Transportation in Lebanon

Beirut, Rafic Hariri International Airport sits only 9 km south of downtown, so the ride into the city is short but can feel like a splurge if you jump straight into the official taxi rank. A cheaper move is to step just outside the arrivals hall and look for the minibus-vans marked "Cola" or "Dora"; they leave when full, cost a fraction of a taxi, and drop you at major hubs where you can hop onto local services. If you're loaded with bags or arriving late, the taxi is still the comfort option, just agree the fare before the meter starts to avoid the classic "airport surcharge" debate. Inside Lebanon, shared taxis and minibuses are the real circulatory system. Routes radiate from Beirut's Cola and Dora junctions to Tripoli, Sidon, and the Bekaa; they're cheap, leave when full, and rarely run to a printed schedule. For a bit more predictability, the state-owned OCFTC buses connect the same cities on larger coaches, though departures thin out after mid-afternoon. Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Careem) work in and around Beirut and are moderately priced. But step outside the capital and you'll shift back to haggling with local taxis. One rookie mistake is trying to rent a car for a day-trip to the mountains without checking if your hotel offers parking, Beirut's street space is premium real estate and traffic rules are more suggestion than law.