Geography
Lebanon is a small country located in Western Asia official known as Lebanese republic. Its capital city is Beirut. The country is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south and Mediterranean Sea to the west. Its surface area is 10,452 sq. km with a coastline of 225 km on the Mediterranean Sea that hosts the five famous cities of Beirut, Byblos, Sidon, Tripoli and Tyre. The country is divided into four distinct physiographic regions: the coastal plain, the Lebanon mountain range, the Beqaa valley and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains.
Lebanon first appeared in recorded history around 3000 BC, with the settlement of the area by the Canaanites. They established great maritime, trade and religious-city states in several coastal cities like Byblos, Tyre, Sidon and Beirut. The Greeks referred to these Semitic people as “Phoenicians,” after the Greek word for the expensive purple-dyed textiles that the Phoenicians exported.
Lebanon has an estimated 6.8 million (as of June 2020). Ethnically, the Lebanese compose a mixture Phoenician, Greek and Arab with ethnic minorities including Armenian and Kurdish population. Arabic is the official language, English and French are also spoken and a small portion of population are Armenian or Kurdish-speaking. Lebanon is a religiously diverse country in the Middle East. There are about 61 percent Muslim (30.6% Sunni, 30.5% Shi’a), about 33 percent Christians from different branches, about 5 percent Druze and a small number of Jews, Baha’is, Buddhist and Hindus.
 
Best Time to Visit
As an Arab country with Mediterranean climate, spring and autumn seasons are the best time to visit the country, where you can do activities such as trekking and hiking. Summer temperature can be hot and high as 32°C during the day, here you can relax along the beach or enjoy water activities.
 
Dress Code
Dress code in Lebanon is more relax than other Arab countries but all travelers should still dress modestly when visiting religious sites, it is recommended to cover your legs and shoulders. When visiting Lebanon on colder months, prepare to bring warm clothing and rain gears such as raincoats and umbrella.
 
Health & Safety
Lebanon is a developed country with relatively good health facilities. Similar when travel to other foreign countries, hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended; also make sure tetanus-diphtheria and measles vaccinations are up-to-date. A typhoid vaccine is also recommended for travel to Lebanon.
 
Currency
The official Lebanese currency is the Lebanese pound or Lira (LL). Notes are available in denominations of: LL 1,000; LL 5,000; LL 10,000; LL 20,000; LL 50,000; and LL 100,000. There are also LL250 and LL500 coins. U.S. dollars are used widely throughout the country. Restaurants, hotels, and stores often quote their prices in U.S. dollars, and many establishments will convert and provide U.S. dollar prices for you upon request.
 
Tipping
Tipping isn’t really mandatory. In hotels and restaurants, tip is expected between 5 to 10 percent of the bill.
 
Photography
Photography is only limited to tourist sites in Lebanon. Taking photographs in military sites may result in your arrest.
 
Internet Access
Wi-Fi access is available in most hotels, restaurants or at airport in Lebanon. There is also available internet in some cafeterias around the city.
 
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are widely available in Christian dominated cities in Lebanon. Drinks are mostly served in social setting such as dinner parties, night clubs and restaurants. Some of the known Lebanese drinks are Arak, a traditionally produced anise-flavored drink, the locally brewed beer, Almaza beers, red and white wines. Muslim-based areas like Tripoli and Bekaa, do not generally sell alcoholic drinks.
 
Lebanese Cuisine
One should not miss some Lebanese cuisine when visiting the country. It ranges from full mezze meal that consist of hummus, olives, aubergine, labneh cheese and tabbouleh salad. Meat and fishes like meat and grilled skewers, and Lebanese pizza (Manakish). For some sweet treats you may try baklavas, sweet pistachio treats and Kanafeh.
 
Climate
The climate in Lebanon is Mediterranean with mild to cool, rainy winters, hot and dry summer. Fall is transitional season with gradual lowering of temperature and little rain; winter is a rainy season and there can be occasional snow; spring occurs when the winter rains cause the vegetation revive and summer can be very hot most likely at coastal area.
 
Electricity
Electric current is 110/220 volts, 50 cycles. A two-pin plug, with round pins is commonly used (Type C, similar to many European countries), but other types of plugs are also in use so it is best to check before you go.
 
