Local Information

Useful Info & Numbers

Official language: Arabic

Second language: French & English

Time: GMT +02:00 - US EST +7

Electricity: 110/220 V, 50 AC

Currency: Lebanese Pound

Int'l Dialing: Code 00961

Tourist Police: 1735

Lebanese Red Cross: 140

Civil Defense: 125

General Security: 1717

Beirut Rafic Hariri Airport: 150

Some Taxi Services

Allo Taxi
Phone: 1213
Fax: 12 13 ext: 46
Email: info@allotaxi.com.lb
Website: www.allotaxi.com.lb

Charlie Taxi
Phone: 00961 (0)1 282710
Mobile: 00961 (0)3 318170
Email: info@charlietaxi.com
Website: www.charlietaxi.com

Lebanon Taxi
Phone: 00961 1 353 152
Mobile: 00961 3 207 283
Fax: 00961 1 340 717
Email: lmnsouli@hotmail.com
Website: www.lebanontaxi.com

Climate

Lebanon enjoys an essential Mediterranean climate with rainy winters and long warm summers with an average of 300 sunny days a year.

The winter is mild on the coast and snowy in the mountains. Annual rainfall ranges from 700 to 1200mm.

The summer is hot on the coast and mild in the mountains. In some spring months, one can ski in the mountains and swim on the coast, both in the same day.

Average temperature in Centigrade for Beirut (coastal):

Local Time

Lebanese time is GMT + 2 hours in winter and + 3 hours in summer.

Languages

Arabic is the official language of the country. A distinction should be made between spoken Arabic, which is a regional dialect, and written Arabic which is common to all Arab countries. The use of French has been widespread since the French Mandate period. English is the language of business and is spoken by an increasing number of Lebanese.

Currency

Currency is the Lebanese pound (lira, LL) whose rate of exchange is approximately 1,500 LL to the US dollar. You won't have any difficulties exchanging money in Lebanon, which enjoys numerous licensed exchange shops. The banking system, one of the most developed in the Middle East, employs modern systems of payment and most banks have automatic tellers which accept international credit cards.

Main Hotels in Beirut and Vicinity

Four Seasons Hotel Beirut
Address: Minet El Hosn, Professor Wafic Sinno Avenue
Website: www.fourseasons.com
Contact Information: 01 761 000

Intercontinental Le Vendome
Address: Ain El Mreisseh, Sea Road
Website: www.levendomebeirut.com
Contact Information: 01 369 280

Intercontinental Phoenicia Beirut
Address: Minet El Hosn, Phoenicia Street
Website: www.phoeniciabeirut.com
Contact Information:01 369 100

Le Gray
Address: Downtown, Martyr's square
Website: www.campbellgrayhotels.com
Contact Information: 01 971 11

Le Patio
Address: Downtown Uruguay Street
Website: www.le-patiohotel.com
Contact Information: 01 999 208

Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Beirut
Address: Rawsheh , Général De Gaule Street
Website: www.moevenpick-hotels.com
Contact Information: 01 869 66

Crowne Plaza Beirut
Address: Hamra, Main Street
Website: www.cpbeirut.com
Contact Information: 01 754 755

Gefinor Rotana Hotel
Address: Clemenceau
Website: www.rotana.com
Contact Information: 01 371 999

Golden Tulip Galeria Center
Address: Jnah, Adnan Al Hakim Street
Website: www.goldentulipgalleria.com
Contact Information: 01 830 170

Holiday Inn Dunes
Address: Verdun, Rachid Karameh Street
Website: www.holidayinn-dunes.com
Contact Information: 01 771 100

Le Commodore
Address: Hamra, Baalbeck Street
Website: www.lecommodorehotel.com
Contact Information: 01 734 734

Monroe Markazieh
Address: Downtown, Syria Street
Website: www.markaziamonroesuites.com
Contact Information: 01 991 209

Riviera
Address: Al Manara, Sea road
Website: www.rivierahotel.com.lb
Contact Information: 01 373 210

Albergo
Address: Achrafieh, Abdel El Wahab Al?Ingilizi Street
Website: www.albergobeirut.com
Contact Information: 01 339 797

Some Restaurants in Beirut and Vicinity

Cocteau
Opening Hours: Daily 12.30pm-3.30pm, 8pm-11.15pm
Cuisine: French
Contact Information: 01 970 707
Address: Minet El Hosn - Avenue du Parc
Price: Meal for two with wine LL 180,000
Region: Beirut

Cro-Magnon Cuisine: International
Contact Information: 01 371 276
Website: www.lecromagnon.com
Price: Meal for 2 with wine 225000LL
Region: Beirut

Al Ajami Cuisine: Lebanese
Contact Information: 01 352 626 Ramlet El Bayda- Rafic Hariri ave.
Website: www.alajamirestaurant.com
Price: 30 $ and above
Region: Beirut

Babel Bay Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday: 12:00 - 24:00
Cuisine: Lebanese
Contact Information: 01 370 846 Zaitunay Bay
Price: 50 $ and above
Region: Beirut

Osaka Sushi Lounge
Opening Hours: 12PM till 3:30PM and 7:30PM till 11:30PM
Cuisine: Japanese
Contact Information: Kantari- Minetel Hosn- Beirut- 01 360630/ 03 080868
Website: www.osakasushilounge.com
Price: 50$
Region: Beirut

Villaggio Piccolo
Opening hours: 12pm till 11:30 pm
Cuisine: Italian
Contact Information: Kantari- Downtown Beirut 01 371155(66) / 71 090968
Website: www.villaggio-beirut.com
Price: 35$
Region: Beirut

PRUNE
Opening Hours: 7 days a week - 12 pm / 12 am
Cuisine: French
Contact Information: Mar Mikhael, Madrid street: 01569939
Website: www.prune-me.com
Price: avrg. 50$
Region: Beirut

Iris
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun: 8:00 pm - 2:00 am
Cuisine: International
Contact Information: Tel: +961 3 090 936 Email: irisbeirut@add-mind.com An Nahar Building, Down Town- Beirut, Lebanon
Website: www.irisbeirut.com
Price: 30-50$
Region: Beirut

Caprice
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun: 7:00 pm - 2:00 am
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Contact Information: Tel: +961 70 220 223 Email: info@add-mind.com Jal El Dib - Beirut, Lebanon
Website: www.add-mind.com
Price: 30$-50$
Region: Mount Lebanon

Outdoor Restaurant
Opening Hours: Starting 11:00 am …till 5:00 am
Cuisine: International
Contact Information: Antelias - Naccash main Road - Under the new bridge - Facing Advanced Eye Care www.facebook/outdoor.restaurant
Website: www.outdoorresto.com
Region: Mount Lebanon

Shopping Malls

City Center (Hazmieh)

City Mall (Dora)

ABC (Dbaye and Ashrafieh)

Le Mall (Dbaye, Sin el Fil, Saida)

Beirut Mall (Tayouneh, Beirut)

Saida Mall (Saida)

Activities

Adventures in Lebanon

ATV

Boat trips

Caving

Hiking

Horse Back riding

Kayaking

Mountain Biking and climbing

Paragliding

Rafting

Shooting competitions

Sky diving

Ski Doo

Wilderness camping

Contact: from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on: +961 (71) 44 33 23
Website: www.adventuresinlebanon.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AdventuresinLebanon