Luxury hotels in Beirut

Beirut guide

Beirut: the Corniche and the National Museum

The Pigeon Rocks at sunset, Lebanese cuisine, Byblos and Baalbek, and travel advice to check first.

Beirut's Corniche, the seafront promenade leading to the Raouché Pigeon Rocks, is the city's most cited sight, best at sunset. The National Museum holds an outstanding collection of Phoenician and Roman antiquities, and the city is famous for its food, from mezze to bakeries.

Byblos, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the Roman temples of Baalbek are the country's great excursions. The security situation in Lebanon can change quickly, so we check official travel advice carefully before planning any visit.

Byblos: one of the world's oldest cities

Byblos, about forty minutes north of Beirut, is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is the most cited excursion from the capital. Its archaeological site combines Phoenician temples, Roman columns and a Crusader castle.

The restored medieval souk leads down to the old fishing harbour, where restaurants serve fresh fish. The security situation in Lebanon can change quickly, so we check official travel advice before any trip.

Lebanese cuisine and the wineries of the Bekaa

Lebanese cuisine is one of the most cited reasons to visit Beirut: long lunches of mezze, from hummus and tabbouleh to kibbeh and grilled meats, in the restaurants of Mar Mikhael, Gemmayzeh and Achrafieh. The Souk el Tayeb farmers' market showcases producers from across the country.

The Bekaa Valley, beyond Mount Lebanon, has produced wine since Phoenician times, and its historic estates welcome visitors near the Roman temples of Baalbek. We confirm the security situation before planning any excursion.