Lebanon Things to Do

  labneh & pickles - Sep 2010
by MM212
 
  • labneh & pickles - Sep 2010
      labneh & pickles - Sep 2010
    by MM212
  •   Things to Do
    by Robin020
  •   Things to Do
    by Robin020
  •   Things to Do
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  • National Museum - Beirut
      National Museum - Beirut
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Most Viewed Things to Do in Lebanon

26.

Al Omari Mosque   Beirut

Al Omari Mosque, Beirut

 11 Reviews  One of Beirut's most important mosques, al-Omari is named after the second Caliph, Omar ibn al-Khattab, under whose leadership Beirut was conquered by Moslem armies in 635 AD. It is likely that the... 

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27.

Al Amin Mosque   Beirut

Al Amin Mosque, Beirut

 6 Reviews  The Mohammad El-Amin Mosque, also known as Hariri’s Mosque or the Blue Mosque, is one of the premier tourist attractions of the Lebanese capital. It is called the Hariri Mosque informally because its... 

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28.

Baalbek   Beirut

Baalbek, Beirut

 4 Reviews  A must see - I believe it is the home of largest Roman Temple in the world. And the site was much larger then I anticipated (actually home to over 3 temples) and was a stop along an ancient trade... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Beirut بيروت

by MM212

The capital of Lebanon and the gateway to the country, Beirut once was - and arguably is back as - the Paris of the Middle East. Practically obliterated by the civil war and Israeli invasions, Beirut is now doing what it does best: forgetting, rebuilding and reinventing itself, while the populace continues to party and live a decadent life. The beautiful city struggles with identity, but is undoubtedly much more European in character than the rest of country and the whole of the Middle East, yet it constitutes the heart of Lebanon. It is trilingual (Arabic, French and English) and multi-cultural. It amplifies all of the contradictions of Lebanon and the entire region, being wealthy and poor, opulent and rundown, modern and old, liberal and traditional, European and Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Arab, secular and religious, Moslem and Christian, be it Sunni or Shiite, Catholic or...

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Byblos (Jbail) جبيل

by MM212

A pretty Mediterranean resort town 30 minutes north of Beirut in the Mont-Liban governorate, Byblos, or Jbail in Arabic, sits atop 7000 years of history. It claims to be the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the world, and its archaeological site is the living proof with traces of nearly every passing civilisation or conqueror, from Phoenicians to the French, passing by Romans and Ottomans, among others. Beyond archaeology, Byblos itself is a charming town with a preserved mediaeval character consisting of stone architecture, red-tiled roofs and arched passageways, all within sight of Roman columns and Byzantine mosaics. The ancient harbour is perfect for an afternoon stroll and a drink or a meal at one of its outdoor seafood restaurants, and you may come across photographic reminders of the glamorous years of the 1960s, when celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Brigitte Bardot...

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Bcharré بشري

by MM212

Bcharré lies at the top of Qadisha Valley in the Northern Lebanese mountains in the Liban-Nord province. It is a beautiful Christian Maronite town with breathtaking views of the snowy mountains above and the green valley below. Bcharré is famous for being the birthplace of Khalil Gibran, to whom a museum is dedicated. It also lies just below el Arz (les Cèdres), the ski village next to the protected cedar forest of Mont Liban.

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Beit Meri

by MM212

Located in the Mont-Liban region, only 4 km down the road from Brummana, is another picturesque hilltop town called Beit Meri. Although also considered a summer retreat, Beit Meri is a little less popular with Beiruti weekend traffic and therefore lacks the restaurants, nightlife and hotels of Brummana. However, it does have a small archaeological area with Roman and Byzantine ruins, as well as a 17th century Maronite Christian monastery built on the ruins of a once impressive Roman temple dedicated to the Phoenician god Marqod. The town also has incredible direct views over the city of Beirut and the Mediterranean.For more, check out the Beit Meri page.

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Brummanaبرمانا

by MM212

A charming hilltop town surrounded by pine forests in the Mont-Liban region, Brummana commands excellent views over the Lebanese mountains and the Mediterranean. It is a majority Maronite Christian town dotted with numerous churches. Its proximity to Beirut (only 20 minutes by car) and its cooler climate (at 900 metres above sea level) has made it a popular summer resort for Beirutis. It is thus also filled with hotels, renowned restaurants, and some fun nightlife too. A day trip from Beirut and lunch, or a whole weekend in Brummana, definitely makes a great getaway from the city.Check out my Brummana page for more.

