🇱🇧 Lebanon

Roman temples, cedar mountains and Mediterranean cities

Open Lebanon in the interactive travelogue →

Beirut — Cosmopolitan capital by the sea

National Museum of Beirut Museum

Phoenician sarcophagi, mosaics and antiquities across Lebanon's layered civilisations.

Best time: Oct–May — Cooler months suit pairing the museum with the city on foot.

Things to do:

Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque Mosque

A blue-domed Ottoman-revival mosque towering over Martyrs' Square.

Best time: Mar–May & Oct–Nov — Spring and autumn give the mildest days downtown.

Things to do:

Pigeon Rocks (Raouché) Natural landmark

Twin sea arches rising from the Mediterranean off the corniche.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Calm seas and clear skies are best for the clifftop and boats.

Things to do:

Corniche Beirut Waterfront

A palm-lined seafront promenade, the city's favourite evening stroll.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov — Mild months are loveliest along the waterfront.

Things to do:

Beirut Souks (Souk el-Ahad) Market

Reconstructed traditional marketplace blending heritage restoration with modern commerce.

Best time: Apr–May & Oct–Nov — Central gathering space symbolizing post-conflict revival and cultural resilience.

Things to do:

Baalbek — Rome's greatest temple complex

Temple of Bacchus Ruins

The best-preserved grand Roman temple anywhere, richly carved and near-complete.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Spring and autumn avoid the Bekaa's summer heat.

Things to do:

Temple of Jupiter Ruins

Six colossal columns survive from what was Rome's largest temple.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Mild months suit the vast, shadeless site.

Things to do:

Temple of Venus Ruins

A delicate circular temple of rose-gold stone within the complex.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Comfortable weather is best for the open ruins.

Things to do:

Baalbek Stone of the Pregnant Woman Archaeological site

One of the largest cut stones on Earth, left in its ancient quarry.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Cooler months suit the exposed quarry.

Things to do:

Anti-Lebanon Mountains Summit Viewpoint

Alpine ridge with panoramic views across Mediterranean and Syrian landscapes.

Best time: May–Sep — Dramatic vantage point revealing regional geography beyond ancient temples.

Things to do:

Bsharri & the Cedars — Sacred groves and holy valley

Cedars of God Nature reserve

An ancient grove of the biblical Lebanese cedars high in the mountains.

Best time: Jun–Sep — Summer opens the snow-free high forest road.

Things to do:

Qadisha Valley Nature area

A deep holy gorge of cliff-clinging Maronite monasteries and hermitages.

Best time: May–Jun & Sep–Oct — Late spring and autumn are best for the valley trails.

Things to do:

Gibran Museum Museum

The hillside tomb and museum of the poet Kahlil Gibran, in his hometown.

Best time: May–Jun & Sep–Nov — Mild months suit the museum and mountain views.

Things to do:

Horsh Ehden Reserve Nature reserve

A cool cedar-and-fir reserve of endemic flora across misty peaks.

Best time: Jun–Sep — Summer clears the snow for the high alpine trails.

Things to do:

Saint Charbel Monastery Temple

Maronite Christian monastery in mountain setting with pilgrimage significance.

Best time: May–Sep — Sacred site attracting devotees and representing Maronite spiritual heritage.

Things to do:

Sidon — Phoenician port, medieval castle

Sidon Sea Castle Medieval Fortress

13th-century Crusader castle on offshore island with sweeping coastal views.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Dramatically positioned fortress with rich Crusader and Ottoman history.

Things to do:

Sidon Souk Historic Market

Ancient marketplace with vaulted ceilings showcasing traditional crafts and souvenirs.

Best time: Mar–May & Oct–Nov — Bustling authentic bazaar reflecting centuries of trade heritage.

Things to do:

Church of Saint John the Baptist Religious Building

Mamluk-era church blending Islamic and Christian architectural styles.

Best time: Mar–May & Oct–Nov — Unique cultural monument displaying religious tolerance through architecture.

Things to do:

Phoenician Port Museum Museum

Underwater archaeology exhibits featuring ancient Phoenician artifacts and glass.

Best time: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct — Specialized collection preserving maritime heritage of ancient civilizations.

Things to do:

Sidon Beaches Beach

Mediterranean sandy beaches with water sports and waterfront restaurants.

Best time: May–Sep — Relaxing coastal escape with clear warm waters.

Things to do:

Byblos — Where Phoenician merchants invented the alphabet on these ancient harbor stones

Byblos Souk (Old Market) Market

A labyrinthine 16th-century Ottoman marketplace with 200+ shops selling spices, gold, and antiques.

Best time: October-April — It retains authentic medieval layout and merchant culture rarely found in Lebanon.

Things to do:

Byblos Crusader Castle Historic Site

A 12th-century fortress built by Crusaders using Phoenician stone blocks and Roman temple materials.

Best time: October-April — The layers of construction reveal 5,000 years of Mediterranean power struggles.

Things to do:

Byblos Harbor Viewpoint

An ancient Phoenician harbor where boats have anchored since 5000 BC with Mediterranean fishing village authenticity.

Best time: April-October — Walking here connects you directly to the birthplace of alphabet and maritime commerce.

Things to do:

Our Lady of Byblos Church Temple

A medieval Maronite church built over Phoenician ruins with mixed religious iconography and stone history.

Best time: October-May — It shows the blending of faiths and architectural inheritance across millennia.

Things to do:

Byblos Phoenician Museum Museum

Houses artifacts from the world's oldest city including tablets, pottery, and the original alphabet stones.

Best time: October-April — The alphabet display is literally the foundation of written Western civilization.

Things to do:

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Lebanon?

It depends on where you go: every place has its own ideal season on this page. For example, National Museum of Beirut is best around Oct–May. Lebanon has 5 featured cities and areas to plan around.

Is English spoken in Lebanon?

Roughly 45% of people speak English. The main language is Arabic (Modern Standard & Lebanese).

How strong is the Lebanon passport?

The Lebanon passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 68 destinations.

Is Lebanon expensive to travel in?

This page lists real traveller costs for Lebanon — accommodation, food, transport, plus education, medical, insurance and connectivity — so you can budget before you go.

What is there to do in Lebanon?

National Museum of Beirut, Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, Pigeon Rocks (Raouché), Corniche Beirut, Beirut Souks (Souk el-Ahad), Temple of Bacchus — each with the best time to visit, why it is worth it, and specific things to do.