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Beirut — travel, stays & events guide
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Beirut city overview
Beirut is a city in Lebanon shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Airport baseBeirut Rafic Hariri (BEY)
Known forBeirut, Capital city in Lebanon, Beirut planning base 3, Beirut planning base 4
RegionLebanonLebanon
Time zoneAsia/Beirutlocal time
Founded551historical origin
City history
After the Albanian fighter Tafil Buzi was interned and then pardoned by the Ottoman administration for his constant uprisings, he raised 3,000 Albanian mercenaries to fight in Lebanon; some of them became notorious shortly.
In 551, a major earthquake struck Berytus, causing widespread damage.
One of them, Fakhr-al-Din II, fortified it early in the 17th century, but the Ottomans reclaimed it in 1763.
Lebanon achieved independence in 1943, and Beirut became the capital city.
The site had been built on and destroyed by 1948.
Beirut International Airport was opened on 23 April 1954.
It was renamed Rafic Hariri International Airport in 2005 following his assassination.
Then on 13 July 2006 Israel began implementing a naval and air blockade over Lebanon; during this blockade Israel bombed the runways at Beirut International Airport and the major Beirut-Damascus highway in Eastern Lebanon.
Another suggested port or dry dock was claimed to have been discovered around 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) to the west in 2011 by a team of Lebanese archaeologists from the Directorate General of Antiquities.
Weeks later, a huge fire erupted in an oil and tyre warehouse in the port's duty-free zone, on 10 September 2020.
Mid-1st-century coins from Berytus bear the head of Tyche, goddess of fortune; on the reverse, the city's symbol appears: a dolphin entwines an anchor.
As a result of this settlement, the city quickly became Romanised, and the city became the only mainly Latin-speaking area in the Syria-Phoenicia province.
He rebuilt the city after its destruction by the Ayyubids and also built the House of Ibelin palace in Beirut.
Though French infrastructure investments in the region were supportive, the local merchant elites were able to independently maintain economic power even after the end of the First World War.
Worth seeing
Beirut
Beirut is a practical Beirut planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in Lebanon
Capital city in Lebanon is a practical Beirut planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Beirut planning base 3
Beirut planning base 3 is a practical Beirut planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Beirut planning base 4
Beirut planning base 4 is a practical Beirut planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Beirut planning base 5
Beirut planning base 5 is a practical Beirut planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Beirut planning base 6
Beirut planning base 6 is a practical Beirut planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Beirut before booking Beirut hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Beirut by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Beirut, LebanonFlights & airports
Beirut Rafic Hariri (BEY) arrival plan
- Beirut Rafic Hariri (BEY)Beirut Rafic Hariri (BEY), Beirut
Compare airport access against hotel location, arrival time, rental car pickup, late flights and onward driving before choosing the first night base.
Rental cars
Beirut day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
Check weather, school holidays, daylight, local festivals and major event calendars before locking in hotel rates or non-refundable tickets.
Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Beirut events in the shared event index yet.