Beirut Stories and Tips

Quote: Beirut is more than just a historical site; it is an experience, a city like any other on earth. For most of history, Beirut was just a small fishing village on the Lebanese coast, overshadowed by more important ports to the north and the south,…

Quote: “Skiing? In the Middle East? But isn’t it all desert?”That is usually the response I get when I tell people about my ski weekend in Lebanon. Yes, Lebanon is in the Middle East, but the fact is that it is a mountainous country that boasts…

Quote: There is no other way of saying it—Beirut has the most irritating, frustrating, and annoying taxi system of any other city in the world that I have visited, and that includes Cairo. Nowhere else have I seen a taxi system so unfriendly to tourists and…

Quote: Getting TO/AROUND: Don't worry, you CAN drive in Lebanon. Just expect the unexpected, and remain aware of everyone around you. Don't be surprised to find a car driving the wrong way down a oneway street, or someone to come to a complete stop, for no…

Quote: On the surface, Lebanon seems to be a country full of people who have completely forgotten their troubled past, a country that has decided to move towards the future as a united country. On the surface, it is a country that seems to be swimming…

Quote: I headed up to Tripoli, a city some 80km from Beirut. Talal, from the hostel, told me how to get there for LL2000. It was well worth the visit! The place was teaming with life, and a very different cultural experience from Beirut.…

Quote: The bakeries in Lebanon are amazing, from communion bread to exotic Lebanese pizzas. You can find them on every street corner and they are just great! Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. …

Quote: If you go to Lebanon and don't go to Baalbek, then I think you have just wasted your time. These ruins are some of the most amazing I have ever seen, they really make you realise how incredible our ancestors were! …

Quote: My friend Rita took me up to Batroun, we hired some bikes for LL1000 per hour and rode around the old town. It was just fantastic, the coast line was spectacular. My food poisoning however made bike riding a bit hard!…

Quote: You can get by pretty well with English alone, but a bit of French or Arabic can definitely be advantageous. The French, I’m sure, can be had in many places. Here’s some basic Arabic that might come in handy: Keef alhaal? = How are you? Hamdallah…