Lebanon · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Lebanon
These are our favourite places across Lebanon, from Beirut's restaurants and bars to monasteries, cedar forests and seaside towns. Spots marked unconfirmed may have changed, so check before you go.
Places to Visit in Beirut
Arts and Culture
- National Museum of Beirut (Museum Street)
Phoenician sarcophagi, Roman mosaics and a moving story of how the collection survived the civil war. - Sursock Museum (Achrafieh)
Modern Lebanese art in a restored white mansion, beautifully reopened after the 2020 blast. - Mohammad Al Amin Mosque (Downtown)
The great blue domed mosque at the heart of rebuilt downtown Beirut. - Saint George Maronite Cathedral (Downtown)
A graceful cathedral beside the blue mosque, a symbol of the city's mixed faiths. - Beit Beirut (Sodeco)
A bullet scarred house on the old Green Line, now a museum and memory space for the civil war. - MIM Museum (Mar Roukoz, Dekwaneh)
A dazzling private collection of minerals and fossils, a hit with children. - AUB Archaeological Museum (American University of Beirut, Hamra)
One of the oldest museums in the region, inside the leafy AUB campus. - Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Downtown)
An old Orthodox cathedral full of icons near Nejmeh Square. - Roman Baths (Downtown)
The remains of Roman era baths in a small garden below the Grand Serail.
Things to Do
- Corniche Beirut (Ain el Mreisseh)
The seafront promenade where the whole city strolls, jogs and fishes at sunset. - Saint Nicholas Stairs (Gemmayzeh)
Colourful stone stairs linking Gemmayzeh to Achrafieh, lined with old houses and art. - American University of Beirut campus (Hamra)
A green seaside campus of old stone buildings and sea views, open for a quiet walk. - Zaitunay Bay (Ain el Mreisseh)
A marina promenade with restaurants and cafés, nice for an evening walk. - Beirut boat trip at Raouche (Raouche)
Small fishing boats take visitors around the Pigeon Rocks in calm weather.
Nature and Outdoors
- Pigeon Rocks (Raouche)
Beirut's famous sea arches, best seen at sunset or from a small boat in calm weather.
Shopping and Markets
- Souk el Tayeb (Mar Mikhael)
The country's best farmers market, with producers and home cooks from every region. - Beirut Souks (Downtown)
The modern rebuilt souks with shops, cafés and cinemas on the old market streets.
Restaurants
- Tawlet (Mar Mikhael)
Home cooks from different villages take turns cooking regional Lebanese lunches. - Barbar (Hamra)
A round the clock institution for shawarma, falafel and manakish. - Falafel Sahyoun (Damascus Street)
A family falafel counter running for generations, famous across the city. - Le Chef (Gemmayzeh)
A cheerful old diner serving daily home style Lebanese stews. - Liza Beirut (Achrafieh)
Modern Lebanese cooking in an elegant old mansion with painted rooms. - Em Sherif (Achrafieh)
A lavish feast of Lebanese mezze in a grand, old style dining room. - Mayrig (Mar Mikhael)
Armenian Lebanese home cooking from a much loved family restaurant. - Zaatar w Zeit (Sassine)
A popular chain for quick manakish and wraps at any hour.
Cafés
- Café Younes (Hamra)
A coffee roaster and café going since the 1930s, a Hamra classic. - Kalei Coffee Co (Mar Mikhael)
A café in a restored old house with a quiet garden. - Hanna Mitri Ice Cream (Mar Mikhael)
An old family shop making Arabic ice cream in a few classic flavours. - Al Bohsali (Hamra)
A long established sweet maker for baklava and Lebanese pastries. - Al Rifai (Hamra)
A historic nut roastery where locals buy roasted nuts and seeds by weight.
Bars and Nightlife
- Armenia Street bars (Mar Mikhael)
The city's liveliest bar strip, busy with small bars every night of the week.
Events
- Beirut Marathon (Beirut)
A city wide autumn run with races for every level, including family runs.
Stays
- Albergo Hotel (Achrafieh)
A classic boutique hotel in an old mansion with a rooftop garden. - Mayflower Hotel (Hamra)
A long running, comfortable hotel in the heart of Hamra. - Phoenicia Hotel (Ain el Mreisseh)
A landmark seafront hotel near Zaitunay Bay.
Places to Visit in Jounieh
Nature and Outdoors
- Jeita Grotto (Jeita)
Spectacular limestone caves with a boat ride through the lower gallery.
