This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel Group

The Republic of Lebanon (Arabic: لبنان) is a country in the Middle East at the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Syria to the north and the east, and Israel to the south.

Though its small size (about the size of Jamaica), Lebanon has many great destinations, with some the world's oldest cities, and venues hard to find in other parts of the Middle East, such as vineyards, nightclubs, and ski resorts. Lebanese cuisine is among the most renowned Middle Eastern cuisines.

An Introduction to the regions of Lebanon

Lebanon can be divided into five regions:

Regions of Lebanon

Beirut Lebanon's capital.

Bekaa The area surrounding the city of Baalbek near Lebanon's eastern border (with Syria).

Mount Lebanon A heavily mountainous area including the cities of Byblos and Jounieh.

North Lebanon On Lebanon's northern coast; its largest city is Tripoli.

South Lebanon An area of Lebanon bordering Israel and containing the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Beirut Bekaa Mount Lebanon North Lebanon South Lebanon

Other Muslim friendly Cities in Lebanon

Many cities in Lebanon have English names which are significantly different from their Arabic names; the Roman versions of the Arabic names are given in parentheses below.

• Beirut - the capital and largest city
• Baalbek - a Phoenician and Roman archaeological site
• Byblos (Joubeil) - another city with plenty of remains, castles and museums
• Jezzine - main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon
• Jounieh - known for its seaside resorts and nightclubs
• Sidon (Saida) - plenty of medieval remains
• Tripoli (Trablus) - still unspoilt by mass-tourism
• Tyre (Sour) - has a number of ancient sites, including its Roman Hippodrome which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Zahle - capital of Bekaa Valley

Other Muslim Friendly Destinations in Lebanon

• Jeita - Known for its Grotto
• Kadisha Valley - You can visit the home of the (now deceased) Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran.
• Deir el Qamar - Traditional village in Chouf district.

Lebanon Halal Explorer

Lebanon fosters exquisite cuisine ranging from a mezza of vegetarian dishes such as tabouleh, fattoush, and waraq ainab to delicious dips like hommos and moutabal.

Must haves include Lebanese barbeque such as shish tawouq (barbequed chicken) - usually consumed with garlic, lahm mashwiye (barbequed meat), and kafta (barbequed seasoned minced meat).

A full meal at a local restaurant can cost as little as LL22,500 depending on where you go, though more expensive options can also be found.

Lebanese "fast food" is also available as sandwiches offered in roadside shops, such as shawarma sandwiches (known in other countries as doner - or gyros in Greece). Shawarma is rolled in Lebanese thin bread. Various barbequed meat sandwiches are also available, and even things such as lamb or chicken spleen, brains, lamb bone marrow or lamb testicles can be served as sandwiches.

Breakfast usually consists of manaeesh which looks like a folded pizza, most common toppings being zaatar (a mixture of thyme, Olive oil, sesame seeds), jebneh (cheese), or minced meat (this version is more properly referred to as lahm bi ajin).

Another traditional breakfast food is knefeh, a special kind of breaded cheese that is served with a dense syrup in a sesame seed bread. It is also served as dessert.

Lebanon is also very famous for its Arabic sweets which can be found at leading restaurants. The city of Tripoli, however, is considered to be "the" city for Lebanese sweets, and is sometimes even referred to as the "Sweet Capital" of Lebanon.

International food chains are widely spread across the country. Italian, French, Chinese, and Japanese cuisines, as well as cafe chains (such as Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, etc.), are particularly popular across the country, with a higher concentration in Beirut and the urban sprawl north of the capital.

Lebanon's wines have an international reputation. Grapes have been grown since antiquity, and the vineyards, largely in the Bekaa Valley, produce the base wine for distillation into the national spirit Arak, which, like Ouzo, is flavoured with aniseed and becomes cloudy when diluted with water. Arak is the traditional accompniment to Meze.

But the grapes have also historically been used to make wine. This used to be predominantly white and sweet, but the soldiers and administrators that came to administer the French mandate after World War I created a demand for red wine, and large acreages were planted especially with the Cinsault grape. Over the last 20 years these have been supplemented with the most popular international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Wineries often offer wine tasting and are very welcoming. The highly individual, old fashioned, Chateau Musar, is based at Ghazir, 25 km (15 miles) north of Beirut, and trucks in the grapes from Bekaa. In Bekaa itself, wineries include the large Kefraya, Ksara, the oldest winery of all, Massaya, a fashionable new producer in Tanail, and Nakad in Jdeita, which like Musar has stuck with an idiosyncratic old fashioned approach. Kefraya, in the West Bekaa region, also has a nice restaurant attached and the region is beautiful to pass through.

Muslim Friendly Hotels in Lebanon

Lebanon is full of hotels, with a range in price and quality, from USD 17/night to many hundreds of dollars per night, and the quality ranges just as much. Many international chains, such as Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, and Crowne Plaza, can be found here, as well as local boutique and "mom-and-pop" style hotels, as well as low quality hotels.

The best way to save money if you are staying for a long visit is furnished apartments or all-suite hotels, as they come with cleaning and other services.

