All airports

BEYOLBA

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport

Beirut, LB

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

Alternatives

Nearby airports

All airports

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

Alternatives

Nearby airports

All airports Official site

BEYOLBAModerate

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport

Beirut, Lebanon · Middle East

Lebanon's only commercial airport is a single U-shaped hall running above its leftover 6-million design: East and West wings, a 24/7 Cedar Lounge after passport, and an official USD taxi tariff — paid for with no metro, extra UK aviation screening, and a second terminal that was cancelled.

Airportist Score

6.7/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities6.6
Food & retail6.8
Ground access7.2
Reliability5.4
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare BEY with another airport

Arrive
3 h
before departure
Typical security
25 min
editorial average, not live
Best way to city
15–30 min
Official AIRPORT TAXI
Lounges
4
1 rated worth it
Terminals
1
live U-shaped hall: East Wing gates 1–12 + West Wing gates 13–23. No airside walk except through the main hall. No live T2.
Passengers / year
7,011,129 (2025)

All airports

BEYOLBAModerate

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport

Beirut, Lebanon · Middle East

Airportist Score

6.7/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities6.6
Food & retail6.8
Ground access7.2
Reliability5.4
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare BEY with another airport

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

Flying from Beirut?

Enter your flight for a door-to-door plan: when to leave, security, lounges and your gate. Free and no account needed. A free account saves it and sends alerts.

The plan is free. Pro adds leave-now, bag-drop and head-to-gate reminders for a saved flight. See Pro

8 photos

BEYGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 3 hours early; MEA desks die 45–60 minutes out

Official homepage: be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure. MEA desks close 45 minutes to 1 hour out; gates close 10 minutes out.

MEA useful-information: counters normally open 3 hours prior and close 45 minutes to 1 hour prior; boarding gates open 45 minutes prior and close 10 minutes prior. Web check-in leftover-conflicts (FAQ 48–2 hours vs leftover online-check-in page 30–2 hours). Hold bags still go to a desk. Do not invent leftover 30-minute gate close.

Terminals

One U-shaped hall — East 1–12, West 13–23

East Wing gates 1–12 (1998) and West Wing 13–23 (2002). The only walk between wings is through the main hall after passport. No live Terminal 2.

Wikipedia / official layout: ground arrivals, level 2 departures and Duty Free, level 3 lounges. Gates 2 and 3 are dual-jetway. Leftover live Terminal 2 is leftover-wrong (AP: $122 million daa International / LAT contract cancelled 30 March 2023 after three days). Leftover 6 million is design capacity, not 2025 traffic.

Food

PAUL, Zaatar w Zeit and Dunkin' after passport

Beirut.com 19 February 2025 lists PAUL, Zaatar w Zeit, Dunkin', Bartartine by the lounge with a runway view, plus Burger King and Agha on the departure side.

Bartartine sits next to the lounge with a runway view. Arrivals Duty Free is between passport and customs. Do not invent leftover 24-hour hours from a reseller. Cedar Lounge is the sit if you hold Priority Pass.

Visa

Free one-month stamp — no Israeli ink

UK/EU/US ordinary get a free one-month visa on arrival (General Security), extendable to three months. FCDO: passport valid 3 months; Israeli stamps can refuse entry.

FCDO still current 31 August 2026: British citizens can normally apply for a free single-entry tourist visa on arrival; valid one month, extend at General Security. Overstay fines in Lebanese pounds at departures before security. Leftover US State Department 'apply before you travel' is leftover-conflicting with the Lebanese Embassy in Washington (VOA under one month). Airport is open; FCDO advises against all travel to the southern suburbs except Route 51 to the airport.

Live conditions

Right now at BEY

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

MEA / SkyTeam connections that can sit Cedar Lounge after passport control
Priority Pass holders who want a 24/7 4.4-rated room
Official AIRPORT TAXI on the published USD tariff ~9 km to central Beirut

Watch out for

Israeli stamps, visas or seals can refuse entry even with a Lebanese visa
No live Terminal 2; leftover 6 million is design capacity, not 2025 traffic
FCDO still advises against all travel to the southern suburbs except Route 51 to the airport

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

6.8

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

5.4

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

7.4

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

7,011,129 (2025)

Terminals

1 live U-shaped hall: East Wing gates 1–12 + West Wing gates 13–23. No airside walk except through the main hall. No live T2.

Typical security

25 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for BEY.

Updated Sep 21, 2026

One live U-shaped passenger hall: East Wing gates 1–12 (opened 1998) and West Wing gates 13–23 (opened 2002). 23 gates, 19 jetways; gates 2 and 3 are dual-jetway. No airside walk except through the main hall. No live Terminal 2 (daa/LAT $122 million deal cancelled March 2023). No metro, no airport rail.
BLOMINVEST from airport figures: 7,011,129 passengers in 2025 (3,591,536 arrivals, 3,416,994 departures, 2,743 transit), +24.70% from 2024. Wikipedia leftover 6 million is 1998–2002 design capacity. Wikipedia infobox leftover 55,800 'movements' is leftover-wrong (that cell is cargo tonnes in the yearly table).
Hub for Middle East Airlines (MEA, SkyTeam). ICAO OLBA. Elevation ~27 m / 89 ft. About 9 km south of central Beirut. Operator: DGCA. Three runways: 03/21 3,800 × 45 m concrete, 16/34 3,395 × 45 m concrete, 17/35 3,250 × 45 m asphalt (rarely used). Civilian commercial airport, not an airbase skip.
Official homepage: arrive at least 3 hours before departure. MEA desks open 3 hours out and close 45 minutes to 1 hour out; gates open 45 minutes out and close 10 minutes out. Web check-in leftover-conflicts (FAQ 48–2 h vs leftover 30–2 h page) — sit the FAQ and still allow bag-drop time.
Four Priority Pass rooms listed 00:00–23:59, 3-hour cap: Cedar Lounge (MEA, 4.4 from 2,000+, 2nd floor after passport, no walk-in card), Beirut Lounge (same floor), AHLEIN Premium (1st floor, showers subject to availability; leftover Amex temporarily-closed leftover-conflicting with live PP), AHLEIN Comfy (1st floor). Official site also names a LAT airline room above Duty Free.
Official AIRPORT TAXI at arrivals (marked AIRPORT TAXI). Ministry Decision 400/1 (15 July 2025 campaign): published USD tariff, scan the QR. Beirut.com 8 June 2026 leftover list: Beirut $18 day / $22 overnight. Uber pickup page live. Bolt live. No metro.

8 official sources

Full guide

Explore the BEY guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

Ground level: arrivals, baggage claim, an arrivals Duty Free between passport and customs, landside waiting cafés. Level 2: departures check-in, security, immigration, primary Duty Free. Level 3: airline lounges, prayer rooms, a restaurant with tarmac view. Level 4 is administration, closed to passengers.
East Wing (1998) gates 1–12; West Wing (2002) gates 13–23. Gates 4 and 22 are leftover bus gates and are almost never used. Smoking is banned in most of the hall; leftover wing cafés still advertise a smoking section.
No airside hotel. No live second terminal. The 2019 renovation put new customs counters on both departures and arrivals; leftover "fast track opens this summer" from 2019 is leftover-stale — do not invent a live paid fast-track till this pass.
Official Wi-Fi: free for one hour within 72 hours (homepage, still current on the 2026 site). Leftover Wikipedia "5G for 2 hours" and leftover Sleeping-in-Airports "30 minutes / BRHIA-Free" are leftover-conflicting — do not invent an SSID.
Prayer rooms are on the lounge level. Banks, a post office, tax-free refunds, tourist information and car rental are on the official facilities list. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not allowed inbound.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official AIRPORT TAXI at arrivals, marked AIRPORT TAXI, licensed by the airport. Ministry Decision 400/1: published USD tariff (or LBP at the market rate). QR on screens and on the passport-control leaflet. Beirut.com 8 June 2026 leftover reprint: Beirut $18 / $22 overnight, Jounieh $27 / $31, Jbeil $43 / $47, waiting $4/hour. Sit the QR, not a blog. ~15–30 minutes to central Beirut, traffic-dependent. Route 51 is the FCDO-excepted airport road through the southern suburbs.
Uber: official pickup page for BEY. Bolt: live in Lebanon. Follow the app; leftover "only Departures curb" is leftover-unconfirmed as a posted rule. No metro. No airport rail. Wikipedia leftover LCC Route 1 from the roundabout 1 km from the terminal is not a curb bus — do not treat it as a terminal departure.
Parking: three-level garage, leftover Wikipedia capacity 2,350 cars, operated by Modern Airport Services (official parking page). Till unpublished this pass — do not invent leftover hourly rates.

