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location.beaches.districts
location.beaches.districts_subtitle
Downtown (BCD)
hotelsRebuilt after civil war, damaged again in 2020 explosion. Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, French architecture. Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque iconic. Eerily quiet but beautiful. Symbol of Lebanon's cycles of destruction and rebirth.
Gemmayzeh & Mar Mikhael
hotelsNightlife and arts district - bars, restaurants, galleries. Badly damaged in 2020 explosion, rebuilding with resilience. Where young Beirut parties. Street art on damaged buildings. Heart of city's creative scene.
Hamra
hotelsHistoric commercial and intellectual hub. AUB (American University) campus. Cafes, bookshops, old Beirut feel. More local than downtown. Where Lebanese intellectuals gather. Budget-friendly options.
faq.title
faq.subtitle Beirut
Check current situation - political instability ongoing. Tourist areas (Downtown, Gemmayzeh, Hamra) generally safe. Avoid Dahieh (southern suburbs) and borders. City functions despite crises. Locals incredibly welcoming. Monitor news before and during trip.
Many countries get free visa on arrival - 30 days (US, EU, UK, Canada). Some nationalities need advance visa. Check if Israeli stamps in passport - can be denied entry. Lebanon-Israel border closed.
BRING USD CASH - essential! Lebanese pound collapsed. Everything priced in USD or 'fresh dollars'. ATMs give worthless lira. Credit cards unreliable. Bring clean, new $50 and $100 bills. This is critical advice.
LEGENDARY! Mezze tradition - endless small plates. Hummus, tabbouleh, fattoush, kibbeh, shawarma invented here. Fresh ingredients, bold flavors. Food alone worth visiting. Even crisis hasn't diminished culinary excellence.
Travel Tips
Useful tips for visiting Beirut
BRING USD CASH - cannot stress enough. Clean, new bills ($50, $100). Lebanese pound worthless. ATMs and cards don't work properly. Everything quoted in 'fresh dollars'. This is essential survival advice for Lebanon.
Explore Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael - nightlife capital of Middle East (really!). Bars, rooftop clubs, live music. Lebanese party hard despite everything. Thursday-Saturday nights legendary. Resilience in action.
Day trip to Byblos - one of oldest continuously inhabited cities (7000 years!). Phoenician ruins, Crusader castle, charming harbor. 40 min from Beirut. UNESCO World Heritage. Essential Lebanon experience.
Feast on mezze - hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, fattoush, kibbeh, falafel, shawarma. Order multiple plates to share. Lebanese cuisine world-renowned. Even simple restaurants serve incredible food. ~$10-20 for feast.
Weather
Average temperature by month
Now
11°
11°86%17 м/с
Today12°10°
12°10°Tomorrow
14°10°
14°10°Thu15°11°
15°11°Fri16°11°
16°11°Sat18°12°
18°12°Sun18°17°
18°17°Mon
18°16°
18°16°17°
11°Jan
18°
11°Feb
20°
13°Mar
23°
15°Apr
25°
18°May
28°
22°Jun
30°
24°Jul
31°
25°Aug
30°
24°Sep
28°
21°Oct
23°
16°Nov
19°
13°Dec
Water temperature
19°
18°
18°
19°
22°
25°
28°
29°
28°
26°
23°
20°
location.transport.title
location.transport.subtitle
location.transport.bus
—location.transport.taxi
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Prices
Cost of food, accommodation and services
Cafes & Restaurants
Budget meal
150,000 - 400,000 LBP
~275,000 $
Mid-range
600,000 - 1,500,000 LBP
~1,050,000 $
Fine dining
2,000,000 - 5,000,000 LBP
~3,500,000 $
Street Food
Local dish
50,000 - 150,000 LBP
~100,000 $
Drinks
Coffee
50,000 - 150,000 LBP
~100,000 $
Local beer
80,000 - 200,000 LBP
~140,000 $
Groceries
Water 1.5L
15,000 - 40,000 LBP
~27,500 $
Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.
Accommodation
Hotels and rental prices
Hostel dorm
15 - 25 $ / night
Guesthouse
40 - 80 $ / night
Hotel 3★
100 - 200 $ / night
Hotel 5★
250 - 500 $ / night
Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.
location.payment.title
location.payment.subtitle
location.payment.atms
very limited
location.payment.cash
Cash remains king in Lebanon in 2025. Small establishments and bars in areas like Hamra Street not permitted to accept other payment methods. Most transactions require cash. Upscale establishments like hotels and fine dining bill in USD and may accept other methods, but this is exception. Must bring EUR, GBP, or USD to exchange. Cash kiosks found everywhere, particularly on Hamra Street. Carry cash for all daily transactions and small businesses.
location.payment.currency_exchange
Exchange kiosks found everywhere in Beirut, particularly on Hamra Street. Many exchange offices along Hamra Street and Money Gram at ABC Department Store on Sassine Square in Achrafieh. Can exchange at banks or exchange bureaus. Bring US dollars in cash - USD used directly in most places. Can find black market exchange easily at shops marked Exchange, Cash, or Money. Avoid airport/hotel exchanges - poor rates and high fees. Do not withdraw Lebanese Pounds from ATM with foreign cards - poor rates. Services claiming 'no commission' often have poor exchange rates.
location.payment.tipping
10%
10-15% appreciated in restaurants. Not mandatory. Small tips for hotel staff welcomed.
Safety
Medium safety level
Follow standard precautions
Beirut has faced severe crises - 2020 port explosion, economic collapse, political instability. Check current situation before visiting. Tourist areas generally safe. Avoid southern suburbs (Dahieh) and border areas. Resilient city, welcoming people.