How To Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Lebanon in 2024

Traveling to Lebanon soon and wondering what is the best sim card to stay connected? Don't waste money on high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans. This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in Lebanon.

Let me help you find the best sim card for your trip to Lebanon in 2024.

Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per November 2024, info about buying a sim card at Beirut Airport, the best 4G/5G network in Lebanon, my recommendation and more info about eSIMs for Lebanon.

Buying a tourist at Beirut Airport is like a tourist trap, don't fall for it. Super expensive for nothing!

In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.

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Some links in this article about the best prepaid sim cards for traveling to Lebanon are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.

Why buying a sim card for Lebanon

There are many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Lebanon, but the main reason is that we want to avoid high roaming charges and don't end up with a shocking phone bill.

Having a data connection on our phone makes life so much more convenient. Think about ordering an Uber, getting directions from Google Maps or looking for a cool nearby rooftop bar, it is not possible without a data connection on your phone.

Also think about emergencies, checking your banking apps, etc. Don't depend on public WiFi. There is no guarantee, it can be slow and keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.

One of the first things I do when planning my next trip abroad is figuring out what is the best way to stay connected and whether to order an eSIM on the internet or buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival to avoid high roaming charges.

As Traveltomtom is on a mission to travel to every country in the world I get to about 30 - 40 different countries every year and therefore I use about 30 different sim cards per year. As I am already traveling full time since 2012 buying prepaid and eSIMs became part of life and that is how Traveltomtom became the ultimate specialist in providing info about sim cards for tourists.

Because I love to document all my travel tips you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, New York, Canada, Mexico, Dubai, Jordan, Amman, Istanbul, Turkey, Gabon, Europe, Italy, Greece, Austria, UK, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Milan, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and many more.

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends a Touch sim card for Lebanon. They have the most extensive 4G/LTE network and a good prepaid sim card deal for tourists.

If you want to save money then don't buy a sim card for Lebanon at Beirut Airport but wait till you get to the city center and go to a Touch phone store.

eSIMs for Lebanon are limited and more expensive than buying a prepaid sim card in Lebanon. Sim Local and Airalo are the only operators that sell eSIMs for Lebanon. Expect to pay around $10 USD per Gigabyte.

But eSIMs are simply so convenient that I happily pay a couple dollar extra to be online as soon as the plane lands. For my trips to Lebanon I always get a 1 GB data eSIM just to get through the first day and then buy a prepaid sim card in a phone store in Lebanon.

Unfortunately the same counts for international sim cards. However, there is a physical prepaid sim card for Lebanon that you can order online but you only get 1 GB data for $49.90 USD.

Where to buy a Lebanon sim card

Phone stores in Lebanon

There are a bunch of random phone shops scattered around Beirut, but for the best prices, data plans and service you want to go to an official store of Alfa or Touch. Both operators have a store in Beirut Downtown, but not in Hamra.

Random phone stores will charge you a little service fee, but it is not much. These phone shop guys are very friendly and also willing to set up everything for you, but they only have physical prepaid sim cards, no eSIMs.

Just bring your passport for the registration process. Your new Lebanon sim card will be registered on your name and passport number, that is standard procedure.

Online

The easiest place to buy a sim card for Lebanon is on the internet. You can already order an eSIM for Lebanon in just 2 minutes.

There are also international prepaid sim cards for Lebanon, more about it later.

Buying a sim card at Beirut Airport

On arrival I went to the Airport Information Desk and they told me that there is only one shop that sells a prepaid sim card for Lebanon at Beirut Airport: CityFone.

You can't miss this Beirut airport shop as it will be on your right hand side straight after you walk out into the Arrivals hall. I checked everything for you and I strongly recommend you NOT to buy a Lebanon sim card at Beirut Airport, unless you don't care how much it costs.

At the CityFone shop you can buy a Touch Lebanon sim card for tourist for $44 USD and you only get:

• 60 minutes calls or 60 sms
• 500 MB data

This sim card for Lebanon is valid for 30 days and only in Lebanon. That is right... $44 USD for 500 MB data? CRAZY!!!

