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Voykit pocket guide · Lebanon
Beirut
بيروت
Check your own government's travel advisory before booking Beirut, and re-check it within days of departure: conditions here change fast, and this page cannot substitute for that check.
Beirut is Lebanon's capital, largest city and main port, on the Mediterranean coast. It has a national museum, a seafront corniche and a mix of Ottoman, French Mandate and rebuilt post-war architecture. The 2020 port explosion, a multi-year economic collapse and periodic regional conflict have strained banking, power and other services.
- Country
- Lebanon
- Local name
- بيروت
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov (mild, before or after peak summer heat)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid, highest prices)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- US dollar cash is the backbone of payments: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget $25–40 excl. bed · Mid $50–90 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police (ISF) 112 · Ambulance (Lebanese Red Cross) 140 · Civil Defense (Fire) 125
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Mezze dinner for two | confirm locally — prices move fast with inflation and the exchange rate |
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Shared service taxi ride | $1–2 (confirm locally) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BEY · Beirut–Rafic Hariri International
- About 9 km south of the centre; taxi 20–30 min depending on traffic
Get around
There is no metro and no reliable public bus network. Taxis and shared 'service' taxis (fixed routes, shared with other passengers) are the main way to move around; confirm the fare before getting in, since meters are rarely used.
See and do
Known for
- National Museum of Beirut
- Corniche seafront promenade
- Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh nightlife streets
- Mezze and street food
- Raouché Rocks
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Byblos (Jbeil) | Shared taxi or car, about 40 km / 45 min | Half day |
| Jeita Grotto | Car, about 20 km | Half day |
Sleep
- Hamra
- Central, walkable, cafes, banks and Beirut's main pedestrian shopping street.
- Achrafieh
- Quieter, residential, restaurants; hillier streets, a short taxi from the centre.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Check your own government's travel advisory before you go, and again close to departure: the security situation can change within days.
- Cash-based economy under strain: banks restrict withdrawals and cards are unreliable, so carry US dollars in small bills.
- Power cuts are routine; hotels and restaurants run on generators, so confirm your accommodation has 24-hour power before booking.
- Some southern suburbs and border areas are advised against or restricted: stay in central and northern neighbourhoods unless locally guided.
Follow your government's advisory closely: day-to-day street crime is not the main risk here, political and security instability is.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Beirut yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- National Museum of Beirut
- Corniche seafront promenade
- Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh nightlife streets
- Mezze and street food
- Raouché Rocks
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Lebanon Ministry of Tourism: www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/
- Wikivoyage — Beirut: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Beirut
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/beirut). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.