BlaakLane.com arranges chauffeur service in Beirut for Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) transfers, meetings in Downtown, Hamra, Achrafieh and Verdun, evenings in Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, and day trips to Byblos, Jeita and Mount Lebanon. The fare shown before you book is fixed. A vetted Lebanese affiliate drives, and your confirmation names both the company and the chauffeur.
How booking works in Beirut
Enter the flight number or address on the booking engine here or at /book/, select a vehicle and see one fixed price that includes the chauffeur, vehicle, fuel and waiting time. Fares are fixed in advance, so there is no bargaining at the kerb. Our desk in Toronto runs 24/7 and dispatches to a vetted Lebanese affiliate contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard. Delegations, film crews and wedding convoys are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
BEY is Lebanon's only commercial airport, about 9 km south of Downtown on the coast. It has one terminal with east and west wings. After immigration and customs you exit to the arrivals level, and the standard pickup is at the airport's designated pre-arranged pickup area; the chauffeur messages the plate and where to walk. Having the chauffeur inside with a name board is an optional add-on (add-ons are only available in selected locations).
Every flight is tracked. Included waiting: 60 minutes from actual landing on international arrivals, then 15-minute blocks. Summer and holiday weeks, when many Lebanese abroad fly home, bring long queues at passport control.
Drive times
| Route | Distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| BEY to Downtown, Zaitunay Bay | 9-11 km | 15-30 min |
| BEY to Hamra and Raouche | 10-12 km | 20-35 min |
| BEY to Achrafieh | 11-13 km | 20-40 min |
| Beirut to Jounieh and Harissa | 20-28 km | 30-60 min |
| Beirut to Jeita Grotto | 20 km | 30-50 min |
| Beirut to Byblos (Jbeil) | 40 km | 45-75 min |
| Beirut to Batroun | 50-55 km | 55-80 min |
| Beirut to Faraya (ski area) | 45-50 km | 1h-1h 30 |
The coastal highway north through Dora and Jounieh is the slowest link at rush hour; the chauffeur leaves margin for it.
Downtown, Hamra, Achrafieh and the waterfront
Downtown Beirut around Nejmeh Square and the Beirut Souks holds banks, law firms and government buildings. Hamra, near the American University of Beirut, is dense with offices, cafés and hotels; Verdun is a shopping and residential district; Achrafieh on the eastern hill is home to many consulates and the Sursock Museum; Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael are the restaurant and bar streets. Along the sea, the Corniche runs from Zaitunay Bay past the Phoenicia Hotel to the Raouche rocks. Other hotels used by visitors include the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut and the Mövenpick Hotel Beirut.
Byblos, Jeita and the mountains
Byblos (Jbeil), one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world and a UNESCO site, makes a comfortable half day with lunch at the old harbour. Jeita Grotto's limestone caves are 20 km from the city, and the Harissa cable car and shrine sit above Jounieh. In winter, Faraya and the Mzaar resorts are about an hour and a half away. North of Byblos, Batroun has a Phoenician sea wall and a small old town by the water, and the Cedars of God near Bsharri, another UNESCO site, is a mountain drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours, best as a full day. Sidon (Saida), 45 km south, has a Crusader sea castle and an old souk; like other trips south of the city it is reviewed before confirmation. Book these as city tours and day trips so the car waits.
Meetings, weddings and nights out
Beirut is still a regional base for media, advertising, fashion and NGO offices. Meetings tend to move between Downtown, Hamra and Achrafieh, linked by Charles Helou Avenue and the Fouad Chehab ring road, which carry most cross-town traffic. Parking is scarce in Hamra and Achrafieh during office hours, so an hourly chauffeur service saves the search. Weddings are often held in the mountain villas and venues above Broummana and Beit Mery, 30 to 50 minutes up winding roads from the city, and the wedding limousine service plans the convoy with a coordinator so guests and photographers arrive in the right order. For late dinners in Mar Mikhael the chauffeur waits nearby and pulls up when you message.
Summer festivals and busy months
Summer is peak season, with the Baalbeck International Festival and the Byblos International Festival usually held in July and August, and many weddings in the mountains. The Beirut Marathon is usually in November, with road closures on the day. Book early for these months and for Christmas and New Year.
Port of Beirut
The Port of Beirut, on the northern edge of Downtown, remains the country's main commercial port, and cruise calls have been occasional in recent years. For ship crew joining in Beirut, a chauffeur can meet the crew at BEY and drive to the gate the agent names; see shipping crew change.
Entry rules for Lebanon
Many nationalities receive a visa on arrival at BEY, while others must apply in advance; the General Directorate of General Security publishes the current list. Lebanon refuses entry to travellers whose passports show evidence of travel to Israel. Carry your passport on all trips, since army checkpoints may ask for it.
Security and route planning
Conditions in Lebanon can change quickly. Read your own government's travel advisory before you book, and expect the local affiliate to review any route outside greater Beirut, including trips to the Bekaa Valley and the south, before it is confirmed. For executives and visiting officials, armoured SUVs and sedans are available as partner vehicles on request after a risk assessment; see secure transportation and government and diplomatic travel.
Driving in Beirut
Traffic drives on the right, lane discipline is loose and double parking is common, so a local chauffeur saves real time. Valet parking is normal at restaurants. There are no tolls. Fuel shortages and power cuts have affected the city in recent years; your fixed fare does not change with fuel prices after booking.
Choosing a vehicle and cancellation
A Standard Sedan suits airport and city runs, an executive SUV handles mountain roads in winter, and vans carry wedding parties and delegations. See the fleet and rates. Beirut trips follow the standard scale: cancel more than 72 hours out at no cost, pay 10% within 72 hours, 50% within 48 hours and 100% within 24 hours or for a no-show.
Nearby cities
For other trips in the eastern Mediterranean, see chauffeur service in Amman, Limassol and Istanbul.
