Lebanon
Phone Code
+961
Capital
Beirut
Population
6.8 Million
Native Name
لبنان
Region
Asia
Western Asia
Timezone
Eastern European Time
UTC+02:00
On This Page
Lebanon is a small Eastern Mediterranean country of around 5–7 million people on a 200-kilometre coastline between Syria and Israel, anchored by the Mount Lebanon range that gives the country its name. The capital, Beirut, was once known as the 'Paris of the Middle East' for its cosmopolitan culture, francophone elite and Mediterranean glamour, and even after a long civil war (1975–1990) and the financial and political turbulence of recent years it retains one of the most vivid cultural and culinary scenes in the region. Lebanon's history runs unusually deep: the Phoenicians who founded the alphabet sailed from Byblos, Sidon and Tyre; Romans built one of the empire's grandest temple complexes at Baalbek; the Maronite Christian community has held the Qadisha valley since the seventh century; the Ottoman period gave way to a French Mandate (1920–1943) whose legacy remains in language, law and architecture. French is widely spoken alongside Arabic and English, particularly in Beirut, and Lebanon is a member of la Francophonie. The country contains five UNESCO World Heritage sites — Baalbek, Anjar, Byblos, Tyre, and the Qadisha valley with the Cedars of God forest — within driving distance of each other in a country smaller than Yorkshire. Cuisine is one of the country's strongest exports — mezze, kibbeh, manakeesh, fattoush — and the Lebanese diaspora numbers tens of millions worldwide, especially across Latin America, France, Australia, the US and West Africa. Note: Lebanon has been through significant security and economic turbulence recently — check current government travel advisories before planning any trip.
Visa Requirements for Lebanon
Lebanon offers visa-on-arrival to citizens of many countries at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), the country's main entry point. Visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland and most Latin American countries typically receive a free 30-day tourist visa stamped on arrival; some nationalities pay a fee instead and can receive 1–3 month entries. A passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry, a return or onward ticket, and confirmed accommodation are required. One firm and well-established rule: travellers with any Israeli entry/exit stamp, any Israeli visa, or any evidence of having travelled to Israel (including overland-border stamps showing Israeli crossings) are denied entry to Lebanon. Some nationalities — including Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and most Sub-Saharan African passports — require advance visa approval through a sponsor and the General Security Directorate (Sûreté Générale) before travel. Visa extensions can be obtained through the General Security office in Beirut. Given the Lebanese banking system's restrictions since 2019, US dollar cash is essential — bring sufficient USD for the entire trip; ATMs and card payments are unreliable for foreign travellers. Always check current government advisories before travelling.
Common Visa Types
Free Visa on Arrival (30 Days)
Tourism, family visits and short business trips for citizens of around eighty eligible nationalities — including the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland and most of Latin America.
Paid Visa on Arrival
Tourism for citizens of some Asian, African and other nationalities not on the free-entry list, with a per-nationality fee paid in USD cash at the airport.
Embassy Visa (Sûreté Générale Pre-Approval)
Tourism, family or business travel for nationalities requiring advance approval through a Lebanese sponsor and the General Security Directorate before arrival.
Visa Extension (in Lebanon)
Extending the initial visa-on-arrival period for further tourism or family stays.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Lebanon rewards travellers who like deep history compressed into short distances and one of the strongest cuisines in the Mediterranean. The country is small — Beirut to Tripoli ninety minutes, to Tyre one hour, to Baalbek ninety minutes, to the Cedars two hours — so most of the headline UNESCO sites can be reached on day trips from a single Beirut base. Beirut itself runs from the reconstructed downtown around Place de l'Étoile through the Corniche seafront and the Achrafieh, Hamra, Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael neighbourhoods, each with its own bar and restaurant culture. North along the coast lie Byblos (Jbeil), one of the world's continuously inhabited cities, with Phoenician temples, a crusader castle and a small old harbour; Tripoli with its Mamluk-era souks and one of the largest crusader citadels in the Levant; and the Qadisha (Holy) valley, a UNESCO-listed Maronite Christian heartland with cliff-cut monasteries and the Cedars of God forest above Bcharre — one of the last surviving stands of the cedars that Solomon's builders are said to have used for the temple in Jerusalem. South of Beirut are Sidon's Sea Castle and soap-making souks, and Tyre's UNESCO-listed Roman hippodrome and underwater Phoenician harbour. East across the mountains, the Bekaa Valley holds Anjar (an Umayyad city in ruins) and Baalbek — the Roman Heliopolis with the largest temple complex of the empire, including the still-monumental Temple of Bacchus. Cuisine is everywhere: hummus, mezze, kibbeh, fattoush, manakeesh from a street oven for breakfast, the Lebanese wines of the Bekaa (Château Ksara, Château Musar) over dinner. French and English are widely spoken alongside Arabic, particularly in Beirut and the major coastal towns.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Beirut is the cultural anchor — the reconstructed downtown around Place de l'Étoile, the Corniche seafront, and the Achrafieh, Hamra, Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael neighbourhoods with their bar, gallery and restaurant scenes. The National Museum holds Lebanon's archaeological highlights from Phoenician and Roman periods. Sursock Museum showcases modern Lebanese art. Brief safety reference: check current advisories before planning a Beirut visit.
