Lebanon General Information

Quick Facts

Region: Middle East & North Africa

Population:
4,017,095

Religion:

There is no state religion in Lebanon. However, Lebanon formally recognizes 17 religious sects for Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The estimate of religion distribution in Lebanon now is about 1% minorities, 39% Christians and 60% Muslims.

Language:

Arabic and French are both official languages.

Area (sq. km):
10,400 square meters

Time:

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from April to October).

When to Travel

Most of the country enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters, although the climate varies somewhat across the landform belts. The coastal plain is subtropical, with 900mm of annual rainfall and a mean temperature in Beirut of 27°C in summer and 14°C in winter. In the Lebanon Mountains, temperatures decrease and precipitation increases with elevation: Heavy winter snows linger well into summer, making the Lebanon Mountains more pleasant in the summer than the humid coast; higher altitudes receive as much as 1,300mm of annual precipitation. The Bekaa Valley and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains are situated in the rain shadow of the Lebanon Mountains and as a result have hot, dry summers and cold winters with occasional rain.

Useful Travel Facts

Telephone:

Country code: 961. A full IDD service is available from major towns and cities. The outgoing international code is 00. Mobile phones work in most tourist areas.

Telephone calls, especially international ones, can be expensive when made from a hotel. We suggest you check the price first. If you have a mobile phone it should be a relatively simple procedure to arrange 'global roaming' with your service provider, however charges are generally high so be sure to check this option thoroughly.

Electricity:

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are the two-pin type.

Food:

The cuisine of Lebanon is the epitome of the Mediterranean diet. It includes an abundance of fruits, vegetables and starches and all along the coast there is excellent fresh fish and seafood. The enduring tradition of the Lebanese is the appetizers, or 'mezze', including tabbouleh, kibbeh, hummus and babaganouj.

Visa: Australians, Americans, British, Canadian and New Zealanders currently require a visa for Lebanon. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. Your Lebanese visa can be obtained on arrival in Lebanon. <BR> <BR> If there is any evidence of your having visited Israel you will be refused entry into Lebanon. Evidence includes Jordanian departure stamps at the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge land border.

Useful Words & Phrases

Arabic

1: Wahed
10: Ashera
1000 thanks: Elph Shuk (as in shook)
2: Etneen
3: Talata
4: Arbaa
5: Hamsa
6: Setta
7: Sabah
8: Tamaniah
9: Tes'ood
Can I take your photo?: Mumkin photo?
Goodbye: Ma Salama
Hello: Ahlan
How are you ?: Izziyek (Egypt colloquial)
How are you?: Izziyek
How Much: Bikam (Bi as in biscuit; kam as in camshaft)
How much is it?: Bshhal?
How much?: Bikam?
I want to change some money: Bgheet nserref shee floos
My name is ...: Smeetee ...
My name is_____: Ana_____
No: La
Please: Menfudlak (Min-fud-luck)
Thank You: Shukran
Thank you: Shukran (shook-run)
That's very expensive.: Ghalee bezzaf
Too much!: Kefayer! (pronounce as one syllable - K-fire)
Too much?: Ketir!
What is your name?: Asmeetek?
Yes: Aiwa

French

Hello: Bonjour
Good Bye: Au revoir
Please: S’il-vous-plait
Thank You: Merci
You're Welcome: Je vous en prie
Yes: Oui
No: Non
Excuse me (request): Excusez-moi
Sorry: Pardon
How are you? (formal): Comment allez-vous
How are you? (informal): Ça va
Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais
I don’t understand: Je ne comprends pas
What is your name?: Comment vous appelez vous?
My name is...: Je m’appelle...
Where is...: Où est...
I’d like...: Je voudrais...
How much is it?: Combien ça coûte?
Which way to...: Comment faire pour aller...
City centre: le centre-ville
Train station: la gare
Bank: la banque
Toilet: les toilettes
Exchange office: un bureau de change
1: un
2: deux
3: trois
4: quatre
5: cinq
6: six
7: sept
8: huit
9: neuf
10: dix
20: vingt
50: cinquante
100: cent

Further Reading

The Daydreaming Boy-Micheline Aharonian Marcom
Taken on Trust-Terry Waite
Pity The Nation-Robert Fisk