Lebanon Cities – Beirut between the past and the present

Lebanon Cities - Beirut between the past and the present

 

Lebanon Cities - Beirut throughout History...

Among the most important Lebanon Spots, Beirut is the capital and greatest urban center of Lebanon with a population starting from some 1 million to more than 2 million as of 2007. Positioned on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's seacoast with the Mediterranean sea, it functions as the state's primary and chief seaport, and at the same time forms the Beirut City Region, which involves the metropolis and its suburbs. The earliest reference to this urban center is noticed in the early Egyptian Tell el Amarna notes, dating to the 15th century B . C ., and the urban center has been steadily inhabited ever since.

 

Lebanon Cities - Beirut at present times...

Beirut has Lebanon's seat of state, and works a foremost place in the Lebanese country's economy with its area heart, Hamra, Verdun, and Ashrafieh-established commercial enterprises and banking companies.  The urban center is the center of attention of the community's societal existence, known for its media, cinemas, societal recreation, and nightlife.

 

Lebanon Cities - Beirut recent highlights...

Subsequent to the damaging Lebanese civil war, Beirut experienced primary renovation, and the renovated old city heart, marina, discos and nightlife zones have one more time made it a travellers magnet.  Beirut was branded the top rated destination to head to in 2009 by The New York Times. It was basically at the same time ranked as 1 of the 10 liveliest places in the entire world by Lonely Planet in 2009.

 

In 2011, MasterCard Directory mentioned that Beirut has the 2nd largest visiting paying values in the Middle East and Africa.  Dubai emerged in first with $7. 8 billion, followed by Beirut with $6. 5 billion, Tel Aviv with $3. 8 billion, Cairo at $3. 7 billion and Johannesburg with $3. 3 billion. In addition it was mentioned as the 9th most frequented and so it's still thought of as a "high-end" vacation spot.

 

Lebanon Cities - Beirut Origins...

Beirut's heritage dates back a lot more than 5000 years. Based on the Britannica Encyclopedia, the antiquity of Beirut is pointed by its label, taken from the Canaanite label of Be'erot (water wells), with reference to the subterranean waters platform which remains utilized by the native locals for broad usage. Excavations in the town center section have unearthed tiers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Arabic, Crusader and Ottoman remains. The earliest past reference to Beirut dates from the fourteenth century B . C ., when it is stated in the  tablets of the "Amarna notes ". Ammunira  of Biruta (Beirut) posted two to three letters to the pharaoh of Egypt.  Biruta is moreover referenced in the letters from Rib-Hadda of Byblos. The most early settlement was first on an island in the water that slowly silted up. The place was referred to in antiquity as Berytus, this label was used in 1934 for the archaeological publication produced by the School of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut.

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Things to do in Lebanon in 3 days

Things to do do in Lebanon in 3 Days

Lebanon is a little state, still it has a significant number of details to supply to its tourists. That is not a revelation in itself considering the the past of Lebanon, 1000's of years old, the point that tens of cultures passed through the Lebanon Spots and Territories. It is believed that every single sq meter of the Lebanon terrain carries a lot of historical past, a lot of artifacts, and numerous memories.

As to the Lebanon vacationer who basically has 3 days and nights to pass in Lebanon, and who desires to experience an understanding of the place, and afterward get out of the nation having a unique experience, and the awareness that he has personally seen much of Lebanon, we would suggest the next tracks, applied from natives and recent sightseers feedback and ideas.

Consistent with those assessments, which in reality rely on the moment of the calendar year the visit is done, based upon the age of the vacationer and his or her heritage, and choosing the fall as the benchmark time of year, a 3 days and nights Lebanese Trip could quite possibly comprise:

For the purpose of a enjoyable pathway:

- Just one daytime in Beirut

- A day in Sidon (towards the south)

- A day in Byblos (to the north)

Meant for a less casual pathway:

- A day in Byblos, in addition to a visit to Jeita Grotto

- A day journey to Baalbeck, also a visit to Anjar

- A day to Sidon and Beirut with evening in Beirut

To get a much less used pathway:

- A day in Byblos, also a visit to Jeita Grotto and Batroun and evening out in Beirut

- A day in Sidon (Saida), seeing the sea castle, the temple of Echmoun, visiting the soap manufacturing and walking around the souk, exploring the ancient Mosque, and ending on the new corniche waterfront.

