Top 15 Things To Do in Lebanon
There are a LOT of things to do in Lebanon. It is a beautiful country that’s full of contradictions and those contradictions create plenty to see and do. On one hand it can be a religious and conservative country and yet on the other hand it can be the best partying scene you’ve ever experienced. The country could be in the middle of a war situation and yet people will be sitting on their rooftops, listening to music, and smoking hookah. In the same day you could go skiing in the mountains and then go swimming at the beach, never driving more than an hour or two. {FYI- this is almost every Lebanese person’s favorite way to brag about their country!} Lebanon is a very special country for both of us. Bassam was born and raised in Lebanon and Lena has always been fascinated by the country. We want to make sure you have all the tips you need to be able to enjoy it to the max! In this post we will share with you the top 16 things to do in Lebanon.
1. Tour the caves of Jeita Grotto
The Jeita Grotto is a an absolute must see! In fact, click on the link right now so you can see the pictures! No cameras or phones are allowed inside, so we don’t have any to share with you, but the official website has lots of beautiful photos.
The Jeita Grotto consists of two crystallized caves. It’s absolutely incredible and so beautiful! So much so that the Grotto was one of the finalists to be one of the new seven wonders of the world!
You can walk through much of the caves. Once you get to the water portion, a boat will take you for a ride though the grotto. It’s a magical and beautiful experience!
2. Explore the oldest inhabited city- Byblos
Byblos is Lena’s favorite part of Lebanon! It is the oldest consistently inhabited city in the world! The city was first occupied between 8800 and 7000 BC and has been consistently occupied since 5000 BC. No surprise that Byblos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Old Souk
Although fully livable, the city exudes ancient charm and much of the ruins are still present. We highly recommend going for an entire day so you can see the city during the day and night. It looks completely different and both vibes are very magical!
It’s a small city, but with lots to do. Make sure to visit The Crusaders Castle and The Old Souk {market}. After that, just wander and explore- you will find lots of interesting things to see and do. At night, the city comes alive and is full of lively bars and restaurants. It’s a magical experience to be partying in such a historic town!
3. Take a hike through the cedar national reserve
The cedar tree is the national symbol of Lebanon and appears on the Lebanese flag. The whole mountain range of Lebanon used to be covered with cedar trees and they are often called “Cedars of God”. Over the years, deforestation has occurred by the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Turks, Persians, Israelites, and Babylonians. The wood was used for everything from building ships to aiding in the mummification process. Today, the cedars are an UNESCO World Heritage site and strongly protected.
You can go for a hike through the national reserve, but a tour guide will go with you. It’s an incredible experience to be that high up in the mountain, breathe that fresh mountain air, and experience the majestic trees.
4. Visit the Roman ruins in Baalbek
Baalbek is a must visit and we aren’t just saying that because it’s Bassam’s hometown! Baalbek is home to the Roman ruins that used to be known as Heliopolis. One of the largest Roman temples is in Baalbek and is impressively preserved. If you look closely at the back of the photo above you can see part of the temple. Wandering around the Roman ruins of Baalbek will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into the pages of a history book. It’s very beautiful and it really fills you with awe to be surrounded by so much history! If possible, we highly recommend visiting during the yearly Baalbek Festival. Tickets can be hard to get and a bit expensive, but it’s really worth it. The festival is a grand celebration featuring some of the best Lebanese singers, food, fireworks, and all sorts of fun. The Lebanese really know how to celebrate and they take this festival very seriously! Plus, it’s not every day you get to party surrounded by Roman ruins.
5. Tour the Khalil Gibran museum
Khalil Gibran is one of Lena’s favorite authors, so this visit was a must for her. If you’re short on time during your Lebanon trip, this may be an item you can eliminate from your itinerary. The museum is located outside of Beirut, but it’s well worth the drive. It’s housed in a former monastery and the building itself is worth a visit. The museum is decorated to look like Gibran’s studio and is full of all his possessions and furniture. In addition, the museum holds Gibran’s paintings and his tomb. The museum has been expanded several times, but you only really need a few hours to explore the whole thing. It’s a very scenic area with lovely views and perfect for photo opportunities.
6. Experience a traditional meal in Zahle
Zahle is known as the city of “wine and poetry”. It’s a beautiful and very picturesque town in the mountains. If you will be visiting Baalbek, you will need to pass through Zahle. We highly recommend stopping there to explore the pretty town and have lunch. All the restaurants have beautiful views and many serve very traditional meals. If you read our food guide, you know that traditional meals start off with a huge spread of appetizers, a main course, and a dessert and fruit course. They take the fruit and dessert course very seriously in Zahle. At the end of our meal, we were moved to a new table where the entire table was laid out with every fruit imaginable. It was quite the spread!
7. Walk along the Corniche/Raouche
Photo credit: Sherry Ott, AFAR Ambassador
Beautiful sunsets at the corniche
The Corniche {also called the Raouche} is a seaside promenade dotted with restaurants. You will often see locals walking and jogging here after work. Yes jogging, in the INSANE Beirut HEAT. We wish we had that kind of dedication.
