Lebanon
Currency in Lebanon: what to use and how to exchange
Lebanon uses the Lebanese pound (LBP), but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and most prices are quoted in dollars. Bring clean, recent USD notes and change money at a licensed exchange shop or your hotel rather than the airport; card and ATM use is patchy, so carry enough cash for several days.
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GuideLebanon
Key facts
- Currency
- Lebanese pound (LBP); US dollars in everyday use
- Best cash to bring
- Clean, unmarked USD notes; torn or old-series bills are often refused
- Where to exchange
- Licensed exchange shops (sarrafa) in Beirut and other cities; hotels and the airport usually give worse rates
- Cards and ATMs
- Accepted in bigger hotels and malls; unreliable outside cities
- Small notes
- Ask for small USD bills; large notes are hard to break
- Rate
- Official and market rates have diverged since 2019; confirm the day's rate locally
Details
Two currencies circulate at once. The Lebanese pound is the legal currency, but since the 2019 financial crisis the dollar has become the practical unit for rent, hotels, restaurants and fuel. You will see prices in USD, in LBP, or in both, and the two are not always converted at the same rate.
The pound has lost most of its value against the dollar, and an official rate and a market rate have coexisted for years. That gap is why you should never assume the number on a receipt matches the number on your card statement. Ask what rate is being used before you pay, especially for anything large.
For day-to-day spending, dollars work for almost everything. Pounds are useful for small purchases: a coffee, a shared taxi, a bottle of water, a tip. Keep a mix of both and treat the pound as loose change rather than savings.
Exchange offices, often called sarrafa, are common in Beirut and other cities and usually give a better rate than banks or the airport. Hotels will change money for guests but at a worse rate. Street changers who approach you are best avoided; use a shop with a counter and a posted rate.
Cards work in international hotels, larger supermarkets and malls in Beirut, but outside the cities many places are cash only. ATMs exist but may be empty, capped, or refuse foreign cards. Do not plan a day around finding a working machine.
| Item | What to expect (2026 estimate) | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Lebanese pound (LBP); USD widely used | No |
| USD acceptance | Hotels, restaurants, taxis, shops | No |
| Exchange point | Licensed exchange shop or hotel | No |
| Airport rate | Usually worse than city shops | No |
| Card acceptance | Big hotels, malls, some supermarkets | No |
| ATM reliability | Patchy outside Beirut | No |
| Small notes | Ask for small USD bills | No |
Tips
Carry more cash than you would in Europe or North America. A few days of dollars in small notes covers meals, taxis and tips even if every card machine is down.
Check every USD note before you accept it. Torn, marked or old-series bills are often refused, and the same applies to notes you bring in. Banks and exchange shops in Lebanon are strict about condition.
Agree the currency and the rate before a taxi ride or a service. Quoting a price in dollars and taking payment in pounds at a different rate is a common source of argument.
Keep a small stash separate from your main wallet, and split cash between bags. If you lose a day's worth, you can still get back to your hotel.
Prices move, so treat any figure you read online as a starting point and confirm locally on the day.
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Lebanon?
The Lebanese pound (LBP) is the legal currency, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and many prices are quoted in dollars. Keep both: dollars for larger payments, pounds for small ones.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Lebanon?
Licensed exchange shops in Beirut and other cities usually give better rates than banks, hotels or the airport. Ask for the rate before handing over cash, and avoid street changers who approach you.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Lebanon?
Bring cash. Cards work in bigger hotels and malls in Beirut but are unreliable elsewhere, and ATMs can be empty or refuse foreign cards. Carry several days of USD in small, clean notes.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBanque du Liban
- secondaryWikivoyage – Lebanon