Lebanon Surface : 10
452 Km²
Capital :
Beirut
Offical language : Arabic
Most Lebanese are at least bilingual. French and/or English are
spoken by a large number of Lebanese.
Currency : Lebanese Pound (LBP).
Rate of exchange to the US Dollar = 1500 LBP
Local Time
Lebanese time is GMT +2 in winter (November to April) and GMT +3
in summer (May to October).
Climate
Lebanon enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with an average of 300
sunny days a year.
- It rarely rains between June and September
- July and August are hot and humid with temperatures around 30°C
- Winters are generally cool with heavy rain on the coast and snow
in the mountains, making Lebanon ideal for winter sports
Highest point in Lebanon: Kornet el Sawda 3003 M above the sea
level
Electronic Banking: ATM machines are located all around Lebanon.
The majority of credit cards are accepted in Lebanese banks.
Transportation: You can either use the public transports or what
we call “Service”. The “Service” is somehow
considered as a public taxi. They are very easy to find, for that
you just have to walk on the street and they will stop for you.
The advantage is that they offer a fare rate: 1000 LBP per person
to go around in the same area, 2000 LBP per person to 6000 LBP per
person for longer distances in Great Beirut.
You can also call a private taxi for your tranportation. The rate
varies according to the distance. In all cases, rate is to be negociated
in advance.
Tourist Police:
You can call the Tourist Police Office at the Ministry of Tourism
if you need anything at +961 (0) 75 24 29.
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Holidays with fixed dates
- New Year’s Day : January 1
- St Maroun’s Day : February 9
- Labor Day : May 1
- Martyr’s Day : May 6
- Resistence & Liberation Day : May 25
- Ascension Day : August 15
- All Saints Day : November 1
- Independence Day : November 22
- Christmas : December 25
Religious Holidays with moveable dates
- Catholic Good Friday
- Orthodox Good Friday
- Catholic Easter
- Orthodox Easter
- Moslem New Year
- Eid El Fitr -after the Holly month of Ramadan-
- Eid Al Adha -after the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca and Madina-
- Ashoura
- The Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday
- Ramadan -Holy month of fasting and charity celebrated by Moslems-
Working Hours
• Government
- Monday to Thursday: 08 AM to 02 PM
- Friday: 08 AM to 11 AM
- Saturday: 08 AM to 01 PM
• Private Sector
- Monday to Friday : 08 AM to 06 PM
• Banks
- Monday to Friday : 08:30 AM to 04 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- Saturday: 08:30 AM to 01 PM
• Shops
- Monday to Saturday : 09:30 AM to 07 PM
• Supermarkets
- Monday to Sunday : 08:30 AM to 10 PM
Note: Hours may vary accordingly
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Visas: Travelers wishing to enter Lebanon must possess a valid passport
with a visa obtained from a Lebanese embassy or consulate abroad.
Residents of 33 countries including the USA, members os European
Union and countries of the Arabian Gulf (GCC) can obtain visas at Beirut International Airport. A valid passport is all that is required.
Customs: Personal effects are exempt from customs.
- Alcohol is limited to 2 bottles per person
- Tobacco is limited to 500 grams, which is 400 cigarettes or 20
cigars per person
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Shopping: Most international brands are available in Lebanon, but
you will be more interested in the local products such as: handicrafts,
embroidery, cutlery, brass, caftans and potery.
Talented Lebanese jewelers are another source of original souvenirs
at a good price.
Shopping areas in Beirut:
- Ashrafieh
- Beirut down town
- Hamra
- Verdun
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Restaurants:
Numerous quality restaurants offer international cuisine (Italian,
Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, French etc) while restaurants serving
delicious Lebanese food are too numerous to count.
In Beirut:
- Ashrafieh: Le Monot street, Sassine square
- Beirut down town
- Jemayzeh area
- Ras Beirut: Ain El Mreissseh, Hamra,. Raoucheh, Verdun areas
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GRAFFITI Café, Home of Talent
...located in the magnificent Beirut, Hamra area, at Makdessi street, Graffiti is the place to go!
Graffiti is not a classical café. It’s a place where students, intellectuals, artists, musicians meet to chat,
discuss and reveal their talents.
You should come and enjoy Graffiti’s appetizing salads, sandwiches and sweet your heart with some delicious deserts.
Graffiti is accessible and affordable to all of you.
Just visit GRAFFITI, you might discover your veiled talents!
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Night Clubs & Pubs: Most Night clubs and Pubs are located in :
- Beirut: Monot street (Ashrafieh), Down town Beirut, Jemayzeh, Corniche
area
- Beirut periphery: Kaslik, Maamelten, Jounieh
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Lebanese Cuisine: Lebanon is much appreciated for its cuisine, which
is among the most varied and savory in the world. Above all, Lebanese
food is associated with the Mezze, a spread of innumerable small dishes
that form the traditional opener to a meal.
