, intensive care unit, physiotherapy, blood bank, pharmacy, laboratory and emergency services. ), Rmeil, Youssef Sursock street, Achrafieh , ☏ +961 1-585700 , +961 1-525700 , fax : +961 1-582560 , [email protected] .  
• Clinique Dr. Rizk Hospital: ( Services Provided: Internal medicine, surgery, maternity, pediatrics, kidney transplant, specialized eye center, intensive care unit, physiotherapy, pharmacy, laboratory and emergency services. ), Zahar St., Achrafieh, P.O. Box: 11-3288, Beirut , ☏ +961 1-200800 , +961 1-328800 , fax : +961 1-200816 , [email protected] .  
• Makassed Hospital: , Ouzai St., Tarik Al-Jadida, P.O. Box: 6301, Beirut , ☏ +961 1-646590 , fax : +961 1-646589 , [email protected] . Internal medicine, surgery, bone marrow transplant, maternity, pediatrics, intensive care unit, physiotherapy, blood bank, pharmacy, laboratory and emergency services.  
• Najjar Hospital: , Maamari Street, Ras Beirut , ☏ +961 1-340626 , +961 3-669911 , fax : +961 1-343992 , [email protected] . Internal medicine, Surgery, Maternity, Pediatrics, Intensive care unit, Blood bank, Pharmacy, Laboratory and Emergency services.  
• Sahel Hospital: , Airport Ave., Dergham Street, P.O.Box: 99/25, Ghobeiry , ☏ +961 1-858333 , fax : +961 1-840146 , [email protected] . Internal medicine, general surgery, maternity, intensive care unit, physiotherapy, blood bank, pharmacy, laboratory and emergency services.  
• Trad Hospital and Medical Center: , : Mexico Street, Fifth Floor, Clemenceau, Hamra , ☏ +961 1-341740 , +961 1-369494 , +961 1-369495 , fax : +961 1-361663 . Internal medicine, surgery, maternity, pharmacy, and laboratory services.  
• Fuad Khoury Hospital: , Maktabi Bldg., Abdelaziz Street, Hamra , ☏ +961 1-742140 , +961 1-348811 , fax : +961 1-350208 , [email protected] . Internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, blood bank, pharmacy, laboratory and emergency services. ( updated Jun 2022 )
• Barbir Hospital: , Fuad The First Street, Barbir , ☏ +961 1-652915 , +961 1-652955 , fax : +961 1-631429 , [email protected] . Internal medicine, surgery, maternity, pediatrics, intensive care unit, physiotherapy, blood bank, pharmacy, laboratory and emergency services.  

Connect [ edit ]

Many cafes and restaurants provide free WiFi to customers. Internet Cafés are plentiful in Beirut, and they should all provide printing and copying services as well as web surfing. The inner-city internet cafés tend to be more expensive (approx US$2–3/hr) than those in the residential areas (approx $0.50/hr), but are also usually 'nicer' e.g.z providing a faster internet connection with new fast computers:

• GDS Global Data Systems , Sodeco Square, ground floor Sodeco Street, Ashrafieh , ☏ +961 1-615578 , fax : +961 1-615578 , [email protected] . 10AM to 11PM . US$2.5 per hour .  
• GDSonline , Downtown,Maarad street,287B. Beirut central district , ☏ +961 1-970121 , fax : +961 1 970121 , [email protected] . 11AM till 1AM . US$2.5 per hour .  

Payphones [dead link] can be found on all main streets all around the city, however, they can only take smart cards called Telecarte which provide a specific amount of prepaid calling time and can be used from any payphone. Telecarte denominations come in LL10,000 and LL30,000. Telecarte can be purchase at OGERO Sales Offices and MoT offices (most Minimarkets/Supermarkets/Hypermarkets as well as Mobile phone stores sell them).

• allows you to save 10% on International Direct Calls.
• allows you to make national calls to any regular line at 100 LL/min.
• allows you to make national calls to any cellular line at 300 LL/min.