Ride to Beirut

Pickup at BEY. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Beirut city center for a live price.

To city center

Beirut

~8.3 km

Typical fare

$18

From Official AIRPORT TAXI notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Bolt

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Beirut — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

FastestCheapestBest for luggage

Official AIRPORT TAXI

Licensed rank at arrivals, marked AIRPORT TAXI, on the Ministry Decision 400/1 USD tariff.

Time to city

15–30 min

Cost

Scan the QR; leftover $18 day / $22 night to Beirut

Tip: QR on terminal screens and on the leaflet at passport control. Beirut.com 8 June 2026 leftover reprint of the list: Beirut $18 (06:00–22:00) / $22 (22:00–06:00), waiting $4/hour. Sit the QR. Tourism police +961 1 629 493.

Uber / Bolt

Uber's official BEY pickup page is live. Bolt operates in Lebanon. Follow in-app pickup directions.

Time to city

15–30 min

Cost

Quoted in the app

Tip: Pickup locations may vary; leftover traveler 'always go up to Departures' is leftover-unconfirmed as a posted rule. Careem is not live this pass. No metro, no airport rail.

Terminal garage

Three-level garage operated by Modern Airport Services. Wikipedia leftover capacity 2,350 cars. Till unpublished this pass.

Time to city

On-site

Cost

Unpublished at the till

Tip: Official parking page names the operator and does not print an hourly grid this pass. Do not invent leftover rates.

Check your lounge access at BEY

Depends

AHLEIN Comfy Lounge

Main terminalAirside 1st floor after passport control, follow signs to AHLEIN - Comfy Lounge

Priority Pass 24/7, 3-hour cap, 1st floor after passport. Aggregator leftover 'level 2' is leftover-conflicting with the live PP 1st-floor listing.

Access: Priority Pass · DragonPass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 3 hours; children under 2 free (max two)

Amenities: Alcohol (standard, complimentary on Priority Pass) · Soft drinks · Wi-Fi · Disabled access · Flight information · Smoking area · Air conditioning

Best for: A 1st-floor PP overflow · Ahlein membership as sold

Full access guide

Add a photo

Depends

AHLEIN Premium Lounge

Main terminalAirside 1st floor after passport control, follow signs / opposite the atrium

Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4, 3-hour cap, showers subject to availability. Leftover Amex 'Temporarily Closed' is leftover-conflicting with live PP — check the door.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey · DragonPass

Hours: Priority Pass lists 00:00–23:59 daily, max 3 hours; leftover Amex Platinum still says temporarily closed — verify at the door

Amenities: Alcohol (standard, complimentary on Priority Pass) · Cold buffet (complimentary on Priority Pass) · Showers subject to availability · Massage chairs subject to availability · Lockers · Children's play area · Smoking area · Wi-Fi

Best for: A shower if the stall is open · A 1st-floor sit

Full access guide

Add a photo

Depends

Beirut Lounge

Main terminalAirside 2nd floor after passport control, turn right after the lift

Priority Pass 24/7, ~3.7 from 54 reviews, 3-hour cap, same 2nd floor as Cedar after you turn right. Adjacent smoking lounge.

Access: Priority Pass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 3 hours; children under 2 free

Amenities: Alcohol (standard, complimentary on Priority Pass) · Soft drinks · Wi-Fi · Disabled access · Flight information · Adjacent smoking lounge · Air conditioning

Best for: When Cedar is full · A quieter 2nd-floor fallback

Full access guide

Add a photo

Worth it

Cedar Lounge

Main terminalAirside 2nd floor after passport control, turn right, lift or stairs

MEA's flagship room, opened 1 August 2005: Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4 from 2,000+ reviews, 3-hour cap, no walk-in card. After passport control turn right and take the lift or stairs to the 2nd floor.