- A day touring Chtaura, Baalbeck, Zahle, Ksara (vineyard)

All the interviewees that delivered the preceding tracks all believed that 3 days and nights are actually a very short length of time for a place such as Lebanon, featuring more than 7 1, 000 years of story and civilization, but a large number of them promised that subsequent to these 3 days visit, any vacationer to Lebanon will possibly come back for an extensive Lebanese feel afterwards, the year following or at some later instance in his or her lifetime.

To get further tips about things to attend to in Lebanon, take a look at the report “Things to do in Lebanon in a summer day” at Things to do in Lebanon, and to get knowledge about Lebanon Terminal Transfer System, check Guide to Beirut Airport Transfers

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Travel to Lebanon - 3 days in Lebanon

Beirut Airport

As featured in the article Beirut Airport Transfers

Arrival at Beirut Airport

If you arrive to Lebanon by air, you will certainly arrive at Beirut International Airport (Rafik Hariri International Airport).

 

Beirut Airport Service

At your arrival, enjoy the rapid service of the Internal Security System, and watch how fast you pass the airport formalities.  It’s in the Lebanese blood to be impatient, and you feel the officers waiting to print the “arrival” stamp on your passport more impatient than you are.

 

Beirut Airport Taxis

If you have booked a taxi agency to pick you up at the airport, they will most certainly be waiting for you with your name outside.  If you have rented a car, the car rental agency personnel will be waiting for you in the same fashion.  As an alternative, if you are on your own, you can take one of the airport taxis (taxis with airport logo on the side) which are parked next to the terminal at the arrival gate. These are regulated by the airport authorities, and they have a unified official rate.  If you want to be completely on your own, and you go out of the airport, tens of taxis will be passing by at each step, waiting for a sign to ask you if you want a ride.  If you decide to take one of these, you will most probably have to convene with the taxi driver on the appropriate fare that he will charge you for the ride.

 

Beirut Airport Taxi Transfer Prices

There are no set prices for taxi transfers that you pick up out of the airport, and there are no taxi meters, so the tariff that you will be charged depends on you and on the taxi driver, thus you have to tell the taxi driver where you are going, and ask him how much he will charge you for the ride, but another alternative is to tell him where you are going and give him the price you expect to pay, and as an alternative in the middle, he can give you a price and you can bargain.  As a rough estimate, if you’re going inside Beirut, begin your bargaining with 10$ and reach 15$ as a maximum, and if you’re going within a range of 25km from the capital, begin your bargaining with 20$ and reach 30$ as a maximum.

 

Taxi Service Alternative

An alternative to taxis is what is called “service” which are shared taxi cars.  These charge 1$ per passenger for the ride, but they operate within fixed perimeters, thus if you’re going much farther from your initial departure point, you may have to take 2 or more taxi “service” rides.  Service Taxis usually do not operate directly outside of the airport, and you will have to walk a distance of 300 to 500 meters before you can find anyone, or better said, before they can find you.  If you’re travelling alone, and if you’re going anywhere inside Beirut, this could be a viable solution for your transfer since they cost much less than taxis, but they do not deposit you exactly where you’re going, and you may have to walk some distance after they deposit you.  The way to proceed with service taxis is to first make it clear for the taxi driver that you are not hiring him as a taxi, but as a service.  They usually approach you when they see you waiting on the street, and you have to tell them where you’re going, they either ask you to jump in, or they go their way without further looking at you.  Another way to make sure that you’re dealing with a service taxi is to make sure there is at least another passenger in the car when they pick you up, and pay him directly when you jump in the car, this way you will avoid unpleasant surprises and discussions at your destination.

 

Beirut Airport Public Transportation

A final alternative is to take a public transportation bus, but this alternative will be discussed in another article “Public Transportation at your arrival in Lebanon”.

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