GSM Phones can be used in Lebanon, either through roaming (beware of roaming charges from your home country operator), or by purchasing a local SIM card through one of the two telecom operators Alfa and touch . Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased for as little as US$25 and 3G mobile data plans can be purchased for as low as $10 for 150MB. In order to use a local SIM card with your own phone in Lebanon, you should ensure that it is:

• Not locked to your current carrier
• Enabled for use in Lebanon. In order to do that, please visit the telco help desks at Beirut Airport upon arrival, follow the signs that will lead you to those desks.

Go next [ edit ]

Once you leave Beirut, visit any of the other cities in Lebanon . The country is relatively small, so no single journey to any other city should take more than two hours. Archaeological sites and architectural heritage include Baalbek , Byblos , Sidon , Tripoli , and Tyre . Most of these cities are UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Other sites of notable interest are Jeita caves , Qadisha valley with its monasteries , and Zahle .

Depending on the season visiting, you can go skiing in one of the six mountain resorts, or go to the beaches in Tyr or one of the beach resorts in Jounieh .

Buses that head to the north city of Tripoli or to Syria and Jordan operate from the Charles Helou bus station , which is also the station for long-distance taxis that link Beirut to neighboring cities as well as Syria and Jordan. Charles Helou is located next to Port of Beirut. It can be difficult to understand the main bus routes at first but you can always ask, bus drivers are like everybody else in Lebanon, friendly and may be able to communicate in English or French.

Buses that head south—to Sidon or Tyre—leave from the Cola intersection.

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Terry Anderson, Reporter Held Hostage for Six Years, Dies at 76

The Beirut bureau chief for The Associated Press, he was kidnapped in 1985 by Islamic militants.

By Sam Roberts

Terry Anderson, the American journalist who had been the longest-held Western hostage in Lebanon when he was finally released in 1991 by Islamic militants after more than six years in captivity, died Saturday at his home in Greenwood Lake, N.Y., in the Hudson Valley. He was 76.

The cause was apparently complications of recent heart surgery, said his daughter, Sulome Anderson.

Mr. Anderson, the Beirut bureau chief for The Associated Press, had just dropped his tennis partner, an A.P. photographer, at his home after an early morning tennis match on March 16, 1985, when men armed with pistols yanked open his car door and shoved him into a Mercedes-Benz. The same car had tried to cut him off the day before as he returned to work from lunch at his seaside apartment.

The kidnappers, identified as Shia Hezbollah militants of the Islamic Jihad Organization in Lebanon, beat him, blindfolded him and kept him chained in some 20 hideaways for 2,454 days in Beirut, South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

The militants, supported by Iran, indicated that they were retaliating against Israel’s use of American weapons in earlier strikes against Muslim and Druze targets in Lebanon. They also had been seeking to pressure the Reagan administration to secretly facilitate the illegal sales of weapons to Iran — an embarrassing scheme that became known as the Iran-Contra Affair because the administration had planned to use proceeds from the arms sales to secretly subsidize the right-wing Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Mr. Anderson was the last of 18 Western hostages released by the kidnappers. After his release, he married his fiancé, who had been pregnant when he was kidnapped, and, for the first time, met his 6-year-old daughter.

While he had not been tortured during his captivity, he said, he was beaten and chained. He spent a year or so, on and off, in solitary confinement, he said.

“There is nothing to hold on to, no way to anchor my mind,” he said after the ordeal. “I try praying, every day, sometimes for hours. But there’s nothing there, just a blankness. I’m talking to myself, not God.”

He found some consolation in the Bible, though, and added: “The only real defense was to remember that no one could take away my self-respect and dignity — only I could do that.”

Terry Alan Anderson was born on Oct. 27, 1947, in Lorain, Ohio, where his father, Glen, was the village police officer. When he was still young, the family moved to Batavia in Western New York where his father drove a truck and his mother, Lily (Lunn) Anderson, was a waitress.

After graduating from high school, he was accepted by the University of Michigan and offered a scholarship, but decided to join the Marines instead. He served for five years in Japan, Okinawa and Vietnam as a combat journalist and a final year in Iowa as a recruiter.

After he was discharged, he earned degrees in journalism and political science from Iowa State University while working for a local television station.

He worked for The A.P. in Japan and South Africa before beginning a two-and-a-half-year stint in Lebanon in 1983.