Access: Priority Pass · Business class ticket · SkyTeam Elite Plus · DragonPass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 3 hours; children under 2 free; no payment-card walk-in

Amenities: Alcohol (standard, complimentary on Priority Pass) · Soft drinks · Wi-Fi · Family / children's play room · Meeting room for conference calls only · Disabled access · Flight information · Air conditioning

Best for: Priority Pass after passport control · MEA Cedar Class and SkyTeam J

Full access guide

Add a photo

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Cedar Lounge (MEA): airside 2nd floor after passport, turn right, lift or stairs. Priority Pass 00:00–23:59, max 3 hours, ~4.4 from 2,000+ reviews, digital card, no walk-in payment card, family play room, meeting room for conference calls only, alcohol on the standard list, no showers listed. Cedar Class, SkyTeam J/first and Elite Plus as sold. Opened 1 August 2005 on the official lounges page.
Beirut Lounge: same 2nd floor, turn right after the lift. Priority Pass 24/7, max 3 hours, ~3.7 from 54 reviews, adjacent smoking room, alcohol standard. Smaller fallback when Cedar is full.
AHLEIN Premium: 1st floor after passport, follow signs / opposite the atrium on Amex. Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4 from 800+ reviews, showers and massage chairs subject to availability, lockers, children's play, cold buffet. Leftover Amex US "Temporarily Closed" (still listed next to Cedar) is leftover-conflicting with live PP — verify at the door.
AHLEIN Comfy: 1st floor after passport, follow signs to AHLEIN - Comfy Lounge. Priority Pass 24/7, 3-hour cap, children under 2 free (max two), smoking area, alcohol standard. Aggregator leftover "level 2" is leftover-conflicting with PP 1st floor.
Food this pass (Beirut.com 19 February 2025, departure terminal): PAUL, Zaatar w Zeit, Dunkin', Bartartine (next to the lounge, runway view), Latte Art, Prunelle, Burger King, Fly Juice, Agha, Take Off Bar, Freddy's. Do not invent leftover 24-hour hours from a reseller. Arrivals Duty Free sits between passport and customs.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

There is only one passenger hall. East Wing is gates 1–12, West Wing 13–23. You cannot walk airside from one wing to the other except through the main terminal after passport. Leftover live Terminal 2 is leftover-wrong (AP 30 March 2023: contract cancelled).
Cedar Lounge is the default: after passport control turn right, lift or stairs to the 2nd floor. Priority Pass 24/7, 3-hour cap, ~4.4, children under 2 free, no payment-card walk-in. Same mezzanine as the LAT airline room on the official lounges page.
Scan the taxi QR before you leave immigration. Official cars say AIRPORT TAXI and sit at arrivals. Leftover $18 to Beirut is the leftover daytime band on the June 2026 Beirut.com reprint of the ministry list — overnight leftover $22. Report overcharging to tourism police +961 1 629 493.
Uber and Bolt both run. Uber's official BEY pickup page says follow in-app directions (pickup points vary). Leftover traveler "always go up to Departures" is leftover-unconfirmed as a rule — sit the app. Careem is not a live option this pass.
MEA web check-in is not a skip-the-airport ticket if you have hold bags: bag-drop still exists. Desks die 45–60 minutes out. Gate close is 10 minutes (MEA), not leftover 30.

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

East is 1–12, West is 13–23 — one hall

You cannot walk airside from one wing to the other except through the main terminal after passport. There is no live Terminal 2.

East Wing opened 1998 (gates 1–12), West Wing 2002 (gates 13–23). Gates 2 and 3 take an A380-sized dual jetway. The March 2023 $122 million T2 contract with daa International / LAT was cancelled after three days.

Upside

One building: you will not need a landside shuttle for a same-airport connection.

Watch-out

A late wing change is still a walk back through the main hall, not an airside shortcut.

