The national airline is Middle East Airlines (MEA) (website: www.mea.com.lb).

Beirut International (BEY) (Khaldeh) is 8km (5 miles) south of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). To/from the airport: A bus service operates to the city centre (0600-2000), leaving every 30 minutes. Taxis are also available (Allô Taxi, New Taxi or Premier Taxi). Facilities: Tourist information desk, duty free shops, post office, restaurants, bars, hotel reservations, bank/bureau de change, car hire and a VIP lounge.

L£100,000 for first class; L£75,000 for business class; and L£50,000 for economy class.

Main ports: Beirut, Jounieh, Tripoli, Sidon and Tyre. Several steamship lines connect Beirut, Jounieh and Tripoli with the rest of the world. Cruise lines operating to Lebanon include Fred Olsen (website: www.fredolsencruises.com) and Louis Cruise Lines (website: www.louiscruises.com). The sea connection between the Cypriot port of Larnaca and Jounieh in Lebanon may be closed and travellers considering that route are advised to check with the Ministry of Tourism or the Embassy.

There are no passenger services operating at present.

Best international routes are via Turkey and Aleppo–Homs and Lattakia in the Syrian Arab Republic along the north–south coastal road, and also the Beirut–Damascus trunk road. Bus services are available from Europe. For details, contact the Ministry of Tourism or the Embassy (see Top Things To Do).

There are no internal flights.

Ports are served by coastal passenger ferries. For details, contact the embassy (see Contact Addresses).

Traffic drives on the right. Speed limit signs, traffic police and traffic lights are present but may not always be respected and driving, particularly in Beirut, can be quite unpredictable. As public transport is limited, roads in Beirut are over-congested. The worst times for traffic jams are 0730-0930 and 1630-1900. Bus: Intercity buses run by private companies are cheap and efficient. Many hotels also offer complimentary bus and other transport services. Taxi: Intercity taxis operate throughout Beirut and Lebanon. Travel is normally shared. Prices are negotiated in advance. Town taxis have red licence plates and an official tariff. There is a surcharge of 50 per cent after 2200. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available, but chauffeur-driven vehicles are recommended: check with the Ministry of Tourism. It should be noted that the price of petrol is very expensive in Lebanon. Documentation: An International Driving Permit and Green Card are required.

Public bus services are available in Beirut, where bus services have recently been expanded, although service taxis remain the most widely used option.