Has anyone been to Beirut?

[Nonstopbuttmachine]

I don't live in the UK (tiny little island in the Med) so budget flights from here are quite limited. Ryanair have just announced a new route from my local airport to Beirut, I'm quite interested as it's supposed to be a beautiful city. It would be a short break (3-4 days) maybe next spring, weather will not be important and the flight will only be 30 minutes.

I've mentioned it to my friends and they have given me this look. Surely it's a safe city now?

I’d love to go there, OP. I think it would be really interesting. I think there are areas you need to avoid, but then, this is true of many capital cities.
I like going to places that elicit from people, and that are a bit edgy.

Lol, someone mentions Beirut and I automatically think about Terry Waite. I had never considered it a holiday destination.

Beirut looks amazing, I’d love to go there. I saw a travel programme, largely about the food I think, and it was so tempting. Lebanese wine is also 👌🏽I have some friends that went and enjoyed it, but they’re quite hardcore!

Thanks for the replies, Terry Waite's name seems to crop up!

I've heard it's a vibrant city and the food is amazing. It's quite confusing as where I live we have so many Lebanese (Palestinian) refugees. Very resilient and positive people.

I have a friend who lives in the UK who's from Beirut and goes back often.

She wouldn't recommend it for obviously White British people, she has told me it's absolutely safe for locals but there are known Muslim extremist operations there.

The UK Foreign Office consider most of Beirut as 'advise against all but essential travel'.

I'm a pretty well traveled person but I wouldn't go there at the moment...

That being said - if you're not obviously British/White European it may be okay?

If I had a Western European accent or would stand out from the locals in any other way I wouldn't risk it.

Foreign Office notes:

"Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Lebanon. You should be vigilant at all times, avoid crowds and crowded places and follow the advice of the Lebanese authorities. On 3 June 2019, 3 Lebanese security personnel were killed in Tripoli by a suspected militant. Be particularly vigilant at this time and follow the advice within the Terrorism section
There are reports of criminal gangs operating in parts of the Bekka, especially northern Bekka, involved in drug cultivation and smuggling. You should follow the advice of security agencies, and be particularly conscious of your security if travelling in northern Bekka.
There have recently been protests targeted at UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, which have turned violent. You should avoid large crowds and political gatherings. Certain groups, including Hizballah, retain weapons that are beyond state control.
There are unexploded ordnance and land mines in many places. You should avoid travelling away from established paths, especially when hiking. This is particularly a concern in southern Lebanon.
A conflict with Israel could spark with little warning with a rapid escalation in violence - you should keep up to date with the news and this travel advice while travelling.
The security situation in parts of Lebanon can deteriorate quickly. Keep up to date with developments, be vigilant, follow local advice and avoid any protests or demonstrations. Roads can become blocked due to protests. In the event of widespread disturbances or a deterioration in the security situation, there may be limits to the assistance that the British Embassy is able to provide.
You can read our crisis overseas page for further information and advice, including sections on what you can do to prepare effectively, what you should do in the event of a crisis abroad, and how we can help you. See Political situation
Groups within Lebanon, including Hizballah, are proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000. Offences committed under the act – including funding and supporting proscribed organisations – may be liable to prosecution in the UK.
There’s a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation. Additional security measures have been in place on flights departing from Lebanon to the UK since March 2017. You should co-operate fully with security officials. Restrictions on carrying large electronic devices in the aircraft cabin, introduced as part of these measures, have now been lifted for airlines operating from airports in Lebanon. For more information and advice about what items you can take into the cabin on your flight from Lebanon to the UK, contact your airline or travel company."

Beirut is beautiful. I’m white, British can’t speak Arabic and have been 4 times in 4 years. It’s a fabulous city. I highly recommend and pm me for sights and things to do- you won’t be bored!!

Also...

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Lebanon. Islamist extremist groups will seek to target the Lebanese state, security services, and civilians, and have the intent to target foreigners inside Lebanon.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out more about the global threat from terrorism.
Attacks could therefore take place in areas visited by foreigners, in Beirut and elsewhere, including hotels, restaurants and bars, markets, tourist and religious sites, large outdoor events, western-style shopping centres and supermarket chains. If you plan on visiting these places, you should make sure your security arrangements are sufficient.
There is also currently a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals specifically, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

I guess it depends how risk averse you are....many people have been to Sri Lanka with no issues before the recent hotel bombing, ditto Tunisian beach resorts and Bali nightclubs.

The chances of being in an attack are very slim but I personally wouldn't risk it at the moment, particularly when I've been told by a very trusted Lebanese friend that Westerners shouldn't travel there at the moment.

I suspect she and the Foreign Office have a decent amount of knowledge of the risk.

Whilst I’m sure there are increased risks, I have never felt unsafe as a woman in Beirut- but I don’t do beaches. I took my kids there 2 years ago and it was fine. We did some museums, cedar forests, went to an amazing cave, cable cars, visited some amazing malls!