After his release, he owned a blues bar in Athens, Ohio, and ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the Ohio State Senate in 2004. He sued Iran for $100 million in damages in a federal court and eventually collected about $26 million from that nation’s assets that had been frozen in the United States. His windfall lasted about seven years; he filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Mr. Anderson established a foundation, the Vietnam Children’s Fund, with a friend, Marcia Landau, which built more than 50 schools in Vietnam. He was the honorary chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

He also taught at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, the University of Kentucky and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

In addition to his daughter Sulome, he is survived by his second of three wives, Madeleine Bassil, whom he married in 1982; another daughter, Gabrielle Anderson; a sister, Judy Anderson; and a brother, Jack Anderson.

As much as captivity was an ordeal, Mr. Anderson recalled, so was acclimating to what he called “the real world.”

“I had problems, and it took me a long time to begin to cope with them,” he said. “People ask me, ‘Did you get over them?’ I don’t know! Ask my ex-wife — ask my third ex-wife. I don’t know; I am who I am.”

“I was damaged a great deal more than I was aware of — than anyone was aware of,” he said.

“It takes as long to recover as the time you spent in prison,” he added.

Neil MacFarquhar contributed reporting.

Sam Roberts is an obituaries reporter for The Times, writing mini-biographies about the lives of remarkable people. More about Sam Roberts

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Beirut airport arrivals drop as Westerners stay away

• Daily arrival rate at Beirut down 4%
• Lebanese diaspora continue to travel
• ‘No significant traffic’ from West

The daily arrival rate at Lebanon’s only functioning international airport is down by 4 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, according to Marwan Haber, the head of Middle East Airline’s (MEA) commercial division.

Speaking at the Horeca hospitality conference in Beirut on Tuesday Haber said 95 percent of arrivals were due to visits from the Lebanese diaspora. He said the drop in overall inbound tourism, while lower than initially feared, was due to the outbreak of fighting on the southern border.

“We do not live in denial,” Haber said, saying that MEA had “no significant traffic” from Western markets.

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The vast majority of arrivals are Lebanese nationals, Haber said, followed by Iraqis, Syrians and Jordanians. Arrivals from Western markets are “largely just NGOs” [non-governmental organisations].

Since October 18 the British Foreign Office has advised UK nationals against all travel to Lebanon, whilst the US State Department urges US citizens to “reconsider travel”, due to risks of escalation in fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. 

On Friday the French foreign ministry warned against visiting Lebanon and asked for the family members of French diplomats to be evacuated.

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While flight bookings are currently down to between 50 percent and 60 percent, Haber said interest was “increasing”.

“If these last holidays were anything to go by, by Christmas I believe it will reach 100 percent.” 

Visitor numbers for 2023 were their highest since an economic crisis hit in 2019, recording 1.7 million, a 14 percent increase on 2022.

Most of this increase came in the summer months when numbers of visitors were a third higher than those in 2023.

Across the region the tourism sector’s worst fears have not come to pass.

Egypt also saw a decline in visitor numbers following the outbreak of conflict but reported a record high of 14.9 million inbound tourists for 2023, just off its target of 15 million.

Egypt’s tourism minister Ahmed Issa reported that visitor numbers have already bounced back in 2024 , with a 5 percent year-on-year increase during the first 40 days of the year.

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Airspace closures: how Iran’s attacks have affected flight routes

Drone and missile attacks on israel mean that flights are being re-routed — here’s what you need to know and what to do if your journey is impacted.

I ran’s “retaliatory” strike on Israel last weekend has triggered the greatest disruption to air travel since 9/11, according to one industry expert.

“Not since then have we had a situation with that many different air spaces closed down in that quick succession, and that creates chaos,” says Mark Zee, the founder of the airline operations association OPSGROUP.

Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon closed their airspace during the attacks on April 13, and while all technically reopened on April 14 — and remain so after Israel’s retaliatory strike on April 18 — the European Union Aviation Safety Agency recommends that airlines “exercise caution” and notes that “there continues to be an increased potential for miscalculation and/or misidentification at present over Tehran”.

Consequently flights eastwards from Europe have been facing disruption that could potentially get worse if the conflict escalates — especially as available routes are already significantly compromised by the closure of Ukrainian airspace since February 2022.

So if you’re flying to Asia or Australasia in the next few days or weeks, here’s what you need to know.

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What is the problem.