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Three-hour window; extra UK aviation screening

Official: be at the airport 3 hours before departure. MEA desks close 45–60 minutes out; gates close 10 minutes out. FCDO: extra screening on UK-bound flights since March 2017.

MEA cabin bag 10 kg (8 kg DUS/CPH), 56 × 40 × 25 cm. Power banks stay in the cabin. Visa on arrival is a stamp, not an e-visa. Israeli ink can refuse entry.

Upside

Web check-in still lets you pick a seat from 48 hours out on the MEA FAQ.

Watch-out

A mobile pass is not a skip-the-desk ticket if you have hold bags.

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Cedar Lounge is the default public room

After passport control turn right, lift or stairs to the 2nd floor. Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4, 3-hour cap, no walk-in card.

Beirut Lounge is the same floor, turn right. AHLEIN Premium and Comfy are 1st floor. Leftover Amex 'Temporarily Closed' on Premium is leftover-conflicting with live PP. LAT's airline room is the official second carrier lounge above Duty Free, not a Priority Pass listing.

Upside

Alcohol is on the Priority Pass standard list and the room is 24/7.

Watch-out

Payment cards are not accepted at Cedar's door — no walk-up till.

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Scan the taxi QR; Uber and Bolt are live

Official AIRPORT TAXI at arrivals on a published USD tariff. Uber has a BEY pickup page. Bolt is live. No metro.

Ministry Decision 400/1 (15 July 2025 campaign): scan the QR on screens or the passport leaflet. Beirut.com 8 June 2026 leftover reprint: $18 daytime / $22 overnight to Beirut. Tourism police +961 1 629 493. FCDO excepts Route 51 from the southern-suburbs no-travel zone.

Upside

The fare is a published list, not a negotiation, if you stay on the official rank.

Watch-out

Cars touted inside the hall are outside that list — ignore them.

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

Compare BEY vs DAM

Alternatives

Nearby airports

BEYGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 3 hours early; MEA desks die 45–60 minutes out

Official homepage: be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure. MEA desks close 45 minutes to 1 hour out; gates close 10 minutes out.

Terminals

One U-shaped hall — East 1–12, West 13–23

East Wing gates 1–12 (1998) and West Wing 13–23 (2002). The only walk between wings is through the main hall after passport. No live Terminal 2.

Food

PAUL, Zaatar w Zeit and Dunkin' after passport

Beirut.com 19 February 2025 lists PAUL, Zaatar w Zeit, Dunkin', Bartartine by the lounge with a runway view, plus Burger King and Agha on the departure side.

Visa

Free one-month stamp — no Israeli ink

UK/EU/US ordinary get a free one-month visa on arrival (General Security), extendable to three months. FCDO: passport valid 3 months; Israeli stamps can refuse entry.

Live conditions

Right now at BEY

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

MEA / SkyTeam connections that can sit Cedar Lounge after passport control
Priority Pass holders who want a 24/7 4.4-rated room
Official AIRPORT TAXI on the published USD tariff ~9 km to central Beirut

Watch out for

Israeli stamps, visas or seals can refuse entry even with a Lebanese visa
No live Terminal 2; leftover 6 million is design capacity, not 2025 traffic
FCDO still advises against all travel to the southern suburbs except Route 51 to the airport

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

6.8

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

5.4

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

7.4

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

7,011,129 (2025)

Terminals

1 live U-shaped hall: East Wing gates 1–12 + West Wing gates 13–23. No airside walk except through the main hall. No live T2.

Typical security

25 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for BEY.