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Walk the Corniche in Beirut

by SedonaDee

It's free! It's interesting! And, you'll get a feel for the people of Beirut! Taking a stroll on the Corniche (promenade along the Mediterranaean) is a must-do while you are here. We did it on a Sunday and it was a "happening" place. I don't know if it is so busy other days of the week, but it was fun & full of life on the sunny & warm Sunday in January that we had this opportunity. You will see families having fun together, fisherman with long poles patiently waiting for that bite, all sorts of dress to make you realize how international this city is. You will see women with scarves covering their heads and women in tank tops and shorts enjoying running or walking the Corniche. It is equal for the men. I was most impressed with how adoring parents were with their children. On a pretty day, it is a better education for Beirut than anything you can read in a book.

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The Beqaa Valley

by MM212

A valley between two snow-capped mountain ranges, the Beqaa is not only the agricultural heart of Lebanon, but also home to some of Lebanon's most impressive ancient ruins, namely Baalbek and Aanjar, as well as numerous isolated Roman temples. A drive through this fertile valley is guaranteed to captivate the visitor with its breathtaking scenery. Several of the country's wineries are located in this valley, while Lake Qaraoun and Mount Hermon are a detour south.For more, check out my Beqaa Valley page.

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Tyre (Sur) صور

by MM212

One of the greatest cities in antiquity, Tyre once ruled the Mediterranean Sea. Its importance continued well past the Roman period, which has left us with magnificent ruins covering incredibly vast areas, now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since Roman times, the city has had intermittent periods of prosperity under different conquerors, but in recent years, it has suffered greater than any other major city in Lebanon due to its proximity to the Israeli border. The dormant city is now attempting to revive itself, but it will take quite an effort to rid itself of the image of a war-torn city. With its long history, amazing ruins, and exceptional setting, Tyre could easily become one of the hottest destinations in Lebanon, should peace reign long. My fingers are crossed!Tyre is a little over an hour's drive south of Beirut and could easily be combined with Sidon on a day trip. For...

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Aanjar عنجر

by MM212

Situated in the Beqaa Valley on the Beirut-Damascus road, Aanjar is one of the few remaining architectural heritages from the Omayyad period in Lebanon. The ancient city was built in 715 AD with Byzantine craftsmanship in the earliest days of the Islamic civilisation, before its signature architectural identity was developed. The city was thus designed on a Graeco-Roman plan with Byzantine architectural elements, while reusing Corinthian columns from nearby Roman ruins. The site itself is very peaceful with great views of the snow-capped mountains in the cooler months. The new town currently has a large Armenian-Lebanese population and was once the base for the Syrian army during their long presence in Lebanon before their withdrawal in 2005. Street signs are tri-lingual, Armenian, Arabic and English. Click on Aanjar to see more.

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Sidon صيدا

by MM212

Lebanon's third largest city, Sidon or Saïda in Arabic, is a port city located just over half an hour's drive south of Beirut. The coastal city was one of antiquity's greatest Phoenician cities, whose history goes back at least 6000 years. Due to repeated destruction by earthquakes, tsunamis and invasions, little of this great ancient city has remained, with the exception of recycled stones and Roman columns. Nevertheless, Sidon boasts a well-preserved mediaeval old city that is guaranteed to charm any visitor with its stone architecture, arched passages, mosques, churches, khans and souks. The city's symbol and foremost monument is the Crusader Sea Castle, which is located on a small island offshore, on the site of the Roman Temple of Melkart/Hercules.For more, check out my Sidon page.

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Top 3 Hotels in Lebanon

InterContinental Hotels IC PHOENICIA BEIRUT  Beirut

 5 Reviews and 99 Opinions  Beirut 

 Hotels in Beirut

Palmyra Hotel  Baalbeck

 4 Reviews and 22 Opinions  Charl digol..had been there....that's enough..for me Old lebanese hotel..you want to go back in... 

 Hotels in Baalbeck

Quality Inn Tripoli  Tripoli

 1 Review and 15 Opinions  There is not much choice of good quality hotels in Tripoli, so the Quality Inn it had to be. It was... 

 Hotels in Tripoli

Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi, I am traveling from the USA to northern Lebanon to see my girlfriend who I met in the states a year ago. I have been to Europe... 

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A: It would probably help if you identified the culture of her family. Are they Christian or Muslim? Are they educated or not? Are they well-integrated with Western society... 

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