Is Lebanon a safe country to visit? What is the current safety situation, and is it a good idea to travel to Lebanon when most western governments advise against all but essential travel? After a couple of weeks of travelling around Lebanon in April 2022, we created this post to help you understand the safety situation in the country. What is it like to travel to places that suffered almost 30 years of Civil war, went through the economic and political crisis and the massive port explosion in 2020 that left the central part of Beirut damaged. One would say it is more than enough. 

Lebanon is a small country that shares its borders with its big enemy, Israel, in the south. And the north and east with Syria, which is currently in war. With its own city of Baalbek, which is the centre of Hezbollah. Yes, that’s pure chaos, and there is no surprise that Lebanon is considered dangerous to travel to. And by any means, we can’t underestimate this fact. However, after spending a few weeks in the country, we have a different opinion. 

Even though Lebanon is small, you will be surprised how many natural wonders you can see in the country and cities that change the character and make you feel you have travelled to a different country and not just a few km from each other. 

We visited many interesting places such as traditional Tyre, Saida, the home to the oldest hotel in Lebanon, Baalbek, authentic Tripoli, Christian Byblos or Qadisha Valley and its monasteries. Learn more about these places and get inspired by our 11 days itinerary.

Essential reading: How to travel to Lebanon & 11 days itinerary

QUICK OVERVIEW

1. Economic crisis and inflation led to a drop of 90% in the Lebanese Pound value – it is necessary to bring cash to the country.
2. The massive port explosion in Beirut port is under control; many buildings are destroyed, but reconstructions taking place. 
3. Occasional demonstrations are taking place around the country – avoid that places.
4. There is no war in Lebanon! It is an economic and political crisis, and the biggest threat comes from the problems with neighbouring countries (Israel, Syria)

As of April 2022, the situation is very under control, which means that if you avoid some dangerous areas (read below), you will have a great time as a traveller. We found Lebanon a very safe country to travel around. In fact, Beirut and Lebanon, in general, are one of the safest places to visit I’m the Middle East! However, it is necessary to check before travelling, as the situation in sensitive areas might change quickly. 

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IS LEBANON SAFE FOR TOURISTS? 

It’s hard to summarize the problems in Lebanon in one short sentence. Almost 30 years old civil war ended in 1990, followed by a political and economic crisis that, until today, is a big issue without any end in plain sight. Ongoing conflicts with Israel make the south of the country an absolute no-go zone, and the north and east are under the thread of overspill of the current war in Syria. Which, to be honest, isn’t very likely to happen. Not talking about the surge of Syrian and Palestinian refugees in the country. The Beeqa Valley is entirely controlled by Hezbollah. Lebanon is a sensitive area that requires a lot of research before you travel there.

Basically, you should be very careful and avoid all areas close to the borders. Yes, all borders. In the south occasional missiles attack from Israel have been recorded, and the border with Syria is a susceptible area since the ongoing war on the Syrian side.

There are occasional clashes and incidents in cities, but it usually affects just specific neighbourhoods, where you have no business being around, and it doesn’t affect tourists in the country. 

As much as all mentioned above is true, it is usually pretty safe to travel to Lebanon for travellers. 

We went there in April 2022, felt absolutely safe, had an awesome trip to the country and met just the friendliest people. In our opinion, the only danger waiting for you is meeting the most hospitable people, eating the delicious falafel until you explode, fascinating cultural diversity and breathtaking natural wonders. 

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TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR LEBANON 

Finding the right insurance provider when going to countries labelled as high risk of danger might be an issue. Make sure your travel insurance covers you when going to Lebanon and Syria if you decide to visit. One of the few travel insurance providers who cover Lebanon, including Covid 19 expenses, is IATI Insurance. As a reader of Broken Navigation, you also get an exclusive discount of 5% when purchasing through our link. 

Get your 5% discount for travel insurance with IATI here.

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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY IN LEBANON 

As mentioned, Lebanon is a very safe country for travellers if you stick to the tourist path. In our eyes, there is no real danger; if you don’t act stupid, you will be surprised that Lebanon is as normal as any other country you would travel to in Europe/Middle East.

The information below isn’t meant to scare you from going to Lebanon! It is just a list of things you should know and be prepared for. In our case, the biggest issue was the lack of electricity, but this can be easily avoided if you stay in middle-range accommodations, as we mostly stayed in budget places ($20-35 per night). And the next important thing to be ready for was to bring enough cash.

Check prices of good hotels in Lebanon here.

Refugees in Palestine and Syria 

The population in Lebanon is increasing due to a load of refugees from Syria and Palestina. It means a big tension between people as the unemployment rate rises, and it also brings cultural differences, creating an unstable environment. Many Palestinians are stateless, with only the possibility of staying in refugee camps. It might be tempting to visit these places, but we wouldn’t recommend it to you. 

Hezbollah in Lebanon 

Hezbollah controls the area of Beeka Valley near Baalbek. Baalbek being a safe city to travel to, we spend two days exploring its ancient ruins. You should absolutely forget about getting off the beaten track and going to other parts of Beeka Valley. Anyway, there is nothing wild going on most of the time, but you, as a tourist with the camera, will be highly suspicious. 