Updated Sep 21, 2026

One live U-shaped passenger hall: East Wing gates 1–12 (opened 1998) and West Wing gates 13–23 (opened 2002). 23 gates, 19 jetways; gates 2 and 3 are dual-jetway. No airside walk except through the main hall. No live Terminal 2 (daa/LAT $122 million deal cancelled March 2023). No metro, no airport rail.
BLOMINVEST from airport figures: 7,011,129 passengers in 2025 (3,591,536 arrivals, 3,416,994 departures, 2,743 transit), +24.70% from 2024. Wikipedia leftover 6 million is 1998–2002 design capacity. Wikipedia infobox leftover 55,800 'movements' is leftover-wrong (that cell is cargo tonnes in the yearly table).
Hub for Middle East Airlines (MEA, SkyTeam). ICAO OLBA. Elevation ~27 m / 89 ft. About 9 km south of central Beirut. Operator: DGCA. Three runways: 03/21 3,800 × 45 m concrete, 16/34 3,395 × 45 m concrete, 17/35 3,250 × 45 m asphalt (rarely used). Civilian commercial airport, not an airbase skip.
Official homepage: arrive at least 3 hours before departure. MEA desks open 3 hours out and close 45 minutes to 1 hour out; gates open 45 minutes out and close 10 minutes out. Web check-in leftover-conflicts (FAQ 48–2 h vs leftover 30–2 h page) — sit the FAQ and still allow bag-drop time.
Four Priority Pass rooms listed 00:00–23:59, 3-hour cap: Cedar Lounge (MEA, 4.4 from 2,000+, 2nd floor after passport, no walk-in card), Beirut Lounge (same floor), AHLEIN Premium (1st floor, showers subject to availability; leftover Amex temporarily-closed leftover-conflicting with live PP), AHLEIN Comfy (1st floor). Official site also names a LAT airline room above Duty Free.
Official AIRPORT TAXI at arrivals (marked AIRPORT TAXI). Ministry Decision 400/1 (15 July 2025 campaign): published USD tariff, scan the QR. Beirut.com 8 June 2026 leftover list: Beirut $18 day / $22 overnight. Uber pickup page live. Bolt live. No metro.

8 official sources

Full guide

Explore the BEY guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

Ground level: arrivals, baggage claim, an arrivals Duty Free between passport and customs, landside waiting cafés. Level 2: departures check-in, security, immigration, primary Duty Free. Level 3: airline lounges, prayer rooms, a restaurant with tarmac view. Level 4 is administration, closed to passengers.
East Wing (1998) gates 1–12; West Wing (2002) gates 13–23. Gates 4 and 22 are leftover bus gates and are almost never used. Smoking is banned in most of the hall; leftover wing cafés still advertise a smoking section.
No airside hotel. No live second terminal. The 2019 renovation put new customs counters on both departures and arrivals; leftover "fast track opens this summer" from 2019 is leftover-stale — do not invent a live paid fast-track till this pass.
Official Wi-Fi: free for one hour within 72 hours (homepage, still current on the 2026 site). Leftover Wikipedia "5G for 2 hours" and leftover Sleeping-in-Airports "30 minutes / BRHIA-Free" are leftover-conflicting — do not invent an SSID.
Prayer rooms are on the lounge level. Banks, a post office, tax-free refunds, tourist information and car rental are on the official facilities list. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not allowed inbound.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official AIRPORT TAXI at arrivals, marked AIRPORT TAXI, licensed by the airport. Ministry Decision 400/1: published USD tariff (or LBP at the market rate). QR on screens and on the passport-control leaflet. Beirut.com 8 June 2026 leftover reprint: Beirut $18 / $22 overnight, Jounieh $27 / $31, Jbeil $43 / $47, waiting $4/hour. Sit the QR, not a blog. ~15–30 minutes to central Beirut, traffic-dependent. Route 51 is the FCDO-excepted airport road through the southern suburbs.
Uber: official pickup page for BEY. Bolt: live in Lebanon. Follow the app; leftover "only Departures curb" is leftover-unconfirmed as a posted rule. No metro. No airport rail. Wikipedia leftover LCC Route 1 from the roundabout 1 km from the terminal is not a curb bus — do not treat it as a terminal departure.
Parking: three-level garage, leftover Wikipedia capacity 2,350 cars, operated by Modern Airport Services (official parking page). Till unpublished this pass — do not invent leftover hourly rates.

Ride to Beirut

Pickup at BEY. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Beirut city center for a live price.

To city center

Beirut

~8.3 km

Typical fare

$18

From Official AIRPORT TAXI notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Bolt

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Beirut — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

FastestCheapestBest for luggage

Official AIRPORT TAXI

Licensed rank at arrivals, marked AIRPORT TAXI, on the Ministry Decision 400/1 USD tariff.

