Touristic Info.
Trablos (Tripoli),
From the earliest times Tripoli in north Lebanon was an unusual city due to its configuration for it was not one city but ‘three cities in one”, hence its name Tripolis or the “Tri-city”. Built on a rocky promontory on the East Mediterranean coast, Tripoli stood halfway between the great rival commercial centers of Antioch and Tyre. Its geographical and strategic position was further enhanced by the presence of offshore islands, natural ports and its proximity to the hinterland. Tripoli thus inevitably played a predominant role in political and economic developments in the region and the Middle East for over two millenia.
Geography has been the determining factor which has influenced the history of Lebanon’s port cities since the dawn of Time. The narrow and irregular coastal strip of Lebanon is cut up by rivets, deep river gorges and steep ravines. The early inhabitants of this land known in ancient times as Canaanites, later as Phoenicians, found themselves hemmed in between the Mediterranean and the mountains of Lebanon which rise abruptly from the sea. These particular geographical conditions, thousands of years ago, led to the establishment of a series of independent city-states on rocky headlands jutting out to sea. Each city-state was separated from the other by insurmountable natural barriers so in order to communicate the inhabitants turned to the sea. With an unlimited supply of coniferous wood covering the mountains behind them, they built sea-faring ships and skirting the coastline, sailed from city to city to trade.
Today , Tripoli is a prosperous business and touristic center with many new hotels built inside and on the outskirts of the city. There is a lot of touristic attractions and quality recreation centers . Tripoli is also very famous for its oriental sweets and food, the taste of sweets can not be found anywhere else. Not to forget the many gift items that are mainly hand made like soap,copper articles etc…
Tripoli’s population has been estimated to be 500,000 and the large majority of these are Sunni Muslims. Lebanon’s small Alawite community also mainly inhabits Tripoli, and their numbers are estimated to be between 25,000 to 30,000 people, mainly in the Jabal Mohsen neighbourhood. The percentage of Christians in the city is around 5%
We Invite you to visit our city and enjoy your stay in this nice mixture of western and oriental culture.
General Tips About Lebanon
| Visa Requirements & Fees |
Tourist visas are available at the airport for holders of the following nationalities: Western Europeans, citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Passports containing a visa to Israel (valid or expired) are denied entry.
| Returning Lebanese Nationals |
Requirements for customs clearance (at the airport or the port): Proof of residency in a foreign country, change of residency certificate (attested by the Lebanese embassy in the country of former residence), proof of residency in Lebanon (a rent contract attested by the municipality or an ownership deed certified by the mayor).
| Non-Nationals moving to Lebanon |
Requirements to avoid paying import duty on personal effects are the following: A certified letter from former/present employer stating change of residence, job title, nature of work you will be doing in Lebanon, legalized by the Lebanese embassy in country of origin and by the local authorities. Also, you will need a detailed packing list, a rent contract (legalized by local municipality), a work permit and a residence visa. In case you are bringing a pet with you, make sure to have an international health certificate from your local vet. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies (not more than 30 days).
| Medical checklist before arrival |
You will require the following: up to date tetanus injection, hepatitis A, valid medical insurance and current medical report from your doctor.
| Useful Numbers |
Fire Brigade 175
Civil Defense 125
Internal Security 112
Police 160
Red Cross 140
Operator 100
Information 120
Airport 01.628000
Tourist Police 009611350901 – 009611343286 – 00961343209
| Climate / Tips for packing |
On its coastal area, Lebanon enjoys a Mediterranean climate (hot summers and mild winters). Summer temperatures in the capital (Beirut) range from 29o C to 32 o C (84oF to 90oF). Winter temperatures range from 16oC to 20oC (61oF to 66oF).
In the summer, mountain regions, with their cooler and less humid weather, attract many residents. In winter, temperatures at higher altitudes can drop below zero and many mountaintops remain covered with snow throughout most of the year.