Economic crisis 

The biggest problem is currently the economic crisis caused by corrupt and unstable government. The Lebanese Pound lost 90% of its value since 2019, which suddenly changed the destiny of millions of people into poverty. Today’s result is massive inflation that causes many people can’t afford basic things such as food, medicine and fuel. 

Money 

For us travellers, it means you have to bring cash to the country; otherwise when paying by card or withdrawing money from ATM, you lose 90% of the money. Imagine paying for dinner in a restaurant for $10; if you pay by card, you end up paying $100!!! 

Bring $ dollar or € euro and change it on a black market on Hamra street. The current exchange rate in April 2022 was $1 = LBP 23500. 

Fuel

Fuel was widely available during our visit; therefore, we didn’t experience any issues with transportation. We also met many travellers who actually rented a car and drove around the country alone. 

Electricity 

The only issue you will face is the electricity shortcuts. Especially if you stay in budget places, chances are the hotel won’t have electricity for a big part of the day. In the hotels where we stay, it usually worked the following way. During check-in, they informed us what times the electricity works and when it is turned off. It usually was as they said. Sometimes there were longer shortcuts, so it is good to have a power bank. The street light in cities doesn’t work at all. If you drive a car, not even the tunnel lights work.

Simply put, if people have their own generators, they have electricity in stores. If they can’t afford it, they sit in darkness. The same applies to people’s homes. 

Checkpoints 

There are occasional army checkpoints when you travel in Lebanon. In our experience, they stopped the bus only once, on the way to Baalbek. They just checked the passports/IDs and let us go quickly. For these reasons, ensure you always have your passport with you, even when going for a short trip. 

Crime is basically non-existing

In the cities, you might experience pickpocketing, even though very rarely. Other than that, the crime rate in Lebanon is extremely low. Lebanon is a safe country for solo female travellers, couples as well as families. People are generally very honest, and except for a few taxi drivers, we didn’t even experience any rip-offs. 

It’s a mixture of religions

Lebanon is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, where several religions coexist peacefully – Christians, Sunnis and Shias Muslims. Beer is widely available, and Beirut has the liveliest nightlife scene in the whole Middle East. 

Essential reading: Ultimate travel guide to Beirut: Top places to visit in 2022

True is that governments try to shy you away from going to Lebanon. However, the truth is the country is pretty safe for tourists when visiting the main attractions and cities. 

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TIPS FOR YOUR SAFETY 

• Don’t get off the beaten track – seriously. It is more dangerous in the south as there might be unexploded missiles from Israel. 

• Get a local guide if you don’t feel like being alone – it might get overwhelming to come to Lebanon alone (even though we believe it is very safe and doable). If you feel like finding a local guide, here. He will accompany you and show you the best places around Lebanon. 

• No photos of military places – the army is very sensitive if they catch you taking photos on your expensive camera. Don’t do it. 

• Don’t get closer to demonstrations – demonstrations might happen occasionally, and avoiding these areas is best!

• Avoid discussions about politics and religion – since Lebanon has huge religious diversity, you are never sure who you are talking with and who might be listening and be offended by your opinion. Lebanon is not a great country to be aloud about your political and religious opinions, no matter how true they might be.

• Get a local data Simcard and power bank – the electricity cuts are common, and actually, some hotels won’t have electricity during the day. It means no wifi. To stay updated and connected, ensure you have a local Simcard with data and power bank to keep your electronics charged. 

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AREAS TO AVOID IN LEBANON 

Even though we believe most of the country is safe. There is still a small percentage of places you should definitely avoid. As a regular traveller, you have no reasons to come to those places, as there is nothing to see anyway. Check the places below.

• Avoid all travels to the northeast (Hermel Area) of Lebanon, which is an absolute no go zone. Border with Syria; however, crossing between Beirut and Damascus is relatively safe. 

• Don’t risk it in those places:

Beirut: Southern suburbs of Beirut, South of sports stadium.

Tripoli: suburbs of Bab al Tabbaneh, Jabal Mohsen. Tripoli also often mentioned as a city that is not very safe. However, during our visit, we felt very safe. There is a bigger army presence than in any other city, making us feel safer and more comfortable. 

Baalbek & Beeka Valley: common area for drug smuggling and the main headquarter of Hezbollah. The city itself is safe.

South Lebanon: South of Litani river except for Sour (Tyre) because of the unexploded missiles send between Lebanon and Israel. 

The safety level in places is constantly changing; make sure you check the latest info on the web of the government and make your own decisions.

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CAN YOU CROSS BORDERS TO SYRIA? 

Absolutely! But again, check the situation right before going. We crossed the overland border between Beirut (Lebanon) and Damascus (Syria) in April 2022, and everything went smoothly. We had an excellent trip around Syria, and if it’s something that interests you, read more details in our detailed Syria article. 

Essential reading: How to visit Syria in 2022 & Is it safe?

Lebanon has a pretty good flight connection to many countries. You can take a 30-minute flight to Cyprus to explore the ghost town of Varosha in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Or, to explore the Middle East a bit further and eat tons of freshly made falafel and tea, fly to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, like us. Check all the cheap flights to and from Beirut here.

Did you find everything you need to know to plan your safe trip to Lebanon? Don’t hesitate to drop us a comment below in the comment section if you miss some information. 

The situation in Lebanon is changing very quickly. Therefore we would appreciate any feedback or updates from you, adventurous travellers, as we would love to keep this post as updated as possible. 

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