If you visit Lebanon, you will most likely be arriving and departing from Beirut, the capital and the largest city. I’m fairly confident in this statement because of Lebanon’s unfortunate physical location, making it difficult to access by land from either of it’s neighboring countries.
Why go?
Beirut used to be called “the Paris of the Middle East” for it strong French influences and vibrant culture. It was a popular tourist destination until the civil war broke out in 1975 and ravaged the city. As it struggles to regain some of its former glory, and establish more independence from it’s overpowering neighbors, it has a lot to offer travelers who are looking for: fine hotels, a working tourist industry, culture, history and amazing food.
Despite (and to some extent because of) it’s current and on-going geopolitical turmoils, it is a fascinating country with a rightful claim to its place in history.
What you need to know:
The Lebanese Pound is fixed at about 1,500 LBP to the dollar. This means that most establishments will accept either, and can give change in either.
There are two ways to use a taxi in Beirut: a “normal” taxi (which takes you from point A to point B), and a “Servees” taxi (which takes other riders as well who are going in the same general direction). For the most part, the actual taxi is the same, just the service is different depending on which service you request from the driver. The “Servees” taxi is much less expensive and should cost you either 2,000 LBP or 4,000 LBP anywhere with Beirut (depending on the distance). A regular taxi will charge between 5,000 and 10,000 LBP. Note: there are many stories on the net about people being swindled or worse, especially using Servees. I had no such experiences. Note 2: ALWAYS negotiate the fair from outside the taxi.
Arriving at the airport and picking up a taxi can be overwhelming, with many drivers (and middle men) yelling to (at?) you. I booked a transfer to my hotel through Viator before leaving home. This was a bit more expensive, but for about $28 I didn’t have to deal with the confusion.
Having said all that about taxis, Beirut is a very walkable city. I kept my guard up, but at no time did I feel unsafe. I printed some maps before I went and I used GPSMyCity, and they got me everywhere I needed to go (although some roads are inexplicably blocked by military outposts, and I had to make a few detours).
The National Museum is well worth the visit. It is clean and well lit, and most items are labeled in English.
Lebanese food is very popular world-wide, and with good reason!
The train to the lower grotto at Jeita in Beirut, Lebanon. The lower grotto is viewed from a boat. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #Jeita #Grotto #TravelLebanon #JeitaGrotto...
Grafitti in Beirut, Lebanon. The struggle in Beirut is real. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #MiddleEast #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #Grafitti...
School childern in Beirut, Lebanon, showing off the pride in their country. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #SchoolChildren #Travel #FieldTrip #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #Children...
The clock tower in the Central District of Beirut, Lebanon. Since it is highly secured, there is very little foot traffic. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #RueElMaarad #Travel #RueMaarad #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #CentralDistrict...
Rue El Maarad in the Central District of Beirut, Lebanon. Since it is highly secured, there is very little foot traffic. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #RueElMaarad #Travel #RueMaarad #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #CentralDistrict...
Saint George Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon. . Mosaic of Saint George slaying the dragon in the city where the deed took place. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #SaintGeorgeOrthodoxCathedral #Travel #Georgeandthedragon #saintgeorgegreekorthodoxcathedral #TravelLebanon #SaintGeorge...
The Roman baths in Beirut, Lebanon. . Modern Beirut was built over many previous civilizations, and many of them are still visible in areas where the ruins lay exposed, such as here in the Roman baths. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #RomanBaths #Travel #RomanBathsBeirut #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #RomanRuins...
The Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon. . This histroic building is now the HQ of the Prime Minister of Lebanon. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #GrandSerail #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #GrandSerailBeirut...
The Jesuit University in Beirut, Lebanon. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #JesuitUniversity #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #USJ...
The Jesuit University in Beirut, Lebanon. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #JesuitUniversity #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #USJ...
Call for action in grafitti in Beirut, Lebanon. The struggle in Beirut is real. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #MiddleEast #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #Grafitti...
Call for action on a flyer in Beirut, Lebanon. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #MiddleEast #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #BeirutFlyer...
Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon. . Inaugurated in 2008, this mosque covers approx 11,000 sq meters and 65 meter high minarets; and is a dominant feature of the Beirut city skyline. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Travel #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #Al-AminMosque #AlAminMosque #BeirutMosque #MohammadAlAminMosque...
A tree growing out of the Roman ruins in Beirut, Lebanon. . Modern Beirut was built over many previous civilizations, and many of them are still visible in areas where the ruins lay exposed. This picture dramatically shows the ancient and the modern buildings side by side. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #Beirut #Lebanon #BeirutLebanon #Lebanese #Travel #MiddleEast #BeirutCity #TravelLebanon #RomanRuins...
Hotel Gefinor Rotana, Beirut, Lebanon View of the Bedroom . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #HotelGefinorRotana #Beirut #Lebanon #HotelRotana #TravelBeirut #Beirut #Beiruting #BeirutHoliday #HotelGefinor #Gefinor...
Sarcophagus National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon This is a beautiful museum which, in addition to interesting artifacts, has an amazing backstory. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #NationalMuseumofBeirut #NationalMuseumBeirut #Beirut #Lebanon #NationalMuseum #TravelBeirut #BeirutMuseum #BeirutHoliday #Museum #MuseumofBeirut...
Anthropomorphic Sarcophagi National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon This is a beautiful museum which, in addition to interesting artifacts, has an amazing backstory. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #NationalMuseumofBeirut #NationalMuseumBeirut #Beirut #Lebanon #NationalMuseum #TravelBeirut #BeirutMuseum #BeirutHoliday #Museum #MuseumofBeirut...
Anthropomorphic Sarcophagi National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon This is a beautiful museum which, in addition to interesting artifacts, has an amazing backstory. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #NationalMuseumofBeirut #NationalMuseumBeirut #Beirut #Lebanon #NationalMuseum #TravelBeirut #BeirutMuseum #BeirutHoliday #Museum #MuseumofBeirut...
Anthropomorphic Sarcophagi National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon This is a beautiful museum which, in addition to interesting artifacts, has an amazing backstory. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #NationalMuseumofBeirut #NationalMuseumBeirut #Beirut #Lebanon #NationalMuseum #TravelBeirut #BeirutMuseum #BeirutHoliday #Museum #MuseumofBeirut...
Sarcophagus of King Ahram, Byblos, 10th-11th century BCE. National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon . This is a beautiful museum which, in addition to interesting artifacts, has an amazing backstory. . Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf . Picture Taken: 11/2017 . #NationalMuseumofBeirut #NationalMuseumBeirut #Beirut #Lebanon #NationalMuseum #TravelBeirut #BeirutMuseum #BeirutHoliday #Museum #MuseumofBeirut...
Why go?
What you need to know:
