Beirut
Travel Guide Middle East Lebanon Beirut
Introduction
It was called the Paris of the east for a long time, until the civil war started in 1975 when 27 Palestinian civilians where killed by an attack on a bus. After the civil war which ended early during the 90's of the last century, Beirut, the capital of Libanon, struggled back to become one of the most pleasant places to live in the Middle East, settled along the Mediterranean coastline. Wandering along the Corniche, watching and being watched, is a pleasant activity at first light or in the late afternoon when the sun goes down again. Another attraction near, or actually in the sea, are the famous Pigeon rocks, which lie immediately east of the city. You will feel like being in a modern western city when drinking a beer on of the terraces in the centre of Beirut. But just a kilometre further away you will still be struck by some buildings destructed by the civil war, on both sides of the famous Green Line, which was the dividing line between Muslims and Christians.
Neighbourhoods
Sights and Activities
- The National Museum of Beirut - the principal museum of archaeology in the country with over 100,000 objects
Events and Festivals
Weather
Beirut has a typical Mediterranean climate with generally warm, dry and sunny summers and relatively mild but wet winters. Average days in summer (June - September) are between 28 °C and 32 °C, while nights average around 23 °C. With winds blowing from the desert to the east and south, temperatures in May and June can rise to over 40 °C! December to March is winter, with temperatures between 16 °C and 19 °C during the day, and between 11 °C and 13 °C at night on average. June to September has hardly any rain at all, while November to February is the wettest time of year, with 130 to 190 mm of rain a month, spread out over 12 to 15 days each month.
Getting There
By Plane
All international flights arrive at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY). There are direct flights to a wide range of cities in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The main carriers are local Middle East airlines, Air France[1], KLM[2], Lufthansa[3] and British Airways. KLM and Air France have direct flights to Amsterdam and Paris respectively. Also, Gulf Air[4] and Emirates[5] have good connections with Lebanon and through connections to Australia.
By Train
There are no trains within Lebanon at the moment.
By Car
By Bus
Buses, minivans and taxis go virtually anywhere from Beirut, including to Tripoli, Zahlé, Byblos and Baalbek.
By Boat
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Budget
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy Hotel Lebanon | Makdessi street - Hamra | HOTEL | 70 |
| Mady's | azirian building gemmayze 6th floor above frigoliban | Guesthouse | 98 |
| Mayflower Hotel | Yafet.Hamra | HOTEL | 69 |
| Riviera Beirut Hotel | Corniche El Manara | Hotel | 47 |
| Seaside Furnished Flats | George Post Street Ain-Mreisseh | Apartment | 85 |
| Suite Hotel Beirut | Facing St. Georges Square Jal El-Dib | Hotel | 100 |
| Napoli Hotel | Hamra Main Street | Hotel | 41 |
| Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Beirut | General de Gaulle Avenue Raouche 2038 | Hotel | - |
| Coral Suites Al Hamra | Rue Baalbek – Hamra | Apartment | 60 |
Mid-Range
Upscale
Work
On Travellerspoint
Contributors
Utrecht (83%)
from http://utrecht.travellerspoint.com
Peter (17%)
from My Shout
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