Holidays
Lebanon has a full calendar of official holidays. Most of the banks, schools and government offices are closed, it is still possible to find shops and restaurants open for business. Holidays with Fixed Dates:
  • New Year’s Day – January 1
  • Christmas (Armenian-Orthodox) – January 6
  • St. Maroun’s Day – February 9
  • Commemoration of the assassination of PM Rafic Hariri - February 14
  • Labor Day – May 1
  • Martyrs’ Day – May 6
  • Annunciation Day / Resistance & Liberation Day – May 25
  • Lady Mary Assumption– August 15
  • Independence Day – November 22
  • Christmas – December 25
Religious Holidays with Moveable Dates:
  • Catholic Good Friday
  • Orthodox Good Friday
  • Catholic Easter
  • Orthodox Easter
  • Ras As-Sana - Hegire (Muslim New Year)
  • Eid Al-Fitr (two days)
  • Eid Al-Adha (two days)
  • Al-Ashoura: in memory of the death of Hussein (the prophet’s grandson).
  • Mawlid An-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday)
 
Responsible Travel
-Sight-seeing tours are operated and led by a local guide and/or local drivers.
- Take a local experience activity such as hiking, trekking, fruit and vegetable picking and preparing local dishes. Staying at local guesthouse or accommodations can support local community as well.
- When going to beaches, make sure to dispose your garbage properly. If doing diving activities, avoid touching coral reefs.
- Buying handmade artifacts from the local producers like blown glass, ceramic and pottery, woodwork and basketry, jewelries, perfumed soaps and embroideries.

安全问题
我们只提供被认为是安全的地区的旅游。局势受到监控,并可能不时地发生变化。在决定前往叙利亚之前,请熟悉您所在国家的旅游咨询;大多数西方国家政府仍然建议不要前往叙利亚。

货币
官方货币是叙利亚镑(SYP),分为100比斯特。旅行者可以在官方兑换处、酒店和不同的商店换钱;英镑和美元是最好的外币。国际制裁已经封锁了自动取款机和信用卡,所以旅行者必须携带足够的现金以应付逗留期间的需要。

护照和签证
游客应该知道,如果他们的护照(或机票)上有以色列的印章,或者有任何打算访问以色列的证据,叙利亚的入境将被拒绝。任何在护照上注明出生地的旅行者都不需要签证。阿尔及利亚、巴林、约旦、科威特、黎巴嫩、利比亚、毛里塔尼亚、摩洛哥、阿曼、卡塔尔、沙特阿拉伯、苏丹、叙利亚、突尼斯、阿拉伯联合酋长国或也门。所有旅客必须持有回程或转机机票、下一个目的地所需的所有文件和足够的资金来支付他们的逗留。强烈建议旅行者的护照在离开旅行目的地的预定日期后至少有六个月的有效期。移民局官员通常采用与旅行社和官方消息来源所述不同的规则。

天气
叙利亚的气候主要受沙漠的影响,夏季炎热,阳光充足(6月至8月),冬季寒冷(12月至2月)。沿海地区的冬季比较温和,但比较潮湿,夏季的湿度较大。冬季山区降雪很常见。夏季白天的温度可超过95华氏度(35摄氏度),但晚上一般比较凉爽。春季和秋季是旅行的最佳时机,白天的平均温度为72华氏度(22°C),比较温和。

语言
阿拉伯语是官方语言,也是最广泛使用的语言。在主要城市,许多受过教育的叙利亚人都能听懂英语。

小费
在大马士革,游客通常会给服务员、酒保、酒店工作人员和出租车司机小费。服务员一般会收到10-20%的小费,这取决于服务的质量。出租车司机希望得到10-20%的小费;酒店工作人员通常得到2-5美元的小费。

健康
旅行者在大马士革和一些沿海地区可以找到足够的医疗服务,但在偏远地区则不一定。任何访问叙利亚的人都应该购买旅行保险,因为严重的疾病和紧急情况可能需要撤离到邻国或西方医疗机构。

电力
电流为220伏,50赫兹。该国使用圆形的两脚连接插头。

当地习俗
叙利亚是一个以穆斯林为主的国家,游客应尊重宗教的敏感性,特别是在穿着和公共行为方面。尤其是妇女,应该穿宽松的衣服,遮住身体的大部分,但除非进入清真寺,否则不需要戴头巾。在神圣的斋月期间,应避免在公共场合吃喝和吸烟,因为这是穆斯林文化所禁止的。同性恋是非法的;贩运毒品会被判处死刑。

免税
允许旅客进口200支香烟或25支雪茄或250克烟草、1品脱烈酒、自用香水和价值250叙利亚镑的礼品,而无需支付关税。火器是被禁止的。出口烟草或烈酒的数量没有限制。

通讯
叙利亚的国际拨号代码是+963。在大马士革有良好的移动电话覆盖;互联网接入有限,但在首都可以使用。