Beirut Getting there & around

Getting around

Public transport

Beirut is well serviced by its network of buses. The red-and-white buses are run by the privately owned Lebanese Commuting Company (LCC; 744 174; www.lccworld.com) and the large blue-and-white OCFTC buses are government owned. Sometimes the tourist information office has free LCC route maps available.

Buses operate on a ‘hail-and-ride’ system: wave to the driver and the bus will stop. The only official bus stops are where the bus starts and finishes. There are no timetables, but both companies run buses from roughly 5.30am to 9pm, with services departing roughly every 15 minutes.

Buses can be excruciatingly slow but are handy if you’re on a time-rich, cash-poor stay. They’re especially good value for trips to places such as Brummana and Beit Mery.

A short trip will almost always cost LL750, a longer trip LL1000.

Lcc buses

1 Hamra–Khaldé Rue Sadat (Hamra), Rue Emile Eddé, Hotel Bristol, Rue Verdun, Cola roundabout, Airport roundabout, Kafaat, Khaldé

2 Hamra–Antelias Rue Sadat (Hamra), Rue Emile Eddé, Radio Lebanon, Sassine Sq, Borj Hammoud, Dawra, Antelias

5 Ain al-Mreisse–Hay as-Saloum Manara, Verdun, Yessoueiye, Airport roundabout, Hay as-Saloum

6 Cola–Byblos Antelias, Jounieh, Byblos (Jbail)

7 Museum–Bharssaf Museum, Beit Mery, Brummana, Baabdat, Bharssaf

15 Cola–Aley-Qmatiye Airport Bridge, Galerie Semaan, Hazmieh, Aleh, Qmatiye

Ocftc buses

1 Bain Militaire–Khaldé Bain Militaire, Unesco, Summerland, Khaldé

4 Dawra–Jounieh Dawra, Dbayé, Kaslik, Jounieh

5 Ministry of Information–Sérail Jdeideh Ministry of Information, Sodeco, Borj Hammoud, Sérail Jdeideh

7 Bain Militaire–Airport Bain Militaire, Summerland, Borj Brajné, Airport

8 Ain al-Mreisse–Sérail Jdeideh Ain al-Mreisse, Charles Helou, Dawra, Sérail Jdeideh

9 Bain Militaire–Sérail Jdeideh Bain Militaire, Rue Bliss, Rue Adbel Aziz, Rue Clemenceau, Rue Weygand, Tabaris Sq, Sassine Sq, Hayek roundabout, Sérail Jdeideh

10 Charles Helou–Airport Charles Helou, Shatila, Airport roundabout

15 Ain al-Mreisse–Nahr al-Mott Ain al-Mreisse, Raouché, Museum, Nahr al-Mott

16 Charles Helou–Cola Charles Helou, Downtown, Cola

23 Bain Militaire–Dawra Bain Militaire, Ain al-Mreisse, Charles Helou, Dawra

24 Museum–Hamra Museum, Barbir, Hamra

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Car & motorcycle

Here’s a selection of car-rental companies.

Advanced Car Rental (999 884/5; www.advancedcarrent.com) This friendly local company offers substantial discounts on its published prices and comes highly recommended over some of the larger, more international firms. Extra services include free drop-off to any hotel in Beirut, and a free Advanced Car Rental CD, providing an in-car version of Arabic elevator music.

Avis (367 124; www.avis.com.lb)

Budget (740 741; www.budget-rental.com)

Lenacar–Europcar (480 480; www.lenacar.com)

Sixt 301 226; www.sixt.com.lb)

Thrifty Car Rental (510 100; www.thrifty.com.lb)

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