Among the most essential mezze dishes that are
served with the traditional Lebanese bred “Markouk”
:
- Homos : purée of chick peas and sesame
paste dip
- Moutabal : eggplant and sesame past dip
- Tabboule : a salad of parsley, tomatoes and crushed
wheat
- Warak Arish : stuffed vine leaves
- Labne : strained yogurt seasoned with olive oil
and garlic
- Fattoush : green salad with dried bread
- Samboussek : hot cheese pastries
- Kebbe : finely ground meat with crushed wheat
and flavoring
- Kebbe Nayeh: Row meat
After the mezze comes the seafood or grills:
- Lamb kebab
- Chicken brochettes
- Kafta : ground meat with parsely
The diversity of cuisine knows no limits. It also includes many
complex dishes with a sophisticated blend of falvors
such as:
- Kebbe b’labnieh : meat balls in a sauce
of yogurt
- Moujaddara : purée of lentils with rice
and onion
- Sayyadieh : slices of fish accompanied by rice
and an onion sauch, and much else.
The meal is traditionally accompanied by Arak,
the national drink of distilled grape juice flavored with anis.
Or you can select one of the excellent local wines: "adonis, kefraya, ksara, musar or wardeh".
For dessert the choice extends to exotic fruits
such as dates, sweet lemons, pineapple, persommon or try some local
pastries with pistachios, white cheese or oriental ice cream with
its own special perfume as well as the most popular Lebanese sweet
called Kenafeh.
A narguili or watre pipe, with tobacco perfumed
with fruit, hooney or molasses is the crowning touch to a Lebanese
meal. You can also try the white coffee, an infusion
of orange-flower water, or a cup of strong Turkish coffee.
If you are in a hurry, stop at one of the many sandwich shops and
ask for:
- Mankoucheh : pizza with thyme and olive oil
- Lahmeh bi ajine : pizza with lightky spiced gound
meat and tomato
- Falafel : purée of breaded beans
- Shawarma : thin slices of marinated meat usually
garnished with fresh vegetables, pickles and sesame oil sauce
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Arabic mini dictionary :
- Hello = Marhaba or Salam alaykom
- How are you (male) = Keefak
- How are you (female) = Keefek
- Welcome (male) = Ahlan feek
- Welcome (female) = Ahlan feekeh
- Thank you = Shoukran
- Please (male) = Min fadlak
- Please (female) = Min fadlek
- Sorry, Excuse me = Afwane
- Congratulations = Mabrouk
- When = Aymeta
- Where is = Wain
- Now = Hala'a
- Yes = Na’am
- No = Lah
- How much = Addeh
- Bon apetit = Sahtein
- Welcome = Ahlan
- You (male) = Inta
- You (female) = Inti
- I = Ana
- We = Nehna
- Them = Henneh
- What’s your name (male) = Shou Ismak
- What’s your name (female) = Shou Ismek
- Day = Nhar
- Morning = Soboh
- Noon = Dohor
- Evening = Achieh / Massa'a
- Night = Leil
- Yesterday = M'bareh
- Today = Al-yom
- Tomorrow = Boukra
- Hotel = Fondok
- Breakfast = Tarwika
- Lunch = Ghada
- Dinner = Acha
- Water = Ma’y
- Coffee = Kahwa
- Bread = Khebez
- Cheese = Jebneh
- Beer = Bira
- Expensive = Ghaali
- Cheaper = Arkhass
- Half = Noss
- Too much = Ktir
- Restaurant = Mat'am
- Bill = Fatoura
- Too much = Ktir
- Airport = Matar
- Bus station = Mhattat al-baas
- Market = Souk
- Car = Sayyara
- Car papers = Wourak al sayyara
- Fuel = Benzin
- Right = Yamin
- Left = Chmal
- Straight = Deghri
- Mosque = Al-jameh / Al-masjid
- Church = Knisseh
- Museum = Mathaf
- Police = Al-Shurta
- Poste = Maktab al barid
- Embassy = Safaara
- Bank = Massref
- Street = Chareh
- Road = Tareek
- Bridge = Jisr
- Sea = Baher
- Mountain = Jabal
- River = Nahr
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Sports and Outdoors Activities
At Lebanon’s many sports and health clubs you can play golf,
tennis or squash, swim,
or participate in team sports. Fitness training is
very popular and hotels and clubs will usually allow foreign visitors
access to their facilities.
Thanks to Lebanon’s varied geography, opportunities for outdoor
activities abound.
Ski
It takes between 35 minutes and 1 Hour to reach the snow-covered
mountains where our Mediterranean climate means ideal ski conditions
and sunny skies on most days.
For an unusual sports combination, try skiing in the morning and
spending the afternoon swimming on the coast. There are 6 ski stations
in Lebanon:
- Cedars
- Faraya
- Laqlouq
- Faqra
- Qanat Bakish
- Zaarour
Water sports
All kinds of water sports are available most of the year.
Relax at a sandy beach at Jiyye, Tyre, Enfe, Chekka
or try one of the many resorts along the shore.
Scuba diving is very popluar too. Explore the
World War II submarine that lies submerged off Khaldeh south of
Beirut, or search for ancient Phoenician remains in the coastal
waters of Tyre.
For more adventure, you can climb the steep slopes of mount Sannine,
explore deep caves, paragliding
at the Cedars, trekking or rock climbing.
Places to visit:
- Graffiti Café in Hamra
- Beirut National Museum
- The traditional “Hamam” in Beirut down town
- Gibran Khalil Gibran Museum in Becharre (North Lebanon)
- Soap Museum (Tripoli and Saida)
- Harissa
- Beiteddine Palace
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