The best way to get to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

Like most cities, there are a few things you need to know when you land at the airport in Beirut. If you don’t have a friend or relative who can help you, here are your other options…

Getting from the Airport

Here are your options:

1. The Official White Airport Taxis – the conservative approach 

As you leave the terminal you will see a line of white taxis and people offering you a ride. This is the official option and is a bit more expensive. Just go to the booth and tell them your name and where you are going. They will then point you to a driver and he will turn on the meter in the cab (make sure he does this). You can pay in Lebanese Lira or US Dollars and make sure you have bills that are $50 or smaller. The meter will determine how much you pay, but you can expect to pay around $50. 

2. Hire a Local Taxi Company – the moderate approach 

It can be a bit cheaper to call a local taxi company (such as Bee Taxi +961 71 815 816) and tell them your name and what flight you will arrive on. On the call, also make sure to ask for the price ahead of time. Then, depending on the taxi company, they will meet you in front of the terminal or in the parking lot. 

You can pay in Lebanese Lira or US Dollars and make sure you have bills that are $50 or smaller. 

3. Take an Uber or Careem – the risky approach 

When you land and open your Uber or Careem apps you’ll see that they can pick you up from the airport. But, beware! 

Airport security usually won’t let Uber and Careem cars into the airport if they don’t have passengers. It is not uncommon to see that your ride is coming and then it gets turned away at the checkpoint right before the airport. In this case, you’ll have to wait even longer and could have to pay to cancel the request. 

Getting to the Airport 

When you are going to the airport, Careem, Uber and a local taxi company are all great options. We’d recommend this for ease, reliability and cost over stopping the first taxi you see in the street.

Make sure to consider traffic as you plan what time to leave for the airport. If you have a flight in the middle of the night or in the early morning you can usually schedule your ride with a local taxi company the night before.