Explore the Roman ruins of Baalbek$15–20
Home to the largest columns ever built by the Romans anywhere in their empire, part of a monumental temple complex that has puzzled engineers for centuries.
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Middle East
Things to do in Lebanon
A Mediterranean capital famous for a food and nightlife scene that's outlasted repeated crisis, Roman ruins on a scale rivaling anywhere in the empire, and a mountain-to-coast landscape packed into a tiny footprint.
Explore Lebanon on the map →Budget$
Best for7-9 days
CapitalBeirut
VisaVisa on arrival for up to 30 days (extendable to 90) for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders; passports must show no evidence of travel to Israel.
CurrencyLebanese pound (LBP); US dollars widely used and accepted
LanguagesArabic (official); French and English widely spoken
InternetVariable, improving in Beirut
Typical lodging$20–$60/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type A/B/C/D/G plug)
Time zoneUTC+3
Emergency number112 (police) / 140 (ambulance)
Dialing code+961
★★★★★ Food★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Nightlife
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled water recommended. 10–15% expected, often added as a service charge.
Baalbek's Temple of Jupiter holds the largest columns ever built by the Romans anywhere in their empire, a monumental scale that has puzzled engineers for centuries given the era's construction technology. Beirut's reputation for resilient, high-energy nightlife and dining, persisting through decades of conflict and repeated economic crisis, has made it one of the most written-about examples of a city's cultural life outlasting its political circumstances.
When to go
SpringApril–May
Mild and green, a good window for Beirut and the Bekaa Valley before summer heat sets in.
SummerJune–August
Hot on the coast but comfortably cool in the mountains, with festivals often held at ancient sites like Baalbek.
AutumnSeptember–October
Comfortable temperatures and grape harvest season in the Bekaa Valley wine country.
WinterNovember–March
Mild on the coast but genuinely snowy in the mountains, Lebanon is one of the few places in the region with reliable ski resorts.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
7Wander Byblos, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth$15–20
A coastal town with layered Phoenician, Roman, and Crusader-era ruins alongside a charming, still-active fishing harbor.
Explore the Phoenician ruins of Tyre
A UNESCO World Heritage site with Roman-era hippodrome and necropolis ruins, tracing Tyre's history as a legendary Phoenician trading power.
Explore Beirut's National Museum
Lebanon's principal archaeological museum, tracing the country's history from prehistory through the Phoenician, Roman, and Islamic periods.
Visit the Sursock Museum of modern art
A restored 19th-century mansion turned contemporary art museum in Beirut, reflecting the city's ongoing cultural resilience.
Explore Tripoli's Mamluk-era old souqs and citadel
Lebanon's second city holds one of the best-preserved Mamluk-era old towns in the Middle East, with khans, mosques, and a hilltop citadel.
Visit Our Lady of Lebanon shrine in Harissa
A hilltop statue and pilgrimage site overlooking Jounieh Bay, reachable by cable car and offering sweeping coastal views.
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Adventure & outdoors
3Ski at Mzaar Kfardebian in the Mount Lebanon range
One of the largest ski resorts in the Middle East, offering the genuinely unusual possibility of skiing in the morning and reaching the Mediterranean coast by afternoon.
Hike the Qadisha Valley, a UNESCO-listed 'Holy Valley'
A dramatic gorge holding some of the earliest Christian monastic settlements in the world, still home to active monasteries carved into cliffs.
Hike the Lebanon Mountain Trail
A long-distance trekking route running the length of the country's mountain spine, passing villages, monasteries, and cedar reserves.
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Food & drink
5Eat mezze at a traditional Beirut restaurant
A long procession of small shared dishes, hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh, reflecting a Lebanese culinary tradition regarded as one of the finest in the Middle East.
Taste wine in the Bekaa Valley
Lebanon has one of the oldest wine-producing traditions in the world, with the Bekaa Valley's wineries producing internationally respected reds and whites.
Try Lebanese manakish for breakfast
A flatbread topped with za'atar, cheese, or meat, baked fresh each morning and considered a genuine everyday Lebanese breakfast staple.
Try Lebanese arak with a mezze spread
An anise-flavored spirit central to Lebanese dining culture, traditionally mixed with water and ice and served alongside a full mezze table.
Try Lebanese knafeh for breakfast in Tripoli
A sweet, cheese-filled pastry soaked in syrup, with Tripoli widely regarded as producing the country's best version.
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Nature & scenery
3Explore the Jeita Grotto's underground caverns
A vast two-level limestone cave system with an underground river, once a finalist for the New7Wonders of Nature.
Visit the Cedars of God forest reserve
A UNESCO-listed remnant of ancient cedar forest, referenced in the Bible and Epic of Gilgamesh, with some trees estimated at over a thousand years old.
Explore the Raouché Rocks (Pigeon Rocks) in Beirut
Two natural sea arch formations just offshore from Beirut's Corniche, one of the city's most photographed natural landmarks.
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Nightlife
1Wander Beirut's Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael nightlife districts
Adjacent neighborhoods packed with bars, restaurants, and live music, central to Beirut's internationally recognized nightlife scene.
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Beaches
1Explore the coastal town of Batroun
A historic Phoenician port town known for its old souq, lemonade stands, and a growing beach club and nightlife scene north of Beirut.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Lebanon?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can get a visa on arrival for up to 30 days (extendable to 90), but passports must show no evidence of prior travel to Israel.
▾Is Lebanon safe to visit right now?
The situation varies by region and shifts with the wider regional context, so check current advisories closely before finalizing plans; Beirut, the Bekaa Valley wine country, and the northern coast see regular tourism, while some border areas carry more caution.
▾Is Beirut's nightlife reputation still deserved?
Yes, widely regarded as genuinely resilient, Beirut's restaurant and bar scene has repeatedly rebuilt itself through economic and political crises, remaining one of the most written-about examples of cultural life outlasting hardship.
▾How many days does Lebanon need?
7-9 days lets you combine Beirut, Baalbek's Roman ruins, the Bekaa Valley wine region, and the coastal city of Byblos without rushing, given the country's genuinely small size.
▾Can Lebanon really be skied and swum on the same day?
Yes. Lebanon's mountains rise close enough to the Mediterranean coast that combining a morning ski session with an afternoon swim is a genuine, often-cited local claim during the winter ski season.
▾How much does it cost to visit Baalbek and Byblos?
Foreign visitor entry to the Roman ruins at Baalbek runs around $15-20 USD, while Byblos's archaeological site is more modest, typically $8-10 USD. Both are among Lebanon's most significant historical sites and remain open despite periodic regional instability. Check current travel advisories before planning a trip.