Major city · Lebanon
Zahleزحلة
A half-day to one day is enough: walk the riverfront, eat in Al Wadi, visit a winery. Use it as a lunch stop between Beirut and Baalbek.
Zahle is the largest city in the Bekaa Valley, 52 km east of Beirut at nearly 1000 m elevation. It is known for its riverside restaurants, wineries and relaxed pace. Most visitors come for a meal and a stroll; one night is enough to add a winery tour.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- LBP
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, though the valley is cooler than Beirut)
- Airport
- BEY
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Lebanon befor…
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Lebanon ↗Check your own government travel advice for Lebanon before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Lebanon ↗Entry rules depend on your passport; check General Security and your own government's advice before booking.
- Lebanon ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Lebanon before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Zahle112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Zahle, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollar cash is the backbone of payments: see Insurance & payments above.Lebanon-wide
- SafetycheckZahle is generally safe for tourists, but check your government travel advice for Lebanon.
- Emergency numbers112 police · 140 Red Cross ambulance · 175 Civil defence (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBEY Beirut–Rafic Hariri International (About 50 km (31 mi), 45–60 min by taxi or bus).BEY Beirut–Rafic Hariri International (About 31 mi (50 km), 45–60 min by taxi or bus).
- Getting aroundThe city is walkable along the river; taxis and shared vans connect the centre to Al Wadi and the wineries.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (Arabic or Turkish)15,000–30,000 LBP
- BeerBeer (local, 330 ml)20,000–40,000 LBP
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride within Zahle30,000–60,000 LBP
- Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per personLBP 150,000
- Mid-range bedDouble room in a mid-range hotel, a night, per roomLBP 700,000
- High-end bedDouble room in a mid-range hotel, a night, per roomLBP 1,200,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget LBP 400,000 · Mid LBP 700,000 · High LBP 1,200,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BEY Beirut–Rafic Hariri International (About 50 km (31 mi), 45–60 min by taxi or bus)BEY Beirut–Rafic Hariri International (About 31 mi (50 km), 45–60 min by taxi or bus)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Mar
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Apr
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Aug
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Nov
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Dec
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Zahle: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Feb
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
9 rd
Mar
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
8 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Jul
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Aug
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Oct
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4 rd
Nov
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
7 rd
Dec
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The city is walkable along the river; taxis and shared vans connect the centre to Al Wadi and the wineries. A taxi from Beirut costs about 400,000–600,000 LBP (check).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Baalbek
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Taxi or shared van, about 1 h north-east
Roman temple complex; a full day trip from Zahle.
Beirut
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Taxi or bus, about 45–60 min west
Day trip or continue your journey.
Rashaya
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Taxi, about 45 min south
See the Rashaya Citadel and the independence museum.
Aaiha
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Taxi, about 30 min south
Small village with a historic church and views.
Kfar Qouq
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Taxi, about 40 min north
A Druze village with a temple and a museum.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Al Wadi / riverfront
Closest to restaurants and the main strolling area.
Zahle city centre
More hotels and shops; a short taxi ride to Al Wadi.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 400,000–700,000 LBP excl. bed
- Mid
- 700,000–1,200,000 LBP excl. bed
- High
- 1,200,000+ LBP excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room in a mid-range hotel1 × 1 night × LBP 700,000 | LBP 700,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × LBP 700,000 | LBP 1,400,000 |
| Taxi from Beirut to Zahle, one way1 × LBP 500,000 · check | LBP 500,000 |
| Meal for two in Al Wadi (mezze and drinks)1 × LBP 600,000 | LBP 600,000 |
| Winery tour and tasting (Château Ksara)2 × LBP 200,000 · check | LBP 400,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | LBP 360,000 |
| Trip total≈ LBP 1,980,000 per person per day, bed included | LBP 3,960,000 |
2026 estimate in Lebanese pounds; US dollars accepted everywhere. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (Arabic or Turkish) | 15,000–30,000 LBP |
| Mezze plate for one | 100,000–200,000 LBP |
| Beer (local, 330 ml) | 20,000–40,000 LBP |
| Taxi ride within Zahle | 30,000–60,000 LBP |
| Wine tasting at Château Ksaracheck | 100,000–300,000 LBP |
| Pastry at Sea Sweet | 10,000–25,000 LBP |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Check your own government travel advice for Lebanon before planning.
- Restaurants in Al Wadi are outdoors; bring insect repellent in warm months.
- Alcohol is widely available in Zahle, but public drunkenness is frowned upon.
- US dollars are accepted everywhere; have small bills for taxis and smaller shops.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Red Cross ambulance
- 140
- Civil defence
- 175
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Zahleزحلة
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Red Cross ambulance140
- Civil defence175
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Beirut → Zahle taxi: about 400,000–600,000 LBP, 45–60 min (check)
- Zahle → Baalbek taxi: about 300,000–500,000 LBP, 1 h (check)
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
- كم؟ — How much? (kam?)
- الحساب من فضلك — The bill, please (al-hisab min fadlak)
- أين الحمام؟ — Where is the toilet? (ayn al-hammam?)
US dollars are widely accepted; you can pay in USD and receive change in LBP.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Zahle. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, though the valley is cooler than Beirut)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Al Wadi restaurants and Château Ksara with verified hours and prices.
- Walking route along the Berdawni river with rescue anchors.
- Verified taxi fare from Beirut to Zahle.
Sources
Ask about Zahle
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