Concerns about the safety of flying over a conflict zone are leading airlines to avoid Iranian airspace and seek alternative routes east. The options are to fly north of Iran, through the Stans (Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan), or south, via Egypt and the Red Sea. There is, though, a risk that in the event of further conflict between Iran and its allies and Israel, Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israeli targets would overfly Saudi Arabia and force the closure of that airspace too.

Which destinations are affected?

Many airlines, including easyJet, have suspended flights to Israel. Lufthansa has also cancelled departures to Tehran, Beirut and Amman. But the potential for disruption extends beyond the Middle East to many popular destinations east of the Arabian Sea. These include Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

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Which airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace?

Virgin Atlantic says it has “made the decision to temporarily avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran and Israel, meaning some Virgin Atlantic passenger services between the UK and India will be adjusted. We will continue to monitor the situation and apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers by slightly longer flight times”.

Singapore Airlines is now routing through Central Asia, with the airline warning that “some flights may take slightly longer than usual,” and Malaysian Airlines flights from London — its sole European route — have diverted both to the north and the south of Iran over past days. Qantas’s nonstop route to Perth will now land to refuel at Singapore, and both Air India and Vistara are flying around Iran. Finnair and SAS have also re-routed some Asian departures. Emirates, Oman Air, Fly Dubai and flights from Wizz Air’s Abu Dhabi base are still overflying Iran.

Wizz Air flights from the Abu Dhabi base, however, are still flying over Iran.

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What about British Airways?

BA is continuing to operate four times a week to Tel Aviv, with outbound flights stopping in Cyprus en route for a crew change. Its flight departed London on Monday as scheduled. The airline said it is closely monitoring the situation in the country. The Times understands BA was already avoiding Iranian airspace.

How long could I be delayed?

The duration of flights in both directions between Europe and Asia and Australasia has increased due to the extra distance involved in avoiding Iran. The shortest flight time from London to Singapore — avoiding Ukrainian airspace — is about 13.5 hours, but diverting south via the Arabian peninsula could push that to about 15 hours. Stops for refuelling can add further delays — Virgin’s VS354 from Heathrow to Mumbai was hit by a five-hour delay for refuelling in Istanbul last Saturday. But in most cases delays appear to be minimal.

Are all flights east affected?

Not necessarily. If you’re transiting through a Middle Eastern hub such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha your onward flights to Asia are unlikely to be affected by airspace restrictions over Iran, which lies to the north. But with so many other flights now flying via the Arabian peninsula or Central Asia, there’s a possibility that you may encounter minor delays as air traffic controllers cope with the congestion. Will that cause significant disruption? John Grant at the aviation analyst OAG doesn’t believe so. “It’s certainly going to make the space a bit busier but they can handle the volumes and hopefully this will only be a short-term issue.”

Will flight prices rise?

In the short term that’s unlikely, but, if conflict in the Middle East escalates, airlines will pass on the increased operating costs to passengers — and it’s not just a matter of the extra fuel burnt re-routing around Iran. Oil prices haven’t increased since the start of the Gaza war simply because production has not been affected, but if Israel targets Iranian infrastructure that could change.

What happens if I miss my connection?

If your flight originated in the UK or the EU, your airline is legally bound to offer assistance with accommodation, onward travel at the earliest opportunity — even if it’s with another airline — and, where appropriate, compensation for delays or denied boarding. For flights into the UK or EU, on airlines registered outside those jurisdictions, no such obligation applies, but in most cases the carriers will do their best to help. In some cases you’ll have to run to catch connections, and be aware that while you may make it on board, your luggage might not.

Can I cancel and get a refund?

In the absence of formal Foreign Office advice against travelling, normal booking conditions apply, so while you may cancel if you wish, you cannot expect a refund.

How will I know if my flight is affected?

Your airline will be in touch.

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Terry anderson, reporter held hostage in lebanon for 7 years, dead at 76.

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LOS ANGELES — Terry Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years, has died at 76.

Anderson, who chronicled his abduction and torturous imprisonment by Islamic militants in his best-selling 1993 memoir “Den of Lions,” died on Sunday at his home in Greenwood Lake, New York, said his daughter, Sulome Anderson.

The cause of death was unknown, though his daughter said Anderson recently had heart surgery.