Mobile internet operators Lebanon

There are only two mobile internet providers in Lebanon: Alfa and Touch. A Lebanon prepaid sim card with data is pretty expensive and Alfa and Touch offer pretty much the same prepaid data plans.

As of November 2024 it is also possible to opt for an eSIM as well as a physical prepaid sim card when buying a sim card for tourists in Lebanon. However, you can only get an eSIM in an official Alfa or Touch store.

Best 4G/5G network coverage in Lebanon in 2024

As of 2024 there is no 5G yet in Lebanon however, 4G/LTE is pretty wide spread and at most tourist attractions in Lebanon you will find a good 4G/LTE signal. Let's have a look at the Lebanon 4G/LTE coverage maps.

Alfa 4G/5G network coverage map

Touch 4G/5G network coverage map

Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Lebanon in 2024.

From the above updated network coverage maps we clearly see the difference. After comparing the Alfa and Touch mobile data coverage Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Touch has the best 4G/5G network coverage in Lebanon in 2024.

Prices prepaid sim cards in Lebanon in 2024

All the info and prices are updated as per November 2024 and prices are in USD.

As of 2025 it is possible to get an eSIM as well as a physical prepaid sim card for tourists, but only in official Touch and Alfa phone stores in Lebanon.

Alfa Lebanon

An Alfa Lebanon prepaid sim card costs $12 USD: $7 USD for the new line and $5 for a plan that gives you 2 GB data for 7 days. (VAT excluded)

For the more info check the Alfa Lebanon website.

Touch Lebanon

A Touch prepaid sim card costs $13 USD and gives you 10 GB data for 2 weeks including 100 local minutes and sms.

For all the exact details check the Touch Lebanon website.

Best sim card for Lebanon in 2024

eSIMs for Lebanon are rather expensive and buying a prepaid sim card in Lebanon is cheaper.

For an eSIM you pay around $10 USD per Gigabyte. Sim Local and Airalo have similar prices, but Sim Local has a much more plans available.

Traveltomtom always gets an Airalo eSIM with 1 GB data to get through the first day and to be online as soon as the plane lands. Then the next day I go to a Touch store to buy a prepaid sim card.

Since Touch has much better 4G/5G network coverage around Lebanon and Touch has a great prepaid sim card for tourists, Traveltomtom comes to the simply conclusion that Touch is the best prepaid sim card in Lebanon in 2024.

For $13 USD you get a Touch prepaid sim card with 10 GB data for 14 days.

Best eSIMs for Lebanon

The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Lebanon in 2024 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store in Lebanon and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.

You order an eSIM for Lebanon on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Lebanon eSIM installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in Lebanon it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

Airalo

Airalo only has one eSIM plan for Lebanon:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $9.5 USD

Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Lebanon via Airalo.

This Salbeh eSIM is data-only and operates on the Touch 4G/LTE data network.

Sim Local

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $9.5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $29 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $46.5 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $90.5 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $176.5 USD

Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Lebanon via Sim Local.

These Smartroam eSIMs are data-only and operates on the Alfa 4G/LTE data network.

Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Lebanon.

Order a prepaid sim card for Lebanon online

If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Lebanon online before your trip then check out the following.

Arrive prepared in Lebanon with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Lebanon, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.

SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Lebanon:

• 1 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD

Click here for more info or to order this international sim card for Lebanon via SimOptions.

Traveltomtom is an advocate for ordering sim cards for traveling abroad on the internet, but international sim cards and eSIMs for Lebanon are rather expensive.

My first time visiting Lebanon was before my overland trip to Syria in 2019. Interested in reading about this extraordinary journey then head over to my Syria travel blog in this link.

I am sure some of these tips for buying a sim card in Lebanon were helpful for your upcoming trip. May you have any questions please leave me a comment below.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of November 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Lebanon!