From the snow covered mountains to the warm Mediterranean coast, Lebanon is a country full of contrasts and sandwiched in between these is the vibrant capital Beirut.
Affectionately dubbed the ‘Paris of the Middle East’, here you’ll find modern buildings alongside arabesque Ottoman and French style buildings, a thriving arts, fashion and cultural scene, skiing, the sea-front, the famous Place des Martyr and a newly rejuvenated Down Town district with some of the hottest night spots in the world – this is a city that can turn on a party.
roman treasure in baalbek
Just north east of Beirut, is Lebanon’s greatest Roman Treasure Baalbek . Counted among the wonders of the ancient world the pre-roman ruins found here tower high above the lush Bekaa Valley.
When you’ve had your fill of history, we recommend visiting some of the largest of Beirut’s wineries, for a spot of lunch and some wine tasting of course.
kings and culture in byblos and batroun
Once you’ve taken in the roman relics of Baalbek, it’s time to take in the antiquities of the bronze age in the city of Byblos. Founded by the God El, Byblos dates back to the Early Bronze Age, and it’s the oldest continually inhabited seaport in the world.
Once upon a time, this city had its own kings, culture and flourishing trade. The city was once surrounded by a massive wall which housed Roman temples and there are still some relics left from this era definitely worth seeing. The castle and the Roman amphitheatre are a must.
Now for some beach; Beirut style.
The coastal town of Batroun boasts many historic Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. But the town has another side, doubling up as a major beach resort with a vibrant nightlife. Citrus groves surround Batroun, and the town is famous for its fresh lemonade - sold by all cafés and restaurants on its main street.
to ski or not to ski, that is the question
Skiing in the Middle East? ‘what?’ we here you cry.
Well, not only does Beirut have fantastic beaches, it also has some pretty good ski resorts nearby too. Being surrounded by mountains which rise over 3000 meters makes the ski season similar to that of the alpes (January, February and March). Head over for a quick schuss in the morning before flopping on the beach in the afternoon.
That’s the beauty of Beirut, you can be on the slopes in the morning and the beach in the afternoon.
galleries and hang outs
No matter what your tastes; kibbeh, hummus or ‘creative’ kebabs (such as the ones flavoured with pistachio and white cheese) we reckon you’ll find something that hits the spot.
There are tons of restaurants, bars and clubs in Beirut but if you prefer the quiet life, there are some amazing galleries worth checking out like Running Horse, Beirut Art Centre and the Art Lounge.
There’s so much so see and do in Beirut so if you want to set the tongues of your friends wagging, drop us a line and we’ll create a Beirut experience that’s just for you.
Beirut is close to the Syrian border – so why not continue your journey to another fabulous city, Damascus
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
From the snow covered mountains to the warm Mediterranean coast, Lebanon is a country full of contrasts and sandwiched in between these is the vibrant capital Beirut.
Affectionately dubbed the ‘Paris of the Middle East’, here you’ll find modern buildings alongside arabesque Ottoman and French style buildings, a thriving arts, fashion and cultural scene, skiing, the sea-front, the famous Place des Martyr and a newly rejuvenated Down Town district with some of the hottest night spots in the world – this is a city that can turn on a party.
roman treasure in baalbek
Just north east of Beirut, is Lebanon’s greatest Roman Treasure Baalbek . Counted among the wonders of the ancient world the pre-roman ruins found here tower high above the lush Bekaa Valley.
When you’ve had your fill of history, we recommend visiting some of the largest of Beirut’s wineries, for a spot of lunch and some wine tasting of course.
kings and culture in byblos and batroun
Once you’ve taken in the roman relics of Baalbek, it’s time to take in the antiquities of the bronze age in the city of Byblos. Founded by the God El, Byblos dates back to the Early Bronze Age, and it’s the oldest continually inhabited seaport in the world.
Once upon a time, this city had its own kings, culture and flourishing trade. The city was once surrounded by a massive wall which housed Roman temples and there are still some relics left from this era definitely worth seeing. The castle and the Roman amphitheatre are a must.
Now for some beach; Beirut style.
The coastal town of Batroun boasts many historic Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. But the town has another side, doubling up as a major beach resort with a vibrant nightlife. Citrus groves surround Batroun, and the town is famous for its fresh lemonade - sold by all cafés and restaurants on its main street.
to ski or not to ski, that is the question
Skiing in the Middle East? ‘what?’ we here you cry.
Well, not only does Beirut have fantastic beaches, it also has some pretty good ski resorts nearby too. Being surrounded by mountains which rise over 3000 meters makes the ski season similar to that of the alpes (January, February and March). Head over for a quick schuss in the morning before flopping on the beach in the afternoon.
That’s the beauty of Beirut, you can be on the slopes in the morning and the beach in the afternoon.
galleries and hang outs
No matter what your tastes; kibbeh, hummus or ‘creative’ kebabs (such as the ones flavoured with pistachio and white cheese) we reckon you’ll find something that hits the spot.
There are tons of restaurants, bars and clubs in Beirut but if you prefer the quiet life, there are some amazing galleries worth checking out like Running Horse, Beirut Art Centre and the Art Lounge.
There’s so much so see and do in Beirut so if you want to set the tongues of your friends wagging, drop us a line and we’ll create a Beirut experience that’s just for you.
Beirut is close to the Syrian border – so why not continue your journey to another fabulous city, Damascus
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
name_66
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
View full credits
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits