Where to Stay in Beirut (2025) | 5 Cool Areas From a Local

Choose from one of these 5 gorgeous neighborhoods in Beirut for the ultimate stay in Lebanon’s capital city. In each area, you’ll find the most awesome hotels for every budget, recommended by our local Lebanese expert!

There’s not much information out there about navigating Lebanon – this is updated for 2025 so you can choose the TOP places to stay during your trip to Beirut!

where to stay in Beirut

Going to Lebanon and looking for where to stay in Beirut? You’re in the right place!

I’ve got family in Beirut and travel back all the time, so I know all the best spots for a first-timer to stay in Beirut. I just came back from another visit and it was absolutely incredible!

Most articles will focus on the most touristy spots – but I’ve got all the most popular areas AND the lesser-known local areas that will serve every visitor to this gorgeous country. 

For each area, I’ve included my favourite hotels in Beirut for every budget, so you have everything you need to plan the perfect trip with updated information for 2025. 

The TOP area to stay for the first time in Beirut is Achrafieh in East Beirut. Here are all my favourite hotels in Achrafieh for your stay!

Have a look at this Beirut neighborhoods map, so you know where all the best areas are!

1. Achrafieh – best place for backpackers & nightlife

View of a city between buildings

If you’re heading to Beirut for the first time, Achrafieh is the place to be!

I always stayed in Achrafieh the first few years of my travels to Beirut, and I still do very often! It’s an excellent place to meet people, and a really fun place to get to know Lebanon. 

As well as being the heart of Beirut’s famed nightlife, it’s also a great area for museums, art galleries, street art, cute cafés, and beautiful, leafy streets. 

And Mar Mikhael? Forget bar hopping, it’s a full-on Lebanese night out – trust me, you’ll be dancing on tables before you know it!

The vibe in Achrafieh is chill, laid-back, easy-going, (ridiculously) fun, and the people there emulate this vibe so well. That’s why most of the people I’ve met live around here – I guess the vibe is right!

Achrafieh encompasses a large majority of East Beirut, so the main areas you can look at staying are:

  • Gemmayzeh – for upscale bars and living alongside the locals
  • Mar Mikhael – for a pub crawl
  • Geitawi – for quiet, leafy streets (with one epic hostel)
  • Saifi – for posh stays and serviced apartments
  • Sassine Square – to be in the middle of everything

Most of the best places to stay are in Geitawi and Gemmayzeh. This is where all the best bar-hopping is!

2 girls smiling on stairs in a city

Top hotels to stay in Achrafieh

2. Badaro & Sodeco – top area for couples & apartments

View of street going uphil in a city surrounded by trees

Although Badaro and Sodeco are both small neighborhoods in Achrafieh, they’re on the outskirts in central Beirut, and they definitely deserve their own section!

These areas are known for upscale restaurants, sweet cafés, boutique shops, and picturesque streets – probably why couples love the area. There are a few nice hotels dotted about, but this is also a fab area for big, breezy apartments with wrap-around balconies. 

There are also a few salons around there! I always head to Sodeco to get my nails done, the salons are much quieter and the price is right! It’s my little escape, and the gossip is absolutely top-tier.

Every time we go to Beirut, we go to the main street in Badaro for many evenings. It’s similar to Mar Mikhael for nightlife, but it’s a bit more upscale and fancy – and there are some real hidden gems, like Attic Bar, which is so cute and cozy!

Best hotels & apartments to stay in Badaro & Sodeco

3. Hamra – vibrant neighborhood to stay for shopping

View of a leafy street with cars parked down the side

My husband and I have stayed in Hamra in West Beirut a fair few times because the vibe is awesome. 

It’s an eclectic, centrally-located neighborhood with excellent restaurants (like Mezyan, my favorite place to go – try the cheese rolls, they’re incredible), the famous American University of Beirut, and easy access to the Corniche and sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Hamra is so mixed, it’s unlike any other neighborhood in the city. Which makes it a great place to stay! The vibe on Hamra Main Street is such beautiful chaos, I adore it.

Hamra Main Street runs from Sanayeh Garden all the way down to Luna’s (if you fancy a quiet retreat with vegan food – we know the owners, and they’re sooo nice) and provides ample opportunities for shopping, eating, and drinking!

I’m such a huge fan of Hamra, can you tell? It’s close to the center of the city where my husband’s family lives, so it’s a convenient and fun place for us to stay – and I promise, it would be great for you too if you like a lively area!

Image of 2 girls laughing by a pool with a title that says "Hamra Urban Gardens Rooftop Pool"

Top hotels in Hamra

4. Downtown Beirut – for luxury stays & landmarks

Image of a street after it has just rained in a city

Downtown Beirut is undeniably beautiful. Although many people don’t consider Downtown to be “real Beirut,” it’s still a lovely area and famed for its wealthy residents and designer souk. 

We never stayed in Downtown Beirut or Beirut Central District since we prefer a more laid-back setting, but we go there every so often to go to the cinema, have a fancy dinner, or even just walk around! 

So if you’re looking for somewhere luxurious right in the center of Beirut, this area is IT for you!

The types of people you’ll see hanging about Downtown are wealthy business owners, rich Arab foreigners, and gorgeous Lebanese men (honestly I’m obsessed, but I married one so obviously!)

The great thing about staying Downtown is your proximity to Zaitunay Bay, a glittering seafront promenade with some incredible restaurants and sweeping views. We went to Zaitunay the night before our wedding with the whole family, and the experience was magical, so don’t miss it!

View of a mosque with cars driving in front of it and a man walking on the path

Top hotels in Downtown Beirut

5. Ain El Mreisseh & Raouche – best area for coastal views

Image of a sunny street going down to a coastline

My husband’s family used to live in Ain El Mreisseh, so I can vouch for it – this is the top spot if you love views of the sea and Lebanon’s gorgeous coastline, modern high-rises, and easy access to the excitement of Hamra.

Raouche, just along the coast on the Western side of Beirut, is famed for the Pigeon Rocks (definitely go there at night, it’s so beautiful) and seafront restaurants serving fresh seafood and incredible mezze platters. 

Every year we go to one of the seafood restaurants along the Raouche promenade, and they never disappoint. Fresh is an understatement! Aside from the food and service, it’s so nice to be able to walk along the corniche afterwards.

It’s close to Verdun, where you’ll find the ABC Mall, and you’re right next to Ramlet Al Baida Beach as well, a popular free beach in the Lebanese capital! Many locals head there in the summer, so it gets suuuper lively and fun. Just don’t go in the water there, it’s not that clean – enjoy the sand though!

This area is more popular with families and business travelers, and there are a host of famous hotels located here as well!

View of a seafront promenade with people and high rise buildings in the background

Top hotels in Ain El Mreisseh & Raouche

BONUS #1: Top hostels for solo travel in Lebanon

Traveling solo? Lebanon is your playground!

I met so many awesome people during my solo days, and we spent an epic time together. That’s how it goes here, instant friendships that last for life.

The first few years of my travels to Lebanon, I stayed in Hostel Beirut, The Colony, Hamra Urban Gardens, View Lodge in Bcharre, and Saida’s only hostel, which was incredible! I met so many awesome people (shout out to Amy and Viv) and recruited many people for road trips around Lebanon – which of course, was absolutely epic!

Here’s a short list of all the top places to stay in Lebanon if you’re a solo traveler – these spots aren’t just in Beirut, they’re all over Lebanon, so you can use them while you’re traveling the country!

Hostels in Beirut

Hostels in South Lebanon

Hostels in Mount Lebanon

Hostels in North Lebanon

BONUS #2: Best apartments to stay in Beirut

Nowadays, my husband and I always book an apartment during our travels to Beirut. We do this for a few reasons:

  • Greater freedom
  • Ends up being cheaper if we’re staying for long periods
  • More choice in terms of location
  • We can have friends & family round for dinner

To each their own, but I personally love a Lebanese apartment. Many places are in beautiful old buildings but have been renovated so you get all the modernity in traditional Lebanese spaces. Love!!

Budget (US$30 – $60)

Located in upscale Badaro, this apartment has it all – pizza oven, hot tub, 3 bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, gorgeous terrace, and a BBQ! I personally love the terrace, it’ll be great in the summer to have somewhere private to chill. The owner speaks good English so can give you tips on local nightlife!

