Beirut Hotels

The problem most travellers face in Beirut has to do with sleep; namely when and how to pencil it in. Know this in advance: the capital of Lebanon will knacker you out. But survive you will and, indeed, the better for it. The points of interest and implicit magic of Beirut comes at you in a riotous blaze of noise and colour; from Roman ruins to elegant shisha cafés, venerable museums to contemporary art installations, boisterous supperclubs to the breezy Mediterranean coast.

Political instability and a turbulent past? All part of the package and elements which do, invariably, cast a pall over the city from time to time. Take the good with the bad in enigmatic, magnetic Bayrūt and succumb, as most do, to the charms of this wonderful, singular city.

Beirut’s Top 10

Beirut Local

As the commercial and cultural pulse point of Lebanon, Beirut unfurls a ton of districts to explore. One of the most important and influential capitals in the Middle East and Mediterranean region, the city’s metropolitan area contains well over 2 million inhabitants and spans some 200 km².

Downtown Beirut is the nerve centre of the city and a vibrant district, full of restaurants, cafés, commerce, upmarket shops and historic landmarks. Vital points of interest include Nejmeh Square, Martyr’s Square, old French Mandate area and a vast network of Roman monuments, churches and mosques.

Ashrafieh is a lively hub of nightlife, restaurants and retail activity. Home to scores of young, upwardly mobile residents, the area contains the all-important artery of Gemmayze and busy Rue Monot.

Ain El Mraiseh faces the Mediterranean Sea and lines part of the city’s Corniche. Home to many luxury hotels, cafés and Western restaurants.

Manara is the western tip of Beirut and a tranquil residential enclave with some decent accommodation options.

Ramlet El Baida is a residential district of note, mainly because it contains the only standout public beach in Beirut.

Verdun is a tony, trendy area of the city that hosts a wide variety of boutiques, cinemas and restaurants.

Jnah’s appeal is seaside leisure and entertainment in southern Beirut, most notably in the form of beach clubs and the like.

Beirut Eat & Drink

Beirut’s culinary landscape has never been in doubt. The Lebanese capital is a city that eats well, often and at any time of day or night.

Beirut Events

The dynamic urban heart of Lebanon delivers a full slate of cultural events and festivals throughout the year, regardless of season. Pick a month, any month, and Beirut is bound to have a plethora of options for your entertainment pleasure.

Garden Show & Spring Festival takes place over four days at the Beirut Hippodrome in late May. The most important flower expo in the Middle East features scores of exhibitors from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and throughout the Arab diaspora.

Outbox International Short Film Festival is a free multi-day, open-air event in early June that takes place at Beirut’s Roman Baths.

Beirut Fashion Week proves year in and year out that the capital of Lebanon is the most fashionable city in the Arab world.

Beiteddine Art Festival is a paragon arts and culture bash held in a gorgeous, historic palace in the Chouf Mountains. The festival features an eclectic programme of events that unfurl throughout the hot Beirut summer.

Al Bustan Festival takes place every February and March and celebrates the musical heritage of a particular country or region. The 2012 edition will focus on the music of Latin America.

Beirut International Film Festival is a pinnacle event for film buffs in a country with a long, productive and significant cinematic history.

Beirut International Jazz Festival has grown tremendously in a short period of time and now draws top acts from around the world to the city every October.

Beirut Nights refers to specific events that take place every summer in the city, from concerts by the likes of Sting and Snoog Dogg, to special museum exhibits.

The Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center is a major city focal point for special events, conferences, exhibits, performances and the like.

Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium is the premier sports stadium in Lebanon, with a total capacity of just under 50,000 spectators.

When To Go

Beirut has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Weather-wise the city is amenable year round, despite heavy downpours that inevitably come in December, January and February. Understandably, however, the months of April and May, when temperatures hover between 59°F (15°C) and 77°F (26°C), are the most favourable and a popular tourism window.

Summer temperatures, on the other hand, range from 66°F (19°C) to 86°F (30°C), with little to no rain or cloud cover from June to mid-September.

Come winter, temperatures rarely dip below 50°F (10°C).

What To Miss

Political violence, for starters, is what to miss in Beirut. When it comes to travel to and within the city, Lebanon, and the Middle East in general, it pays to keep your eyes on the news tickers. No need to delve into a long and elaborate history and geopolitics lesson for the region either; it is no open secret that Lebanon dwells in a rough neighbourhood. When the kids play nice, all is well, but when a skirmish breaks out, visitors are often the first to get caught in the crossfire. The fact is that politics in Beirut is fraught with hostility fomented by powerful, adversarial forces and likely will be for some time. As a result, be sure to consult the travel advice section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website for updates on Lebanon and, indeed, other destinations around the world.

Aside from regional instability, avoid the Beirut Souks commercial area (expensive and a tourist trap) and, unless you like to gamble with your life, do not drive in the city. Traffic in Beirut is stressful, chaotic and completely haphazard.

Getting Around

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is the primary transport hub to get in and out of Lebanon and is held in high regard. Only Dubai International, in fact, scores more points in the Middle East among industry experts. In two decades, total passenger numbers for Rafic Hariri International have shot up from 1 million to well over 5 million in 2010. The airport provides services to destinations as far-flung as Riga, Rome, Addis Ababa and Kuala Lumpur.

Visitors can enter Lebanon another way - via Syria. The two Arab states share several border junctions, through which travellers can come and go by private or rental car, coach bus or service taxi.

In Beirut proper, it pays to acquaint yourself with the somewhat complex taxi system. Essentially, it boils down to cars you flag down yourself and may or may not share with other passengers (specify your preference to the driver) or cars you call in advance. The former is decidedly less costly and predictable but with one or the other, it behooves you to ask about the fare in advance and be very specific about your final destination.

Though some tourists shy away from Beirut’s bus system, it gets the job done for short haul trips and is quite inexpensive. Do not look for schedules or stops, however. Just wave your hand, look the driver square in the eyes and have faith.

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