Time to city

15–30 min

Cost

Scan the QR; leftover $18 day / $22 night to Beirut

Uber / Bolt

Uber's official BEY pickup page is live. Bolt operates in Lebanon. Follow in-app pickup directions.

Time to city

15–30 min

Cost

Quoted in the app

Tip: Pickup locations may vary; leftover traveler 'always go up to Departures' is leftover-unconfirmed as a posted rule. Careem is not live this pass. No metro, no airport rail.

Terminal garage

Three-level garage operated by Modern Airport Services. Wikipedia leftover capacity 2,350 cars. Till unpublished this pass.

Time to city

On-site

Cost

Unpublished at the till

Tip: Official parking page names the operator and does not print an hourly grid this pass. Do not invent leftover rates.

Check your lounge access at BEY

Depends

AHLEIN Comfy Lounge

Main terminalAirside 1st floor after passport control, follow signs to AHLEIN - Comfy Lounge

Priority Pass 24/7, 3-hour cap, 1st floor after passport. Aggregator leftover 'level 2' is leftover-conflicting with the live PP 1st-floor listing.

Access: Priority Pass · DragonPass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 3 hours; children under 2 free (max two)

Amenities: Alcohol (standard, complimentary on Priority Pass) · Soft drinks · Wi-Fi · Disabled access · Flight information · Smoking area · Air conditioning

Best for: A 1st-floor PP overflow · Ahlein membership as sold

Full access guide

Add a photo

Depends

AHLEIN Premium Lounge

Main terminalAirside 1st floor after passport control, follow signs / opposite the atrium

Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4, 3-hour cap, showers subject to availability. Leftover Amex 'Temporarily Closed' is leftover-conflicting with live PP — check the door.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey · DragonPass

Hours: Priority Pass lists 00:00–23:59 daily, max 3 hours; leftover Amex Platinum still says temporarily closed — verify at the door

Best for: A shower if the stall is open · A 1st-floor sit

Full access guide

Add a photo

Depends

Beirut Lounge

Main terminalAirside 2nd floor after passport control, turn right after the lift

Priority Pass 24/7, ~3.7 from 54 reviews, 3-hour cap, same 2nd floor as Cedar after you turn right. Adjacent smoking lounge.

Access: Priority Pass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 3 hours; children under 2 free

Amenities: Alcohol (standard, complimentary on Priority Pass) · Soft drinks · Wi-Fi · Disabled access · Flight information · Adjacent smoking lounge · Air conditioning

Best for: When Cedar is full · A quieter 2nd-floor fallback

Full access guide

Add a photo

Worth it

Cedar Lounge

Main terminalAirside 2nd floor after passport control, turn right, lift or stairs

MEA's flagship room, opened 1 August 2005: Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4 from 2,000+ reviews, 3-hour cap, no walk-in card. After passport control turn right and take the lift or stairs to the 2nd floor.

Access: Priority Pass · Business class ticket · SkyTeam Elite Plus · DragonPass

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily; Priority Pass stay capped at 3 hours; children under 2 free; no payment-card walk-in

Best for: Priority Pass after passport control · MEA Cedar Class and SkyTeam J

Full access guide

Add a photo

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Cedar Lounge (MEA): airside 2nd floor after passport, turn right, lift or stairs. Priority Pass 00:00–23:59, max 3 hours, ~4.4 from 2,000+ reviews, digital card, no walk-in payment card, family play room, meeting room for conference calls only, alcohol on the standard list, no showers listed. Cedar Class, SkyTeam J/first and Elite Plus as sold. Opened 1 August 2005 on the official lounges page.
Beirut Lounge: same 2nd floor, turn right after the lift. Priority Pass 24/7, max 3 hours, ~3.7 from 54 reviews, adjacent smoking room, alcohol standard. Smaller fallback when Cedar is full.
AHLEIN Premium: 1st floor after passport, follow signs / opposite the atrium on Amex. Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4 from 800+ reviews, showers and massage chairs subject to availability, lockers, children's play, cold buffet. Leftover Amex US "Temporarily Closed" (still listed next to Cedar) is leftover-conflicting with live PP — verify at the door.
AHLEIN Comfy: 1st floor after passport, follow signs to AHLEIN - Comfy Lounge. Priority Pass 24/7, 3-hour cap, children under 2 free (max two), smoking area, alcohol standard. Aggregator leftover "level 2" is leftover-conflicting with PP 1st floor.
Food this pass (Beirut.com 19 February 2025, departure terminal): PAUL, Zaatar w Zeit, Dunkin', Bartartine (next to the lounge, runway view), Latte Art, Prunelle, Burger King, Fly Juice, Agha, Take Off Bar, Freddy's. Do not invent leftover 24-hour hours from a reseller. Arrivals Duty Free sits between passport and customs.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