Study as a Muslim in Lebanon

A handful of private schools, such as the Lycée Français (several branches over the country), the Collège Protestant Français, Collège Saint Joseph Antoura,Lycée Abdel Kader, Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour and Collège Elysée among others follow the official French curriculum. The official French Baccalaureate exams can be taken in Lebanon.

Some schools (such as ACS) teach English as a first language and follow the English curriculum.

Beirut is also home to one of the most prestigious schools in the region, the International College (IC) which teaches both French and English as first languages among many others. Furthermore, IC offers a variety of baccalaureate programs such as the French, Lebanese, High School, and International Baccalaureate (IB).

The American University of Beirut - AUB is considered the best American university in the Middle East. The teaching language there is English. Other anglophone private universities are: Antonine University - UPA | Notre Dame University - NDU | Lebanese American University - LAU ...

Some private universities have French as the main teaching language. Université St.Joseph - USJ is one of these, it is an old and respected institution in Lebanon, and probably offers the best price/quality ratio among private universities in the country. It is the private university which has enrolled most of the Lebanon students as well as foreign students from other countries in Middle East, Africa and Europe. Other francophone private universities are USEK and Balamand.

The Lebanese University is the state-owned/public university and is the largest learning institution in the country. It offers virtually free tertiary education.

Telecommunications in Lebanon

MTC Touch [1] Mobile phone operator offers a GSM card for US$15 including a $10 credit (the START plan). Internet access starts at $10 for up to 100 MByte in a month. Alfa [2] is another mobile phone operator which offers several prepaid plans ranging from $10 to $68. Like MTC Touch, internet access starts at $10 for a 500 MByte bundle per month.

Stay safe as a Muslim in Lebanon

The vast majority of Lebanese are friendly, and most Muslim visitors experience no problems. Nevertheless tensions with neighbors Israel and Syria sometimes erupt (but are usually confined to South Lebanon) and therefore travellers should follow the independent press while in the country.

Like in any country, it is preferable to be accompanied when visiting certain locations. In general, the borders with Syria and and any Palestinian refugee camps should be avoided.

Some areas in Lebanon are likely to be dangerous for tourists, such as Erssal or Aarsal in the Northern Bekaa, known for kidnapping expats for ransom.

Visitors should always register with their respective embassies once they enter Lebanon and keep up-to-date regarding any travel warnings regarding Lebanon.

Useful phone numbers:

• Police: 112 or 911 or 999 (it is common that if you call them for small-scale infractions e.g. pick-pocketing or sexual harassment they will not come).
• Fire brigade: 175 (metropolitan Beirut only)
• Civil defense: 125 (outside Beirut)
• The Red Cross (Medic Response): 140
• Information: 1515

Medical Issues in Lebanon

As a key destination for health tourism in the region, Lebanon has a professional and private healthcare system. Located mainly in Beirut, key hospitals include:

• AUH (American University Hospital), Hamra area: +961-1-344704.
• RHUH (Rafic Hariri University Hospital), Bir Hassan area: +961-1-830000.
• Hotel Dieu de France, Ashrafieh area: +961-1-386791.
• Rizik Hospital, Ashrafieh area: +961-1-200800.
• Mont Liban Hospital, Hazmieh area: +961-1-955444.
• Sacré Coeur Hospital, Hazmieh area: +961-1-451704.
• Saint George Hospital, Ashrafieh area: +961-1-441000.
• Tel Shiha - Zahle, Beqaa
• Nini Hospital - Tripoli, North Lebanon: +961-6-431400.
• Hopital Albert Haykel - Koura, North Lebanon: +961-6-411111.
• Sahel Hospital -Airport Ave Area: +961-1-858333
• Jabal Amel Hospital - Jal Al Baher Area, Tyre: +961-7-740343, 07-740198, 07-343852, 03-280580
• Labib Medical Center - Abou Zahr Street, Sidon Area: +961-7-723444, 07-750715/6
• Bahman Hospital - Beirut, Haret Hreik Area: +961-1-544000 or 961-3-544000

It is extremely important that you get travel insurance prior to your departure to Lebanon. Hospitals in the country can be very expensive and, with the lack of insurance, cash payments may be expected beforehand.

It's recommended to drink bottled water rather than tap water.

Local Customs in Lebanon

Lebanon is a country of many different religious sects and so, it is wise to respect the religious differences of the Lebanese population. It is recommended to wear modest clothing when visiting religious sites (churches, mosques, etc.) and when visiting rural towns and villages.

Even in Beirut, some areas are more conservative than others, thus visitors should bear that in mind when exploring the city. Overall, however, clothing considered 'western' is generally acceptable, so to hedge your bets, keep your dress modest. Bear in mind, however, that as open and western as Beirut is, this is not Europe; "topless" at any beach, whether private or public, is not recommended at all.

In Tripoli, especially in the old city, it is recommended that women dress conservatively. The same applies on most traditional "souks" in the country. In general, Lebanese are accustomed to different lifestyles and some do not take offense easily, especially with matters related to dress. The Lebanese are people accustomed to diversity and are therefore quicker to accept different lifestyles, though not all Lebanese are so open-minded.

Because of political tensions and the conflict with Israel and tension with Syria, avoid discussing politics, especially regarding these two countries.

Telecommunications in Lebanon

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