Transportation in Beirut

Beirut's transport scene is dominated by shared taxis and minivans that follow fixed but unwritten routes. Locals simply flag them, state a destination, and hop out wherever suits. These are the cheapest way to move around the city, though figuring out which vehicle is going where can take a day or two. For door-to-door convenience, standard taxis and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem operate city-wide and are only a moderate step up in price, handy after dark when the shared vans thin out. First-timers should know that Beirut has no unified public transit map. Route knowledge is largely word-of-mouth. Download the "LBP Bus" and "YallaBus" apps before arrival, they crowd-source live vehicle locations and make the informal network far less intimidating. Avoid the unofficial taxis that swarm around popular nightlife districts. They routinely quote inflated fares to visitors. Instead, order through an app or insist on the meter if you hail a cab on the street. From the airport, the cheapest option is to walk past the taxi scrum to the main road and flag a shared van heading toward Cola or Charles Helou stations. It costs a fraction of a private ride. If you're loaded with luggage or arriving late, the official airport taxi counter inside the terminal offers fixed-price rides, still pricier. But it eliminates haggling and ensures a licensed driver.