ULTIMATE Local’s Guide to Safe Solo Travel in Lebanon | 2025

Lebanon is a solo traveler’s paradise and a haven of beauty, history, and turbulence.

Wondering if it’s safe? Wondering if Lebanon is all it’s cracked up to be? YES! As a Lebanon local, I’ll answer all your burning questions, including practical information, safety advice, planning logistics, and where to stay.

I’ll make solo travel easy for you. Save this post so you don’t miss anything! 

I’ve spent the last 12 years solo traveling around Lebanon, so if you’re looking for tips, hacks, hidden gems, things to do, and practical information, you’re in the right place!

Lebanon is my favorite place in the world, but there isn’t a lot of updated information online about how to visit and enjoy Lebanon properly.

That’s why I’m here: to give you the BEST of solo travel in Lebanon in 2025 – hotels, transportation, must-see sites, and some locally-known hacks to make every day a total breeze.

Don’t miss my specifics for solo female travelers! By the end, you’ll be a pro at solo travel in Lebanon – and I promise you’ll love Lebanon as much as I do.

1. Is it safe to travel to Lebanon now?

It is very safe to travel to Lebanon now!

Lebanon (and the Middle East) has a tumultuous history, and although traveling there means keeping updated on the situation at all times, it is an incredible country to visit and very safe if you take the right precautions. 

In the last year, the situation with Israel made Lebanon unsafe to visit for a while. But in 2025, Lebanon has a new government and is looking to improve conditions in the country – and many of the locals are excited by this prospect, so 2025 is a fantastic time to visit!

I’ve always felt so safe in Lebanon. I lived in Lebanon for a while and constantly travel back and forth, and I feel much safer in Lebanon than in London!

I’m not saying nothing ever happens in Lebanon – quite the contrary! But if something happens, people will rush to help you, and you’ll have the entire neighborhood around you making sure you’re ok in no time. Trust me, it’s happened to me in Lebanon before!

Here are a few precautions to take to travel solo safely in Lebanon:

• Keep track of the news (Al Jazeera, Naharnet, The 961 are all good options)
• Don’t flash your cash
• Be mindful of your clothing choices
• Pre-book your airport taxi with White Taxi (I’ve used them so many times in Beirut, they’re so reliable!
• Book your travel insurance in advance
• Find a cafe to frequent so that, if you’re ever in trouble, they’ll recognise you there and you can ask for help!
• Don’t venture near the border with Israel! It can be touch and go down there, and most of the places you’ll want to see aren’t anywhere near there anyway.

Getting through customs should be pretty easy, I’ve personally never had problems in Beirut airport. Just make sure you’ve got the following details on you so you can get through easy-breezy:

1. How long you’re staying

2. Address of your hotel (addresses in Beirut aren’t usually exact but have at least the name of the hotel and the area)

3. A contact number for your stay (put the hotel contact number if you don’t know anyone)

Want an itinerary for your time in Beirut? Check out my awesome itinerary for 3 days in Beirut with all the things to do in Lebanon you need + downloadable PDF so you can take it with you!

2. Where to stay on your solo trip to Lebanon

You’ll need a base for your stay – so I highly recommend doing what I do when visiting Lebanon, and staying in a hotel or hostel in Beirut.

Using Beirut as your base gives you the freedom to travel around, but also have somewhere consistent to come back to. You’ll also be able to make friends in Beirut, so you can find groups to travel around with!

My favorite place to stay was always Hostel Beirut. It’s right in the heart of Geitawi near central Beirut, and it’s a clean, homey place to stay. It’s excellent for those looking to travel solo to Lebanon on a budget, and it’s right next to all the great nightlife. 

I took full advantage of this during my stay, and ended up finding plenty of people to recruit for my road trips!

Looking for something a bit different? Here’s my full list of places to stay depending on your budget:

Luxury (US$100 and up)

• Arthaus Beirut – Arthaus (in Gemmayzeh) is pretty insane. It’s stunning, quiet, luxurious, and has every amenity you’ll ever need. It’s pricey, but totally worth it!
• O Monot Boutique Hotel – O Monot has been iconic for a while now, and for good reason! Their rooftop pool is to die for and the staff are super accommodating. Plus it’s right in central Beirut!