“He never liked to be called a hero, but that’s what everyone persisted in calling him,” said Sulome Anderson. “I saw him a week ago and my partner asked him if he had anything on his bucket list, anything that he wanted to do. He said, ‘I’ve lived so much and I’ve done so much. I’m content.’”

After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson led a peripatetic life, giving public speeches, teaching journalism at several prominent universities and, at various times, operating a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant.

He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, won millions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets after a federal court concluded that country played a role in his capture, then lost most of it to bad investments.

He filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Upon retiring from the University of Florida in 2015, Anderson settled on a small horse farm in a quiet, rural section of northern Virginia he had discovered while camping with friends.

“I live in the country and it’s reasonably good weather and quiet out here and a nice place, so I’m doing all right,” he said with a chuckle during a 2018 interview with The Associated Press.

In 1985 he became one of several Westerners abducted by members of the Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah during a time of war that had plunged Lebanon into chaos.

After his release, he returned to a hero’s welcome at AP’s New York headquarters.

As the AP’s chief Middle East correspondent, Anderson had been reporting for several years on the rising violence gripping Lebanon as the country fought a war with Israel, while Iran funded militant groups trying to topple its government.

On March 16, 1985, a day off, he had taken a break to play tennis with former AP photographer Don Mell and was dropping Mell off at his home when gun-toting kidnappers dragged him from his car.

He was likely targeted, he said, because he was one of the few Westerners still in Lebanon and because his role as a journalist aroused suspicion among members of Hezbollah.

“Because in their terms, people who go around asking questions in awkward and dangerous places have to be spies,“ he told the Virginia newspaper The Review of Orange County in 2018.

What followed was nearly seven years of brutality during which he was beaten, chained to a wall, threatened with death, often had guns held to his head and often was kept in solitary confinement for long periods of time.

Anderson was the longest held of several Western hostages Hezbollah abducted over the years, including Terry Waite, the former envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had arrived to try to negotiate his release.

By his and other hostages’ accounts, he was also their most hostile prisoner, constantly demanding better food and treatment, arguing religion and politics with his captors, and teaching other hostages sign language and where to hide messages so they could communicate privately.

He managed to retain a quick wit and biting sense of humor during his long ordeal. On his last day in Beirut he called the leader of his kidnappers into his room to tell him he’d just heard an erroneous radio report saying he’d been freed and was in Syria.

“I said, ‘Mahmound, listen to this, I’m not here. I’m gone, babes. I’m on my way to Damascus.’ And we both laughed,” he told Giovanna DellÓrto, author of “AP Foreign Correspondents in Action: World War II to the Present.”

He learned later his release was delayed when a third party who his kidnappers planned to turn him over to left for a tryst with the party’s mistress and they had to find someone else.

Anderson’s humor often hid the PTSD he acknowledged suffering for years afterward.

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“The AP got a couple of British experts in hostage decompression, clinical psychiatrists, to counsel my wife and myself and they were very useful,” he said in 2018. “But one of the problems I had was I did not recognize sufficiently the damage that had been done.

“So, when people ask me, you know, ‘Are you over it?’ Well, I don’t know. No, not really. It’s there. I don’t think about it much these days, it’s not central to my life. But it’s there.”

At the time of his abduction, Anderson was engaged to be married and his future wife was six months pregnant with their daughter, Sulome.

The couple married soon after his release but divorced a few years later, and although they remained on friendly terms Anderson and his daughter were estranged for years.

“I love my dad very much. My dad has always loved me. I just didn’t know that because he wasn’t able to show it to me,” Sulome Anderson told the AP in 2017.

Father and daughter reconciled after the publication of her critically acclaimed 2017 book, “The Hostage’s Daughter,” in which she told of traveling to Lebanon to confront and eventually forgive one of her father’s kidnappers.

“I think she did some extraordinary things, went on a very difficult personal journey, but also accomplished a pretty important piece of journalism doing it,” Anderson said. “She’s now a better journalist than I ever was.”

Terry Alan Anderson was born Oct. 27, 1947. He spent his early childhood years in the small Lake Erie town of Vermilion, Ohio, where his father was a police officer.

After graduating from high school, he turned down a scholarship to the University of Michigan in favor of enlisting in the Marines, where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant while seeing combat during the Vietnam War.

