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Lebanon flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide · Lebanon

Transportation & Infrastructure Guide in Lebanon

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Lebanon's transportation landscape is defined by resilience amid crisis, with over 2 million vehicles serving 6.8 million people on a dense coastal strip constrained by mountains and sea. Public transport is largely informal minibuses and service taxis without schedules, while state buses carry minimal passengers. Roads span 8,000+ km with recent World Bank-funded repairs enhancing safety and connectivity, but Greater Beirut faces crippling congestion costing 5% GDP. Aviation centers on Beirut's international airport, and dormant railways highlight lost potential. Challenges include economic collapse and war damage, yet new government bus routes and BRT proposals signal recovery hope for residents and visitors.
Public Transport
Below Average
Road Infrastructure
Moderate
Public Transport
2.5/10

Public transport is limited and informal, relying on aging minibuses (over 8,000 estimated) and service taxis with no fixed schedules or stops. State buses serve <20,000 daily passengers; no metro or operational rail since 1990s. New 2025 bus routes launched but coverage remains poor outside Greater Beirut.

Road Infrastructure
5.8/10

Over 8,000 km roads, 1/3 of 6,500 km main network in poor condition pre-2025. World Bank REP rehabilitated 530 km+ by mid-2025, reducing crashes 20%, improving Beirut-Tripoli (81 km) and other motorways. Urban congestion severe; maintenance challenged by crisis.

Internet Speed
4.2/10

Average fixed broadband ~35 Mbps, mobile ~25 Mbps per 2025 Speedtest data, hampered by economic crisis and infrastructure damage. Urban areas like Beirut have better access; rural and crisis-hit regions lag significantly.

Avg: 35+ Mbps • Limited to major urban centers; ADSL dominant elsewhere

Airport Connectivity
6.2/10

38 airports total, 4 major including Beirut Rafic Hariri (BEY), ranked 51st globally for air infrastructure. Serves as regional hub with flights to Europe, Middle East, beyond; good international but limited domestic routes.

Hubs: Beirut Rafic Hariri (BEY)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
N/A (no metro)
Bus Trip
LL 5,000-10,000 (~$0.05-0.10 USD) informal minibus
Taxi
Service taxi LL 10,000-50,000/trip (~$0.10-0.50 USD); private taxi negotiated
High-speed Train
N/A (no trains operational)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: Limited to Beirut and select urban areas via Touch/Alfa, slow rollout due to crisis
4G Coverage: Good urban coverage (80%+ population), patchy in rural/mountainous regions

Touch and Alfa provide reliable 4G in cities with speeds up to 50 Mbps; frequent outages from economic issues and power shortages affect quality nationwide.

Driving License

IDP requiredConversion needed

International Driving Permit required with valid foreign license for visitors (up to 3-6 months). EU licenses need IDP. Long-term residents must convert to Lebanese license via driving school and test after 1 year.

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