Lebanon

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to the areas around Lebanon's borders.

This diminutive Mediterranean nation is a fascinating nexus point of the Middle East and the West; of Christianity and Islam; of tradition and modernity. It’s a place where culture, family and religion are all-important, but where sectarian violence can too often erupt – claiming lives and scarring both the landscape and the national psyche.

Home to a glorious national cuisine, a string of sexy beach resorts and the Middle East's most glamorous, hedonistic city (Beirut), this is also a country where the fiery orators and fierce foot soldiers of Hezbollah are based, and where huge populations of Palestinian and Syrian refugees currently shelter. Damaged by decades of civil war and the invasions and interventions of neighbouring nations, Lebanon is nonetheless blessed with magnificent mountain vistas, majestic ancient ruins and an indomitable, hospitable people. Lebanon rewards the traveller with food for thought and a feast for the senses and the stomach.

Explore Lebanon

Temple of Bacchus
Baalbek's Temple of Bacchus is often described as the most beautifully decorated temple in the Roman world, and it's certainly one of the best preserved…
Baalbek Ruins
Dominating the centre of modern Baalbek, this wonderful Roman temple complex is one of the Middle East's major archaeological highlights. The monumental…
National Museum of Beirut
Located on the former Green Line, this is Beirut's major cultural institution. Its impressive, magnificently displayed collection of archaeological…
Shouf Biosphere Reserve
The largest of Lebanon’s three natural protectorates, comprising an incredible 5% of the total land area, this is the largest natural cedar reserve in the…
Al Bass Archaeological Site
This sprawling site lies 2km east of the centre, entered off the highway. Just past the entrance is a vast funerary complex, with hundreds of ornate…
MIM
Under the St Joseph university, this atmospheric and beautifully designed museum presents an extraordinary collection of exquisitely selected and…
Main Square
The main square is a showcase of fine Arab architecture, including the Mosque of Emir Fakhreddine Maan, built in 1493, and, behind it, a cobbler's souq…
Al Mina
An enticing blend of tradition and modernity, the web of narrow streets of Tripoli's port quarter makes for wonderful strolling. The Phoenician city stood…
S
St George Crypt Museum
When a bomb fell on the Orthodox cathedral in 1975, the only silver lining was that it revealed these ruins beneath. Though the area is small, an…

Temple of Bacchus
Baalbek's Temple of Bacchus is often described as the most beautifully decorated temple in the Roman world, and it's certainly one of the best preserved…
Baalbek Ruins
Dominating the centre of modern Baalbek, this wonderful Roman temple complex is one of the Middle East's major archaeological highlights. The monumental…
National Museum of Beirut
Located on the former Green Line, this is Beirut's major cultural institution. Its impressive, magnificently displayed collection of archaeological…
Shouf Biosphere Reserve
The largest of Lebanon’s three natural protectorates, comprising an incredible 5% of the total land area, this is the largest natural cedar reserve in the…
Al Bass Archaeological Site
This sprawling site lies 2km east of the centre, entered off the highway. Just past the entrance is a vast funerary complex, with hundreds of ornate…
MIM
Under the St Joseph university, this atmospheric and beautifully designed museum presents an extraordinary collection of exquisitely selected and…
Main Square
The main square is a showcase of fine Arab architecture, including the Mosque of Emir Fakhreddine Maan, built in 1493, and, behind it, a cobbler's souq…
Al Mina
An enticing blend of tradition and modernity, the web of narrow streets of Tripoli's port quarter makes for wonderful strolling. The Phoenician city stood…
S
St George Crypt Museum
When a bomb fell on the Orthodox cathedral in 1975, the only silver lining was that it revealed these ruins beneath. Though the area is small, an…

Latest Stories from Lebanon

Sports Hiking, canyoning, climbing and more: finding adventure in the Middle East
Nov 6, 2019 • 5 min read
The Middle East is the cradle of civilisation, a place that offers an adventurous blend of unique antiquity, thriving modernity and ultimate wilderness.
Food The best of Beirut nightlife: out late in the Middle East's original party city
Nov 16, 2018 • 6 min read
Dubai and Tel Aviv may be today’s party capitals of the Middle East, but Beirut’s reputation for fun has been solid for decades. You’re spoiled for choice…
Food First time Lebanon: top tips to help plan your first trip
Jul 17, 2018 • 6 min read
For a country its small size, Lebanon has a staggering number of diversions to keep visitors entertained. Ancient history enthusiasts will be exhausted by…
Food Through vineyards and valleys: on the wine trail in Lebanon
Jun 12, 2018 • 5 min read
For centuries, grapes have thrived in the cool climate of Lebanon’s mountainous landscape, making the Mediterranean country one of the oldest wine…
Wildlife & Nature Hiking the scenic border-to-border Lebanon Mountain Trail
Mar 29, 2018 • 6 min read
The 470km-long Lebanon Mountain Trail traverses the full length of this tiny Middle Eastern country, passing through ancient cedar forests and olive…
Food A quick guide to Beirut's best neighbourhoods
Mar 9, 2018 • 6 min read
For a city with such a storied reputation, Beirut is geographically quite small. You can walk across it in about an hour, traversing districts of many…
Food Where to get a drink with a view in Beirut
Oct 13, 2017 • 5 min read
It’s almost as though Beirut was designed in a lab as an ideal urban setting for drinking en plein air. The weather is nice nearly year-round, Beirutis…
Food Where to find Beirut's best street snacks
Jul 5, 2017 • 4 min read
In a city bursting with galleries, parties, neighbourhood walks and last-minute invitations, sometimes pausing for a meal in Beirut means stopping just…
Road Trips A Grand Tour across the Middle East
Sep 20, 2010 • 3 min read
Ever dreamed of the romance of the Grand Tour, of hotel drawing rooms dripping with aspidistras and antimacassars, of mahogany dining rooms and creaking…
Food Lebanon in a week: the ultimate road-trip guide
Sep 17, 2010 • 4 min read
With just a week to spare in Lebanon, that tightly packed powerhouse of Middle Eastern history perched beside the Mediterranean, you can – with the help…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Lebanon.

See
Temple of Bacchus
Baalbek's Temple of Bacchus is often described as the most beautifully decorated temple in the Roman world, and it's certainly one of the best preserved…
See
Baalbek Ruins
Dominating the centre of modern Baalbek, this wonderful Roman temple complex is one of the Middle East's major archaeological highlights. The monumental…
See
National Museum of Beirut
Located on the former Green Line, this is Beirut's major cultural institution. Its impressive, magnificently displayed collection of archaeological…
See
Shouf Biosphere Reserve
The largest of Lebanon’s three natural protectorates, comprising an incredible 5% of the total land area, this is the largest natural cedar reserve in the…
See
Al Bass Archaeological Site
This sprawling site lies 2km east of the centre, entered off the highway. Just past the entrance is a vast funerary complex, with hundreds of ornate…
See
MIM
Under the St Joseph university, this atmospheric and beautifully designed museum presents an extraordinary collection of exquisitely selected and…
See
Main Square
The main square is a showcase of fine Arab architecture, including the Mosque of Emir Fakhreddine Maan, built in 1493, and, behind it, a cobbler's souq…
See
Al Mina
An enticing blend of tradition and modernity, the web of narrow streets of Tripoli's port quarter makes for wonderful strolling. The Phoenician city stood…
See
St George Crypt Museum
When a bomb fell on the Orthodox cathedral in 1975, the only silver lining was that it revealed these ruins beneath. Though the area is small, an…

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Lebanon with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.