Baalbek — the Roman Heliopolis in the Bekaa Valley — preserves the largest temple complex of the Roman Empire, including the colossal Temple of Jupiter and the remarkably intact Temple of Bacchus. The neighbouring Anjar Umayyad city ruins are also UNESCO-listed. The Bekaa is also Lebanon's wine country: Château Ksara (1857, the oldest), Château Musar, Massaya and others run cellar-door visits.
Byblos (Jbeil) is the Phoenician city from which the alphabet spread, with Phoenician temples, a crusader castle and a small old harbour all walkable in a morning. Tyre's UNESCO-listed Roman hippodrome and partly submerged Phoenician harbour preserve the city that gave the world purple dye. Sidon's Sea Castle and soap-making souks complete the southern coastal heritage circuit.
The Qadisha (Holy) Valley is a UNESCO-listed Maronite Christian heartland with cliff-cut monasteries reachable on foot, and the Cedars of God forest above Bcharre — one of the last surviving stands of cedars older than two thousand years. The drive up from the coast through Bcharre (birthplace of poet Khalil Gibran) opens onto highland skiing in winter at Mzaar/The Cedars, a rare combination on the same day as a Mediterranean swim.
Lebanese cuisine is one of the country's strongest exports: mezze (hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, fattoush, kibbeh, sambousek), manakeesh from a street oven for breakfast, mixed grills (mashawi), Lebanese sweets (knafeh, baklava). The Bekaa wine valley produces Château Ksara, Château Musar, Massaya and others; arak is the national spirit; Lebanese coffee with cardamom punctuates the day.
An estimated 14–15 million people of Lebanese origin live abroad, mostly across Latin America, France, Australia, the US, Canada and West Africa — far more than within Lebanon itself. Heritage travel for diaspora descendants (especially Brazilian, Argentine, Mexican, French, Australian and American) is a significant share of pre-crisis tourism and remains so. French Mandate (1920–1943) heritage runs through Beirut's downtown architecture, the legal system and the country's francophone status.
Money & Currency
Lebanese Pound (LBP)
Currency code: LBP
Practical Money Tips
USD is the de facto currency — bring fresh US dollar cash; the Lebanese Pound (LBP) has collapsed over 95% since 2019 and is used only for very small purchases
Lebanon's financial crisis, which began in 2019, permanently altered its monetary landscape. The Lebanese Pound (LBP, symbol LL) was historically pegged at LL 1,507 per USD but has since collapsed to a parallel market rate of LL 85,000–90,000+ per USD. In practice, USD cash is the primary currency for all significant transactions — restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and taxis. The LBP still circulates for very small purchases at local shops, but you will receive LBP change even when paying in USD. Bring substantial USD cash before travelling to Lebanon; there is no reliable way to obtain dollars once inside. EUR is accepted at some tourist establishments in Beirut at a conversion rate, but USD is always preferred. GBP is exchangeable in Beirut's money exchanges.
ATMs largely non-functional for foreign cards — bring all your USD from abroad; Lebanese bank accounts are mostly frozen and 'Lollars' are not usable cash
One of the most important things to understand about travelling to Lebanon: ATMs do not work reliably for foreign visitors. Most Lebanese bank accounts are subject to informal capital controls since 2019, and ATM withdrawals are severely limited. Foreign Visa and Mastercard may work at some ATMs in Beirut (particularly BoM — Bank of Middle East — and some Fransabank branches), but this is unreliable and can change without notice. The 'Lollar' refers to USD deposits trapped in Lebanese bank accounts that can only be withdrawn in LBP at the official rate — worthless for tourists. Plan your budget in advance and bring all USD cash you will need for the entire trip.
Card acceptance severely limited — some upscale Beirut restaurants and hotels accept cards; Apple Pay not usable; cash is essential for everything
Credit and debit cards have very limited acceptance in Lebanon. Some upscale restaurants in Beirut's Achrafieh, Hamra, and Gemmayzeh neighbourhoods accept Visa/Mastercard, as do some international hotels. However, acceptance is inconsistent and many businesses that technically accept cards may decline foreign ones. Apple Pay and Google Pay are not practically usable. The local fintech ecosystem (OMT, Western Union transfers) operates for remittances, not tourist transactions. For all practical purposes: plan to pay cash USD for everything, including hotels, restaurants, taxis, day trips, souvenirs, and groceries.
Budget guide: coffee USD 2–5; Beirut restaurant USD 15–40/person; guesthouse from USD 30–60/night; Baalbek or Byblos day trip transport USD 20–50
Despite the economic crisis, prices in Lebanon are quoted in USD and are not especially cheap for tourists — the collapse of LBP has caused significant inflation on imported goods. Coffee at a Beirut café: USD 2–5. Casual restaurant meal per person: USD 10–20. Mid-range restaurant in Gemmayzeh or Mar Mikhael: USD 25–45/person. Budget guesthouse/hostel: USD 25–50/night. Boutique hotel in Beirut: USD 80–150/night. Shared service taxi (servis) across Beirut: USD 1–2. Day trip to Jeita Grotto, Byblos, or Baalbek: USD 30–60 including transport. Note: some Lebanese restaurants still quote in LBP at absurdly large numbers — mentally divide by 90,000 to get the USD equivalent.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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