Photo: Temple of Jupiter (Baalbek) · Paul Saad · CC BY-SA 4.0
First-Timer Guide 🇱🇧Lebanon: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Lebanon
A typical first trip here runs about $725 to $1,000 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is a rough estimate from PINYA regional pricing, not hand-reviewed yet, and not a live price. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Mezze spread, hummus, mutabal (smoky eggplant dip), tabbouleh, fattoush, kibbeh, and a dozen more shared small dishes
- Kibbeh, ground lamb mixed with bulgur wheat and pine nuts; eaten raw (kibbeh nayyeh) or fried; Lebanon's most iconic preparation
- Manakish, flatbread topped with za'atar (thyme-sumac-olive oil blend) or cheese; the essential Lebanese breakfast
- Kafta, spiced minced lamb on skewers grilled over charcoal; served with garlic sauce (toum) and flatbread
- Arak, anise-flavored spirit that turns milky white when mixed with water; the national drink always shared over mezze
- Baalbek International Festival (July–August), world-class opera, jazz, and dance performances at the 2,000-year-old Roman temple ruins
- Byblos International Festival, concerts at one of the world's oldest inhabited cities along the coast
- Cedar Festival (Bsharri), celebrates Lebanon's iconic cedar trees with cultural events in the mountains
- Eid Al-Fitr and Christmas are both national holidays, Lebanon is unique in its side-by-side celebration of Islamic and Christian traditions
Arabic is official; French and English are both widely spoken, Lebanon is effectively trilingual. Lebanese Arabic is distinct from Modern Standard Arabic.
Locals frequently switch between all three languages mid-sentence. Key phrase: "Merci" (said in French) is universally understood and commonly used even by Arabic speakers.
- Lebanese hospitality is intense, refusing food or drink from a host is considered rude; pace yourself through multiple courses
- Greet with cheek kisses (three alternating sides) among friends, handshakes are standard for first-time introductions
- Dress modestly in southern Lebanon and in religious areas; Beirut is generally very fashion-forward and relaxed
- Avoid discussing sectarian politics, Lebanon's religious and political divisions are extremely sensitive personal topics
Best Time to Visit
Lebanon has a Mediterranean coast and mountainous interior; summers are warm and dry, winters are mild and wet with mountain snow, and spring and autumn are pleasant.
- Peak: June to September
- Shoulder: April to May, October
- Off season: November to March, with a ski season in the mountains
Source: meteo.gov.lb
Getting Around
- Shared taxis and minibuses are the main way to travel between towns.
- Distances are short, so trips do not take long.
- A car helps for reaching the mountains and the Bekaa Valley.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: Prices vary with the exchange rate and the season, and the summer is the busiest along the coast.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Lebanon?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Lebanon safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Lebanon
Updates for Lebanon will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.