After returning home, he enrolled at Iowa State University where he graduated with a double major in journalism and political science and soon after went to work for the AP.

He reported from Kentucky, Japan and South Africa before arriving in Lebanon in 1982, just as the country was descending into chaos.

“Actually, it was the most fascinating job I’ve ever had in my life,” he told The Review. “It was intense. War’s going on — it was very dangerous in Beirut. Vicious civil war, and I lasted about three years before I got kidnapped.”

Anderson was married and divorced three times. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Gabrielle Anderson, from his first marriage.

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news Obituaries

Terry Anderson, journalist who survived captivity, dies

The associated press correspondent, 76, chronicled his abduction and imprisonment by islamic militants in his bestselling 1993 memoir..

By The Associated Press

5:18 PM on Apr 21, 2024 CDT

LOS ANGELES — Terry Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years, has died at 76.

Anderson, who chronicled his abduction and torturous imprisonment by Islamic militants in his best-selling 1993 memoir Den of Lions , died Sunday at his home in Greenwood Lake, N.Y., said his daughter, Sulome Anderson.

The cause of death was unknown, though his daughter said Anderson recently had heart surgery.

“He never liked to be called a hero, but that’s what everyone persisted in calling him,” said Sulome Anderson. “I saw him a week ago and my partner asked him if he had anything on his bucket list, anything that he wanted to do. He said, ‘I’ve lived so much and I’ve done so much. I’m content.’”

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Related: Robert MacNeil, 1st anchor of PBS ‘NewsHour,’ dies

After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson led a peripatetic life, giving public speeches, teaching journalism at several prominent universities and, at various times, operating a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant.

He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, won millions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets after a federal court concluded that country played a role in his capture, then lost most of it to bad investments. He filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Upon retiring from the University of Florida in 2015, Anderson settled on a small horse farm in a quiet, rural section of northern Virginia he had discovered while camping with friends. `

“I live in the country and it’s reasonably good weather and quiet out here and a nice place, so I’m doing all right,” he said with a chuckle during a 2018 interview with The Associated Press.

In 1985 he became one of several Westerners abducted by members of the Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah during a time of war that had plunged Lebanon into chaos.

After his release, he returned to a hero’s welcome at AP’s New York headquarters.

As the AP’s chief Middle East correspondent, Anderson had been reporting for several years on the rising violence gripping Lebanon as the country fought a war with Israel, while Iran funded militant groups trying to topple its government.

On March 16, 1985, a day off, he had taken a break to play tennis with former AP photographer Don Mell and was dropping Mell off at his home when gun-toting kidnappers dragged him from his car.

He was likely targeted, he said, because he was one of the few Westerners still in Lebanon and because his role as a journalist aroused suspicion among members of Hezbollah.

“Because in their terms, people who go around asking questions in awkward and dangerous places have to be spies,” he told the Virginia newspaper The Review of Orange County in 2018.

What followed was nearly seven years of brutality during which he was beaten, chained to a wall, threatened with death, often had guns held to his head and often was kept in solitary confinement for long periods of time.

Anderson was the longest held of several Western hostages Hezbollah abducted over the years, including Terry Waite, the former envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had arrived to try to negotiate his release.

By his and other hostages’ accounts, he was also their most hostile prisoner, constantly demanding better food and treatment, arguing religion and politics with his captors, and teaching other hostages sign language and where to hide messages so they could communicate privately.

He managed to retain a quick wit and biting sense of humor during his long ordeal. On his last day in Beirut he called the leader of his kidnappers into his room to tell him he’d just heard an erroneous radio report saying he’d been freed and was in Syria.

“I said, ‘Mahmound, listen to this, I’m not here. I’m gone, babes. I’m on my way to Damascus.’ And we both laughed,” he told Giovanna DellÓrto, author of “AP Foreign Correspondents in Action: World War II to the Present.”

He learned later his release was delayed when a third party who his kidnappers planned to turn him over to left for a tryst with the party’s mistress and they had to find someone else.

Anderson’s humor often hid the PTSD he acknowledged suffering for years afterward.

“The AP got a couple of British experts in hostage decompression, clinical psychiatrists, to counsel my wife and myself and they were very useful,” he said in 2018. “But one of the problems I had was I did not recognize sufficiently the damage that had been done.

