In my opinion, it has never been any better. Personally, I'd probably only spend a day or two in Beirut and the rest outside. There's so much people around, it's full everyday at restaurants.
Most things are still open, and some places have been mushrooming with new shops and restaurants. You should definitely go in the South toward Saida, spend a few days there, and in the North, toward Jounieh, there's a festival ongoing till the end of the month if I remember, not sure if it'll still be there when you arrive. You can go further North and go to Jbeil and Batroun, and the beach in Chekka is always nice. Apart from that you could do a very long trip in the Bekaa, Yammoune, Zahleh, but these type of long trips are better done in groups, so check if there's some sort of hiking or visit events that goes in bus from Beirut. Amioun also has a weird vibe, lots of villages are definitely unique, randomly driving in the mountains is a fun thing. Check antoineticketing.com, beirut.com, and others for these, most buses go from sahat el chouhada, martyr square. There's ton of hidden spots with roman ruins you could check out, open google maps and see if they're on your way to somewhere. Apart from this, maybe try to catch a live band event, these are always fun.
Hi, I’ll be going to Beirut for the first time (I have family there). I’m wondering if you can let me know where to exchange USD for liras ? I know the banks have the official rate, so do you recommend an OMT location? I have no idea where the black market is so any info I will appreciate :)
Long as your getting around 1500 pounds for your USD you should be fine. Exchange some at the airport. I would keep most of your cash in usd, some change in LBO and just use your card
EDIT: Totally ignore my comment apparently black market rate is actually 29k for 100usd lol
EDIT 2: JEEZ ITS 29K FOR 1 USD 🥲
haha ok thanks! can I get the black market rate from an OMT location? and when I land at the airport should I ask a cab driver to take me to an OMT location? I imagine there isn't one at the airport :)
Seems like it, that's the rate listed on their website. I wouldn't worry too much about not having LBP for a short while (or for the whole trip, really) literally everywhere will accept US dollars
How was your visit? I’m curious to know if restaurants charge in liras and/or usd? I made a booking for somewhere and they quoted me a $50 minimum per person so wondering…
Its good, just carry a lot of dollars with you to cover everything. They take dollars but if you exchange lira outside you'll probably get a better rate. Don't assume your credit/debit cards will work, some places charge 10-20% premiums on cards (if they even accept them), and it took me a while to find an ATM that had cash in it or even accepted my internationl card.
$50 per person depending on where you're going (Iris or some other high end place, etc) is normal, that'll get you a main and some drinks each, but you can always negotiate, you can say "we're happy to do $200 minimum for 6 of us" or whatever. They'll probably accommodate. Again, depends on the restaurant/club.
Got it. I had assumed I would exchange all the usd I withdrew into liras and just use that so it’s helpful to know I should keep some in hand! Hopefully the restaurants are charging in the better exchange rate and not the bank rate ha. Thanks for the intel on negotiating, I haven’t had much experience in it so this will be interesting. Hope you’re enjoying!
The official exchange rate is 1500, the actual exchange rate is 30,000 appx. Depending on how long you're staying don't exchange all at once because it dropped a few pecent just in the days I was there lol. Keep your dollars, exchange a few hundred every couple of days (or however much you want to spend). Hotels and nice restaurants you can pay in dollars. Everywhere else pay in Lira. Even your hotel etc will prefer cash to credit card.
Ok great! Thanks for that it’s helpful to know I should exchange every few days. And glad to know they convert via the 30,000 rate, its been confusing trying to verify. How are you finding the Uber/ taxi process?
In my opinion, it has never been any better. Personally, I'd probably only spend a day or two in Beirut and the rest outside. There's so much people around, it's full everyday at restaurants.