Things to Do
- Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa (Harissa)
A hilltop shrine reached by cable car with wide views over Jounieh Bay. - Téléférique de Jounieh (Jounieh)
The old cable car from the seafront up to Harissa, a family favourite.
Arts and Culture
- Casino du Liban (Maameltein)
A grand old casino and show venue with sea views.
Places to Visit in Byblos
Arts and Culture
- Byblos Archaeological Site and Crusader Castle (Old Town)
Seven thousand years of history in one walk, entered through a crusader castle. - Church of Saint John Mark (Old Town)
A crusader era church with an open air baptistery. - Memory of Time Fossil Museum (Old Souk)
A small shop and museum of fossil fish from the mountains above Byblos.
Shopping and Markets
- Byblos Old Souk (Old Town)
Stone lanes of shops, cafés, fossils and crafts beside the castle.
Things to Do
- Byblos Old Harbour (Old Town)
One of the oldest ports in the world, prettiest at sunset. - Amchit old houses (Amchit)
A quiet coastal village of old Lebanese stone houses just north of Byblos.
Restaurants
- Bab el Mina (Old Harbour)
Fish and mezze on a terrace right on the old harbour.
Cafés
- Byblos Old Souk ice cream and sweets (Old Souk)
Evening ice cream and knafeh among the crowds in the souk.
Bars and Nightlife
- Byblos old town bars (Old Souk)
Small bars fill the souk lanes on summer weekend nights.
Events
- Byblos International Festival (Old Harbour)
Summer concerts on a stage by the sea, in years when it goes ahead.
Nature and Outdoors
- Byblos public beach (South of Old Town)
A sandy stretch for an easy swim close to the old town. - Nahr Ibrahim Valley (Nahr Ibrahim)
A green river valley rising towards the source at Afqa.
Stays
- Byblos Sur Mer (Old Harbour)
A hotel right on the harbour with a sea pool.
Places to Visit in Batroun
Things to Do
- Phoenician Wall (Old Town)
An ancient sea wall where people swim and watch the sunset. - Mseilha Fort (Nahr el Jawz)
A small castle on a rock that is fun to climb. - Ixsir Winery (Basbina)
A modern winery in the hills with tastings and a restaurant. - Douma village (Douma)
An old red roofed mountain village with a small souk. - Monastery of Saint John Maroun, Kfarhay (Kfarhay)
A quiet historic monastery in the Batroun hills.
Arts and Culture
- Saint Stephen Cathedral (Old Harbour)
A pretty church on the tiny harbour of the old town. - Our Lady of the Sea Church (Old Town)
A small chapel by the water, lovely at golden hour. - Saint Charbel Monastery, Annaya (Annaya)
A major pilgrimage site in the mountains.
Restaurants
- Chez Maguy (Old Harbour)
A small, much loved fish spot on the rocks by the sea. - Batroun old town bakeries (Old Town)
Manakish and sweets fresh in the morning.
Cafés
- Hilmi Lemonade (Old Town)
A classic stop for Batroun's famous fresh lemonade.
Bars and Nightlife
- Batroun old town bar street (Old Town)
Lanes of bars that buzz all summer. - Pierre and Friends (Thoum)
A legendary beach bar on the rocks just north of Batroun, best at sunset.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kfarabida beaches (Kfarabida)
A string of beach spots and clubs south of Batroun.
Stays
- Beit Douma (Douma)
A restored village house guesthouse in the hills.
Shopping and Markets
- Batroun souk (Old Town)
A small market for local produce and crafts.
Places to Visit in Bsharri
Nature and Outdoors
- Cedars of God (Arz)
An ancient grove of cedars, some well over a thousand years old. - The Cedars ski resort (Arz)
A ski area beside the old cedar grove, open in winter. - Lebanon Mountain Trail, Qadisha section (Qadisha Valley)
Walking between valley villages on a marked long distance trail. - Baatara Gorge Waterfall (Tannourine)
A waterfall dropping through three natural bridges, best in spring. - Tannourine Cedar Forest Reserve (Tannourine)
A large cedar forest with quiet walking trails. - Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve (Ehden)
A mountain forest reserve with trails and rare plants.
Arts and Culture
- Gibran Museum (Bsharri)
Khalil Gibran's tomb, paintings and belongings in an old monastery above the valley. - Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya (Qadisha Valley)
A cave chapel and an old printing press at the valley's end.
Things to Do
- Deir Qannoubine (Qadisha Valley)
The old seat of the Maronite patriarchs, built into the cliff. - Deir Mar Elisha (Qadisha Valley)
A monastery under a rock overhang on the valley floor. - Bqaa Kafra (Bqaa Kafra)
The highest village in Lebanon and the birthplace of Saint Charbel. - Hadchit village (Hadchit)
An old stone village on the valley rim with trail access.
