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?

Beiruit, and Lebanon generally, is beautiful. I went there in 2010 and it was one of the loveliest places I've been to. I can't comment on the security situation now, but I felt very safe. It's also very easy to travel round Lebanon and there are some fascinating places to visit.

@redpandafluff it's so bloody sad. I live a stone's throw away (by air) from Lebanon but life is so different. We have capitalism and greed but also a divided nation, the only country left in the world with a divided capital.

I went to Beirut in May and loved it. Yes it does feel a bit edgy (due to local police guarding the city), but then I hate going to places that are sanitised and feel devoid of personality. It feels quite arty, you can really see the French influence and yes you'll see bullet holes in some of the buildings, but beautiful bourganvilla and other greenery growing amongst some of the ruins. Had a great time at the Ksara Valley wine tour and found some great spots in Mar Mikhail. I felt safe walking around as a white Brit.

I would give it a go and see for yourself, but then I went to Sri Lanka during the revised travel advice so I'm a bit of a risk taker by all accounts!

I'd go. I'd look into getting a decent and recommended guide who could take you around interesting places, maybe out of town a bit, and would know where to avoid. I used to know people, Westerners, who lived/worked there (albeit a while ago) and they seem to have felt safe there, and absolutely loved it. I've wanted to visit for years.

I think there are a lot of Lebanese (not just Palestinian refugees as you already mentioned) who now work/live in Cyprus, so perhaps try to talk to someone and see how they feel about your safety there.