The Best Travel Guide to Beirut

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Lebanon

Beirut

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Overview

Beirut The guide was updated: 2022-10-11

Beirut is the perfect destination for seasoned travellers: here, East and West intertwine in intricate ways, creating a city so magnetic that few are able to resist its powerful draw. Much has changed over the latter half of the twentieth century – Beirut rising to become glitterati central in the 60s but falling from grace during the bloody Civil War — but the city is alive and kicking, enticing travellers with superb gastronomy, the Middle East's most vibrant nightlife and close proximity to the ancient towns of Byblos and Baalbek.

Facts

Population:	Urban: 433,249 Metro: 2.14 million
Currency:	Lebanese pound
Hotels:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Tourist Police: +961 1 752428 +961 1 752429 Police: 112 Civil Defence: 125 Fire: 175 Red Cross-Lebanon: 140 General Security: 1717
Newspapers:	Lebanon Daily Star Al Akhbar
Tourist information:	Tourist Information Beirut 550 Central Bank Street, Hamra, Beirut +961 1 340 940 www.mot.gov.lb

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Section in Beirut

Beirut makes for a fantastic base to explore the rest of the country once the city's captivating neighbourhoods are over and done with. The best way to explore the city is to set out on foot (the public transportation system will likely appear confusing to outsiders) or by bike, hitting major historic landmarks like the old town's Roman Baths, natural wonders like the Pigeon Rocks just off the Corniche, and the upcoming neighbourhoods of Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh along the way.

The Corniche and Pigeon Rocks

The Corniche and Pigeon Rocks

Walk (or bike) along the Corniche to witness the leisurely flow of life by the Mediterranean; if you head south towards the Raouche neighbourhood, you will eventually come to one of Beirut's most iconic natural sites: the Pigeon Rocks, limestone formations jutting out of the sea. Come at sundown for shisha with a view.

Gemmayzeh & Mar Mikhael Neighbourhoods

Gemmayzeh & Mar Mikhael Neighbourhoods

To discover an edgier, hip side to the city, walk down the thoroughfares of Armenia Street (Mar Mikhael) and Gouraud Street (Gemmayzeh), and soak in Beirut's undeniable cool. There are plenty of attractive brunch spots and swank art galleries around (check out the St Nicholas Stairs in the summer for some al fresco art).

Sursock Museum & Palace

Sursock Museum & Palace

The Sursock Museum of modern art occupies the villa once inhabited by its founder, Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock, who instructed successors to turn the building into an art museum. The will was well-executed: the Sursock Museum is now among Beirut's most attractive, with free entry and guided tours. Its namesake palace is closed to the public, but certainly worth a look.

American University of Beirut

American University of Beirut

Founded in the 1860s by an American missionary, the lush, sprawling campus of the prestigious American University of Beirut is a pleasure to stroll around. It offers something of a journey into the city's pre-war days. There is an excellent archaeological museum on-site, along with a number of art galleries, and a great many nonchalant feline residents (cats), who famously inhabit the premises.

National Museum of Beirut

National Museum of Beirut

One of the best archaeological museums in the Middle East, the National Museum of Beirut provides an excellent overview of the region's history. Highlights include the world's largest display of sarcophagi, a line-up of 31 with naturalistic-looking carved faces, a reconstructed Roman tomb, and a collection of bronze Phoenician figurines uncovered at Byblos. The museum is located on the once volatile Green Line.

Byblos

Byblos

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Byblos is a treasured city, reportedly the first one to be inhabited by Phoenicians, going on to serve host to a sequence of mighty civilisations (from Egyptians to Ottomans) over the following millennia. It's an easy day-trip from Beirut to see early settlements dating back to the B.C., the 12th century Crusader Castle, and the ancient Phoenician port.

Château Ksara

Château Ksara

The historic winery hidden in the Bekaa Valley east of Beirut makes for a fantastic day trip. Tours of the underground caves are held daily, and on-site dining is available at the adjacent restaurant.

Temples of Baalbek

Temples of Baalbek

The splendid Roman Temple of Baalbek is among Lebanon's most important archaeological monuments, an ancient place of worship with barely any competition among similar structures in the ancient world. Plan your trip around the Baalbeck International Festival for live music and plays held in the town.

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