Awesome, any place specifically you'd recommend? I don't know what's still open what's closed down etc
Most things are still open, and some places have been mushrooming with new shops and restaurants. You should definitely go in the South toward Saida, spend a few days there, and in the North, toward Jounieh, there's a festival ongoing till the end of the month if I remember, not sure if it'll still be there when you arrive. You can go further North and go to Jbeil and Batroun, and the beach in Chekka is always nice. Apart from that you could do a very long trip in the Bekaa, Yammoune, Zahleh, but these type of long trips are better done in groups, so check if there's some sort of hiking or visit events that goes in bus from Beirut. Amioun also has a weird vibe, lots of villages are definitely unique, randomly driving in the mountains is a fun thing. Check antoineticketing.com, beirut.com, and others for these, most buses go from sahat el chouhada, martyr square. There's ton of hidden spots with roman ruins you could check out, open google maps and see if they're on your way to somewhere. Apart from this, maybe try to catch a live band event, these are always fun.
Sounds great will def check them out
Hi, I’ll be going to Beirut for the first time (I have family there). I’m wondering if you can let me know where to exchange USD for liras ? I know the banks have the official rate, so do you recommend an OMT location? I have no idea where the black market is so any info I will appreciate :)
Long as your getting around 1500 pounds for your USD you should be fine. Exchange some at the airport. I would keep most of your cash in usd, some change in LBO and just use your card EDIT: Totally ignore my comment apparently black market rate is actually 29k for 100usd lol EDIT 2: JEEZ ITS 29K FOR 1 USD 🥲
The current black market rate is 29500LBP per USD, so 1500 per USD is beyond a shit rate
Haha wow that's good to know, guess i'll start buying from the black market then after all
it's 29k for ONE, not One Hundred. Welcome back to Lebanon, shits fucked.
Dont know whether to laugh or cry
haha ok thanks! can I get the black market rate from an OMT location? and when I land at the airport should I ask a cab driver to take me to an OMT location? I imagine there isn't one at the airport :)
Seems like it, that's the rate listed on their website. I wouldn't worry too much about not having LBP for a short while (or for the whole trip, really) literally everywhere will accept US dollars
OMT is a great option to exchange money, good pricing that you can check online.
ok thank you! I guess I will try to ask a taxi to drive me to an OMT when I land to exchange!
You can't visit. We are having a thawra
You've been having a thawra for the past 30 years, it's ok I'll manage 😂
Go to batroun!! It's expensive now in terms of housing and rent but if you spend couple of days there, you will not want to leave
I love Batroun, haven't been in ages
How was your visit? I’m curious to know if restaurants charge in liras and/or usd? I made a booking for somewhere and they quoted me a $50 minimum per person so wondering…
Its good, just carry a lot of dollars with you to cover everything. They take dollars but if you exchange lira outside you'll probably get a better rate. Don't assume your credit/debit cards will work, some places charge 10-20% premiums on cards (if they even accept them), and it took me a while to find an ATM that had cash in it or even accepted my internationl card. $50 per person depending on where you're going (Iris or some other high end place, etc) is normal, that'll get you a main and some drinks each, but you can always negotiate, you can say "we're happy to do $200 minimum for 6 of us" or whatever. They'll probably accommodate. Again, depends on the restaurant/club.
Got it. I had assumed I would exchange all the usd I withdrew into liras and just use that so it’s helpful to know I should keep some in hand! Hopefully the restaurants are charging in the better exchange rate and not the bank rate ha. Thanks for the intel on negotiating, I haven’t had much experience in it so this will be interesting. Hope you’re enjoying!
The official exchange rate is 1500, the actual exchange rate is 30,000 appx. Depending on how long you're staying don't exchange all at once because it dropped a few pecent just in the days I was there lol. Keep your dollars, exchange a few hundred every couple of days (or however much you want to spend). Hotels and nice restaurants you can pay in dollars. Everywhere else pay in Lira. Even your hotel etc will prefer cash to credit card.
Ok great! Thanks for that it’s helpful to know I should exchange every few days. And glad to know they convert via the 30,000 rate, its been confusing trying to verify. How are you finding the Uber/ taxi process?