Flight & airport info
See what people from around the world are saying about cities we fly to and from
twitter bird
  • ashvidav: Beirut : AIPACs Secret Talking Points On Iran and Palestinians For Next Weeks Lobbyfest - TPMCafé (blog) http://bit.ly/c8BQxw
    5 minutes ago
  • LebTweets: RT @lamisalmufti Off to Global-changemakers conference in Beirut!
    8 minutes ago
  • LebTweets: RT @kpl90 Beirut : Red Claws Sign Veteran Guard Gillespie for Playoff Push - OurSports Central (press release) http://url4.eu/1sWIo
    8 minutes ago

World / Asia / Lebanon / Beirut

Beirut is a cosmopolitan, bustling city. The newly rebuilt Downtown area and the lovely Corniche by the sea, are restoring the city's reputation for culture and elegance.

Currency

Lebanese Pound

Visa Requirements

EU nationals, Canadians, Americans or Australians can obtain visas at Beirut airport (one month free; three months 50,000 LBP). Passports must be valid for six months and must not have an Israeli stamp.

Language

Arabic, French

Timezone

Arabic, French

Weather

Hot summers, warm mild winters

Dialling Code

00 961

Electricity

220V. European two- pin plugs are standard

Health and Safety

There are no special health requirements for visiting Lebanon. Medical facilities are good. Payment is usually required in cash. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance are strongly advised.

Useful Links

There are no special health requirements for visiting Lebanon. Medical facilities are good. Payment is usually required in cash. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance are strongly advised.

Flights to Beirut arrive at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport. The best way into the city is by taxi (LBP 40,000), which takes around 45 minutes, traffic permitting. Public transport is practically nonexistent within Beirut and most people use shared service taxis to get around- the usual fare is LBP 1,500.

The Saifi Village

Visit the Saifi Village, where small art galleries, boutiques and artisan shops bring back the atmosphere of the old souk, which once stood here. Browse through the many antique shops and don't be afraid to bargain. Other spots that are perfect for strolling and soaking up the atmosphere include the cafés and bars of Hamra and the Downtown area which has been completely renovated. Here you'll find cobbled streets, smart shops and restaurants busy with prosperous Lebanese and visiting tourists. The Corniche, a wide boulevard by the sea, is the place to go for an evening stroll and a sun-downer in one of the many oceanfront bars.

Casino du Liban

If you fancy a flutter head for the Casino du Liban, perched on cliffs above the sparkling sea in Jounieh.

National Museum

Don't miss the National Museum on the Damascus Road for an introduction to the complex and lengthy history of this ancient country. The collection of Phoenician artefacts is one of the richest in the world.

Quick Lunch - Olio

Olio, in Gemmayze, has wonderful pizzas cooked in wood ovens, sushi and Japanese fusion dishes. Get there early as the restaurant is very popular with locals.

Top Table - Centrale

The stylish Centrale restaurant has the best of French cuisine, an excellent wine cellar and a very cool basement bar accessed by a glass elevator. This is where wealthy Beirutis go to see and be seen.

Cheap Eat - Le Rouge

Le Rouge (Rue Gouraud) has great sandwiches, pizzas and pastas. Make sure you leave room for a slice of their famous chocolate cake.

On Business - Crowne Plaza Beirut

The Crowne Plaza Beirut is a centrally located top class hotel with conference facilities for up to 600, and car parking (a must in this crowded city) for 420 cars.
Book now

Lap Of Luxury - The Albergo

The Albergo is a luxury boutique hotel with large suites and a wonderful roof garden. Rooms are furnished in a mixture of styles which reflect Beirut's cosmopolitan location.
Book now

Cheap Sleep - The Cavalier Hotel

The Cavalier Hotel, one of the oldest, privately-owned hotels in Beirut, has quiet rooms, very friendly staff and is centrally located in the Hamra district.
Book now

Coffee And Chat - Café Younes

The Café Younes (Al Diwan building, Neemat Yafet St) has a street-side terrace in a quiet part of Hamra, excellent service, and a choice of more than 20 styles of coffee.

Formal Presentation - Meridien Commodore Hotel

The Meridien Commodore Hotel in Hamra has conference facilities for up to 650 people with a dedicated team on hand to cater for all business needs.

Evening Drinks - The 961

The 961 (Medawar St, Gemayze) is Beirut's first micro-brewery. This cool, minimalist, urban space features a vast choice of beers, and very good Lebanese fusion cuisine. Good spot for Sunday brunch with jazz music.

Yto Barrada and Etel Adnan

This spring, Beirut’s Sfeir-Semler will play host to a one-off joint show from French-Moroccan artist Yto Barrada and Lebanese-American essayist, poet and visual artist, Etel Adnan. Multi-disciplined and seeringly political, Barrada will no doubt find a fit artistic sparring partner in Adnan, a literary heavyweight renowned as one of the most important Arab-American writers working today. The full program is yet to be released, so be sure to check the website for more information nearer the time.

22 Apr 2010 - 30 Sep 2010
Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Tannous Building, Quarantine, Lb-2077 7209

Affiliations, by Emily Jacir

Featuring four works produced over the past ten years, Emily Jacir’s latest, quietly critical show is set to grace the Beirut Art Centre until mid-April this year. One of Jacir’s intervention works - ’Where We Come From’ - poses the question - ‘If I could do anything for you, anywhere in Palestine, what would it be?’. Carrying out requests ranging from paying a phone bill at a post office in Jerusalem to placing flowers on a mothers’ grave, and documenting each thoroughly- Jacir’s ‘Affiliations’ is an arresting reminder of the daily trials faced by many in the Middle East.

01 Feb 2010 - 09 Apr 2010
Jisr El Watii, Off Corniche an Nahr. Building 13, Street 97, Zone 66 Adlieh

City guides

Flights

Lowest fares


Departure airport
Flickr
Very still clyde
Uploaded by David Farrell on Flickr