Beirut

Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates do not require a visa to enter Lebanon and stay for up to 6 months in a year for the purpose of tourism, provided they have no Israeli marks or stamps in their passports and a nonrefundable onward ticket; same applies to citizens of Jordan for stays of up to 3 months a year. Visa on arrival is granted under the above conditions to nationals of the European Union, much of Europe, the USA, Mexico, Canada, China, Australia, and many other countries across Asia and South America. If you do require a visa, an application must be made in advance via a Lebanese embassy or consulate closest to you. Please visit the General Security web page for up-to-date information.

June through August are some of the hottest months, but these are also the months when Beirut's celebrated party scene is at its most active, revellers gathering by the poolsides, on rooftops and by the Med. Spring and autumn have milder temperatures and are better fit for slow-paced city exploration and hikes. December through March are the height of ski season, when winter sports enthusiasts flock to the surrounding slopes.

The Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon's primary international air hub, and the main point of entry for the majority of visitors. There is no official public transportation service connecting the airport to the city, so travellers will need to either pre-arrange a private transfer, get a cab or rental car on arrival, or use a ride sharing app such as Uber or Careem (the latter being the by far cheapest option). Another option is to try and catch one of the mini buses that transport airport workers to and from the city; no official schedule is available for those, but you may get lucky.

Although the Beirut public transportation system is rather extensive

Dialling code +961 1 (zero followed by 7 digits locally)

Two- and three-pin plugs of type A, B, C, D and G are all in use; 220 V/50 Hz.