Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, a Mediterranean port of mosques, churches, Ottoman and French-mandate architecture, museums, corniche promenades and one of the Arab world's best food scenes. In October 2026 it is also a city under very restrictive government travel advisories (US Level 4 Do Not Travel; Canada avoid all travel; Australia do not travel; UK against all travel to parts of the city), so this guide leads with the security picture and then covers what is open, where to stay and eat, and how to get around.
- Public
- There is no metro or tram. Informal shared service taxis and minibuses and the Lebanese Commuting Company (LCC) buses run fixed routes, but timetables are loose and some routes cross the southern suburbs; Canada advises visitors to avoid public transportation.
- Taxi
- Uber and Bolt work in Beirut with upfront fares; official taxis (red plates) have no meters, so fares are agreed in advance, and Canada advises using only officially marked taxis arranged through the hotel.
- Rental
- Car rental is possible (Avis, Hertz and local companies at the airport) but driving is chaotic, parking is scarce, fuel is dollar-priced and road closures can occur on short notice; most visitors do better without a car.
- Walking
- Downtown, Achrafieh, Gemmayzeh, Mar Mikhael and Hamra are walkable, but pavements are broken, traffic is heavy and distances between districts are 2-5 km.
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 1/5
- Taxi
- 3/5
- Rental
- 2/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uber or Bolt from BEY | About $10-20 (estimate; check the fare in the app) | About 20-40 minutes, longer at rush hour | |
| Official airport taxi | About $20-35 to central districts (estimate; agree the fare before getting in) | About 20-40 minutes | |
| Hotel transfer arranged by reception | About $25-45 (estimate; confirm the price when booking) | About 20-40 minutes |
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Official taxis have red number plates and no meters, so settle the price in dollars before getting in; short rides inside central districts cost about $3-6 and airport rides $20-35 (estimate). Uber and Bolt show the fare first and are the least stressful option. Canada advises using only officially marked taxis from reputable companies, arranged through the hotel.
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Beirut is a dense coastal city without rail transit. Walk within districts, use Uber or Bolt for cross-city trips, and keep a taxi plan for the airport. The security situation in 2026 makes route choice important: avoid the southern suburbs and check the airport road before departure.
Airports
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Uber
Bolt
Google Maps
Whish Money
MEA (Middle East Airlines) app and mea.com.lb
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Before travelling to the airport, check the BEY live flight board (beirutairport.gov.lb) and your airline's page; allow at least three hours because road access can be disrupted.
The UK excludes Route 51 (the Airport Road) from its warning on the southern suburbs, but the road passes close to Dahiyeh; do not leave it, and decline any driver who wants to take a shortcut through Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry or Burj Al Barajneh.
Order Uber or Bolt in the app before leaving the terminal and confirm the pickup point; if the app cannot meet you at arrivals, use the official taxi desk and agree the fare in dollars before getting in.
Carry small dollar bills (1, 5, 10 and 20) because drivers rarely have change for $50 or $100 notes.
Save the hotel's address in Arabic (and its phone number) on your phone and on paper for taxi drivers.
Avoid driving or taking taxis at night through unlit stretches of the Corniche and tunnels; stay on well-lit main roads.
Roads and bridges can be closed for demonstrations or security reasons without notice; ask the hotel reception about road conditions before each trip.
Fuel and generator cuts can affect taxi supply; book rides to the airport the evening before if departing early.