Lebanon
How to get to Lebanon: airports, flights and border crossings
Fly into Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY); it is the only commercial airport in Lebanon and sits about 9 km (5.6 mi) south of central Beirut. Almost all travellers arrive by air. Land borders with Syria are open in principle but depend on security and your government's advice, so check before planning any overland route.Fly into Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY); it is the only commercial airport in Lebanon and sits about 5.6 mi (9 km) south of central Beirut. Almost all travellers arrive by air. Land borders with Syria are open in principle but depend on security and your government's advice, so check before planning any overland route.
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- Field checked
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideLebanon
Key facts
- Main airport
- Beirut–Rafic Hariri International (BEY), about 9 km south of the city centre
- Other commercial airports
- None in regular international service
- Typical flight time from London
- About 4.5–5.5 hours direct
- Typical flight time from New York
- About 11–14 hours, usually one stop
- Land entrycheck
- Syria border crossings; status changes with security — check your government's advice
- Sea entry
- No scheduled international passenger ferries; cruise calls only
- Airport to city
- Taxi or ride-hailing, roughly 15–30 minutes depending on traffic
- Entry rulescheck
- Visa and passport rules vary by nationality; confirm before booking
Summary by passport, month and cost
Use this as a starting grid, then confirm the details on the pages linked below. Flight times and fares are 2026 estimates and move with season, airline and how far ahead you book.
| Passport / route | Best arrival point | Typical flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US, Canada | Beirut (BEY) | 11–16 hours, usually one stop | No nonstop from North America; connect in Europe, Turkey or the Gulf |
| UK, Ireland | Beirut (BEY) | 4.5–5.5 hours direct | Direct flights from London; more choice in summer |
| Australia, NZ | Beirut (BEY) | 18–24 hours, one or two stops | Connect via the Gulf or Europe |
| Gulf and Turkey | Beirut (BEY) | 2–4 hours | Frequent short-haul service |
| Overland from Syria | Border crossing | Varies | Only if your government advice allows it; check |
| Sea | Beirut port | — | No scheduled passenger ferries |
Step by step
Step 1: read your own government's travel advice for Lebanon before you book anything. It is the single item that decides whether the trip happens, and it can change quickly.
Step 2: check your entry rules. Visa requirements, passport validity and any restrictions tied to previous travel to Israel are handled on the visa page; confirm them for your nationality rather than assuming.
Step 3: book a flight into Beirut (BEY). It is the only airport with regular international service, so there is no second option to compare. Direct routes exist from London and several European, Turkish and Gulf hubs; from North America, Australia and New Zealand you will connect at least once.
Step 4: plan the airport transfer. The airport is roughly 9 km south of central Beirut, a 15–30 minute drive outside heavy traffic. Taxis and ride-hailing are the usual options; agree the fare or use the app before you get in.
Step 5: sort money and connectivity early. US dollars are used alongside the Lebanese pound, and a local SIM or eSIM is worth arranging on arrival or in advance.
Step 6: decide on land or sea only after step 1. Overland entry from Syria is possible in principle but depends on border status and your government's advice; there are no scheduled international passenger ferries into Lebanon.
Notes
Beirut is the practical gateway, but it is not the only place worth landing near: Byblos, Tripoli and the Mount Lebanon villages are all reachable from the airport within a few hours by road.
Flight prices to Beirut swing widely with season and demand, and route networks have changed in recent years. Treat any fare you see as a 2026 estimate and re-check close to booking.
If your government advises against travel, that advice outranks anything on this page. This desk does not plan around it.
Travel insurance for Lebanon is worth reading carefully: many policies exclude areas under travel warnings, so check the wording before you pay.
Questions people ask
What is the best airport to fly into for Lebanon?
Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY). It is the only commercial airport in Lebanon with regular international service, about 9 km south of central Beirut, so every air arrival goes through it.
How long is the flight to Lebanon from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ?
From London, about 4.5–5.5 hours direct. From the US and Canada, roughly 11–16 hours with at least one stop. From Australia and New Zealand, about 18–24 hours with one or two stops. All figures are 2026 estimates.
Can I enter Lebanon by land or sea?
Land crossings from Syria exist and are sometimes used, but status depends on security and your government's advice — check before planning. There are no scheduled international passenger ferries; sea arrivals are cruise calls only.
Do I need a visa to enter Lebanon?
It depends on your nationality, and rules can change. Check the visa and entry requirements page and your own government's advice before booking, and make sure your passport has enough validity left.
How do I get from Beirut airport to the city?
Taxi or ride-hailing, roughly 15–30 minutes depending on traffic. Agree the fare or book through an app before you get in, and carry some US dollars or Lebanese pounds for the trip.
Is it safe to book a trip to Lebanon right now?
Read your own government's travel advice first. It is the item that decides whether the trip happens, it can change quickly, and it outranks any planning advice on this page.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBeirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
- officialLebanon Ministry of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage – Lebanon