How to get around Lebanon was a frequently asked question I’ve constantly come across before even visiting the Levantine heaven. The country’s small size has made traveling around super easy and road trips a must-do. That’s why transportation in Lebanon was something travelers often asked about, and I’m about to give you a detailed answer.

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Transportation in Lebanon: How to Get Around in Beirut

First things first, let’s talk about your commuting options in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

#1 Taxi/Service

The obvious option is getting a cab, but like most countries; especially in a pricey one like Lebanon, Taxis are not cheap. That’s why you’d either jump to option #2 or act more like a local and less like a tourist. If the latter tickles your fancy, then you should tell your driver the magic word that’ll drastically drop the asking fee. This magic word is “service”.

Now what does that mean? If you stop a taxi, you’ll get a ride alone and will have to pay for what the driver would charge you. On the other hand, if you demand a “service” (pronounced ‘servees‘ in Arabic), the driver would have the ability to pick up more passengers on the way while charging each of you a fixed rate. Think of it as Lebanese carpooling. Just don’t be fooled, the rate would be LBP 2,000.

P.S: Bear in mind that when covering a long distance or going to a hot spot; such as Mar Mikhael, the driver will try to talk you into paying two services (LBP 4,000) instead of one. Your good deal is settling for LBP 3,000.

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#2 Ride-hailing Apps

The two most common apps in the region, Uber and Careem, are also available as means of transportation in Lebanon. It’s definitely a cheaper option than taxis, but the service is much cheaper than both. It probably goes down to whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, as well as the destination. For instance, I found it easier to call an Uber when I was heading to or from the airport. However, getting around Beirut, I just got myself a service, even if I had a companion.

#3 Walking

Beirut is a very small city and the best way to get the most out of it is to walk around. Beirut is better explored on foot and you can cover most of it in one day. And if you’re into photography like myself, you’ll stumble upon lots of cool frames, as well as hidden gems. Plus, walking is FREE and good for your body!

Transportation in Lebanon: Traveling From Beirut

As I said before, Lebanon is a pretty small country, so going on day trips is a must to make the best out of your trip. There’s so much to see and visit in Lebanon and staying in Beirut for the whole trip would be a waste of all the beautiful sceneries you could enjoy. But how can you hit the road without having to pay a fortune for organized tours? Easy – you just need to get the gist of transportation in Lebanon and you’re good to go!

#1 Renting a car in Lebanon

If you have an international driver’s license, you can rent a car. Just make sure you have internet for GPS or offline maps downloaded on your phone. If you’re a solo traveler, try to put a group together at your hostel so you could split the cost of rent and gas.

Downside: Roads in Lebanon are very tricky, especially if driving up the mountains. Only locals are used to that and no matter how much of a great driver/navigator you are, driving around Lebanon can be a hassle.

#2 Public Transportation in Lebanon

Luckily, you can hop on a mini-van at any of the bus stops and head to your desired destination. Here’s a list of the places you can easily go to via public transportation:

• Jounieh (the van will drop you off on the Autostrad highway, so to go to Harissa, you should get a taxi/Uber from there to the Telefrique drop-off).
• Sidon
• Tyre
• Byblos (also known as Jbeil)
• Tripoli

Here are the bus stations in Beirut:

• Cola
• Charles Helou
• Kuwait Embassy
• City Mall

Moving on to the cost; that actually varies according to the distance covered. For instance, from Beirut to Sidon, I paid LBP 2,000, and from Sidon to Tyre, I paid another LBP 2,000. However, on my way back from Tyre to Beirut, I paid LBP 5,000. Either way, it’s much cheaper than other options.

Get a Driver

You can also get a driver with a car. It’s a convenient alternative as locals know the roads better as I told you before, but since it’s a hefty one, you’d better save it for places where you can’t go via public transportation. Like where? Like Baalbeck or the Cedar forests. You should also gather a group for such day trips as the driver’s pay will cost you around USD 75-100 for a round-trip (he also waits for you).

P.S: All previously mentioned prices are subject to change due to inflation and other economic factors.

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