Perfect for a solo traveler looking for a private space to stay, this Airbnb in Lebanon is super chic and modern. It’s in a Convivium building on Gouraud Street – I stayed in one of the Convivium buildings in March this year and it was very secure with 24/7 security at the front desk, a pool, and a gym, so it was amazing!

Mid-range (US$60 – $100)

Perfect for 2 people or 2 couples, you can’t beat this location, right on the edge of Gemmayze and Downtown Beirut. Plus, there’s 2 bathrooms! It’s really pretty, has everything you need, and there’s even a hammock to chill out on the balcony. Hammock is a total necessity in the summer, trust me, I always sweat sooo much in summer and the hammock is a chill haven!

For those solo travelers who want to be right in the fun zone at the eastern end of Mar Mikhael, this studio is super cute. Recently renovated and with a view over Beirut, it’s a clean, cozy space. It’s also right next to Riwaq, a hippy bar & event space I always love going to – they have spoken word and music nights, so great to have that just around the corner from your apartment!

Luxury (US$100+) 

This place is pretty fancy next to Downtown Beirut, in the upscale area of Saifi Village. It’s big, modern, well-lit, and even has a big balcony with pillars!! You probably won’t want to leave this place, since it also has a hot tub and 24/7 security for the most epic stay in Beirut.

ZUR has lots of different options for apartments – you can choose from a standard suite all the way up to a deluxe twin suite, with a big kitchen, balcony, living space, and incredible city views. This place is special since the spaces are serviced apartments – so you can have daily housekeeping, 24/7 front desk services, shuttles to take you all over Beirut (and the casino in Jounieh), daily breakfast AND children stay completely for free!

FAQs about where to stay in Beirut

View from a balcony of a street and apartment blocks with stairs in the middle

🇱🇧 What is the nicest area to stay in Beirut?

The nicest area to stay in Beirut is definitely Achrafieh! You can find hotels and hostels for every budget in East Beirut, and the vibe is perfect for solo travelers, nightlife, museums & culture, and incredible restaurants. Don’t miss Le Chef for authentic Lebanese food, it’s my favorite place to eat in Achrafieh!

🛏️ What’s the best hotel to stay in Beirut for budget travelers?

❎ What neighborhoods should I avoid in Beirut?

I would avoid Dahiyeh and Bourj Al Barajneh if you’re traveling on your own. It’s perfectly safe around there, but the communities are very tight-knit and may question why a foreigner has come to the area alone. I go there with my husband to visit family, but otherwise there’s not much for us there.

🏨 Is Beirut a good place to visit for tourists?

Beirut is an excellent place to visit for tourists! It’s honestly so beautiful, the people are amazing, and you’ll have the time of your life. I’ve been traveling there for over 12 years and I just fall more and more in love with it every time.

🌊 What is the best seafront hotel to stay in Beirut?

✈️ Is Beirut safe?

🛍️ How many days should I spend in Beirut?

I could spend forever in Beirut, but for a first-timer, I recommend at least a week in Beirut and another week traveling around Lebanon! I quickly learned that Beirut is not the only amazing place in Lebanon, so definitely make time for it.

🩳 Can I wear shorts in Beirut?

You can wear shorts in Beirut, but I would personally say only wear shorts in Achrafieh. I wouldn’t wear them elsewhere – you certainly can if you wish, just be mindful that Lebanese culture may vary from your own, and although it’s considered fine to wear shorts, you don’t want to attract too much attention.

Conclusion

A man with his hands in the air standing on a leafy street corner

There you have it – now you know where to stay in Beirut!

I’ve traveled to Lebanon countless times, and I’ve met so many awesome people – who knows, maybe you and I will meet – so pick your favorite area and hotel from this list and book in advance!

So many wonderful things to say about Beirut, I wish I had the time. If you have any questions or concerns, do drop me a comment and I’d be happy to help. There’s a lot of stigma surrounding places like Lebanon, so go and see for yourself and make up your own mind. You won’t be disappointed!

Book your stay now, and get ready for the time of your life! Let me know when you do!

Bishoufkon bi Beyrouth, habibete!

Lizzie

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