Beirut is the capital of Lebanon and also the country’s largest city with a population of 2.4 million (2014), making it the the Levant region’s third-largest city. Beirut is located on a peninsula extending westward into Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast, with rocky beaches, sandy shores and cliffs situated beside one another.
The city has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years, and during the Phoenician era, Beirut (Berytus) was one of the most prominent city states. Based on the first historical mentions of Beirut found in the Amarna letters from the New Kingdom of Egypt, dating back to the 14th century BC, it is one of the oldest cities in the world,
Present times Beirut is Lebanon’s seat of government and is an important seaport for the country and region, rated a Beta + World City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
Beirut has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate characterized by mild days and nights, as its coastal location allows temperatures to be moderated by the sea.
The currency is Lebanese pound, and the time zone is Eastern European Time (GMT +3).