Things to do in  Lebanon

Lebanon’s spectacular Jeita Grotto makes an exciting day trip from Beirut. Once considered as a finalist for the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this dramatic cave is divided into two levels: a lower grotto and an upper grotto, which contains the White Chamber, home to the world’s largest stalactite.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lebanon’s Baalbek ruins are some of the best-preserved Greco-Roman structures in all the Middle East. The site was once a thriving Phoenician city known as Heliopolis (“Sun City”), and today, the Temple of Bacchus, Temple of Venus, and Temple of Jupiter offer visions of past glories.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Byblos (Jbeil) has been home to a wealth of civilizations over the last 8,000 years. A historic harbor, a Crusader castle, an atmospheric medieval center, and a fascinating archaeological site add heritage charm. During summer, there’s a vibrant party scene as well as outstanding seafood eateries.

Founded in the early eighth century, at the start of the Islamic period, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Anjar is a fascinating example of an Umayyad fortified city. Set in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley astride an important trading route, Anjar highlights include the remains of palaces, a mosque, and Roman-style public baths.

A 15-ton, seven-piece molten bronze statue honoring the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lebanon has been a popular pilgrimage site and tourist stop since it was constructed in 1908. Situated in a pine forest, the shrine is equally famous for its sweeping panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Jounieh. The complex is reachable by cable car and contains a Basilica, four churches, and a chapel.

Known for the enormous Casino du Liban and the Téléferique gondola lift that runs to Our Lady of Harissa above, Jounieh is a party-friendly high-rise beach town about 11 miles (18 kilometers) north of Beirut. The main attractions here are eating, clubbing, and barhopping, although the old souk has charm, and paragliding is possible.

Founded in 1857, Château Ksara is one of Lebanon’s oldest wineries and an ever-popular stop on Bekaa Valley tours. Situated at around 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level, the estate has vineyards across Lebanon. Star of the show at the winery, besides the wines themselves, are the historic 1.5-mile (2-kilometer) cave cellars.

Mentioned in the book of Genesis, the ancient port city of Sidon is known to Lebanese as Saida. Its scenic old town boasts attractive souks, historic mosques, a Crusader sea castle, a 17th-century khan (trading inn), and a fascinating soap museum. Close to town lies the Temple of Eshmun, Lebanon’s best-preserved Phoenician ruin.

Known to locals as Sour, the port city of Tyre in southern Lebanon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular vacation destination for Beirutis. Ruins here date back over 4,000 years and span the Phoenician, Roman, Crusader, and Ottoman eras—and beyond. But white sand and fresh seafood mean Tyre is not just for history buffs.

Prized in biblical times, the cedars of Lebanon are the remnants of an ancient forest. The Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab), a cluster close to northern Lebanon’s Qadisha Valley, is recognized with UNESCO World Heritage status. These majestic trees, a distinct species known as cedrus Libani, can live more than 1,000 years and grow to 130 feet (40 meters) tall.

The rugged slopes of the Qadisha Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are home to mountain wilderness, ancient monasteries, the pretty village of Bcharré, and even the occasional hermit. Carved by the sacred river Qadisha and mentioned in the Bible, it’s also known as the Kadisha Valley, Wadi Kadisha, Ouadi Qadisha, and Kadisha Gorge.

In the town of Bcharre, in northern Lebanon, the Gibran Museum is a converted 19th-century monastery devoted to the poet and artist Khalil Gibran, best known for The Prophet, a book of poetic fables. It houses Gibran’s drawings, paintings, manuscripts, library, and furniture, returned to Lebanon from New York after his death in 1931.

With its grand neoclassical frontage, the landmark Beirut National Museum (Musée National de Beyrouth) houses Lebanon’s most important archaeological collection. Artifacts run the gamut from prehistory through the Renaissance, and include gorgeous sculptures, sarcophagi, and jewelry.

This bustling public landmark in downtown Beirut—once the cultural and economic heart of the capital, now a popular gathering place and protest site—pays tribute to the Lebanese nationalist activists killed for rebelling against the Ottoman rule in 1916. The square’s bronze statue created by Italian sculptor Marino Mazzacurati was erected in their memory in 1965. During the 15-year Lebanese civil war, the square marked Beirut’s demarcation line, and the sculpture has the battle scars to prove it.

The 19th-century Beiteddine palace complex stands on a hill above the village of Beiteddine (also written Beit ed-Dine) in Lebanon’s Chouf Mountains. Elegant interiors, landscaped gardens with Byzantine mosaics, and architecture that fuses Arabic and Italian elements make it a national monument. It hosts a well-regarded festival each summer.