On one end of the Corniche there is a rock formation called “Pigeons Rock” {not sure why it’s called that} and it is a Beirut icon. Take a walk along the Corniche to work up an appetite and then grab dinner at one of the restaurants with the best views. {Keep in mind, wait times will be high. BUT sometimes you can sweet talk your way out of the wait and into the best seat in the house!}
The sunsets and sunrises along the Corniche are absolutely spectacular. We never get tired of them no matter how often we catch the beautiful view.
8. Have a nice dinner at Zaitunay Bay
Zaitunay Bay is a beautiful area in Beirut. It’s a promenade right along like harbor {yes another promenade} and is full of really nice restaurants. It’s great for an evening walk and a nice dinner. There are also some great clubs nearby for after dinner!
9. Drink coffee in Hamra
You can’t visit Beirut without walking down Hamra Street! Hamra is the economic and social hub of Beirut! If you’ve read any books set in Lebanon, this is the street where intellectuals sit to debate theories over a cup of coffee. It’s full of stores, cafes, pubs, mid-priced hotels, The American University of Beirut (AUB) and much more. You’ll need a few hours to walk the streets and explore all there is. The bar and clubbing scene here is a bit more relaxed than the rest of the city, as it has a college feel to it.
10. Party in Gemmayzeh
Gemmayzeh is a street in Lebanon known for it’s nightlife! It’s also a very beautiful and historical looking street with detailed and antique buildings, so make sure you walk around even if partying is not for you. Gemmayzeh has every type of nightlife imaginable from clubs to bars to lounges, but most of the clubs here are not the super fancy ones. Those are in Downtown. The street is alive and happening till very late at night, so feel free to stop by anytime. There are also a lot of great food choices here!
11. Climb to the top of Our Lady Harissa
What’s really nice about Lebanon is how many religions and sects of religions live peacefully and respectfully together. You will see this represented as well by a mosque and church next door to each other in the middle of Beirut. Also, you will see many monuments dedicated to Muslims as well as many dedicated to Christians. Our Lady Harissa {also known as Our Lady Lebanon} is a perfect representation of that mutli-religion harmony. Although the statue is Christian symbol, The Virign Mary is also significant for Muslims and Druze. Christains, Muslims, and Druze from all over the world come to visit Our Lady Harissa. Even if the religious significance isn’t important to you, we recommend visiting Our Lady Harissa. You can climb to the very top of the statue and see the most incredible views of the ctiy! So beautiful!
12. Spend the day lounging {or partying!} at a beach club
Feel like spending the day at the beach? You should, as Lebanon’s section of the Mediterranean sea is beautiful! Also, not quite sure what’s up with the sun placement in Lebanon, but we are always convinced we get the best tans there! Something to keep in mind is that most people don’t go to public beaches in Lebanon. Those are not always very clean or well maintained. Instead, there are a plethora of “beach clubs” that people go to. These beach clubs have a private beach, pools, and a cafe. Each beach club has a different vibe. Some are relaxing, others are known for their beauty and ascetics, and others are party scenes. All of them are very pretty, have great food, and are a lot of fun! The popular beach clubs change every summer, so ask your concierge or any friendly people you meet for recommendations.
13. Walk around Downtown Beirut or Solidere
Another recommendation that’s centered around food and partying, but really, that’s a big part of the Lebanese culture! Beirut used to be called the “Paris of the Middle East” and it was Downtown {you may also hear it referred to as Solidere} that people were referring to. Over the years, especially with the wars Lebanon has experienced, Downtown is not what it once used to be, but it’s still very beautiful. You will find lots of restaurants, hookah cafes, clubs, and stores here. Everything is open late. The clubs here are a bit fancier than the clubs in Hamra or Gemmayzeh. Whether day or night, Downtown is always lively and full of lots of do!
14. Party until sunrise
Fireworks every night!
Beirut has an amazing night scene! Whether your taste leans more towards bars, electronic clubs, fancy lounges, karaoke, whatever, there’s a spot for you! There’s also a spot for you no matter how old you are. Many older generations still enjoy a night out in Lebanon. Talk to your hotel concierge or any friendly people you meet and ask for the latest recommendations. What’s hot changes in Beirut FAST and will definitely be out of date by the time you read this article and book a trip.
By the way, we’ve partied in Los Angeles, Vegas, and Europe and we still think Beirut has the best nightlife! Get ready to party ALL night and then go out to a hookah cafe after and maybe breakfast. This is why we caught so many sunrises while in Lebanon! It’s because we were still awake!
15. For the ladies: Get your hair and nails done!
This tip is obviously coming from Lena 🙂
Lebanon knows beauty and they do beauty well! Every time I’ve gotten a blow out, my hair curled, or my nails done, it’s been perfection! I don’t even go to any particular person, I just walk into any random salon I’m passing by and it’s perfect every time! Plus, it seems to last F O R E V E R! Not sure what kind of magic voodoo they do, but I wish I could take the hair stylists and manicurists home with me! Plus, all the services are very cheap. You could get your nails done for as low as $5 and your hair for $8 at some places! I usually can convince myself it’s okay to get my hair done almost daily and my nails done every few days. Ahhh that’s the life.
{PS. We highly recommend you also read A Foodie’s Guide to Beirut! One of the major things to do in Lebanon is to eat, eat, and eat some more. The food is SO good! We also recommend reading The Insiders Guide to Lebanon for some important tips.}
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