Mid Range (US$30 – US$100)

• Luna’s Village – Luna’s is run by the most awesome staff and they deserve every good review they get!! They have individual units for a great price, and the attached vegan restaurant also has amazing cocktails and plenty of opportunities to make friends.
• Auntie Lulu – This place in Hamra is pretty basic, but there’s an epic rooftop pool that’s empty a lot of the time! The units have a teeny kitchen area and it’s nice and private. I stayed there a couple of times and it never disappoints!

Budget (up to US$30)

• The Grand Meshmosh Hotel – Meshmosh means apricot in Lebanese, and this place is as cute as! They have a mixture of dorms and private rooms, plus home cooked food and a cozy vibe in Gemmayzeh.
• Hostel Beirut – I stayed in Hostel Beirut countless times, and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s THE best place to meet people, and it’s in a quiet area right round the corner from Mar Mikhael, the highlight of Beirut for bar-hopping expats. 
• Hamra Urban Gardens – Similar to Hostel Beirut, HUG in Hamra is a fantastic place to meet people. There’s a rooftop pool and bar to chill with your new friends and it’s close to everything you’ll ever need. Plus, they have private rooms if that’s your jam!

3. Practical tips for first-time solo travelers in Lebanon

Let’s dive into some practical info that will help you have a smooth trip traveling solo around Lebanon. 

I learned these the hard way, so let me make life easier for you!

• Don’t put toilet paper down the toilet! Or anything else for that matter. Those delicate little pipes were not made for it! Just put paper into the bin next to the toilet. 
• If the electricity goes off in a restaurant, bar, or other public place, don’t panic. This is totally normal. It will come back in a jiffy. Do as the locals do – ignore it!
• If you rent an apartment, make sure you have all the info you need to get the electricity back if it turns off. Ask the landlord how many amps you have, and know how many amps the fridge uses, and whether you can turn on the AC at the same time as the washing machine etc. 
• The best restaurants look shabby from the outside. But don’t be fooled! Some of the best food you’ll ever eat will be from places like this. 
• If you have an old Israeli stamp in your passport, you won’t get into the country. I know, I know – but it’s old beef between the 2 countries. Get a new passport before you go!
• Drinking the tap water will end badly. Unless you like the idea of drinking dirty water, buy bottled water. If you’re renting an apartment for a while, ask your neighbors for their water delivery guy’s number, they’ll deliver it weekly for you!
• If you’re meeting up with Lebanese people, expect them to be late. Keeping time is for the weak in Lebanon, so expect pretty much everyone to be late. All the time. Embrace it!

Finally, I highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo to avoid getting ripped off! You can get SIM cards in Beirut locally, but the most hassle-free (and cheapest) option is Airalo in my opinion.

I used to buy physical SIM cards from MTC in Beirut, but it turns out that’s way more expensive than an eSIM!

4. Lebanon currency, money tips, & exchange rates

When you Google the currency in Lebanon, you’ll probably see that there are 2 main currencies: the American Dollar and the Lebanese Lira. 

Cash is KING in Lebanon! Your bank card will get a little dusty while you’re there, so come prepared with a purse!

TIP 1: Don’t rely on ATMs. The exchange rate is absurd and you’ll just get ripped off. I made that mistake in the beginning, but quickly learned ways around it!

TIP 2: You’ll need to exchange all your cash before you go (+extra) into USD. You might not use USD all the time while you’re there, but I can pretty much guarantee you won’t be able to get Lira (LL) from your home country, at least not at a good rate. 

TIP 3: Once you’ve arrived, look up the daily exchange rate here and go to one of the licensed exchangers in Beirut. Due to Lebanon’s financial situation, the rates can change every day.

TIP 4: If you need more cash while you’re there, use Western Union to send yourself USD and just collect it from one of the WUs in Beirut (see the map). For an even better rate, I always use Taptap Send since there’s an app which is much faster!

PRO TIP: There’s a huge expat community in Beirut, and if you’re getting ripped off by money exchangers, there’s always someone in the Facebook group willing to exchange. I recommend playing it safe and exercising caution here, but I’ve done it many times with other female expats and you can have a glass of wine together while you’re at it!

5. Getting around: walking, public transport, and renting a car

Once you know Beirut well, it’s easy to get around. It’s almost second nature to me now, but in the beginning many years ago, I got lost all the time.

Even after years of exploring the city, I still occasionally find myself taking a detour!

However, if you’ve never been before, Beirut is a maze! Google Maps isn’t always reliable, local taxis are hilarious, and while Uber is pretty decent it shouldn’t always be your first point of call. 

To help you get around, I’ve put together a few tips based on my experience:

5.1 Walking in Beirut