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We are making our way to visiting most of the Middle East (the team has been to Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates so far) and Lebanon is on the list. Jennifer of the blog, From Mississippi with Love, who previously wrote about Bhutan, Nairobi, Tel Aviv, Namibia and Victoria Falls, recently went and here are her practical tips to Lebanon.

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Lebanon is an absolute gem in the Middle East. It sits on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel by the south and Syria to the north and east. Roughly the size of Connecticut, the country is rich with cultural history, phenomenal food, and some of the most historical sites in the world.

Getting in

Flying into Beirut International Airport (BEY) is a pretty seamless experience. For US citizens, you can obtain a visa for Lebanon on arrival. The visa is free and allows for stays up to one month and extendable to two. Do note that you will not be let in the country if your passport has an Israeli stamp in it.

Uber is available and costs roughly 7-10 USD to reach the city center. The airport offers 30 minutes of free wifi, which allows you to access the app if you don’t have data or roaming available. Alternatively, one can call a taxi service prior to arrival. You can arrange to have the drivers wait inside the terminal with a sign with your name on it. Taxis typically cost 20-25 USD.

Currency

Lebanon operates off the Lebanese Pound (~1500 LL to 1 USD). Most places will also accept the US dollar. ATMs are located throughout the country, though definitely carry cash as you may not be able to easily withdraw money.

Transportation

Getting around Beirut is possible and fairly easy as places are walking distance and cabs/ubers are pretty commonplace. However, going out into the countryside requires more planning in advance. If your group is large, you can hire a bus to drive around. If smaller, hiring a private taxi is also a possibility.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, car rentals are also available, though beware that traffic in the city can be quite bad during rush hour and some traffic rules are treated more like guidelines. Most rentals are manual transmission, so be prepared for very limited availability if you can only drive automatic transmission.

Communication

The official language of Lebanon is Arabic though most people are also fluent in French. English can be used in Beirut, but it may be difficult traveling outside the city without knowledge of the other two languages unless in highly touristy areas.

Destinations:

Lebanon has no shortage of things to see and do. From cultural trips to see the largest standing Roman structure outside of Rome, to the oldest city in the world to crazy nightlife in Beirut, it’s a destination that caters to all.

• Maaser El Chouf Nature Reserve: Explore the multiple kinds of trees, plants, and birds amidst a backdrop of a view of the Beqaa Valley.
• Mir Amin Palace, Beiteddine: The Mir Amin Palace (also known as the Beiteddine Palace) is a palace built at the beginning of the 19th century by Emir Bechir Chehab II and showcases classic Lebanese architecture at the time.

Kir Amin Palace. – Photo: (c) 2017 – Jennifer Wong of From Mississippi with Love

• Baalbek: Baalbek is home to the largest freestanding Roman structure outside of the Roman Coliseum – the Temple of Jupiter. The structure is stunning and awe-inspiring. However, note that tourism to Baalbek has decreased over the past few years given its close proximity to Syria and the increase in terrorist activities in the region.

Roman ruins at Baalbek. – Photo: (c) 2017 – Jennifer Wong of From Mississippi with Love

• Byblos: the world’s oldest continuously inhabited town located just north of Beirut on the water, Byblos is the site where Phoenician scholars created the first alphabet. Modern scholars believe the site of Byblos dates back at least 7,000 years. Byblos has extensive archeological ruins that are now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a quaint little city worth walking around in, and Chez Sakhia, by the beach in Byblos, offers a delicious seafood spread for lunch.
• Sidon and Tyre: Sidon and Tyre are two of the oldest cities in the world. In Sidon, you can visit the Sea Castle, a fortress built by the Crusaders in the early 13th century. Tyre was a Phoenician island city founded in the third millennium BC. It is stated in the Bible that Jesus visited the region and healed many Gentiles.
• Jeita Grotto: Since Paleolithic times, raindrops of more than a hundred thousand years have worked a magic wonder in the limestone of the Mount Lebanon range beneath Mount Lebanon to form the astonishing cavern known as the Jeita Grotto. The caverns are on two levels, and the lower cavern can be seen on boat over a subterranean lake while the upper gallery can be seen on foot.

Temple of Jupiter.- Photo: (c) 2017 – Jennifer Wong of From Mississippi with Love

You can almost always find delicious food in abundance. The Mediterranean influence is extremely apparent – hummus, tabbouleh, and olives abound, the grilled meats are delectable, and the only problem with the 3-hour lunches is that your eyes tend to be bigger than your stomach!

Going out in Beirut:

Beirut may boast of one of the best nightlife scenes in the world.

• Iris Rooftop: The Iris Rooftop is a party every night without fail. Get started on the early side as bar service is available in the center of the floor and table service encircling the outside. Sip on your drinks while watching the night view of the Beirut skyline and hearing the Mediterranean waves lap onshore.
• Iris Beach Club: A brilliant beach club in Beirut that offers a stunning view of the Mediterranean, where you can rent beds, cabanas, and chairs while drinking with your friends in the sun.
• B018: Formerly a bomb shelter, B018 is now one of the best clubs in Beirut, where party people of all ages congregate after 2AM. The ceiling of the bunker opens on clear nights every so often and lets in fresh air. The velvet covered walls, house tunes blasting, and table service lining the bunker make this a not-to-miss on your trip to Beirut!
• Music Hall: There’s not a perfect way to describe music hall. It’s a live concert held in an open amphitheater with acts that last ~15 minutes each. In between the sets, regular DJ / top-40 music will play, and the night progresses as people begin to dance along to all the tunes. Reservations must be booked months in advance, but it is incredible and absolutely one-of-a-kind.

Thursday night at Music Hall. – Photo: (c) 2017 – Jennifer Wong of From Mississippi with Love

Internet

Buying a SIM card or data is an extremely complicated process that will take a lot of time and paperwork. Some bars and cafes will offer free internet as well as most hotels. If you are comfortable without continuous internet access, this type of intermittent access will allow you to accomplish most things; however, if you are someone that needs to be connected all the time, then roaming options should be explored with your cellular carrier.

Clothing

Generally, clothing norms in Beirut is very western, and oftentimes you’ll see girls in high heels and dressed to the nines for a night out. Personally, I would dress more conservatively if traveling outside of the larger cities (i.e. avoid short shorts, miniskirts, strapless and tank tops) or if traveling by yourself.

About the Author

Growing up in rural Mississippi, Jennifer always dreamed of exploring the world. Since those days, she’s developed irresistible wanderlust and called a number of places home: US (San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Philadelphia), England, Malawi, Liberia, Israel, and most recently, Kenya. She’s in love with her sports teams (the New Orleans Saints and Manchester City), running (currently training for the Berlin marathon), and adrenaline sports (skydiving, cliff jumping, bungee jumping, sandboarding). One day, she hopes to utilize her love of cooking and sports by opening up her own Southern-style boozy brunch sports pub. Follow her on her blog, From Mississippi with Love or @jennnnnwong on instagram.

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