Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Beirut Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
You’d almost be fooled into thinking half of Beirut isn’t still a mess of blasted buildings when you enter this rather small but recently renovated airport. – Sean
BEY Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (Code: BEY).
What to Expect
The terminal at Beirut Airport consists of three main levels with two wings housing the gate areas: East and West Wings. The ground-level arrivals area has a few cafes and a full-service restaurant, while the Level 2 departures area contains ticketing and check-in, some shops and cafes, and security screening for each wing. Both airside wings have two cafes, a small duty-free shop, a newsstand, souvenir stands and Internet kiosks. Things to do at Beirut Airport are limited, but you will find WiFi and Airport Lounges that you can pay to enter. Travellers report that food at the airport cafes, shops and restaurants is costly and recommend that those on a budget may want to bring their own food.
Sleeping in Beirut Airport
Comfortable padded benches located on the ground level arrivals area are noted as popular spots for sleeping, as is a quiet, empty corridor on an upper level near the restrooms. Perfect if you have a sleeping bag or travel mat handy! For privacy and comfort, albeit for a price, there are several nearby airport hotels. See our Airport Hotels section in the guide below or read traveller reviews for more tips.
Good to Know
- The airport takes security seriously and requests that all passengers arrive three hours before departure. Travellers from Western countries should refrain from hailing a taxi to or from the airport and only use a licensed and reputable taxi service.
- One reviewer reported getting ill after drinking the airport’s potable water and advises travellers to drink only bottled water while at the airport.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Beirut Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Beirut Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Beirut Airport:
- Assaha Hotel – Airport transfers are available for a fee. » Check Rates
- Coral Beach Hotel and Beach Resort – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- La Siesta Beach Resort – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Beirut Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!
- LAT Lounge – Location: Airside, 2nd Floor, East Side. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
- Beirut Lounge – Location: Airside, 2nd Floor. Hours: Open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Cedar Lounge – Location: Airside, 2nd Floor. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Ahlein – Premium Lounge – Location: Airside, 1st Floor, after Passport Control. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Airline Lounges
Passengers flying Business/First Class/Elite Status on the following airlines may have access to the Cedar Lounge: Air France • Air Liban • Alitalia • Egypt Air • Emirates • Etihad • Iraqi Airlines • Kuwait Airways • MEA • Qatar Airlines • Royal Jordanian • Saudi Airlines •Tunisair.
Related Pages: Beirut Airport Lounges
Airport WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available at Beirut Airport for 30 minutes per 24 hours. You can purchase internet cards in the terminal duty-free zone for more access time. Rates are $5 (30 minutes) or $10 (75 minutes). Additionally, there are 15 internet kiosks available in the departure hall (same fees as WiFi applies).
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available 24 hours a day. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: unknown.
Baby Care Facilities – Information not available.
Currency Exchange – BankMed provides currency exchange. Location and Hours: unknown.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Arriving passengers have access to two duty-free shops, while departing passengers can shop at five zones within the airport: car, beauty, luxury, electronics & food, and liquor & tobacco. If you like cigars, La Casa Del Habano has a wide selection of them, along with two walk-in humidors and a VIP cigar lounge!
Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the terminal operate with varying schedules. Salt Gourmet Beirut Airport is open 24/7.
Information Desk – While we do not have any information about a dedicated airport Information Desk, there is a Tourist Information Center. Location: Arrivals. Hours: Unknown.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – At the time of our 2023 August update, we have no information regarding luggage storage. If you travelled here recently, click here to update our guide.
Luggage Wrapping – Protect the contents and exterior of your luggage! Rates are between 7500 LBP and 15000 LBP per bag. Location: Two machines located on the east and west sides of the Departures Hall. Hours: Open 24 hours.
Medical Services – Urgent and emergency medical care is available at the airport health stations. Locations: Arrivals Hall East and West • Departure Hall East and West. Hours: Open 24 hours.
Mobile Charging – A reader (January 2019) tells us there are no official charging points, but you can find a few power outlets near the gates to charge your mobile devices.
Post Office – Send your last-minute postcards to friends and family from the airport’s post office. Location: Departure Hall East. Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Mon–Sat) • 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Sun).
Prayer Rooms – There are two prayer rooms: one for Muslims and one for Christians. Location: Airside, second level, above the Duty Free Zone.
Rest Zones – No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Showers – Not available.
SIM Cards – A reader tells us a shop sells SIM cards in the Arrivals area (landside).
Tax-Free Refunds – Global Blue. Location: unknown.
Airport Hours
BEY airport is open 24 hours.
Airlines
Beirut airport is served by the following airlines: Air Arabia • Air France • Austrian Airlines • Egypt Air • Ethiopian Airlines • Etihad Airways • flydubai • Jazeera Airways • Kuwait Airways • Lufthansa • LOT • Middle East Airlines • Pegasus Airlines • Qatar Airways • Royal Jordanian • Saudi Arabian • TAROM • Transavia • Turkish Airlines• Vueling.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport
Car Rentals
The following car rental agencies provide rental services onsite: Avis • Budget • City Car • Dealers • Europcar • Hertz • National.
Hotel Shuttles
At the time of this update we were unable to find any hotels that provided airport shuttle service. See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxi
Certified airport taxis are parked at the arrival gate of the airport terminal. These taxis are easily identifiable by the airport logo on the sides of the vehicle and charge a unified official rate. Regular taxis, also available at the airport, charge negotiable rates.
Last updated: 2024-01-31
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.