Since Lebanon enjoys a summery climate from May to October, pack some light cotton and linen cloths. Don’t forget your bathing suit! If you’re planning on visiting Lebanon during the winter (November to April), it would be advisable to wear warmer cloths (woollens, polo-necks…). We also recommend you bring a coat and scarf.
Don’t forget to pack a couple of smart evening outfits, for dining out in Lebanon can be a very stylish affair!
| Geography |
Lebanon is situated along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, with a 10,452Km2 surface. All regions are within easy reach: it will take a maximum of 4 hours by car to reach the most far-flung places from Beirut.
Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre and other major cities are situated on the narrow coastal plain, only 6 Km2 at the widest point. Mount Lebanon, a rugged and rocky landscape, rises steeply from the coastal plain, with the highest peak at 3,360m. The Anti-Lebanon mountains are almost of the same hight and length, and form a natural border with the neighbouring countries to the east.
In between is the Beqaa Valley with a central plateau at an average of 760m above sea level. Throughout history, the Beqaa Valley has been considered a major agricultural region, rich with historical sites.
| Population |
Local population: 4,000,000 citizens (with 17 religious communities, most of which are Christian, Muslim and Druze)
| Language |
Besides Arabic, most Lebanese speak French and English.
Spoken Arabic slightly differs from the written Arabic.
| Currency |
The local currency is the Lebanese Pound or Lira (LL or LBP). You can pay in dollars as well.
Notes are in denominations of LL1,000 – LL5,000 – LL10,000 – LL20,000 – LL50,000 – LL100,000.
Coins are in pieces of LL50 – LL100 – LL250 – LL500.
| Time |
Local time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT) from October to March, and 3 hours (+3 GMT) from April to September.
| Tourist Refund – Value added Tax – VAT |
Starting 01 February 2002, tourists departing from Lebanon are entitled to a VAT refund on goods purchased during their stay.
During the February Shopping Festival, and until the management of the tourist refund mechanism is handed over to a private company, the customs administration will handle the VAT refund claims.
| Who can ask for a tourist refund? |
Every foreigner or Lebanese person residing abroad, and whose stay in Lebanon does not exceed three continuous months, is entitled to ask for a VAT refund.
| Which purchases do not entitle the tourist to a VAT refund? |
All kinds of services (hotels, telecommunications, car rentals, guided tours.
All kinds of foods and beverages (restaurants, cafés, supermarkets.
Fuel and tobacco.
| What are the conditions required for a VAT refund? |
The goods must be transported in the tourist’s personal luggage.
The tourist must have bought the goods from a VAT registered retailer.
The total value for each invoice from each store must exceed 150,000 LBP per year.
The purchases should be exported from Lebanon within three months of the date of purchase i.e. the date of the invoice. The goods don’t necessarily have to be transported upon the tourist’s first departure from Lebanon as long as he is still within the time limit determined above.
The purchases should be new and not used in Lebanon (except used cars).
| What should the tourist do in order to claim a VAT refund? |
The tourist must ask the VAT registered retailer to issue, an invoice containing the retailer’s VAT registration number, his name and address, the tourist’s name and address, the description and value of the transaction, and the amount of VAT paid.
The tourist must obtain a refund claim from the registered retailer (or at the airport when departing) and must fill it out.
The tourist must present the customs administration at the point of departure with the goods, the VAT refund claim, and the invoices related to that refund.
It should be noted that the customs administration will keep the original invoices. Therefore, any tourist wishing to retain copies of these invoices must photocopy them in advance or ask the retailer to issue another copy upon purchase of the goods.
The customs administration will inspect the goods for which a refund is claimed in order to ensure that they match the related invoices. It will also stamp the refund claim and all its attachments.
| When is the decision of acceptance or refusal of the request issued? |
The refund claims shall be handled by the unit that will be in charge of the management of the tourist refund.
When the required conditions are met, the tax is refunded, either by check or credit card transfer, after deduction of the company’s commission.
If the refund claim is rejected, then the tourist is notified of the rejection of the claim, as well as the reason for the refusal.
For more info:
E-mail: vat@finance.gov.lb
Tel #: 009611398234