Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Beirut

Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport

Daily Budget: $31-92 per day

Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Beirut

$15-35 per night

Shared dorms in hostels, budget guesthouses, basic private rooms with shared bathrooms

$8-20 per day

Street food, local bakeries, shawarma stands, small neighborhood restaurants, occasional self-catering

$3-12 per day

Public buses, shared service taxis (servis), walking, occasional regular taxi for longer distances

$5-25 per day

Free walking tours, public beaches, museums with student discounts, exploring neighborhoods on foot

Currency: LBP Lebanese Pound (though USD widely accepted and often preferred)

Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style

Eat at local neighborhood restaurants instead of tourist areas like Downtown - typically 40-60% cheaper for similar quality

Use shared service taxis (servis) instead of private taxis - usually 70-80% less expensive for similar routes

Visit during weekdays when many hotels offer 20-30% discounts compared to weekend rates

Buy groceries at local markets rather than supermarkets in expat areas - generally 30-50% savings on basics

Look for accommodation slightly outside central Beirut in areas like Achrafieh or Hamra - typically 25-40% cheaper

Take advantage of happy hour specials at bars and restaurants - usually 30-50% off drinks and appetizers

Use public beaches instead of private beach clubs - saves $15-40 per day in entrance fees

Only eating in trendy Gemmayzeh/Mar Mikhael areas instead of exploring local neighborhoods - can cost 100-200% more

Taking private taxis for every trip instead of learning the shared taxi system - typically 3-5x more expensive

Booking accommodation at the last minute during peak periods - usually 40-80% higher than advance bookings

Exchanging money at hotels or airports instead of local exchange shops - typically 5-15% worse rates