• Money.  The official currency is the Lebanese Pound. However along with the Lebanese Pound, the US dollar is widely used.

– Payment cards: Many shops, hotels, restaurants, bars etc,… accept international payment cards such as Visa, Master or American Express
– Automatic Bank Tellers: Withdrawal can be made from any automatic bank teller found in any region of the country
– Traveler’s Checks: they can be exchanged mainly in banks.

• Health. Lebanese medical care is well known for its quality. Hospitals, clinics and well supplied pharmacies can be found in all towns.

• Security is a constant worry for those visiting Lebanon for the first time. In Beirut, as in other towns and villages, streets are particularly safe day and night.

• Food. The extravagant Lebanese food represents the high point of the country’s hospitality. It is said that a true mezze table should present at least twice as many delicacies as can possibly be consumed by the guests at hand. Whatever the mezze’s rationale, it is love at first sight for almost everyone who samples it.The mezze can have 30 to 40 small dishes of appetizers, eaten with Arabic Bread ( khobz arabi) or with a salad leaf.

• Alcohol. Alcohol is permitted in Lebanon and its served in hotel restaurants and bars.

• Weather. Lebanon gets 300 days of sunshine a year. Coastal temperatures rarely fall bellow 15°C during the rainy winter, and may reach 31°C on average during the humid summer. This applies also to the region of the Beqaa valley. On higher altitudes, the air becomes drier and fresher. Major snowfalls allow skiing during the months of December until April. The intermediate seasons, spring and fall, vary between one and two months, and the average temperature is usually 21°C.

• Languages. Arabic is the Lebanese national language. However, it is also common to speak French and/ or English. The spoken language is a dialect called Lebanese Arabic, often combined with English and French. This dialect differs from the formal Arabic called “fos’ha” by being much less formal.

• Water. Most Lebanese homes have two water taps; one for domestic use and another one for potable water. It is not recommended to drink tap water, unless you are certain of its cleanliness.

• Clothing. Generally there are no particular cultural rules for this matter in Lebanon. However, wearing short clothing, such as short pants, is to be avoided in certain places such as the souk of Tripoli or Sidon… To visit religious places, modest clothing is required. Women need headscarves when visiting mosques, usually provided there.

• Photography. All photography and video equipment are available in Lebanon, and at better prices than in Europe and North America. Concerning development and printing, photo shops are abundant.

• Telephone. The first two digits of Lebanese telephone numbers are the area code
– Telephone booths are accessible for local and international calls
– International code for calling Lebanon is 961
– Payphone cards are available in post offices, kiosks and smoke shops at 15 000 LBP and 30 000 LBP
– Mobile phones are very popular in Lebanon; however most businesses and homes have land lines
– In case of an emergency useful numbers are: Internal Security Forces: 112; Red Cross: 140; Civil Defense: 125.