“So, when people ask me, you know, ‘Are you over it?’ Well, I don’t know. No, not really. It’s there. I don’t think about it much these days, it’s not central to my life. But it’s there.”

At the time of his abduction, Anderson was engaged to be married and his future wife was six months pregnant with their daughter, Sulome.

The couple married soon after his release but divorced a few years later, and although they remained on friendly terms Anderson and his daughter were estranged for years.

“I love my dad very much. My dad has always loved me. I just didn’t know that because he wasn’t able to show it to me,” Sulome Anderson told the AP in 2017.

Father and daughter reconciled after the publication of her critically acclaimed 2017 book, “The Hostage’s Daughter,” in which she told of traveling to Lebanon to confront and eventually forgive one of her father’s kidnappers.

“I think she did some extraordinary things, went on a very difficult personal journey, but also accomplished a pretty important piece of journalism doing it,” Anderson said. “She’s now a better journalist than I ever was.”

Terry Alan Anderson was born Oct. 27, 1947. He spent his early childhood years in the small Lake Erie town of Vermilion, Ohio, where his father was a police officer.

After graduating from high school, he turned down a scholarship to the University of Michigan in favor of enlisting in the Marines, where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant while seeing combat during the Vietnam War.

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After returning home, he enrolled at Iowa State University where he graduated with a double major in journalism and political science and soon after went to work for the AP. He reported from Kentucky, Japan and South Africa before arriving in Lebanon in 1982, just as the country was descending into chaos.

“Actually, it was the most fascinating job I’ve ever had in my life,” he told The Review. “It was intense. War’s going on — it was very dangerous in Beirut. Vicious civil war, and I lasted about three years before I got kidnapped.”

Anderson was married and divorced three times. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Gabrielle Anderson, from his first marriage.

-- JOHN ROGERS, The Associated Press

The Associated Press

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2 warnings and 3 advisories in effect for 7 regions in the area, terry anderson, ap reporter abducted in lebanon and held captive for years, has died.

John Rogers

Associated Press

FILE - Terry Anderson, who was the longest held American hostage in Lebanon, grins with his 6-year-old daughter Sulome, Dec. 4, 1991, as they leave the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Damascus, Syria, following Anderson's release. Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of Americas longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years, died Sunday, April 21, 2024. He was 76. (AP Photo/Santiago Lyon, File)

LOS ANGELES – Terry Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years, has died at 76.

Anderson, who chronicled his abduction and torturous imprisonment by Islamic militants in his best-selling 1993 memoir “Den of Lions,” died on Sunday at his home in Greenwood Lake, New York, said his daughter, Sulome Anderson.

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Anderson died of complications from recent heart surgery, his daughter said.

“Terry was deeply committed to on-the-ground eyewitness reporting and demonstrated great bravery and resolve, both in his journalism and during his years held hostage. We are so appreciative of the sacrifices he and his family made as the result of his work,” said Julie Pace, senior vice president and executive editor of the AP.

“He never liked to be called a hero, but that’s what everyone persisted in calling him,” said Sulome Anderson. “I saw him a week ago and my partner asked him if he had anything on his bucket list, anything that he wanted to do. He said, ‘I’ve lived so much and I’ve done so much. I’m content.’”

After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson led a peripatetic life, giving public speeches, teaching journalism at several prominent universities and, at various times, operating a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant.

He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, won millions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets after a federal court concluded that country played a role in his capture, then lost most of it to bad investments. He filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Upon retiring from the University of Florida in 2015, Anderson settled on a small horse farm in a quiet, rural section of northern Virginia he had discovered while camping with friends. `

“I live in the country and it’s reasonably good weather and quiet out here and a nice place, so I’m doing all right,” he said with a chuckle during a 2018 interview with The Associated Press.

In 1985 he became one of several Westerners abducted by members of the Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah during a time of war that had plunged Lebanon into chaos.

After his release, he returned to a hero’s welcome at AP’s New York headquarters.

As the AP’s chief Middle East correspondent, Anderson had been reporting for several years on the rising violence gripping Lebanon as the country fought a war with Israel, while Iran funded militant groups trying to topple its government.