Sorry - one last thing: you would also need to check the T&C's of your travel insurance as most travel insurance policies are invalidated if you travel to places the FCO class as 'advise against all but essential travel' (even if your claim is nothing to do with the risk the FCO are concerned with)

@wheresmymojo really? 😢 What a shame. The tourist board here is obviously trying to improve links between the two countries but seems it will work one way only.

I agree with the ‘risk averse’ advice, especially since the current terror threat level in the UK is ‘severe’ meaning that an attack is highly likely.

I can also fly to Tel Aviv or Amman from here, both short flights and seen appealling. I don't think either will be cheap destinations though? (I'm on a budget)

Kiev is also an option, has anyone been there?

You can do tel aviv on a budget. There are hostels, souks and supermarkets for food and the best thing IMO is walking along the beach promenade, maybe to see Akko (more markets) and just take in the beach life. Jerusalem is a 45 minute bus ride away and the old city also has hostels and lots to do for free.

Don't know about Amman or Kiev though.

I agree that very few tourist destinations are free from the risk of terrorist attacks these days but going somewhere the FO are actively advising against seems like madness. Your insurance will likely be invalid and the UK will not repatriate you if it all goes tits up.

I’ve been recently- we did a 2 night stopover on the way to Oman.My husband was interested to visit and there had been some travel articles talking it up as the next big thing.

I would not recommend it, honestly - not because of safety, there are so many police and searches etc going into shopping malls that we felt entirely safe. There is also a diverse religious and cultural base so I felt no qualms as a woman, even when I was shopping without my husband. It’s just not the revived former Paris of the ME that some claim - it may be, just not yet.

We hired a guide for a half day tour - urbane, educated and very well informed - the recent history is very visible in bomb and bullet marks on buildings and it was quite something to marry up memories of reports of the street to street fighting and to see those places. The story of the restoration of the National Museum was also interesting.

What isn’t so great is the unfettered development - ugly sprawls , shopping malls where the Souk once was and the marinas on the Corniche are home to gaudy big Russian yachts and some big hotels. Traffic is heavy and relentless leading to awful pollution - we couldn’t see one end of the bay to the other because of a brown pollution haze, like I’ve seen in Chinese cities .

The people are lovely - they have survived extraordinary events and are trying to go forward with a carefully balanced form of government. It’s a small country in a vulnerable position and I do wish it well but I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it as a destination.

Tel Aviv is a nice beach destination though - people being sporty up and down the front and lots of fun but civilised beach bars and restaurants. Jaffa Old Town for some history.

Thank you, I appreciate the honest replies. Beirut is crossed off my list then

I'll consider Tel Aviv. I've been to Syria before but it was on my old passport so shouldn't have any problems getting into Israel

Kiev looks stunning and apparently an inexpensive place to stay. I'll await further advice from you lot

I’ve done Kiev. Nice- defines go see the ballet. I haven’t been since 2010 but there were plenary of gardens. Cheap. Not especially touristy but that’s got pros and cons. Less tourists but also less to do. Take an overnight train- much fun!

It used to be a bomb site, literally.

When I was younger, rough Council areas, or places being bull-dozed, were referred to as looking like/being like Beirut.

I don't even know who was fighting or why. I think I'll look it up.

I believe that's all changed. I understand the Lebanon has some amazing history.

Beirut from the cable car last Easter. No smog or pollution. Beautiful city.

I went to Beirut for five days three years ago and loved it, @Nonstopbuttmachine - maybe just cross it off your list temporarily! I'm white, fair-skinned and female and always felt completely safe; the people were lovely, the food was great and the city is a vibrant, lively, modern place with everything from trendy rooftop bars to Roman ruins open for exploring.

The thing that stands out in my memory was that security at the airport seemed a little slack - and it must be a known issue because we had to go through security upon arrival back in the UK.

I fully intend to go back there one day. Apparently you can go skiing in the mountains in the morning and be on the beach sunning yourself in the afternoon!

I went there for just over a week a year ago. It's a fantastic place, and I felt very safe. I travelled with a female friend, but we stayed in different hotels and sometimes met for excursions, sometimes did our own things. Ate together in the evenings etc...

I know that things have deteriorated a bit since then, so worth checking the FCO pages frequently, but when we went, we went to Byblos and the Bekka valley, including Baalbek and it was fine. I wouldn't necessarily do those trips totally by myself - Baalbek had only gone to Amber from Red UN zone the week before..... (It's very close to the Syrian border, and is the headquarters of Hamas.) We used a local tour operator, who had experienced guides, new buses etc.. and there were no problems.

Having worked / holidayed in fairly conservative Muslim countries, we wore "modest" clothes. We looked like nuns! Beirut is very cosmopolitan, relaxed and easy going. You're as likely to see someone in booty shorts and a halter top as a veil.