Expérience à Beyrouth, Liban par ikbal

What is it like to live in Beirut? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Beirut is a beautiful melting spot, it's people are friendly and very well educated almost everyone speak fluently at least in 3 languages(English, Arabic and French) so language is not a barrier. Despite the bad propaganda in media sometimes, not a day has passed without seeing Lebanese people enjoying their time and living life to the fullest. Moreover Lebanon has 4 seasons, you get to enjoy each season related activities, food, and fruits. I definitley recommand Beirut, as all the foreigners Ive known have fell in love with this small piece of land and made a promise to come back one day.

What is the student lifestyle like in Beirut?

Beirut is a perfect city for student life, as there's always events happening everywhere, and you get a huge diversity wether ur interested in Art, Sports or just random more chilling activities. Plus were ever you go you get to meet local and international people.

How much does it cost to live in Beirut?

Beirut is relatively an expensive city but it also depends from which country you're coming from I guess. it is important to know that American dollars are used along with Lebanese pound, all restaurants and stores accept dollars. Regarding means of transportation you have 3 main way: 1- Call a Taxi and book (the taxi is private only for you) it costs around 8$ inside Beirut. 2- Take a service: you can find them everywhere on the streets with a red plaque, they are public and people share the car with you if they are going to the same direction as you, it costs approx 2000LBP. 3- take a van or bus: for 1000LBP, they can take you inside and outside the city.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Beirut? Is there any advice you can give?

It is difficult to find accomodation depending on where you want to stay, but if you search closely through FB groups, over the internet you might get lucky. I suggest once you're in Lebanon take a walk around the area where you're staying and ask the locals they can definitley help.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Regarding Food, the reputation Lebanon have concerning it's delicious mediteranean cuisine competes with the world best culinary offerings. Not long ago Lebanon has set a world guiness record for the biggest "Tabboule and Hummus" bowl. You should definitley try these along with Fatouch for salads, Mtabal. grapes leaves, spicy potato, cheese rolls, Makanek, Sojok, Chanklich, Barbecue set including taouk, kabab, grilled meat. All of these are typical lebanese appetizers you have to try!

What places would you recommend visiting in Beirut?

The main streets in Beirut are Hamra, street good for shopping, street food, restaurants. In downtown make sure to visit the roman bath, the clock in the middle of the center and Beirut souks. the whole area contains monuments and ruins from the old times, plus you get to see a beautiful contrast of Beirut the modern and the disfigured buildings from the war times. Beirut has always been compared to a phoenix as it was destroyed 7 times and each time it was rebuilt from scratch. You can also check gemmayze and Mar mikhael stairs all beautifully painted and colored. Zaytouna bay is an area by the sea with yachts and coffee shops/restaurants along the bay very poshy like. Try to visit one of the world's 7 wonders "Jeita grotto" outside beirut but not so far, as well as Byblos one of the oldest cities in the world. Actually 4 cities in Lebanon are among the oldest internationaly you can google it. you can also visit deir el kamar and Beit el dine and Moussa palace, beautiful piece of art. Or visit the Cedars reserve where youget to see the tree youfind on the Lebanese flag, it symbolizes strenght and highness as it only grows on the top of the mountains and it never breaks. You can also visit the national musuem definitley not a boring place to be rather fascinating, or the mim museum in the same street where you get to see mineral stones from all over the world. The list can go on and on Lebanon is small yet so rich. The places mentionned here are just the tip of the iceberg, i'll let your curiosity seek for the rest.

Is it good to eat out in Beirut? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

The nice thing about beirut whereever you go you can find places to eat. I personnaly love "Em nazih" in gemmayze streets she offers you all the lebanese appetizers for a very affordable price, it's the hub of all international students, as they also do quiz nights and themed oriental like evening. the place is very chill and you can go as you are. In hamra street next to starbucks you can go to "T marbouta" also a lebanese restaurant, good prices and absolutely delicious or you can try "laziz" right next to it, and try fatet laban for about 5$. In hamra street you can try Barbar also voted internationaly to serve best sandwiches and very affordable 2-3$. Not to forget Falafel from abou nabil or Sahyoun. for breakfast you should try "Kneffeh", from Hallab at raouche area by the sea it's known to be the best for lebanese sweets. or you can go to the bakery and ask for a "Manouche" it comes with different fillings (cheese, meat, thym,kechek) just amazing. All the mentioned do not cost more than 3$.

Is the nightlife good in Beirut? Where is good to go?

So many places to note.

What advice would you give future students heading to Beirut?

Erasmus is all about adventure and meeting people in a cultural exchange context, so take advantage of it and live it to the full, trying to break streotypes and engaging in activities and experiences you would never get the chance to live it again twice!