Travel to Lebanon

Flying to Lebanon

The national carrier is Middle East Airlines (www.mea.com.lb), which operates direct flights from the UK to Beirut, as does British Airways (www.ba.com). The peak summer months and Christmas generally tend to be the most expensive times to fly.

The major airport is: Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Notes

Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport is 7km (4 miles) from the centre of the city.

Airport Guides

Flight times

From London - 4 hours 30 minutes; New York - 12 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).

Departure tax

Included in the air fare.

Travelling to Lebanon by Rail

Driving to Lebanon

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to areas of Lebanon bordering Syria. 

The border between Lebanon and Israel is closed. You may be refused entry to Lebanon if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport.

Getting to Lebanon by boat

Main ports: Beirut (www.portdebeyrouth.com), Chekka, Jounieh, Tripoli, Sidon and Tyre.

Cruise ships

A few cruise ships visit Beirut in the summer. Thomson Cruises (www.thomson.co.uk) stops at Beirut on a cruise of the eastern Mediterranean departing from Cyprus.

There are no ferry services to Lebanon at present.