On March 16, 1985, a day off, he had taken a break to play tennis with former AP photographer Don Mell and was dropping Mell off at his home when gun-toting kidnappers dragged him from his car.

He was likely targeted, he said, because he was one of the few Westerners still in Lebanon and because his role as a journalist aroused suspicion among members of Hezbollah.

“Because in their terms, people who go around asking questions in awkward and dangerous places have to be spies,“ he told the Virginia newspaper The Review of Orange County in 2018.

What followed was nearly seven years of brutality during which he was beaten, chained to a wall, threatened with death, often had guns held to his head and often was kept in solitary confinement for long periods of time.

Anderson was the longest held of several Western hostages Hezbollah abducted over the years, including Terry Waite, the former envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had arrived to try to negotiate his release.

By his and other hostages’ accounts, he was also their most hostile prisoner, constantly demanding better food and treatment, arguing religion and politics with his captors, and teaching other hostages sign language and where to hide messages so they could communicate privately.

He managed to retain a quick wit and biting sense of humor during his long ordeal. On his last day in Beirut he called the leader of his kidnappers into his room to tell him he’d just heard an erroneous radio report saying he’d been freed and was in Syria.

“I said, ‘Mahmound, listen to this, I’m not here. I’m gone, babes. I’m on my way to Damascus.’ And we both laughed,” he told Giovanna Dell’Orto, author of “AP Foreign Correspondents in Action: World War II to the Present.”

He learned later his release was delayed when a third party who his kidnappers planned to turn him over to left for a tryst with the party's mistress and they had to find someone else.

Anderson’s humor often hid the PTSD he acknowledged suffering for years afterward.

“The AP got a couple of British experts in hostage decompression, clinical psychiatrists, to counsel my wife and myself and they were very useful,” he said in 2018. “But one of the problems I had was I did not recognize sufficiently the damage that had been done.

“So, when people ask me, you know, 'Are you over it?’ Well, I don’t know. No, not really. It’s there. I don’t think about it much these days, it’s not central to my life. But it’s there.”

At the time of his abduction, Anderson was engaged to be married and his future wife was six months pregnant with their daughter, Sulome.

The couple married soon after his release but divorced a few years later, and although they remained on friendly terms Anderson and his daughter were estranged for years.

“I love my dad very much. My dad has always loved me. I just didn’t know that because he wasn’t able to show it to me,” Sulome Anderson told the AP in 2017.

Father and daughter reconciled after the publication of her critically acclaimed 2017 book, “The Hostage’s Daughter,” in which she told of traveling to Lebanon to confront and eventually forgive one of her father’s kidnappers.

“I think she did some extraordinary things, went on a very difficult personal journey, but also accomplished a pretty important piece of journalism doing it,” Anderson said. “She’s now a better journalist than I ever was.”

Terry Alan Anderson was born Oct. 27, 1947. He spent his early childhood years in the small Lake Erie town of Vermilion, Ohio, where his father was a police officer.

After graduating from high school, he turned down a scholarship to the University of Michigan in favor of enlisting in the Marines, where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant while seeing combat during the Vietnam War.

After returning home, he enrolled at Iowa State University where he graduated with a double major in journalism and political science and soon after went to work for the AP. He reported from Kentucky, Japan and South Africa before arriving in Lebanon in 1982, just as the country was descending into chaos.

“Actually, it was the most fascinating job I’ve ever had in my life,” he told The Review. “It was intense. War’s going on — it was very dangerous in Beirut. Vicious civil war, and I lasted about three years before I got kidnapped.”

Anderson was married and divorced three times. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Gabrielle Anderson, from his first marriage; a sister, Judy Anderson; and a brother, Jack Anderson.

“Though my father’s life was marked by extreme suffering during his time as a hostage in captivity, he found a quiet, comfortable peace in recent years. I know he would choose to be remembered not by his very worst experience, but through his humanitarian work with the Vietnam Children’s Fund, the Committee to Protect Journalists, homeless veterans and many other incredible causes,” Sulome Anderson said in a statement Sunday.

Memorial arrangements were pending, Sulome Anderson said.

Biographical material for this obituary was prepared by retired Associated Press writer John Rogers. AP journalist Andrew Meldrum contributed from New York.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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