LEBANON
| Capital | Beirut |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Lebanese pound (LBP) |
| Area | total: 10,452 km2
water: 170 km2
land: 10,230 km2 |
| Population | 4,424,050 (2006 est.) |
| Language | Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian |
|
| Electricity | 110-220V/50Hz (European and UK plugs) |
| Calling Code | 961 |
| Internet TLD | .lb |
| Time Zone | UTC +2 | |
The Republic of
Lebanon (لبنان) is a small country (10,452 sq km or 4076 sq mi in area with 3.7 million inhabitants) within the Middle East region with its capital being Beirut. It has a long coastline on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and shares a long land border with its much larger neighbour Syria to the north and the east, a much shorter (and currently "hot") border with Israel to the south.
Climate
Lebanon has a temperate Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and cooler, wet winters.
Summer is generally considered the best time to visit, as there is virtually no rain between June and August, and the temperatures range between about 20-30°C (68-86°F). At this time it is very humid on the coast, but dryer and somewhat cooler (but not cold) in the mountains.
Autumn and spring are also good times to visit, with a bit more rain but without the tourist crowds attracted in summer.
Snow falls for a large part of winter in the mountain regions that form a large portion of the country, and there are numerous ski resorts. However, the coast is still relatively mild, with maximums rarely falling below 13°C (55°F).
Cities
Many cities in Lebanon have English names which are significantly different to their Arabic names; the Roman versions of the Arabic names in 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 destinations
- Barouk
- Bcharre
- Jeita - Known for its Grotto
- Kadisha Valley and visit the home of the (now deceased) Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran."Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country"
- Batroun— an old city on the mediterranean shore
HOW TO GET IN TO LEBANON
First you need visa, before you can visit Lebanon you must manage your visa.
Visa Restrictions:
Entry will be refused to citizens of Israel and travelers with any evidence of visiting Israel: not just Israeli entry stamps, but Egyptian/Jordanian neighboring land borders with Israel, any products with Hebrew labeling, etc.
Three-month visas are free for nationals from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan. Other nationals can obtain a 15-day visa for LL25,000 (US$17), or a three-month visa for LL50,000 (US$35). These visas are single-entry; nationals of many countries can also obtain multiple-entry visas ($75 valid for six months). The 48 hour free of charge transit visas (valid for three calendar days) are still issued, but only if you enter by land and leave via the airport or vice-versa.
Visas can be obtained at Lebanese embassies and consulates in other countries, or upon arrival at Beirut airport and other points of entry for some nationalities.
A free one month valid visa, renewable till 3 months, is granted to the citizens of these countries who are coming for tourism: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, USA, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela.