There is only one passenger hall. East Wing is gates 1–12, West Wing 13–23. You cannot walk airside from one wing to the other except through the main terminal after passport. Leftover live Terminal 2 is leftover-wrong (AP 30 March 2023: contract cancelled).
Cedar Lounge is the default: after passport control turn right, lift or stairs to the 2nd floor. Priority Pass 24/7, 3-hour cap, ~4.4, children under 2 free, no payment-card walk-in. Same mezzanine as the LAT airline room on the official lounges page.
Scan the taxi QR before you leave immigration. Official cars say AIRPORT TAXI and sit at arrivals. Leftover $18 to Beirut is the leftover daytime band on the June 2026 Beirut.com reprint of the ministry list — overnight leftover $22. Report overcharging to tourism police +961 1 629 493.
Uber and Bolt both run. Uber's official BEY pickup page says follow in-app directions (pickup points vary). Leftover traveler "always go up to Departures" is leftover-unconfirmed as a rule — sit the app. Careem is not a live option this pass.
MEA web check-in is not a skip-the-airport ticket if you have hold bags: bag-drop still exists. Desks die 45–60 minutes out. Gate close is 10 minutes (MEA), not leftover 30.

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

East is 1–12, West is 13–23 — one hall

You cannot walk airside from one wing to the other except through the main terminal after passport. There is no live Terminal 2.

Upside

One building: you will not need a landside shuttle for a same-airport connection.

Watch-out

A late wing change is still a walk back through the main hall, not an airside shortcut.

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Three-hour window; extra UK aviation screening

Official: be at the airport 3 hours before departure. MEA desks close 45–60 minutes out; gates close 10 minutes out. FCDO: extra screening on UK-bound flights since March 2017.

MEA cabin bag 10 kg (8 kg DUS/CPH), 56 × 40 × 25 cm. Power banks stay in the cabin. Visa on arrival is a stamp, not an e-visa. Israeli ink can refuse entry.

Upside

Web check-in still lets you pick a seat from 48 hours out on the MEA FAQ.

Watch-out

A mobile pass is not a skip-the-desk ticket if you have hold bags.

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Cedar Lounge is the default public room

After passport control turn right, lift or stairs to the 2nd floor. Priority Pass 24/7, ~4.4, 3-hour cap, no walk-in card.

Upside

Alcohol is on the Priority Pass standard list and the room is 24/7.

Watch-out

Payment cards are not accepted at Cedar's door — no walk-up till.

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Scan the taxi QR; Uber and Bolt are live

Official AIRPORT TAXI at arrivals on a published USD tariff. Uber has a BEY pickup page. Bolt is live. No metro.

Upside

The fare is a published list, not a negotiation, if you stay on the official rank.

Watch-out

Cars touted inside the hall are outside that list — ignore them.

Nearby airports

Nearby airports

Flying from Beirut?

Nearby airports

Nearby airports

Flying from Beirut?

Know before you go

Right now at BEY

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the BEY guide

Map

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

East is 1–12, West is 13–23 — one hall

Three-hour window; extra UK aviation screening

Cedar Lounge is the default public room

Scan the taxi QR; Uber and Bolt are live

What travelers say

Nearby airports

Nearby airports

Know before you go

Right now at BEY

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the BEY guide

Map

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

East is 1–12, West is 13–23 — one hall

Three-hour window; extra UK aviation screening

Cedar Lounge is the default public room

Scan the taxi QR; Uber and Bolt are live

What travelers say

Nearby airports