Best Places to Visit in Lebanon for First-Time Visitors

Beirut

Beirut, the capital on Lebanon's Mediterranean coast, is where most trips start and the easiest base for day trips to Byblos, Jeita Grotto and the Chouf mountains. Plan at least two days. The city is better for wandering than for ticking off monuments, but a few places are worth building a day around.

National Museum of Beirut

The National Museum of Beirut holds Lebanon's main archaeological collection, including Phoenician sarcophagi, Roman statues and finds from sites across the country. It is a good first stop because it explains what you will see later at Byblos and Baalbek. Allow about two hours, and check opening days before you go, as they can change.

The Corniche, Hamra and Gemmayzeh

The Corniche is the seafront promenade, and locals walk it at sunset, with the Pigeon Rocks at Raouche standing offshore at its western end. Hamra, around the American University of Beirut, has bookshops and old cafés. Gemmayzeh, east of downtown, has mezze restaurants and bars along Rue Gouraud. Between them you can fill a relaxed evening without a plan.

Byblos (Jbeil)

Byblos, known locally as Jbeil, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 40 kilometres north of Beirut, roughly 45 minutes by car. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world. The archaeological site has Phoenician temples, a Roman theatre and a Crusader castle from the 12th century, all beside a small harbour.

Walk through the old souk on the way to the water, then eat fish at one of the harbour restaurants. The name Byblos is commonly linked to the Greek word for papyrus, which the port traded. Half a day is enough for the site and the old town. For a full day, add Jeita Grotto and Harissa on the way back, or Batroun if you are heading north.

Jeita Grotto and Harissa

Jeita Grotto, about 20 kilometres north of Beirut, is a pair of connected limestone caves with an underground river. You walk through the upper gallery and take a short boat ride through the lower one, past stalactites and stalagmites. Cameras are restricted inside, so check the rules at the entrance, and confirm opening days, which vary through the year.

Harissa, a hilltop above the coastal town of Jounieh, is close to Jeita. It is home to the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, a white statue with views over Jounieh Bay, and a cable car runs up from the town below. Both stops lie on the road between Beirut and Byblos, which is why they pair well in one day.

Baalbek and the Bekaa Valley

Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Bekaa Valley about 85 kilometres from Beirut, has the largest Roman temple complex in Lebanon. The Temple of Jupiter keeps six of its columns, each roughly 20 metres tall, and the nearby Temple of Bacchus is among the best preserved Roman temples anywhere. The Romans called the city Heliopolis, the city of the sun. Most visitors go as a full-day trip, about two hours each way.

Combine Baalbek with Anjar, a UNESCO site with the ruins of an Umayyad city from the early 8th century, and stop at a Bekaa winery such as Ksara on the way back. Conditions in the Bekaa can change, so confirm access and road status with your operator before you set off.

The Qadisha Valley and the Cedars of God

The Qadisha Valley, also called the Holy Valley, is a deep gorge in northern Lebanon and a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the nearby Cedars of God. Monasteries and hermitages cling to its cliffs, many tied to centuries of Maronite monastic life. Bcharré, the town at the head of the valley, is the birthplace of the poet Kahlil Gibran, and a museum there is devoted to his work.

The Cedars of God is a small grove of ancient cedars at close to 2,000 metres above sea level, and a few of its oldest trees are thought to be well over a thousand years old. It is roughly three hours from Beirut by road. People hike here in summer, and in winter the area becomes a ski resort where snow can slow the roads. A night in the area works better than a rushed day trip.

Batroun and Tripoli

Batroun and Tripoli are the two main stops on the northern coast. Batroun, about 55 kilometres north of Beirut, is a small seaside town with an old quarter, a Phoenician sea wall, beaches and a brewery. It is the relaxed option, and it suits a swim or lunch after Byblos.

Tripoli, around 85 kilometres from Beirut and roughly two hours by car, is Lebanon's second-largest city. Its old town has a Crusader citadel named after Raymond de Saint-Gilles, Mamluk mosques and madrasas, covered souks and traditional sweet shops. Tripoli gets far fewer visitors than Byblos, so there are fewer signs and ready-made tours, and a guide makes the day easier.

Beiteddine Palace and the Chouf

Beiteddine Palace is a large early 19th century palace in the Chouf Mountains, about 45 kilometres southeast of Beirut, built for Emir Bashir Shihab II. It has arched courtyards, mosaics and gardens. Part of it still serves as a presidential summer residence, so some areas can be closed. Check before you go.

The village of Deir el-Qamar, with its old stone houses, is next door, and the Chouf Cedar Reserve, the largest nature reserve in Lebanon, is nearby. Together they make a full day out of Beirut, or a quiet overnight in the mountains.

How many days do you need in Lebanon?

Three days is enough for Beirut, Byblos and Jeita Grotto, and a week lets you add the north and the mountains without rushing. Lebanon is about 200 kilometres long, but winding roads and traffic make drives slower than the distances suggest.