Practical information Lebanon

1558  sq.mi

Anticipate approximately 6 hours. Beirut is 2,146 mi away from London.

4224000 hab.

The airport is four miles from Beirut. It was extended and renovated at the end of the 1990s. A journey to Beirut by taxi is about £4.

Following the violent confrontations that took place on 7th and 11th May 2008 in Lebanon and Tripoli, Beirut international airport was closed on 7th May, and re-opened on 15th. Despite the return to peace, it is inadvisable to go there.

Southern Tyr and Bekaa, and northern Tripoli remain very delicate zones where westerners should not go unattended.
Attack risks and the general situation of the Near East should urge westerners to be most careful in open areas and tourist sites. You are advised to avoid crowds and keep abreast of the latest developments in the region.
Security conditions throughout the country are good, so long as you keep watch of certain things. Consequently, you are recommended to always travel accompanied, both in the north of Tripoli and in the south. Keep abreast of the situation, for tensions could spark off locally (the north, Bekaa and south are particularly vulnerable in this regard). The greatest insecurity is on the roads, for Lebanese drivers are potential killers who have no respect for driving rules. Since there is virtually no roadsigns, accidents are regular and serious. There is a new wave of petty crimes in Beirut.
Hashish is commonly smoked in Lebanon, but if caught with it, the punishment is two months to seven years of imprisonment.

The FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) currently advises against all travel to Palestinian refugee camps, and all but essential travel to South of the Litani.

You are advised to avoid large crowds, demonstrations and political gatherings. Although such events have been largely peaceful in Lebanon they could turn violent.

For more details see the FCO website.

The official language is Arabic, used in daily conversation, while English is the language of business and French the language spoken by the educated elite. The Lebanese also enjoy mixing languages in conversations.

European citizens require a visa and passport valid for at least six months after the return date. The visa, which is valid for three months, can be obtained at the Lebanese Embassy, though it is better to get it upon arrival in Lebanon, at the airport (bring an ID photo). Lebanon will refuse entry to those with an Israeli visa (used or unused) in their passport as Lebanon is officially an 'enemy state' to Israel.

There are seventeen religions in all. Muslims form the largest group and within that 30% are Shiite, 23.7% Sunni and 5% Druze Muslims. Eleven Christian communities are recognised constitutionally: Maronites (22%), Greek Catholics (5%°), Greek Orthodox (8%) and Protestants amongst them.

The Lebanese Pound (LBP) is known locally as the lira. £1 Sterling = approximately 2.20 Lebanese Pounds. The bureaux de change and banks accept Euros without any problem, although it is worth remembering that the banks are only open in the morning, from 8:30am to 12:30pm and until 12:00pm on Saturdays. Travellers cheques are only accepted in larger hotels, but credit cards are more widely used. The cashpoints can be unreliable and users have been charged large sums for using them, so the best option is to bring plenty of cash.

Car:
Lebanon is not a huge country and can be traversed from north to south in approximately three hours. In Beirut renting a car can be expensive, but then again almost anything can be negotiated in Lebanon. However, keep in mind that traffic jams in Beirut are terrible and driving rules are almost non-existent. If you use a texi make sure you bargain the fare before you hop in.

Bus:
There are irregular shuttles from Beirut to both the north (Byblos, Tripoli) and the south (Saida, Tyr) of the country. Try and get on a minibus which also charge affordable rates.

Accommodation:
The hotels in Lebanon were once the local tourism industry's weak point, but the scene is improving. Beirut has several international hotels that were reconstructed after the war. The best hotel in Beirut is the Mir Amine Palace in Beit ed Dine, an ancient palace restored to its former glory. Other hotels throughout the country offer a minimum standard of comfort and decoration (unlike hotels in Beirut), but at least they all share one thing in common: the warm and hospitable welcome.

No particular vaccine is required before entering Lebanese territory. However, only drink bottled mineral water and remember to protect yourself against the sun with appropriate clothing and lots of sunscreen.

Voltage of 220V so visitors from the UK will need to bring an adaptor

1.85 million tourists visited Lebanon in 2009.

Restaurants and taxis welcome tips, especially if the bill was reasonable to begin with.

To call Lebanon from the UK, dial 00 961, followed by the regional code without the 0 (Grand Beirut 01, Bekaa 08, Kesrouan 09, South region 07, North region 06, Metn 04, Chouf 05), and the number you are calling.
To call the UK from Lebanon: dial 00 44 followed by the number you are calling with the initial 0.