Restaurants
- Bsharri mountain restaurants (Bsharri)
Terraces serving mezze and grills with valley views.
Stays
- Ehden guesthouses (Ehden)
A summer town with a choice of small stays near the valley.
Places to Visit in Deir el Qamar
Arts and Culture
- Beiteddine Palace (Beiteddine)
A nineteenth century palace of courtyards, fountains and fine mosaics.
Things to Do
- Deir el Qamar main square (Deir el Qamar)
An old square of fountains, a mosque and a seventeenth century palace. - Moussa Castle (Beiteddine road)
A castle built single handedly by one man, packed with displays. - Moukhtara village (Moukhtara)
A Druze town with an old palace and fine stone houses. - Baakline (Baakline)
A historic village with an old serail and library. - Deir el Qamar old lanes (Deir el Qamar)
Stone lanes climbing the hillside around the square.
Nature and Outdoors
- Shouf Biosphere Reserve, Barouk cedars (Barouk)
Walking trails among the largest cedar forests in Lebanon. - Maasser el Chouf cedars (Maasser el Chouf)
Quieter entrance to the reserve with old trees.
Events
- Beiteddine Art Festival (Beiteddine)
Summer concerts in the palace courtyard, in years when it goes ahead.
Restaurants
- Deir el Qamar square cafés (Deir el Qamar)
Coffee and simple food on the old square.
Stays
- Mir Amin Palace (Beiteddine)
A historic palace hotel overlooking Beiteddine.
Shopping and Markets
- Chouf village cooperatives (Barouk)
Local honey, jams and dried figs from village cooperatives.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Sabra Market (Sabra, Beirut)
A chaotic, very local street market; go with a local guide and check advice first. - Souk Abu Rakhoussa (Basta, Beirut)
A weekend flea market of old furniture and curios in a traditional neighbourhood. - Abou Hassan (Bliss Street, Hamra, Beirut)
A long running snack counter beloved by AUB students for sandwiches and fuul. - Kahwet Leila (Hamra, Beirut)
A nostalgic café restaurant with old style décor, mezze and argileh. - Barbar Bakery Manakish (Hamra, Beirut)
Hot cheese and zaatar manakish straight from the oven for breakfast. - Dar Bistro and Books (Hamra, Beirut)
A relaxed garden café and bookshop for breakfast or a slow afternoon. - Anise (Mar Mikhael, Beirut)
A tiny, intimate cocktail bar with good arak based drinks. - Internazionale (Mar Mikhael, Beirut)
A cheerful corner bar that spills onto the street on warm nights. - Skybar (Biel, Beirut)
Beirut's famous open air summer club, a fixture of the city's nightlife. - Radio Beirut (Mar Mikhael, Beirut)
A small bar with live music and DJs on the main strip. - Riwaq Beirut (Mar Mikhael, Beirut)
A rooftop with views over the city and port. - Beirut Art Fair (Beirut, Beirut)
An autumn art fair showing artists from Lebanon and the wider region. - Beirut Holidays (Beirut waterfront, Beirut)
A summer concert series on the waterfront in years when it goes ahead. - Le Gray (Downtown, Beirut)
A sleek hotel with a rooftop pool overlooking Martyrs' Square. - Saifi Urban Gardens (Saifi, Beirut)
A friendly hostel and guesthouse near Gemmayzeh with a garden bar. - Byblos Wax Museum (Old Town, Byblos)
A small wax museum telling Lebanese history in scenes. - Pepe's Fishing Club (Old Harbour, Byblos)
A long running harbour restaurant famous for fish and its own story. - Feniqia (Old Souk, Byblos)
Simple Lebanese food and manakish in the souk. - Daniel's Lemonade (Batroun, Batroun)
Another old lemonade shop locals swear by. - Batroun Village Club (Batroun, Batroun)
Rooms by the beach near town. - Batroun summer festival (Batroun, Batroun)
Summer music events in town, in years when they go ahead. - Hotel Chbat (Bsharri, Bsharri)
A traditional mountain hotel in Bsharri. - Marie Baz Wax Museum (Deir el Qamar, Deir el Qamar)
A quirky wax museum in an old palace. - Shouf eco lodges (Maasser el Chouf, Deir el Qamar)
Small eco lodges near the cedar reserve. - Ammiq Wetland (Ammiq, Deir el Qamar)
A wetland for bird watching in the western Bekaa; check advice first.