Tripoli is 85 kilometres north of Beirut. By car or taxi, the journey takes 1 to 2 hours depending on traffic, via the coastal highway (Route 1). Shared taxis (service taxis) from Charles Helou bus station in Beirut leave when full and are the cheapest option. The journey costs a few dollars. Private taxis can be booked from Beirut hotels for a fixed fare.
Coach services also run from Beirut, and there are minibuses from the Cola interchange in southern Beirut. There is no working railway service between Beirut and Tripoli — the Lebanese rail system has been out of operation since the civil war.
Within Tripoli, shared taxis and private taxis are the main transport options. The old city is compact enough to explore on foot; it is about a 15-minute walk from the main taxi drop-off points to the citadel.