Is 3 days enough to see Beirut?

Yes — three days in Beirut is enough to experience the best the city has to offer. Our itinerary covers Hamra, the American University & Corniche at sunset, Beirut National Museum, downtown ruins & the Lebanese breakfast, Byblos day trip — the world's oldest continuously inhabited city, giving you a genuine feel for Beirut without feeling rushed.

When is the best time to visit Beirut?

April–June and September–November (the spring and autumn: 18–26°C, the clearest skies and the most pleasant sea temperature (the Mediterranean is swimmable (23–28°C) from May to October)). July–August: very hot (32–38°C) and extremely busy (Lebanese diaspora returns from the Gulf and the Americas — the August tourist peak in Beirut). December–February: cooler (10–18°C), rainier, the ski season in

Where should I stay in Beirut?

Achrafieh — the upscale Christian-majority neighborhood of East Beirut, quiet and residential is a great base for exploring Beirut. Hotel Albergo Relais & Châteaux Beirut from €200/night is our recommended hotel for its location and value.

What is Beirut most famous for?

Beirut (بيروت — the capital and largest city of Lebanon, population 2.

What language do people speak in Beirut?

Arabic (Lebanese Arabic — the most distinctive dialect of Levantine Arabic, with heavy French loanwords from the French Mandate period (1920–1943): Lebanese people code-switch between Arabic, French and English constantly within a single sentence, which is known as "Francarabic" or "Arabizi"). French (co-official alongside Arabic, taught in schools alongside Arabic and English — the unique trilingual education system of Lebanon). English (widely spoken, the language of business alongside French). The linguistic complexity of Beirut (where a dinner conversation might involve three languages in one exchange) is one of the city's most distinctive characteristics

What currency is used in Beirut?

Lebanese Pound (LBP, الليرة اللبنانية). The LBP has been in a severe currency crisis since 2019 — it collapsed from the official peg of LBP 1,507/USD to over LBP 90,000/USD on the black market by 2024. As a result: US Dollars are the practical currency for all tourist transactions (restaurants, hotels, shops all price and accept USD). Have USD cash (small bills — $1, $5, $10, $20) for all transactions. Cards increasingly unreliable due to the banking crisis. Verify current currency situation before visiting

How do you get around Beirut?

Servees (shared taxi — the most practical public transport in Beirut: the shared taxis (white or red-and-white Mercedes sedans) that run along fixed routes and charge per person ($1–2 per trip): the driver calls out his route and you flag him down on the street. For the Byblos day trip: servees from Cola transport hub ($3). Uber: operational in Beirut (unusual given the banking crisis). Walking: Hamra, Gemmayzeh, Mar Mikhael and the Corniche are all walkable from each other in 20–40 minutes

How do you get to Beirut?

Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY, 9km south of central Beirut): taxi to Hamra or downtown $20–30 (negotiate). No metro or bus connection to the airport. Direct flights from Paris (4.5 hrs, Air France/MEA), Amsterdam (4.5 hrs, KLM), London (4.5 hrs, British/MEA), Frankfurt (4 hrs), Dubai (3 hrs), Istanbul (2 hrs). Middle East Airlines (MEA — the Lebanese national carrier) has a network focused on Arab cities and European hubs

What is the tipping etiquette in Beirut?

15% at upscale restaurants (Lebanese service culture expects a tip at formal restaurants: 10–15% is standard). $1–2 at bars. Servees driver: round up to the nearest dollar. Hotel: $2–5 per bag. The economic crisis has made tipping more important for service workers — tip generously in cash (USD) at restaurants

Is Beirut safe for tourists?

Beirut's safety situation requires current assessment (the city has been through multiple crises since 2019: the banking collapse, the COVID lockdown, the 2020 port explosion, and ongoing political instability). At the time of writing (2024–2025), the tourist areas (Hamra, Gemmayzeh, Mar Mikhael, the Corniche, Byblos) are safe for visitors. The southern suburbs (Dahieh — Hezbollah territory) are a different situation. Always check current UK/EU travel advisories before visiting. Avoid: military checkpoints (do not photograph), the southern suburbs, and large political gatherings

🎧 Beirut Audio Walking Guide

Listen and walk — the map follows you stop by stop

🆓 Free · No app needed · Works offline once loaded

← Back to Beirut Highlights Guide · All guides for Beirut